Air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems, belongs to hydrogen fuel cell field.It includes first cavity, second cavity and circulation flow path.At least one hydrogen storage container is placed in the first cavity;Gas outlet is provided in the first cavity;Electrode group is placed in the second cavity;Air inlet corresponding with the air inlet of the cathode side of the electrode group is provided in the second cavity, the air outlet of the cathode side of the electrode group is connected with first cavity passage;Circulation flow path is provided outside the first cavity and second cavity, and part of the wet air of gas outlet is guided to air inlet.The application can improve the humidity of the air inlet of the electrode group by guiding the external air and the wet air in the circulation flow path into the electrode group, so as to effectively improve the performance and stability of the electrode group.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hydrogen fuel cells, and in particular to an air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of hydrogen fuel cell technology, hydrogen fuel cell systems have begun to be applied in fields such as hydrogen-powered bicycles, hydrogen-powered motorcycles, hydrogen-powered drones, and hydrogen-powered sightseeing vehicles. Whether it's an air-cooled or water-cooled fuel cell system, high demands are being placed on simplifying and lightweighting the system structure, reducing production and maintenance costs, and meeting requirements for range and environmental friendliness.

[0003] In proton exchange membrane fuel cells, the proton exchange membrane (PEM) maintains good proton conductivity under certain humidity conditions. Excessive humidity can hinder proton transport, affecting the MEM's performance. Therefore, a continuous water supply is necessary to prevent the MEM from drying out and degrading, thus improving electrochemical reaction efficiency. However, existing air-cooled fuel cell systems achieve this by adding external humidification equipment, which not only increases production and maintenance costs but also contradicts the trend towards simplification and lightweight design in hydrogen fuel cells. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the aforementioned technical deficiencies, the present invention provides an air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system to solve the problems involved in the background art.

[0005] This invention provides an air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system, comprising:

[0006] A first cavity is provided, in which at least one hydrogen storage container is placed; and an outlet is provided in the first cavity.

[0007] A second cavity is provided, in which an electric stack is placed; an air inlet corresponding to the air inlet on the cathode side of the electric stack is provided in the second cavity, and the air outlet on the cathode side of the electric stack is connected to the first cavity.

[0008] A circulation channel, located outside the first and second cavities, guides a portion of the humid air from the outlet to the inlet.

[0009] Preferably or optionally, at least one fan is provided on the first cavity and / or the second cavity and / or the circulation channel to control the humidity and / or flow rate of the mixed air formed by external air and humid air entering the fuel cell stack.

[0010] Preferably or optionally, the first cavity is provided with a plurality of fixed structures, which are suitable for vertically placing the hydrogen storage container.

[0011] Preferably or optionally, the hydrogen storage container is provided with a pressure reducing valve on top and is connected to the fuel cell stack via a manifold.

[0012] Preferably or optionally, the external air inside the air-cooled flow channel and the humid air discharged from the fuel cell stack pass sequentially through the fuel cell stack and the lower part of the hydrogen storage container.

[0013] Preferably or optionally, the fuel cell stack is further provided with a drain and vent valve, the outlet of which is located below the fuel cell stack.

[0014] Preferably or optionally, the circulation channel includes:

[0015] Two reflux cavities respectively cover the lower part of the first cavity and the two sides of the second cavity, and are connected to the first cavity and the second cavity;

[0016] Preferably or optionally, a handle is provided on the upper part of the reflux cavity;

[0017] A drain hole is provided at the lower part of the circulation channel and / or the first cavity.

[0018] Preferably or optionally, an exhaust port is provided at the upper part of the first cavity.

[0019] Preferably or optionally, electrical equipment is provided on the upper part of the second cavity; human-computer interaction equipment and / or electrical connection ports are also integrated on the outside of the second cavity.

