Heating device for fuel cell system and fuel cell system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a heating device for a fuel cell system, the heating device is detachably connected with a to-be-heated component of the fuel cell system in a heat conduction mode, the heating device comprises a shell, a heating element, a heating element and a heating element, the shell is provided with a containing opening; the cover is configured to be suitable for closing the accommodating opening in a detachable manner; the PI heating unit is arranged on the shell and is configured to be suitable for generating heat under the action of current; and the temperature control unit is arranged in the accommodating opening and is configured to be suitable for detecting the temperature of the PI heating unit and controlling energization of the PI heating unit. The utility model further relates to a fuel cell system with the heating device. By means of the technical scheme, it can be ensured that the anode module is fully heated during cold start of the fuel cell system, so that the freezing risk caused after emergency shutdown is avoided, and reliable and efficient operation of the fuel cell is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and in particular to a heating device for a fuel cell system. In addition, the present application also relates to a fuel cell system. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of fuel cell technology, fuel cell systems are gradually applied to vehicles and used as a power source to provide power for the vehicles.

[0003] For example, in a hydrogen fuel cell system, in a low-temperature environment, such as in cold winter, the water generated by the reaction in the hydrogen fuel cell system may freeze inside the fuel cell system. This will prevent the anode gas and the cathode gas from reaching the catalytic layer and reacting there, thereby causing a decline in the performance of the fuel cell system, and in severe cases, leading to an irreversible performance decline of the hydrogen fuel cell system.

[0004] In particular, when the fuel cell system is restarted after an emergency shutdown, due to the freezing of the water in the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system cannot be reliably started.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the many deficiencies in the prior art, there is still a need for improvement in the above technical solutions. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] In order to overcome one of the above-mentioned drawbacks and / or other possible drawbacks in the prior art not mentioned herein, the purpose of the present application is to propose an improved heating device for a fuel cell system and a corresponding improved fuel cell system.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a heating device for a fuel cell system, the heating device being thermally connected to a component to be heated of the fuel cell system in a detachable manner, the heating device comprising:

[0008] A housing having an accommodation opening;

[0009] A cover configured to close the accommodation opening in a detachable manner;

[0010] A PI heating unit disposed on the housing and configured to generate heat under the action of an electric current; and

[0011] A temperature control unit disposed in the accommodation opening and configured to detect the temperature of the PI heating unit and control the energization of the PI heating unit.

[0012] The basic concept of this application is that by using a PI heating unit as a heating device for a fuel cell system, the heating and de-icing requirements of the fuel cell system can be met particularly reliably and efficiently. Since the resistance of the PI heating unit remains unchanged after being energized and can provide a constant heating power, large-scale uniform heating can also be achieved.

[0013] In this application, the PI heating unit is a heating unit made of polyimide (English: Polyimide, abbreviation: PI).

[0014] Advantageous configurations of the technical solution of this application can be obtained from the following optional embodiments.

[0015] According to an optional embodiment of the heating device of this application, the PI heating unit is configured in a sheet shape and arranged on the first end face of the housing that faces away from the receiving opening. The first end face of the housing faces the component to be heated. When the heating device is arranged on the fuel cell system, the PI heating unit is in direct or indirect thermally conductive connection with the component to be heated.

[0016] According to an optional embodiment of the heating device of this application, the heating device further includes a first heat conducting device that is in full-surface contact with the first end face of the PI heating unit and is configured to arrange the PI heating unit on the first end face of the housing in a thermally conductive manner.

[0017] According to an optional embodiment of the heating device of this application, the heating device further includes a second heat conducting device that is in full-surface contact with the second end face of the PI heating unit and is configured to arrange the PI heating unit on the surface of the component to be heated in a thermally conductive manner.

[0018] According to an optional embodiment of the heating device of this application, the heating device further includes an electrical interface, and the PI heating unit is electrically connected to the power supply module of the fuel cell system through the electrical interface.

[0019] According to an optional embodiment of the heating device of this application, the PI heating unit is configured as an electric heating diaphragm, and the electric heating diaphragm is a heating diaphragm composed of polyimide and a conductive heating element arranged therein.

[0020] According to an optional embodiment of the heating device of this application, the heating power density of the PI heating unit is 1W / cm 2 to 8W / cm 2 .

[0021] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the thickness of the PI heating unit is 0.05 mm to 1 mm.

