Water removal system for anode of hydrogen fuel cell

Abstract

The utility model discloses a hydrogen fuel cell anode dewatering system which comprises a hydrogen supply piece, an electric pile, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a steam-water separator, a hydrogen circulating pump, an air outlet piece, a vortex tube, an air inlet pipe, an air outlet pipe, a cold air pipe and a hot air pipe. A first heat exchanger, a steam-water separator, a second heat exchanger and a hydrogen circulating pump are sequentially arranged on the air outlet pipe, the air outlet piece is communicated with the input end of the vortex tube, one end of the cold air tube is communicated with the cold air end of the vortex tube, the other end of the cold air tube is communicated with the first heat exchanger, and one end of the hot air tube is communicated with the hot air end of the vortex tube. And the other end is communicated with the second heat exchanger. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system is higher in liquid water separation efficiency of an anode loop, complete unsaturated wet steam can be obtained, and the liquid water is thoroughly eliminated, so that the liquid water is prevented from influencing normal work of a galvanic pile.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of hydrogen fuel cells, in particular to an anode water removal system for a hydrogen fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] During the operation of the hydrogen fuel cell system, a large amount of liquid water will be generated on the anode side. Since the anode is a closed circulation loop, if the liquid water cannot be separated and discharged, it will accumulate in the anode loop and easily return to the fuel cell stack with the airflow, causing the fuel cell stack to be flooded, resulting in the single-chip voltage dropping below the protection value. If no intervention is made, the voltage may be low or even reversed, causing the fuel cell stack to burn out.

[0003] The existing technology generally adopts a physical dehydration method, using the principle of centrifugation or baffles to make a steam-water separator to achieve the effect of water vapor separation. Then there is a water storage tank at the lower end of the steam-water separator, and the stored water is discharged regularly using a switch valve.

[0004] Since the current steam-water separator uses a purely mechanical and physical method to remove water, the water separation effect is limited, and the quality of the water separation effect also affects the flow resistance on the anode side; for example, if the water separation effect is not good, a large amount of liquid water will enter the fuel cell stack; if the water separation effect is better, the flow resistance on the anode side will increase, increasing the power consumption on the anode side, and the water separation efficiency is generally only up to about 90%, which cannot achieve complete water removal.

[0005] Assuming that the water separator can achieve 100% water removal effect, the gas after passing through the steam-water separator is still saturated wet steam. If the temperature drops slightly, condensation water will easily appear, which is not conducive to the design of the anode circuit. Utility Model Content

[0006] The utility model aims to provide a hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system to remove liquid water from the anode loop.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] A hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system comprises a hydrogen supply component, a fuel cell stack, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a steam-water separator, a hydrogen circulation pump, an air outlet component, a vortex tube, an air inlet pipe, an air outlet pipe, a cold air pipe and a hot air pipe, wherein the air inlet pipe is connected between the hydrogen supply component and the input end of the fuel cell stack, one end of the air outlet pipe is connected to the output end of the fuel cell stack, and the other end of the air outlet pipe is connected to the air inlet pipe, and the first heat exchanger, the steam-water separator, the second heat exchanger and the hydrogen circulation pump are sequentially arranged on the air outlet pipe from one end close to the fuel cell stack to the end far from the fuel cell stack, the air outlet component is connected to the input end of the vortex tube, one end of the cold air pipe is connected to the cold air end of the vortex tube, the other end of the cold air pipe is connected to the first heat exchanger, one end of the hot air pipe is connected to the hot air end of the vortex tube, and the other end of the hot air pipe is connected to the second heat exchanger.

[0009] Preferably, it also includes a pressure reducing valve, which is arranged on the air inlet pipe, and one end of the air outlet pipe away from the fuel cell stack is connected to the air inlet pipe and is located between the pressure reducing valve and the fuel cell stack.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a water storage tank, which is connected to the water outlet end at the bottom of the steam-water separator.

