Fuel cell water segregator

Abstract

The utility model discloses a fuel cell water segregator which structurally comprises a water segregation tank and a water collection tank which are connected through a pipeline, and a water segregation partition plate is arranged between the water segregation tank and the water collection tank. A gas-liquid mixture inlet is formed in the side wall of the water distribution box, and an exhaust port is formed in the top of the water distribution box. A flow guide plate is installed at the position, right opposite to the gas-liquid mixture inlet, in the water distribution box, and the interior of the water distribution box is divided into a first cavity and a second cavity through the flow guide plate. The water collecting tank is provided with a water outlet, and the water diversion partition plate is provided with a vent hole. The water diversion partition plate and the water collection tank jointly form a water falling hole, and a water collection cavity is formed between the water diversion partition plate and the water collection tank. During use, the gas-liquid mixture inlet is connected with the fuel cell, a gas-liquid mixture enters the first cavity along with high-speed airflow generated by the fuel cell and collides with the flow guide plate to be shunted, in the shunting process, liquid falls into the water collection tank under the action of gravity and is discharged, and gas with low density rises to the second cavity along with the high-speed airflow, so that the gas-liquid mixture enters the second cavity along with the flow guide plate. And the air is exhausted through the exhaust port.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a gas-liquid separation device, specifically to a fuel cell water separator. Background Technology

[0002] During the operation of a fuel cell system, reactions produce gas and liquid water. If these are not drained in time, the fuel cell stack will be submerged, reducing the active area of ​​the fuel cell and thus decreasing its performance and lifespan. Therefore, a water-vapor separator needs to be installed at the hydrogen system outlet of the fuel cell system to collect the water from the anode. Existing water-vapor separators have several problems, such as complex structure, high manufacturing cost, and low separation efficiency. Especially under high flow conditions, the separation efficiency drops sharply, affecting the performance of the entire fuel cell system.

[0003] For example, application publication number CN114307511A, entitled "A Gas-Liquid Separation Device for a Fuel Cell Engine," describes a technical solution comprising a housing, a gas-liquid mixture inlet, a drain outlet, an exhaust outlet, and a herringbone-shaped partition. The herringbone partition is fixedly installed inside the housing. The left and right sides of the herringbone partition form a first cavity and a second cavity with the housing, respectively, while the lower side of the herringbone partition forms a third cavity with the housing. The first and second cavities are connected, as are the second and third cavities. The gas-liquid mixture inlet is located on the housing and connected to the first cavity. The drain outlet is located at the bottom of the housing and connected to the third cavity. The exhaust outlet is located on the top side of the housing and connected to the second cavity. In operation, the mixed gas and liquid water first enter the first cavity from the fuel cell stack outlet and impact the herringbone partition, forming a reflected flow and a vortex flow. The fluid enters the second cavity through the first channel and undergoes a condensation reaction on the partition. Due to the density difference, the gas and liquid naturally separate; the liquid enters the third cavity and is discharged, while the gas is discharged through the second channel and the exhaust outlet.

[0004] In the aforementioned technical solution, although a herringbone baffle is used to separate the mixture, the high-speed characteristics of the gas-liquid mixture discharged from the fuel cell stack outlet mean that when the liquid water enters the first chamber through the narrow pipe diameter, it directly collides with the side walls due to the confined space and the perpendicular arrangement of the side walls to the fluid movement direction. During this high-speed movement, the liquid water breaks into even finer particles. As the particle mass continues to decrease, these particles eventually move along with the mixed gas, making separation based on density differences impossible. Therefore, during high-power fuel cell stack operation, if the outlet fluid velocity is high, the separation efficiency of this water separator will be difficult to guarantee. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention aims to address the problem in existing separation devices where design flaws lead to the breakage of liquid water produced by hydrogen fuel cells into finer particles, rendering them unsuitable for high-power fuel cell stacks. This invention proposes a fuel cell water separator that, when separating the mixture produced by the fuel cell, avoids breaking the high-speed liquid water into finer particles, thereby preventing any impact on gas-liquid separation efficiency. Specific implementation details are as follows:

[0006] A fuel cell water distributor includes a water distribution tank in the upper part and a water collection tank in the lower part, the water distribution tank and the water collection tank being connected; the side wall of the water distribution tank is provided with a gas-liquid mixture inlet and the top is provided with an exhaust port; a guide plate is installed inside the water distribution tank directly opposite the gas-liquid mixture inlet, the guide plate dividing the space inside the water distribution tank into a first cavity and a second cavity that are interconnected; the water collection tank is provided with a drain port.

