Drain valve with PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater
By adopting a PTC heater with overcurrent protection function and a static iron core structure in the drain valve, the problem of untimely heating response is solved, and a safe ice removal is achieved to ensure the normal start of the fuel cell system in a low-temperature environment.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422363971.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-01
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-27
AI Technical Summary
The heating device of the existing drain valve does not respond in time, which leads to the heating element being easily burned in a low-temperature environment and cannot be effectively thawed, affecting the normal operation of the fuel cell system.
The PTC heater with overcurrent protection function is adopted, combined with the structural design of the static iron core, armature and sealing diaphragm, to achieve the safe ice removal function of the drain valve. By adjusting the power of the PTC heater to meet different ice removal needs.
It realizes a safe and reliable ice-removing function in a low-temperature environment, protects the heater from burning, and ensures the normal start-up and operation of the fuel cell system.
Smart Images
Figure CN223049465U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of discharge valves in hydrogen fuel cells, and specifically discloses a drain valve with a PTC heater. Background Art
[0002] The drain valve is an important part of the hydrogen fuel cell emission system, and has the following functions: during the reaction process of the hydrogen fuel cell, water and other gas emission mixtures are generated. Therefore, it is necessary to add a switching solenoid valve to control the emission of reactants by turning off and on the solenoid valve, and to evacuate the water generated by the fuel cell reaction and the excess gas in the system.
[0003] Since the emission mixture contains moisture, when the fuel cell stack is started in an environment below the freezing point, the drain valve needs to heat and break the ice on its own valve structure to ensure the normal operation of the system in a low-temperature environment.
[0004] The original heating device for the drain valve uses a combination of a temperature sensor and an ordinary heater. The temperature sensor monitors the internal temperature of the drain valve and controls the switch of the heater. Its disadvantage is that the heater heats up too fast, while the temperature sensor has a slow feedback, resulting in untimely response and easy burning of the heating element, leading to the thawing failure of the drain valve. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to overcome the deficiencies existing in the prior art, and provide a drain valve with a PTC heater, which can realize the function of safe ice melting, and can adjust the power of the PTC heater to match fuel cell systems with different ice melting requirements.
[0006] According to the technical solution provided by the utility model, the drain valve with a PTC heater includes a housing, an air inlet joint, a base, a flange, a coil, a static iron core, a spring, an armature, an air outlet joint, a PTC heater, a static iron core guide sleeve, a connecting column and a sealing diaphragm;
[0007] A base is fixed in the housing. An independent air inlet flow channel and an air outlet flow channel are opened in the base. A heater installation groove is opened at the bottom of the base. An air inlet joint and an air outlet joint are fixed on the base. The air outlet end of the air inlet joint is connected to the air inlet end of the air inlet flow channel. The air outlet end of the air outlet flow channel is connected to the air inlet end of the air outlet joint. A PTC heater is fixed in the heater installation groove;
[0008] A coil is provided above the housing. A static iron core is fixed within the coil. A static iron core guide sleeve is fixed to the outside of the lower end of the static iron core. The lower end of the static iron core guide sleeve is fixed to the flange. An armature is slidably installed within the static iron core guide sleeve. A spring is provided between the armature and the static iron core. A connecting column is fixed to the lower end of the armature. The central position of the sealing diaphragm is fixed to the lower end portion of the connecting column. The outer peripheral portion of the sealing diaphragm is pressed between the lower end surface of the flange and the upper end surface of the base. The sealing diaphragm can seal the intake end of the air flow passage.
[0009] Preferably, the PTC heater is a PTC heater with an overcurrent protection function.
[0010] The present utility model can achieve a safe defrosting function and can adjust the power of the PTC heater to match fuel cell systems with different defrosting requirements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the present utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0012] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0013] A drain valve with a PTC heater, as Figure 1 shown, includes a housing 1, an intake joint 2, a base 3, a flange 4, a coil 5, a static iron core 7, a spring 8, an armature 9, an outlet joint 10, a PTC heater 11, a static iron core guide sleeve 12, a connecting column 13, and a sealing diaphragm 14;
[0014] A base 3 is fixed within the housing 1. Independent intake air flow passages 3.1 and outlet air flow passages 3.2 are provided within the base 3. A heater installation groove 3.3 is provided at the bottom of the base 3. An intake joint 2 and an outlet joint 10 are fixed to the base 3. The outlet end of the intake joint 2 is connected to the intake end of the intake air flow passage 3.1. The outlet end of the outlet air flow passage 3.2 is connected to the intake end of the outlet joint 10. A PTC heater 11 is fixed within the heater installation groove 3.3;
[0015] Above the housing 1, a coil 5 is provided. Inside the coil 5, a static iron core 7 is fixed. Outside the lower end of the static iron core 7, a static iron core guide sleeve 12 is fixed. The lower end of the static iron core guide sleeve 12 is fixed to the flange 4. Inside the static iron core guide sleeve 12, an armature 9 is slidably installed. Between the armature 9 and the static iron core 7, a spring 8 is provided. At the lower end of the armature 9, a connecting column 13 is fixed. The central position of the sealing diaphragm 14 is fixed to the lower end of the connecting column 13. The outer circular part of the sealing diaphragm 14 is pressed between the lower end face of the flange 4 and the upper end face of the base 3. The sealing diaphragm 14 can seal the intake end of the air flow passage 3.2.