[0020] This invention relates to an air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system, which, compared to existing technologies, offers the following advantages: Firstly, this invention guides external air and humid air from the circulation channel into the fuel cell stack, increasing the intake humidity and effectively improving the stack's performance and stability. Compared to humidifiers, this solution is lower in cost and facilitates product adoption. Secondly, the heat generated by the fuel cell stack is carried into the first chamber by external air and some of the humid air discharged from the stack, heating the solid hydrogen storage container. This not only dissipates heat from the stack but also improves hydrogen utilization. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a side view of the wind-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a rear view structural schematic diagram of the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system in this invention.

[0024] Figure 4This is a structural schematic diagram of the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system of the present invention with the mounting plate open, and the left recirculation cavity is a cross-sectional schematic diagram.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system of the present invention with the mounting plate open.

[0026] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 100, first chamber; 110, fixed structure; 120, outlet; 130, exhaust port; 200, hydrogen storage container; 210, pressure reducing valve; 220, manifold; 230, inlet switch valve; 300, second chamber; 310, inlet; 400, fuel cell stack; 410, drain and exhaust valve; 420, air inlet; 430, air outlet; 510, electrical equipment; 520, human-machine interface device; 530, electrical connection port; 540, mounting plate; 541, heat dissipation hole; 600, fan; 700, circulation channel; 720, return chamber; 721, drain hole; 722, connection port; 800, handle. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the invention.

[0028] See appendix Figures 1 to 5 An air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system includes: a first chamber 100, a second chamber 300, and a humid air circulation channel 700.

[0029] The first cavity 100 has a cuboid structure, and an outlet 120 is provided in one end face of the first cavity 100. For ease of subsequent description, this end face is defined as the front of the first cavity 100. It can be understood that the other end face opposite to the end face with the outlet 120 is the back of the first cavity 100, and the two end faces between the front and back of the first cavity 100 are the sides of the first cavity 100. The first cavity 100 forms a relatively closed receiving cavity, and at least one hydrogen storage container 200 is placed inside the first cavity 100. The hydrogen storage container 200 contains solid hydrogen storage material and stores hydrogen using a solid hydrogen storage method.

[0030] The second cavity 300 is also a cuboid structure and is connected to the first cavity 100. The first cavity 100 and the second cavity 300 are spaced at a predetermined distance and connected by a pipe. Alternatively, they can be arranged side-by-side, with openings or holes on the connecting surface to allow gas flow. Preferably, to simplify the hydrogen fuel cell system, the second cavity 300 is arranged side-by-side on the back of the first cavity 100 and has openings or holes to allow gas flow. Similarly, the connecting surface with the first cavity 100 is defined as the front of the second cavity 300. It can be understood that the other end face opposite this end face is the back of the second cavity 300, and the two end faces between the front and back of the second cavity 300 are the sides of the second cavity 300. The second cavity 300 forms a relatively closed receiving cavity, and a fuel cell stack 400, which is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, is placed inside the second cavity 300. An air inlet 310 is provided on the back of the second cavity 300. The air inlet 310 is connected to the air inlet 420 on the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 400, and the air is introduced into the fuel cell stack 400 to participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction inside the fuel cell to generate water. Some of the gaseous water mixes with the residual air to form humid air, which is discharged through the air outlet 430 on the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 400. The air outlet 430 is connected to the first cavity 100. Since the hydrogen storage container 200 needs to absorb heat during the release of hydrogen, and the fuel cell stack 400 releases heat during operation, a temperature difference is formed, which guides the humid air through the hydrogen storage container 200. Moreover, the humid air with higher humidity can provide additional latent heat to heat the hydrogen storage container 200 and improve the hydrogen output efficiency of the hydrogen storage container 200.

[0031] The fuel cell stack 400 is also equipped with a drain and exhaust valve 410, the outlet of which is located below the fuel cell stack 400. Wastewater and exhaust gas generated in the fuel cell stack 400 are discharged through the drain and exhaust valve 410 after passing through a gas-liquid separator.