[0007] In the above technical solution, the gas-liquid mixture inlet is connected to the fuel cell. When the fuel cell is working, the gas-liquid mixture and high-speed airflow generated will enter the first cavity from the gas-liquid mixture inlet. The gas-liquid mixture will collide with the guide plate along with the high-speed fluid. The guide plate will divert the gas-liquid mixture to the second cavity and the two sides of the water collection tank. Since the gas and liquid have different densities, the liquid with a higher density will be blocked by the water distribution plate and flow into the water collection tank. At this time, the liquid will be captured by the water collection tank. After the liquid enters the water collection tank, it will be discharged through the drain port. The gas will enter the second cavity and finally be discharged through the exhaust port.

[0008] Preferably, the guide plate includes a guide surface facing the gas-liquid mixture inlet, and the guide surface is an arc-shaped surface or an inclined surface. When the gas and liquid are dripped into the first cavity with the high-speed airflow, they will first collide with the guide surface, and the velocity direction of the gas-liquid mixture and the arc-shaped baffle form a certain angle. Compared with the vertical impact, the liquid water in the gas-liquid mixture will not cause large-area breakage. The arc-shaped surface or inclined surface can also divide the fluid of the mixture vertically. Because the liquid has a higher density, it will flow into the water collection tank along the arc or inclined angle of the guide plate and finally be discharged through the drain outlet; the gas has a lower density and will enter the second cavity along the arc or inclined angle and finally be discharged through the exhaust outlet.

[0009] Preferably, the exhaust port is located directly above the guide plate.

[0010] Preferably, the second cavity is provided with an inclined partition, which is located on the side of the water distribution tank near the inlet of the gas-liquid mixture, and the inclined partition divides the second cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity that are interconnected.

[0011] Furthermore, the inclined baffle is tilted downwards. When the gas-liquid mixture is diverted by the guide plate along with the high-speed airflow, a small portion of the gas-liquid mixture will still not be completely separated. At this time, it will continue to drip into the lower cavity with the high-speed airflow and collide with the inclined baffle for secondary separation. The liquid in the gas-liquid mixture will also adhere to the inclined baffle. Moreover, since the inclined baffle is tilted downwards, the liquid will drip downwards with the tilt angle, while the gas will be discharged into the upper cavity and finally discharged through the exhaust port.

[0012] Furthermore, the exhaust port is located directly above the inclined partition.

[0013] Furthermore, multiple inclined baffles are provided, and the inclined baffles are staggered on two opposite sides of the water distribution tank. That is, the number of inclined baffles can be set according to the usage. Specifically, if more water is produced in the fuel cell, the number of inclined baffles is increased, and vice versa.

[0014] Preferably, a water distribution baffle is provided between the water distribution tank and the water collection tank, the water distribution baffle and the side wall of the water collection tank form a water drain hole, and the water distribution baffle is also provided with a vent hole.

[0015] Furthermore, two vents are provided, each located near one of the two sidewalls adjacent to the sidewall where the gas-liquid mixture inlet is located. With this configuration, the gas-liquid mixture enters the first cavity when it is positioned in the middle, then enters the water collection cavity, and finally exits through the vents on both sides into the second cavity. This ensures that the two entry and exit paths do not interfere with each other, thus affecting the water separation efficiency.

[0016] Preferably, the water collection tank is provided with a water collection chamber, and the drain outlet is connected to the water collection chamber. The water collection chamber is funnel-shaped. When a large amount of liquid is separated, the water collection chamber can play a buffering role to prevent a large amount of water from rushing to the drain outlet at the same time and failing to be discharged in time.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0018] By incorporating baffles, the liquid is prevented from being directly impacted as it exits the fuel cell, thus avoiding the liquid being broken into tiny droplets and carried away by the high-speed airflow from the exhaust port. Instead, the liquid is guided by the baffles and discharged from a dedicated drain outlet, achieving more efficient gas-liquid separation.