[0022] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the cover is fixed to the side of the receiving opening of the housing by means of a bolt connection and closes the receiving opening.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the housing is fixed to the component to be heated of the heating device by means of a bolt connection.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, a groove is formed on the first end face of the housing, the first heat conducting device is arranged in the groove, and the PI heating unit protrudes at least partially from the first end face of the housing relative to the groove.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, a first sealing groove is formed along the edge on the inner end face of the cover, a first sealing member is arranged in the first sealing groove, and when the cover is arranged on the housing, the first sealing member fluid-seals the receiving opening from the outside.

[0026] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, a second sealing groove is formed along the edge on the first end face of the housing, a second sealing member is arranged in the second sealing groove, and when the heating device is arranged on the fuel cell system, the second sealing member fluid-seals the PI heating unit from the outside.

[0027] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the PI heating unit, the first heat conducting device and the second heat conducting device have the same outer contour.

[0028] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the heating device has an IP67 protection safety level.

[0029] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the heating device has a rectangular shape.

[0030] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the housing and / or the cover is a plastic part.

[0031] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the component to be heated is the anode module of the fuel cell system.

[0032] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the first sealing member and / or the second sealing member is a rubber sealing ring.

[0033] According to an alternative embodiment of the heating device of the present application, the first heat conducting device and / or the second heat conducting device is a heat conducting silica gel pad or a heat conducting double-sided adhesive tape.

[0034] According to a second aspect of the present application, a fuel cell system including a heating device according to one of the above embodiments is provided.

[0035] More features of the present application become apparent from the claims, the drawings, and the description of the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned in the above description and the features and combinations of features mentioned and / or shown only in the drawings in the following description of the drawings can be used not only in the corresponding specified combinations, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the present application. Therefore, the following is also considered to be covered and disclosed by the present application: content that is not explicitly shown in the drawings and not explicitly explained, but results from combinations consisting of separated features from the explained content. The following content and combinations of features are also considered to be disclosed: those that do not have all the features of the originally written independent claims. In addition, the following content and combinations of features are considered to be particularly disclosed by the above content: those that exceed or deviate from the combinations of features defined in the reference relationship of the claims. Description of the Drawings

[0036] Other optional details and features of the present application are obtained from the following description of the preferred embodiments schematically shown in the drawings.

[0037] Figure 1 A perspective view showing an embodiment of the fuel cell system of the present application;

[0038] Figure 2 A perspective view showing the heating device of the present application in an assembled state;

[0039] Figure 3 An exploded view showing an embodiment of the heating device of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 Shows according to Figure 3 of the embodiment of the heating device, along Figure 2 in the A-A cross-sectional view; and

[0041] Figure 5 Shows another embodiment of the heating device of the present invention, along Figure 2 in the A'-A' cross-sectional view.

[0042] List of Reference Numerals

[0043] 1 Fuel cell system

[0044] 10 Component to be heated

[0045] 20 Heating device

[0046] 21 Housing

[0047] 22 Cover

[0048] 23 PI heating unit

[0049] 24 Temperature control unit

[0050] 25 First heat conducting device

[0051] 26 Second heat conducting device

[0052] 27 Electrical interface

[0053] 28 First seal

[0054] 29 Second seal

[0055] 30 Bolt

[0056] 211 Accommodating opening

[0057] 212 First end face of the housing

[0058] 213 Groove

[0059] 214 Second seal groove

[0060] 215 Second bolt hole

[0061] 216 Third bolt hole

[0062] 221 Inner end face of the cover

[0063] 222 First seal groove

[0064] 223 First bolt hole

[0065] 231 First end face of the PI heating unit

[0066] 232 Second end face of the PI heating unit

[0067] A-A A-A section

[0068] A’-A’ A’-A’ section Detailed implementation manners

[0069] In order to make the technical problems to be solved, technical solutions and beneficial technical effects of this application clearer and more understandable, the following will further elaborate on this application in combination with the drawings and multiple exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not used to limit the protection scope of this application.

[0070] In the case of no conflict, the features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other. In different drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and for the sake of brevity, other components are omitted, but this does not mean that the technical solution of the present application cannot include other components. It should be understood that the dimensions, proportional relationships, and the number of components in the drawings do not limit the present application.

[0071] Next, the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail in conjunction with Figures 1 to 5 the following.

[0072] Figure 1 FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a fuel cell system 1 of the present application. In Figure 1 only a part of the fuel cell system 1 is exemplarily shown, that is, in Figure 1 the heating module 10 of the fuel cell system 1 is shown.