[0032] The circulation channel 700 is located outside the first cavity 100 and the second cavity 300, guiding a portion of the humid air from the outlet 120 to the inlet 310. The humid air in the circulation channel 700 regulates the humidity of the external air. In hydrogen fuel cells, especially during low and medium current density operation, increased air humidity helps maintain a good wettability of the catalyst layer and preserves the proton conductivity of the proton exchange membrane, thereby improving electrochemical reaction efficiency and positively impacting the performance and stability of the fuel cell stack 400. Furthermore, the higher heat capacity of humid air allows for better heat removal from the fuel cell stack 400, improving its heat dissipation effect.

[0033] Specifically, the circulation channel 700 includes two return cavities 720, which respectively cover the lower part of the first cavity 100 and the two sides of the second cavity 300, and are connected to the lower part of the first cavity 100 and the second cavity 300. The cold air in the first cavity 100 is located at the lower part and circulates through the return cavities 720, utilizing the humid cold air and continuously mixing it with external air before sending it into the fuel cell stack 400. An exhaust port 130 is provided at the upper part of the first cavity 100. Hot air rising in the first cavity 100 is discharged through the exhaust port 130, achieving both humid air diversion and heat dissipation. Furthermore, a handle 800 is provided at the upper part of the return cavities 720 for easy extraction and handling, reducing costs and indicating good application prospects for the product.

[0034] In a further embodiment, at least one fan 600 is provided on the first cavity 100 and / or the second cavity 300 and / or the circulation channel 700 to control the humidity and / or flow rate of the mixed air formed by external air and humid air entering the fuel cell stack 400. Guided by the fan 600, the air heated by the fuel cell stack 400 is introduced into the first cavity 100 to heat the hydrogen storage container 200. The heat released by the reaction of the fuel cell stack 400, i.e., the hot air, is used to heat the hydrogen storage container, thus achieving the purpose of heat dissipation of the fuel cell stack 400 and promoting the release of hydrogen, making the flow rate released from the hydrogen storage container 200 more sufficient and stable. Therefore, it is not necessary to set a separate heating element for the hydrogen storage container 200 to achieve heating of the hydrogen storage container 200, thereby improving the hydrogen utilization efficiency.

[0035] It should be noted that the fan 600 is not an essential component. However, in this embodiment, since the heat generated by the fuel cell stack 400 and the heat absorbed by the hydrogen storage container 200 are not balanced, multiple fans 600 are installed in the air-cooled flow channel to adjust the humidity and flow rate of the mixed humid air within a suitable range. This improves the performance and stability of the fuel cell stack 400 while preventing flooding. For example, a fan 600 is installed in the circulation channel 700. By adjusting the speed of the fan 600, the percentage of humid air entering the circulation channel 700 can be controlled, i.e., the humidity of the air can be adjusted. Alternatively, a fan 600 can be installed in both the air inlet 310 and the circulation channel 700. By adjusting the speed difference between the fans 600 in the air inlet 310 and the circulation channel 700, the mixing ratio of the humid and cold air in the circulation channel 700 with the outside air can be adjusted, i.e., the humidity of the air entering the fuel cell stack 400 can be adjusted within a suitable range. As for the adjustment methods, there are various options for those skilled in the art, which will not be elaborated here.

[0036] In a further embodiment, a plurality of fixing structures 110 are provided within the first cavity 100, suitable for vertically placing the hydrogen storage container 200. A pressure reducing valve 210 is provided at the top of the hydrogen storage container 200, and it is connected to the fuel cell stack 400 via a manifold 220 to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell stack 400. The hydrogen storage container 200 can be configured with one or more bottles according to actual needs. The hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage container 200 is depressurized by the pressure reducing valve 210 and then collected through the manifold 220 before being input into the fuel cell stack 400.