[0019] The multi-layered separation structure and flow diversion mechanism formed by the guide vanes and inclined baffles achieve highly efficient separation of water vapor mixtures. Even in high humidity and high flow environments, it effectively reduces the amount of moisture carried to the exhaust port, thereby significantly improving the overall performance and stability of the fuel cell system.

[0020] The simple internal structure reduces the use of complex mechanical parts. In actual production, it not only simplifies the production process but also significantly reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the water distributor of this invention eliminates the need for filters or filter elements, further reducing internal flow resistance and thus significantly improving the overall performance of the fuel cell system. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the water-dividing baffle structure;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of Example 3.

[0025] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0026] 1. Water distribution tank; 10. First cavity; 20. Second cavity; 201. Lower cavity; 202. Upper cavity; 11. Gas-liquid mixture inlet; 12. Exhaust port; 13. Guide plate; 131. Guide surface; 14. Inclined baffle; 2. Water collection tank; 21. Drain outlet; 22. Water collection cavity; 3. Water distribution baffle; 31. Vent hole; 32. Drain hole. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting this patent. To better illustrate this embodiment, some components in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings. The positional relationships described in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting this patent.

[0028] In the accompanying drawings of this utility model, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "long," and "short" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this patent. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below through specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings: Example 1

[0030] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a fuel cell water distributor includes a water distribution tank 1 located in the upper part and a water collection tank 2 located in the lower part, with the water distribution tank 1 and the water collection tank 2 connected together; the side wall of the water distribution tank 1 is provided with a gas-liquid mixture inlet 11, and the top is provided with an exhaust port 12; a guide plate 13 is installed inside the water distribution tank 1 directly opposite the gas-liquid mixture inlet 11, and the guide plate 13 divides the space inside the water distribution tank 1 into a first cavity 10 and a second cavity 20 that are interconnected; the water collection tank 2 is provided with a drain port 21.

[0031] The gas-liquid mixture inlet 11 is connected to the fuel cell. When the fuel cell is working, the gas-liquid mixture and high-speed airflow generated will enter the first cavity 10 through the gas-liquid mixture inlet 11. The gas-liquid mixture will impact the guide plate 13 along with the high-speed fluid. The guide plate 13 will divert the gas-liquid mixture to the second cavity 20 and the water collection tank 2. Since the gas and liquid have different densities, the liquid with higher density will flow into the water collection tank 2 under the influence of gravity and the guiding effect of the guide plate 13. At this time, the liquid will be captured by the water collection tank 2. After the liquid enters the water collection tank, it will be discharged through the drain outlet 21. The gas will enter the second cavity 20 and finally be discharged through the exhaust port 12.

[0032] The beneficial effects of this embodiment are as follows: The fuel cell water distributor in this embodiment uses a guide plate 13. When the gas-liquid mixture enters the water distributor from the gas-liquid mixture inlet 11, it first contacts the guide plate 13, directly separating the gas and liquid through the guide. This simple structure reduces the use of complex mechanical parts. In actual production, it not only simplifies the production process but also significantly reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the water distributor of this invention eliminates the need for filters or filter elements, further reducing internal flow resistance and thus significantly improving the overall performance of the fuel cell system. Example 2

[0033] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a fuel cell water distributor differs from Embodiment 1 mainly in that the guide plate 13 includes a guide surface 131, which faces the gas-liquid mixture inlet 11 and is an arc-shaped surface.

[0034] Furthermore, the exhaust port is located directly above the guide plate 13.

[0035] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows: After the gas-liquid mixture enters the first cavity 10 with the high-speed airflow generated by the fuel cell, it first collides with the guide surface 131 on the guide plate 13. The guide surface 131 is arc-shaped, and the high-speed airflow carries the gas-liquid mixture to both sides along the arc surface. Under the influence of gravity, the denser liquid and part of the gas enter the water collection tank 2 along the arc surface. Then the liquid is discharged from the drain outlet 21; the gas, due to its lower density, continues to return to the first cavity 10 from the vent 31 with the high-speed airflow, then passes through the second cavity 20, and finally is discharged from the exhaust outlet 12. The exhaust outlet is directly above the exhaust outlet 12, which can increase the flow diversion path without adding any additional structure and further improve the flow diversion effect.

[0036] The remaining technical features and working principles are the same as in Example 1.