[0073] According to this embodiment, the fuel cell system 1 is configured as a hydrogen fuel cell system for an electric vehicle, and the heating module 10 is an anode module. Of course, the fuel cell system 1 can also be configured in other forms of fuel cell systems and is generally applied to other technical fields. When the hydrogen fuel cell system operates, hydrogen is continuously supplied in the anode module. Fresh air or oxygen is supplied in a cathode module (not shown), and chemical energy is converted into electrical energy through the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to provide electrical energy for the vehicle.

[0074] Since the reaction principle and working mode of the hydrogen fuel cell system itself are known and not the focus of the present application, for the sake of simplicity, the detailed description of the chemical reaction and working principle of the hydrogen fuel cell system is omitted.

[0075] Generally, reaction water is generated through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the hydrogen fuel cell system, and at least part of the reaction water should be continuously or regularly discharged from the hydrogen fuel cell system.

[0076] When the hydrogen fuel cell system is cold-started or restarted after an emergency shutdown of the hydrogen fuel cell system, since the water present in it may freeze in a low-temperature environment, the hydrogen fuel cell system may not be able to start or only start with limited and reduced performance.

[0077] Therefore, to avoid this situation, as Figure 1 shown, a heating device 20 according to an embodiment of the present application is arranged on the anode module of the fuel cell system 1 which is exemplarily configured as a hydrogen fuel cell system. The heating device 20 is thermally connected to the anode module of the fuel cell system 1 in a detachable manner.

[0078] In the present application, "connected in a detachable manner" should be understood as that two components can be connected to each other by hand or with the aid of tools without damaging their basic structures.

[0079] Figure 2 Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the heating device 20 of the present application in an assembled state. Figure 3 Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the heating device 20 of the present invention. Figure 4 Fig. 8 shows according to Figure 3 an embodiment of the heating device 20, a cross-sectional view taken along the Figure 2 section line A-A in Fig. 12.

[0080] As Figure 2 shown, the heating device 20 has a rectangular shape and is configured as a relatively flat cuboid. The heating device 20 includes a housing 21 and a cover 22. The housing 21 can be connected to the cover 22 by bolts 30 (see also Figure 3 ).

[0081] In an embodiment according to Figure 3 , four first bolt holes 223 of the cover 22 are exemplarily shown. Correspondingly, four corresponding second bolt holes 215 are provided at corresponding positions of the housing 21. The cover 22 and the housing 21 are fixedly connected by four bolts 30.

[0082] According to this embodiment, for reasons of cost and weight, the housing 21 and the cover 22 are configured as plastic parts. Of course, the housing 21 and the cover 22 can also be made of other heat-insulating materials.

[0083] Exemplarily, the housing 21 further includes four third bolt holes 216 through which the housing 21 or the heating device 20 can be fixed to the component to be heated 10 (here an anode module).

[0084] According to this embodiment, the heating device 20 has an IP67 protection safety level.

[0085] The IP protection safety level (English full name: Ingress Protection Rating) defines the protection ability of an interface against liquid and solid particles. The first of the two numbers after IP represents the solid protection level, ranging from 0 to 6, respectively representing the protection levels against large particle foreign objects to dust; the second number represents the liquid protection level, ranging from 0 to 8, respectively representing the protection levels against vertical water droplets to the protection level under the pressure of the bottom of the water. The larger the number, the stronger the protection ability.

[0086] The IP67 protection safety level in this application can achieve dust penetration prevention and short-term liquid immersion prevention. Thus, it can reliably ensure that the heating device 20 is not affected by dirt and corrosive fluids in the environment of the fuel cell system 1.

[0087] As can be seen in the exploded view according to Figure 3 , the housing 21 has a receiving opening 211, and the cover 22 detachably closes the receiving opening 211.

[0088] According to this embodiment, the heating device 20 further includes a PI heating unit 23, a temperature control unit 24, and a first heat conducting device 25.

[0089] The PI heating unit 23 is arranged on the housing 21 and can generate heat under the action of an electric current. In this embodiment, the PI heating unit 23 is configured as an electric heating diaphragm, which is composed of polyimide and a conductive heating body arranged therein, such as a metal heating sheet. Due to the structure and performance of the electric heating diaphragm, it has good heating uniformity.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the heating power density of the PI heating unit 23 is between 1 W / cm 2 and 8 W / cm 2 , for example, 5 W / cm 2 . Its high heat conduction performance ensures a short heating response time and a fast heating speed. The thickness of the PI heating unit 23 is between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, for example, 1 mm. Although the PI heating unit 23 has a very thin thickness, due to its high flexibility and bendability, the PI heating unit 23 can also be adapted to different surface shapes, such as a curved surface (end face), to achieve a large heat conduction area.