[0037] Specifically, the fixing structure can be multiple sleeves fixedly installed on the inner wall of the first cavity 100, or multiple fixing components integrally formed with the first cavity 100, with shapes matching the external contour shape of the hydrogen storage container 200. The hydrogen storage container 200 is detachably fixed inside the first cavity 100 using a multi-point fixing method. By setting multiple fixing structures 110 arranged in an array, not only can the hydrogen storage container 200 be prevented from shaking, causing the hydrogen storage material to clog the hydrogen storage port and / or the filter located at the hydrogen outlet; but also the spacing between each hydrogen storage container 200 is prevented from being uniform, ensuring the uniformity of heat exchange between the mixed humid air and each hydrogen storage container 200, ensuring the consistency of hydrogen output from each hydrogen storage container 200, and improving the thermal balance stability and power generation stability of the entire system.

[0038] In a further embodiment, the fuel cell stack 400 is positioned directly opposite the lower part of the hydrogen storage container 200, allowing external air inside the air-cooled channel and humid air discharged from the fuel cell stack to pass sequentially through the fuel cell stack 400 and the lower part of the hydrogen storage container 200. Specifically, in this embodiment, since the hydrogen storage container 200 is vertically placed, the solid hydrogen storage material accumulates at the lower part of the hydrogen storage container 200, resulting in a lower temperature at the lower part. By restricting or concentrating the gas flowing through the air-cooled channel at the lower part of the hydrogen storage container 200, heat exchange efficiency can be significantly improved. Water in the humid air exiting the fuel cell stack 400 condenses into water droplets and adheres to the hydrogen cylinder, fully utilizing the air humidity to provide additional latent heat and improving the overall system's heat exchange efficiency. Correspondingly, a drain hole 721 is provided at the lower part of the humid air circulation channel 700 and / or the first cavity 100, allowing excess water formed by the condensation of humid air to be directly drained away through the drain hole 721.

[0039] In a further embodiment, an electrical device 510 is provided on the upper part of the second cavity 300. The electrical device 510 can be located inside the second cavity or in a separate cavity. In this embodiment, the electrical device 510 is mainly located on a mounting plate 540 on the back of the second cavity 300. The mounting plate 540 is hinged to the upper part of the second cavity 300 to simplify the hydrogen fuel cell system. The electrical device 510 includes, but is not limited to: a boost DC-DC circuit, a buck DC-DC circuit, a controller, a relay, and a starting power supply. The starting power supply is used to provide external power to system components to start them when the system is first turned on (at which time the fuel cell stack 400 is not yet powered), such as the fan 600 and various control valves. The controller and relay control the fuel cell stack 400 and other equipment to continuously and stably generate electrical energy. The boost DC-DC circuit and the buck DC-DC circuit convert the electrical energy into the required form of electrical energy as described above. The electrical equipment 510 is integrated into a single chamber for easy wiring harness management. Additionally, heat dissipation holes 541 are provided on the outer surface of the electrical equipment 510 chamber to achieve independent heat dissipation for the electrical equipment 510. Furthermore, a human-machine interface device 520 and / or an electrical connection port 530 are integrated outside the second chamber 300 to facilitate data and / or energy exchange between the entire fuel cell system and the outside world.

[0040] For those skilled in the art, it is also possible to isolate part of the electrical equipment 510 and place it inside the cavity of the electrical equipment 510 to prevent the mixed humid air composed of external air and humid air discharged from the fuel cell from coming into contact with the electrical equipment 510 for a long time, which would accelerate circuit aging and affect the service life of the entire equipment.

[0041] In a further embodiment, the first cavity 100 and / or the second cavity 300 and / or the electrical equipment 510 cavity and / or the humid air circulation channel 700 can be an integrated structure or a modular design, forming a complete power generation system. Experimental verification shows that the rated output power of the entire system can meet the operational requirements of vehicles such as small fuel cell vehicles. Furthermore, this embodiment adopts a modular design, allowing the four chambers to be structurally independent yet interconnected, facilitating system assembly, component replacement, and maintenance. The use of a combination of welding and bolt fixing facilitates disassembly, and the four chambers can be equipped with or without additional equipment according to actual needs, resulting in strong system versatility.