[0011] Preferably, a drain pipe is connected to the bottom of the water storage tank.

[0012] Preferably, a switch valve is provided on the drain pipe.

[0013] Preferably, the hydrogen supply component is a hydrogen cylinder.

[0014] Preferably, the air outlet member is an air compressor.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system of the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] In the utility model, after the compressed air generated by the air outlet component enters the vortex tube, two air flows will be generated. The cold air flow enters the cold air pipe and then passes into the first heat exchanger, and the hot air flow enters the hot air pipe and then passes into the second heat exchanger. The hydrogen supply component allows hydrogen to enter the fuel cell through the air inlet pipe for electrochemical reaction. The residual hydrogen after the reaction is mixed with liquid water and passes into the air outlet pipe. After passing through the first heat exchanger, more liquid water is condensed. Then, after passing through the steam-water separator, the water and gas are separated. Then, in the second heat exchanger, the gas temperature rises after heat exchange, and the residual liquid water can be vaporized, so that the gas becomes unsaturated steam. Finally, it passes into the air inlet pipe and enters the fuel cell again for electrochemical reaction. Therefore, the hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system of the present application has a higher efficiency in separating liquid water in the anode circuit, can achieve complete unsaturated wet steam, and completely eliminate liquid water, thereby preventing liquid water from affecting the normal operation of the fuel cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the utility model.

[0018] In the figure, 1. hydrogen supply parts; 2. fuel cell stack; 3. first heat exchanger; 4. second heat exchanger; 5. steam-water separator; 6. hydrogen circulation pump; 7. air outlet parts; 8. vortex tube; 9. air inlet pipe; 10. air outlet pipe; 11. cold air pipe; 12. hot air pipe; 13. pressure reducing valve; 14. water storage tank; 15. drain pipe; 16. switch valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following is a further detailed description of the specific implementation of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0020] In the description of the present utility model, it should be understood that the wording "comprising" used in the present utility model specification refers to the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, parts / components and / or assemblies, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, parts / components, assemblies and / or their groups. It should be understood that when we say that a part / component is "connected" to another part / component, it can be directly connected to the other part / component, or there can be intermediate parts / components. The wording "and / or" used here includes all or any unit and all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0021] like Figure 1As shown, the utility model relates to a hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system, comprising a hydrogen supply component 1, a fuel cell stack 2, a first heat exchanger 3, a second heat exchanger 4, a steam-water separator 5, a hydrogen circulation pump 6, an air outlet component 7, a vortex tube 8, an air inlet pipe 9, an air outlet pipe 10, a cold air pipe 11 and a hot air pipe 12, wherein the air inlet pipe 9 is connected between the hydrogen supply component 1 and the input end of the fuel cell stack 2, one end of the air outlet pipe 10 is connected to the output end of the fuel cell stack 2, the other end of the air outlet pipe 10 is connected to the air inlet pipe 9, and the air outlet pipe 11 is connected to the output end of the fuel cell stack 2. A first heat exchanger 3, a steam-water separator 5, a second heat exchanger 4 and a hydrogen circulation pump 6 are sequentially provided on the tube 10 from one end close to the fuel cell stack 2 to the end far from the fuel cell stack 2. The air outlet 7 is connected to the input end of the vortex tube 8, one end of the cold air pipe 11 is connected to the cold air end of the vortex tube 8, the other end of the cold air pipe 11 is connected to the first heat exchanger 3, one end of the hot air pipe 12 is connected to the hot air end of the vortex tube 8, and the other end of the hot air pipe 12 is connected to the second heat exchanger 4.