[0091] It should be noted that the heating power density and thickness of the PI heating unit 23 in this embodiment are only exemplary and not limiting, and depend on the specifications of the components to be heated in the fuel cell system and the required heating power. Those skilled in the art can adapt different parameters such as the heating power density and thickness of the PI heating unit 23 according to different products.

[0092] The temperature control unit 24 is arranged in the receiving opening 211 and is used to detect the temperature of the PI heating unit 23 and control the power supply to the PI heating unit 23. Exemplarily, the temperature control unit 24 may include a chip and a temperature sensor.

[0093] In Figure 4As can be seen, the PI heating unit 23 is configured in a sheet shape and arranged on the first end face 212 of the housing 21 that faces away from the receiving opening 211. The first end face 212 of the housing 21 faces the component 10 to be heated. When the heating device 20 is arranged on the fuel cell system 1 or on the component 10 to be heated, the PI heating unit 23 is in direct contact with the component 10 to be heated and can establish a heat conduction connection.

[0094] In addition, the heating device 20 further includes a first heat conducting device 25 and an electrical interface 27. The first heat conducting device 25 is in full-surface contact with the first end face 231 of the PI heating unit 23 and is used to arrange the PI heating unit 23 on the first end face 212 of the housing 21 in a heat-conducting manner. The PI heating unit 23 is electrically connected to an unshown power supply module of the fuel cell system 1 via the electrical interface 27. When the fuel cell system 1 is cold-started, the PI heating unit 23 is powered on via the electrical interface 27, so that the heat generated by the PI heating unit 23 is conducted to the component 10 to be heated of the fuel cell system 1.

[0095] In Figure 4 the A-A cross-sectional view of, a groove 213 is formed on the first end face 212 of the housing 21, also see Figure 3 , the first heat conducting device 25 is configured in a sheet shape or a plate shape and is configured as a heat-conducting silica gel pad in this embodiment. Alternatively, the first heat conducting device 25 can also be configured as a heat-conducting double-sided tape and is used to adhesively bond the PI heating unit 23 in a heat-conducting manner into the groove 213. As Figure 4 shown, the PI heating unit 23 protrudes at least partially from the first end face 212 of the housing 21 relative to the groove 213. Therefore, when the heating device 20 is arranged on the component 10 to be heated, such as the anode module, it is ensured that the second end face 232 of the PI heating unit 23 is in full-surface contact with the end face of the anode module, thereby achieving optimized heat conduction.

[0096] Also as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, on the inner end face 221 of the cover 22, a first sealing groove 222 is formed along the edge, and a first seal 28 configured as a rubber sealing ring is arranged in the first sealing groove 222, so that when the cover 22 is fixed on the housing 21, the first seal 28 is clamped between the cover 22 and the housing 21 and fluid-seals the receiving opening 211 from the outside. Thereby, the components inside the receiving opening 211 are protected from the influence of the external environment.

[0097] The "inner end face 221 of the cover 22" should be understood as: in the assembled state of the heating device 20, the end face of the cover 22 facing the inside of the housing 21, that is, the downward-facing end face of the cover 22 in Figure 3 .

[0098] Furthermore, on the first end face 212 of the housing 21, a second sealing groove 214 is formed along the edge, and a second seal 29, which is also configured as a rubber sealing ring, is arranged in the second sealing groove 214. When the heating device 20 is arranged on the fuel cell system 1 or the component 10 to be heated, the second seal 29 is clamped between the PI heating unit 23 and the component 10 to be heated and seals the PI heating unit 23 from the external fluid.

[0099] In Figure 3 the PI heating unit 23 and the first heat conducting device 25 have substantially the same outer contour, which can ensure an optimized contact area between the first heat conducting device 25 and the PI heating unit 23 and achieve an optimized heat conducting capacity.

[0100] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view along A'-A' of another embodiment of the heating device 20 of the present invention. Figure 2 in the A'-A' cross-section of

[0101] Compared with Figure 3 and Figure 4 the embodiment of the heating device 20, the difference of the heating device 20 of this another embodiment in Figure 5 is that the heating device 20 of this another embodiment in Figure 3 and Figure 4 also includes a second heat conducting device 26. The second heat conducting device 26 is in full-surface contact with the second end face 232 of the PI heating unit 23 and is used to arrange the PI heating unit 23 on the surface of the component 10 to be heated in a heat conducting manner. Therefore, compared with Figure 5 where the second end face 232 of the PI heating unit 23 in

[0102] is in direct heat conducting contact with the surface of the component 10 to be heated, in the embodiment in

[0103] by the second heat conducting device 26 being in full-surface heat conducting contact with the PI heating unit 23 and the component 10 to be heated respectively, the heat conducting area is increased, thereby improving the heating efficiency of the heating device 20. Figure 5 As can also be seen in

[0104] the PI heating unit 23, the first heat conducting device 25 and the second heat conducting device 26 also have the same outer contour.