[0042] Additionally, it is understood that the first cavity 100 and / or the second cavity 300 are also equipped with an inlet valve 230 and a drain / exhaust valve 410. The inlet valve 230 can control the on / off state of hydrogen, and the remaining hydrogen that has not participated in the reaction is discharged from the power generation system through the drain / exhaust valve 410 below the fuel cell stack 400. The fuel cell stack 400 integrates a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the stack body (not shown in the figure), and a pressure sensor (not shown in the figure) is located in front of the inlet valve 230 to monitor the hydrogen pressure. The pressure sensor and temperature sensor can collect data such as hydrogen pressure and fuel cell stack temperature, and feed this data back to the system controller to achieve real-time control of the inlet valve 230 and the drain / exhaust valve 410, thereby achieving real-time control of the fan 600 and ultimately controlling the hydrogen.

[0043] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system, its working principle is briefly explained as follows: External air is introduced into the fuel cell stack 400 and participates in the reaction. The heat generated by the fuel cell stack 400, along with the humid air formed on the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 400, enters the first cavity 100, heating the hydrogen storage container 200 and improving its hydrogen extraction efficiency. Guided by the fan 600 and / or temperature difference, a mixture of external air and humid air from the circulation channel 700 is reintroduced into the fuel cell stack 400 and participates in the reaction. Increased air humidity helps maintain a good humid state of the catalyst layer and preserves the proton conductivity of the proton exchange membrane, thus positively impacting the performance and stability of the fuel cell stack 400. Furthermore, the humid air cooled by the hydrogen storage container 200 is reintroduced into the second cavity 300, enhancing heat dissipation from the fuel cell stack 400, improving hydrogen utilization, fully utilizing cooling energy, and contributing to improving the thermal balance of the entire power generation system.

[0044] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the present invention will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

Claims

1. An air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system, characterized in that, include: A first cavity (100) is provided, in which at least one hydrogen storage container (200) is placed; and an outlet (120) is provided in the first cavity (100). A second cavity (300) is provided, in which an electric stack (400) is placed; an air inlet (310) is provided in the second cavity (300) corresponding to the air inlet (420) on the cathode side of the electric stack (400), and the air outlet (430) on the cathode side of the electric stack (400) is connected to the first cavity (100); A circulation channel (700) is provided outside the first cavity (100) and the second cavity (300) to guide a portion of the humid air from the outlet (120) to the inlet (310).

2. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one fan (600) is provided on the first cavity (100) and / or the second cavity (300) and / or the circulation channel (700) to control the humidity and / or flow rate of the mixed air formed by external air and humid air entering the fuel cell stack (400).

3. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first cavity (100) is provided with a plurality of fixed structures (110) suitable for vertically placing the hydrogen storage container (200).

4. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The hydrogen storage container (200) is equipped with a pressure reducing valve (210) on top and is connected to the fuel cell stack (400) through a manifold (220).

5. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The external air inside the air-cooled channel and the humid air discharged from the fuel cell stack pass sequentially through the fuel cell stack (400) and the lower part of the hydrogen storage container (200).

6. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack (400) is also provided with a drain and vent valve (410), the outlet of which is located below the fuel cell stack (400).

7. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circulation channel (700) includes: Two reflux cavities (720) respectively cover the lower part of the first cavity (100) and the two sides of the second cavity (300), and are connected to the first cavity (100) and the second cavity (300).

8. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The upper part of the reflux cavity (720) is provided with a handle (800); A drain hole (721) is provided at the lower part of the circulation channel (700) and / or the first cavity (100).

9. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, An exhaust port (130) is provided at the upper part of the first cavity (100).

10. The air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power generation system according to claim 9, characterized in that, An electrical device (510) is provided on the upper part of the second cavity (300); a human-computer interaction device (520) and / or an electrical connection port (530) are also integrated on the outside of the second cavity (300).

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