[0016] The PTC heater 11 uses a PTC heater with an overcurrent protection function.
[0017] In the present utility model, the static iron core guide sleeve 12 and the flange 4 are assembled by laser welding. The static iron core 7 is locked with the coil 5 through a nut 6. The spring 8 and the armature 9 are both installed in the static iron core guide sleeve 12. The static iron core guide sleeve 12 has a guiding structure for guiding the movement of the armature 9.
[0018] The working principle of the present utility model is as follows:
[0019] When the coil 5 of this drain valve is not energized, the mixed fluid (liquid water or other gases) discharged from the stack enters the intake air flow passage 3.1 from the intake joint 2. The armature 9 is subject to the spring force of the spring 8, causing the sealing diaphragm 14 to be pressed against the end face of the intake end of the outlet air flow passage 3.2. At this time, the outlet end of the intake air flow passage 3.1 is not connected to the intake end of the outlet air flow passage 3.2, and the pressure fluid cannot be discharged through the outlet joint 10. When the coil 5 is energized, the coil 5 forms a magnetic flux under the action of the current and forms a magnetic circuit with the static iron core 7 and the armature 9. The armature 9 moves upward under the action of the electromagnetic force, overcoming the spring force of the spring 8, causing the sealing diaphragm 14 to deform through the connecting column 13. The sealing diaphragm 14 separates from the end face of the intake end of the outlet air flow passage 3.2, and the outlet end of the intake air flow passage 3.1 is connected to the intake end of the outlet air flow passage 3.2, and the pressure fluid is discharged through the outlet joint 10.
[0020] When the system is in a shutdown state and in a sub-zero environment for a long time, the original residual liquid will freeze, causing the solenoid valve to be unable to open normally even in the energized state. Therefore, when starting in a sub-zero environment, the PTC heater 11 will be energized and turned on to heat the base 3, melting the liquid in the intake air flow passage 3.1 and the outlet air flow passage 3.2 to meet the solenoid valve opening condition. Since the PTC heater 11 has an overcurrent protection function, as the temperature of the PTC heater 11 rises, the internal heating resistance increases. Eventually, after the PTC heater 11 reaches its internal Curie temperature, the internal resistance of the PTC heater 11 steps up to a million times, causing the PTC heater 11 to open circuit, achieving the effect of protecting the PTC heater 11.
[0021] Finally, it should be noted that the above specific embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present utility model rather than to limit them. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the examples, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present utility model can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present utility model, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A drain valve with a PTC heater, characterized in that: It comprises a housing (1), an air inlet connector (2), a base (3), a flange (4), a coil (5), a static iron core (7), a spring (8), an armature (9), an air outlet connector (10), a PTC heater (11), a static iron core guide sleeve (12), a connecting column (13) and a sealing diaphragm (14); A base (3) is fixed in the shell (1), and an independent inlet air duct (3.1) and an outlet air duct (3.2) are provided in the base (3); a heater mounting groove (3.3) is provided at the bottom of the base (3); an inlet joint (2) and an outlet joint (10) are fixed on the base (3); the outlet end of the inlet joint (2) is connected to the inlet end of the inlet air duct (3.1), and the outlet end of the outlet air duct (3.2) is connected to the inlet end of the outlet joint (10); and a PTC heater (11) is fixed in the heater mounting groove (3.3); A coil (5) is provided above the shell (1), a static iron core (7) is fixed in the coil (5), a static iron core guide sleeve (12) is fixed to the outside of the lower end of the static iron core (7), the lower end of the static iron core guide sleeve (12) is fixed to the flange (4), an armature (9) is slidably installed in the static iron core guide sleeve (12), a spring (8) is provided between the armature (9) and the static iron core (7), a connecting column (13) is fixed to the lower end of the armature (9), the center position of the sealing diaphragm (14) is fixed to the lower end of the connecting column (13), the outer circumferential portion of the sealing diaphragm (14) is pressed between the lower end surface of the flange (4) and the upper end surface of the base (3), and the sealing diaphragm (14) can seal the air inlet end of the air flow channel (3.2).
2. The drain valve with a PTC heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PTC heater (11) is a PTC heater with an overcurrent protection function.