[0022] In the utility model, the air outlet part 7 generates compressed air and then enters the vortex tube 8 to generate two air flows. The cold air flow enters the cold air pipe 11 and then passes into the first heat exchanger 3, and the hot air flow enters the hot air pipe 12 and then passes into the second heat exchanger 4. The hydrogen supply part 1 allows hydrogen to enter the fuel cell 2 through the air inlet pipe 9 for electrochemical reaction. The residual hydrogen after the reaction is mixed with liquid water and passes into the air outlet pipe 10. After passing through the first heat exchanger 3, more liquid water is condensed. Then, after passing through the steam-water separator 5, the water and gas are separated. Then, in the second heat exchanger 4, the gas temperature rises after heat exchange, and the residual liquid water can be vaporized, so that the gas becomes unsaturated steam. Finally, it passes into the air inlet pipe 9 and then enters the fuel cell 2 again for electrochemical reaction. Therefore, the hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system of the present application has a higher efficiency in separating liquid water in the anode circuit, can achieve complete unsaturated wet steam, and completely eliminate liquid water, thereby preventing liquid water from affecting the normal operation of the fuel cell 2.

[0023] In this embodiment, the hydrogen fuel cell anode dehydration system also includes a pressure reducing valve 13, which is arranged on the air inlet pipe 9, and the end of the air outlet pipe 10 away from the fuel cell stack 2 is connected to the air inlet pipe 9 and is located between the pressure reducing valve 13 and the fuel cell stack 2.

[0024] By setting the pressure reducing valve 13 , the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen supply component 1 can be reduced to a suitable pressure before entering the fuel cell stack 2 for electrochemical reaction, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the fuel cell stack 2 .

[0025] In this embodiment, the hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system further includes a water storage tank 14 , and the water storage tank 14 is connected to the water outlet end at the bottom of the steam-water separator 5 .

[0026] By providing the water storage tank 14 , the liquid water separated by the steam-water separator 5 can be collected.

[0027] Preferably, a drain pipe 15 is connected to the bottom of the water storage tank 14 , and a switch valve 16 is provided on the drain pipe 15 .

[0028] By providing the drain pipe 15 and the switch valve 16 , the switch valve 16 can be opened in stages to discharge the liquid water collected in the water storage tank 14 regularly.

[0029] In this embodiment, the hydrogen supply component 1 is a hydrogen bottle to provide a hydrogen source.

[0030] In this embodiment, the air outlet member 7 is an air compressor, so that the compressed air can be delivered to the vortex tube 8 .

[0031] In summary, compared with the prior art, the hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system of the present application has a simple structure and low equipment cost, and can remove liquid water from the anode loop, thereby preventing it from affecting the performance of the fuel cell stack.

[0032] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principle of the present invention. These improvements and substitutions should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system, characterized in that: It includes a hydrogen supply component, a fuel cell stack, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a steam-water separator, a hydrogen circulation pump, an air outlet component, a vortex tube, an air inlet pipe, an air outlet pipe, a cold air pipe and a hot air pipe. The air inlet pipe is connected between the hydrogen supply component and the input end of the fuel cell stack, one end of the air outlet pipe is connected to the output end of the fuel cell stack, and the other end of the air outlet pipe is connected to the air inlet pipe. The first heat exchanger, the steam-water separator, the second heat exchanger and the hydrogen circulation pump are sequentially arranged on the air outlet pipe from one end close to the fuel cell stack to the end far from the fuel cell stack. The air outlet component is connected to the input end of the vortex tube, one end of the cold air pipe is connected to the cold air end of the vortex tube, the other end of the cold air pipe is connected to the first heat exchanger, one end of the hot air pipe is connected to the hot air end of the vortex tube, and the other end of the hot air pipe is connected to the second heat exchanger.

2. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a pressure reducing valve, which is arranged on the air inlet pipe. One end of the air outlet pipe away from the fuel cell stack is connected to the air inlet pipe and is located between the pressure reducing valve and the fuel cell stack.

3. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a water storage tank, which is communicated with the water outlet end at the bottom of the steam-water separator.

4. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom of the water storage tank is connected with a drain pipe.

5. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The drain pipe is provided with a switch valve.

6. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydrogen supply component is a hydrogen cylinder.

7. The hydrogen fuel cell anode water removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air outlet member is an air compressor.

Images