[0105] In this specification, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "arrangement", "connection", and "coupling" shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate member, or the internal communication of two elements. Expressions such as "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be understood as implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the circumstances.

Claims

1. A heating device for a fuel cell system, wherein the heating device (20) is thermally connected to a component (10) to be heated of the fuel cell system (1) in a detachable manner, characterized in that: The heating device (20) comprises: A housing (21), wherein the housing (21) has a receiving opening (211); a cover (22), the cover (22) being configured to be suitable for closing the receiving opening (211) in a detachable manner; a PI heating unit (23), the PI heating unit (23) being arranged on the housing (21) and being configured to generate heat under the action of electric current; and A temperature control unit (24) is arranged in the receiving opening (211) and is configured to detect the temperature of the PI heating unit (23) and control the energization of the PI heating unit (23).

2. The heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that The PI heating unit (23) is constructed in a sheet-like manner and is arranged on a first end face (212) of the housing (21) facing away from the receiving opening (211), the first end face (212) of the housing (21) facing the component (10) to be heated, and when the heating device (20) is arranged on the fuel cell system (1), the PI heating unit (23) is directly or indirectly thermally connected to the component (10) to be heated.

3. The heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating device (20) further comprises a first heat-conducting device (25), the first heat-conducting device (25) being in full contact with a first end surface (231) of the PI heating unit (23) and being configured to be suitable for arranging the PI heating unit (23) on the first end surface (212) of the housing (21) in a heat-conducting manner; and / or The heating device (20) further comprises a second heat conducting device (26), the second heat conducting device (26) being in full contact with the second end surface (232) of the PI heating unit (23) and being configured to be suitable for arranging the PI heating unit (23) on the surface of the component to be heated (10) in a heat-conducting manner; and / or The heating device (20) further comprises an electrical interface (27), and the PI heating unit (23) is electrically connected to a power supply module of the fuel cell system (1) via the electrical interface (27).

4. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The PI heating unit (23) is constructed as an electric heating film, which is a heating film composed of polyimide and a conductive heating element arranged therein; and / or The power density of the PI heating unit (23) is 1 W / cm 2 Up to 8W / cm 2 ; and / or The thickness of the PI heating unit (23) is 0.05 mm to 1 mm.

5. The heating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cover (22) is fixed to the receiving opening (211) side of the housing (21) by means of a screw connection and closes the receiving opening (211); and / or The housing (21) is fixed to the component (10) to be heated of the heating device (20) by means of a screw connection.

6. The heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A groove (213) is formed on the first end surface (212) of the housing (21), the first heat conducting component (25) is arranged in the groove (213), and the PI heating unit (23) at least partially protrudes from the first end surface (212) of the housing (21) relative to the groove (213).

7. The heating device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: A first sealing groove (222) is constructed along the edge of the inner end surface (221) of the cover (22), and a first sealing member (28) is arranged in the first sealing groove (222). When the cover (22) is arranged on the housing (21), the first sealing member (28) seals the receiving opening (211) from an external fluid. and / or A second sealing groove (214) is constructed along the edge of the first end face (212) of the shell (21), and a second sealing member (29) is arranged in the second sealing groove (214). When the heating device (20) is arranged on the fuel cell system (1), the second sealing member (29) seals the PI heating unit (23) relative to the external fluid.

8. The heating device according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that: The PI heating unit (23), the first heat conducting component (25) and the second heat conducting component (26) have the same outer contour.

9. The heating device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heating device (20) has an IP67 protection safety level; and / or The heating device (20) has a rectangular shape; and / or The housing (21) and / or the cover (22) are plastic parts; and / or The component to be heated (10) is an anode module of the fuel cell system (1); and / or The first sealing member (28) and / or the second sealing member (29) are rubber sealing rings; and / or The first heat-conducting device (25) and / or the second heat-conducting device (26) is a heat-conducting silicone pad or a heat-conducting double-sided adhesive.

10. A fuel cell system, characterized in that: The fuel cell system (1) comprises a heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images