Water collector for fuel cell system and fuel cell system comprising water collector

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a water collector for a fuel cell system configured to collect water separated from a water separator of the fuel cell system, the water collector comprising: a base having a circular opening in the center thereof; the funnel part is integrally connected to the base, and the small opening end of the funnel part is aligned with the opening of the base; the water separator is characterized in that the inner side surface of the funnel part comprises an anti-vortex part for preventing the separated water from forming vortexes. The utility model also relates to a fuel cell system comprising the water collector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a fuel cell system, and more particularly to a water collector for a fuel cell and a fuel cell including the water collector. Background Art

[0002] At present, fuel cells are increasingly used in people's lives. Fuel cells are a new, efficient and clean power generation system. Fuel cells that use hydrogen as fuel have high power generation efficiency and do not pollute the environment.

[0003] A fuel cell system generally includes a fuel cell stack, a cathode supply channel for supplying air to the fuel cell stack, and a fuel supply channel for supplying hydrogen to the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack. An electrochemical reaction occurs between the cathode and the anode, generating current and water. The water generated by the reaction should be discharged in time to avoid affecting the performance of the fuel cell system. The function of the water collector is to collect the water separated from the water separator of the fuel cell system to ensure the efficiency of the fuel cell system.

[0004] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a water collector for a fuel cell system according to the prior art. Figure 1 It can be seen that the water collector 100 of the fuel cell system of the prior art includes a base 11 and a funnel 12. The inner surface of the funnel 12 is a smooth flat surface. When the separated water from the vortex structure enters the funnel 12, it will continue to rotate to form a vortex, so the efficiency of water separation will be reduced.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide a water collector with improved water collection efficiency to improve the efficiency of the fuel cell system. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of the above problems, the utility model aims to provide a water collector capable of improving water collection efficiency and a fuel cell including the water collector.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the utility model, there is provided a water collector for a fuel cell system, which is configured to collect water separated from a water separator of the fuel cell system, the water collector comprising: a base having an opening at the center of the base; a funnel portion integrally connected to the base, wherein the small mouth end of the funnel portion is aligned with the opening of the base; and characterized in that the inner surface of the funnel portion comprises an anti-vortex portion for preventing the separated water from forming a vortex.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the anti-eddy current portion includes two or more recessed portions recessed from the inner surface or protruding portions protruding from the inner surface.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the anti-eddy flow portion includes three recessed portions or protruding portions.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed portions or the protruding portions are evenly arranged on the inner surface.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed portions or the protruding portions are unevenly arranged on the inner surface.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed portion or the protruding portion has a gradually widening fan-shaped shape extending from the small-mouth end toward the large-mouth end of the funnel portion.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed portion or the protruding portion has a shape of an elongated strip with a constant width extending from the small-mouth end toward the large-mouth end of the funnel portion.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed portion or the protruding portion has a circular, polygonal, or elliptical shape.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vortex prevention portion includes at least one recessed portion and at least one protruding portion.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the inner surface of the funnel portion may have two or more recessed portions in the shape of an elongated strip, a fan, a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon as the vortex prevention portion.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the inner surface of the funnel portion may have two or more convex portions in the shape of an elongated strip, a fan, a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon as the vortex prevention portion.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the utility model, the inner surface of the funnel portion can simultaneously have one or more concave portions in the shape of a slender strip, a fan-shaped, a circle, an ellipse and a polygon and one or more convex portions in the shape of a slender strip, a fan-shaped, a circle, an ellipse and a polygon as the anti-vortex portion.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell system is provided, which includes the water collector for the fuel cell system according to the present invention.

[0020] Since the anti-vortex portion is provided on the funnel portion of the water collector of the utility model, when water in a rotating state enters the water collector, the vortex rotation of the water can be effectively prevented, thereby effectively improving the efficiency of water separation and improving the efficiency of the fuel cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 A water collector for a fuel cell system according to the prior art is schematically shown.

[0023] Figure 2 The present invention schematically shows a perspective view of a water collector for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 The present invention schematically shows a perspective view of a water collector for a fuel cell system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of a fuel cell system to which the water collector according to the utility model is applied is schematically shown.

[0026] According to the detailed description carried out below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other purposes and features of the embodiments of this invention will become apparent. However, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings are only schematic representations and are only used for illustrative purposes, rather than to limit the scope of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 2 The figure schematically shows a three-dimensional view of a water collector 200 for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It can be seen that the water collector 200 includes a base 11 and a funnel portion 12 integrally connected to the base 11, wherein the base 11 has an opening at the center, and the small end of the funnel portion 12 is aligned with the opening of the base 11. Although the opening in the figure is circular, the opening can also be other shapes, such as rectangular. The improvement of the utility model lies in the structure of the funnel portion of the water collector, Figure 2 The structure of the base 11 is Figure 1 The structure of the base 11 is the same as that of the prior art, so it will not be repeated here.

[0028] Depend on Figure 2It can be seen that the inner surface of the funnel portion 12 of the water collector 200 of the utility model includes a recessed portion 121. The recessed portion 121 serves as an anti-vortex portion, which is used to prevent the water from the water separator from rotating to form a vortex, thereby improving the water collection efficiency. The shape of the recessed portion 121 is a fan-shaped shape that gradually widens from the small mouth end of the funnel portion 12 toward the large mouth end. According to this embodiment, the depth of the recessed portion 121 gradually deepens from the small mouth end toward the large mouth end. Optionally, the depth of the recessed portion 121 can be consistent from top to bottom. In this embodiment, the number of recessed portions 121 is 3, but the number of protrusions 122 can be any number, such as 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, etc. Generally, the recessed portions 121 are evenly arranged on the inner surface of the funnel portion 12. Optionally, the recessed portions 121 are unevenly arranged on the inner surface of the funnel portion 12. Optionally, the shape of the recessed portion may be a strip having a uniform width from the small end toward the large end.

[0029] Although not shown in the figure, the recessed portion on the inner surface of the funnel portion 12 of the present invention may be a recessed portion of any other shape, such as a plurality of circular, polygonal or elliptical recessed portions arranged regularly or irregularly, in addition to the fan-shaped and strip-shaped recessed portions.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the inner surface of the funnel portion 12 may have two or more concave portions in the shape of an elongated strip, a sector, a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.

[0031] Figure 3 The figure schematically shows a three-dimensional view of a water collector for a fuel cell system according to another embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 3 It can be seen that the water collector 200 of the present invention includes a base 11 and a funnel portion 12 .

[0032] Figure 3 The inner surface of the funnel portion 12 includes a protrusion 122 as an anti-vortex portion. The protrusion 122 is in the shape of an elongated protruding rib extending from the small mouth end toward the large mouth end. The protrusion height of the protrusion 122 is uniform. Optionally, the protrusion height of the protrusion 122 can gradually increase or decrease from the small mouth end toward the large mouth end. In the present embodiment, the number of protrusions 122 is 3, but the number of protrusions 122 can be any number, such as 2, 4, 5, 6, etc. Generally, the protrusions 122 are evenly arranged on the inner surface of the funnel portion 12. Optionally, the protrusions 122 are unevenly arranged on the inner surface of the funnel portion 12. Optionally, the shape of the protrusion 122 is a fan-shaped shape that gradually widens from the small mouth end toward the large mouth end of the funnel portion 12.

[0033] Although not shown in the figure, the protrusion 122 on the inner surface of the funnel portion of the present invention can be a protrusion of any other shape besides fan-shaped and strip-shaped, such as a plurality of circular, polygonal or elliptical protrusions arranged regularly or irregularly.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the inner surface of the funnel portion 12 may have two or more convex portions in the shape of an elongated strip, a fan, a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the inner surface of the funnel portion 12 may include both a concave portion and a convex portion. In other words, the inner surface of the funnel portion 12 may have at least one concave portion in the shape of a slender strip, a fan-shaped, a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon, and at least one convex portion in the shape of a slender strip, a fan-shaped, a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.

[0036] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of a fuel cell system to which the water collector according to the present invention is applied is schematically shown, which shows a schematic diagram of mixed gas and water from the fuel cell system entering the water collector 200 after passing through the water separator 300 .

[0037] exist Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the mixed gas and water from the fuel cell system enter the water separator 300 of the fuel cell system through the inlet 120. In the water separator 300, the water and the mixed gas are separated by the vortex structure. The water 130 from the vortex structure enters the water collector 200 of the present invention in a rotating state. Since the present invention only relates to the improvement of the water collector, the specific structure of the water separator 300 is not repeated.

[0038] Since the anti-vortex portion is provided on the funnel portion 12 of the water collector 200 of the utility model, when the water in a rotating state enters the water collector, the vortex rotation of the water can be effectively prevented, thereby effectively improving the efficiency of water separation and improving the efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0039] Although the features of the embodiments of this invention have been described, it is understandable that those skilled in the art may make various omissions, substitutions and changes to the structure of the invention, and it is possible to adjust the structure of the invention while still being able to implement the functions of the invention.

Claims

1. A water collector (200) for a fuel cell system, configured to collect water separated from a water separator (300) of the fuel cell system, the water collector (200) comprising: A base (11), wherein the center of the base (11) has an opening; a funnel portion (12) integrally connected to the base (11), wherein a small end of the funnel portion (12) is aligned with the opening of the base (11); The invention is characterized in that the inner surface of the funnel portion (12) comprises an anti-vortex portion for preventing the separated water from forming a vortex.

2. The water collector (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vortex prevention portion includes two or more recessed portions (121) recessed from the inner surface or protruding portions (122) protruding from the inner surface.

3. The water collector (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The anti-eddy flow portion comprises three recessed portions (121) or protruding portions (122).

4. The water collector (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The recessed portions (121) or the protruding portions (122) are evenly arranged on the inner surface.

5. The water collector (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The recessed portions (121) or the protruding portions (122) are unevenly arranged on the inner surface.

6. The water collector (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The recessed portion (121) or the protruding portion (122) has a gradually widening fan-shaped shape extending from the small-mouth end toward the large-mouth end of the funnel portion (12).

7. The water collector (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The recessed portion (121) or the protruding portion (122) has a slender strip shape with a constant width extending from the small-mouth end toward the large-mouth end of the funnel portion (12).

8. The water collector (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The recessed portion (121) or the protruding portion (122) has a circular, polygonal, or elliptical shape.

9. The water collector (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vortex prevention portion comprises at least one recessed portion (121) and at least one protruding portion (122).

10. A fuel cell system, comprising the water collector (200) for a fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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