[0037] The beneficial effects of this embodiment are: when the gas-liquid mixture rushes toward the arc-shaped guide surface 131 with the high-speed airflow, the gas and liquid will be automatically diverted to the second cavity 20 and the water collection tank 2 by the guide plate, and the diversion effect is better. Example 3

[0038] like Figure 4 As shown, a fuel cell water distribution valve differs from Embodiment 1 mainly in that the second cavity 20 is provided with an inclined baffle 14. The inclined baffle 14 is located on the side of the water distribution tank 1 near the gas-liquid mixture inlet 11, and the inclined baffle 14 is inclined downward. The inclined baffle 14 divides the second cavity 20 into an upper cavity 202 and a lower cavity 201 that are interconnected. The exhaust port 12 is located directly above the inclined baffle 14.

[0039] Preferably, multiple inclined baffles 14 are provided, and the inclined baffles 14 are staggered on two opposite sides of the water distribution tank 1.

[0040] After the gas-liquid mixture is diverted by the high-speed airflow through the guide plate 13, a small portion of the gas-liquid mixture remains incompletely separated. This portion continues to flow into the lower chamber 201 with the high-speed airflow and collides with the inclined baffle 14, undergoing secondary separation. During this process, the liquid in the gas-liquid mixture adheres to the inclined baffle. Because the inclined baffle 14 is tilted downwards, the liquid drips down along the tilt angle, while the gas flows into the upper chamber 202 and is eventually discharged through the exhaust port 12. If the fuel cell has higher power and produces a larger amount of liquid, a single guide plate 13 and an inclined baffle 14 may not be sufficient for the operating requirements. In this case, multiple inclined baffles 14 can be added to meet higher operating requirements through multiple separation processes.

[0041] The remaining technical features and working principles are the same as in Example 1.

[0042] The beneficial effects of this embodiment are as follows: In this embodiment, the multi-layered separation structure composed of guide plates and inclined baffles, along with the flow diversion mechanism, achieves efficient separation of the water vapor mixture. Even in high humidity and high flow rate operating environments, it can effectively reduce the amount of moisture carried to the exhaust port, thereby significantly improving the overall performance and stability of the fuel cell system. Example 4

[0043] like Figure 1-4 As shown, another embodiment of a fuel cell water distributor differs from embodiment 1 mainly in that a water distribution baffle 3 is provided between the water distribution tank 1 and the water collection tank 2. The water distribution baffle 3 and the side wall of the water collection tank 2 form a water drop hole 32, and a vent hole 31 is also provided on the water distribution baffle 3.

[0044] Furthermore, there are two vent holes 31, which are respectively located on the two side walls next to the side wall where the gas-liquid mixture inlet 11 is located.

[0045] During fuel cell operation, a high-speed airflow carrying a gas-liquid mixture is split by the guide plate 13. Inevitably, some of the high-speed airflow will enter the water collection tank 2 along with the split gas, and may disturb the separated liquid. To ensure that the gas-liquid separation effect is not affected, a water separator 3 is installed to isolate the separated liquid water. At the same time, the gas that enters the water collection tank 2 with the liquid can be discharged through the vent 31. This gas enters the second cavity 20 from both sides of the gas path at the gas-liquid mixture inlet 13, thereby ensuring that the gas discharged from the water collection tank 2 does not interfere with the gas path at the gas-liquid mixture inlet 13.

[0046] The beneficial effect of this embodiment is that the water separator can optimize the gas-liquid separation effect and prevent gas and liquid from being discharged from one place by means of the water separator baffle. Example 5

[0047] like Figure 1-4 As shown, another embodiment of a fuel cell water distributor differs from embodiment 1 mainly in that a water collection chamber 22 is also provided inside the water collection tank 2, and the drain outlet 21 is the same as that of the water collection chamber 22; the water collection chamber 22 is funnel-shaped.

[0048] The beneficial effect of this embodiment is that by setting a funnel-shaped water collection chamber 22, when a large amount of separated liquid is present, the water collection chamber 22 can play a buffering role to prevent a large amount of water from rushing to the drain outlet at the same time and failing to be discharged in time.

[0049] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating this utility model, and are not intended to limit the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A fuel cell water distributor, characterized in that, It includes a water distribution tank (1) located at the top and a water collection tank (2) located at the bottom, the water distribution tank (1) and the water collection tank (2) being connected; the side wall of the water distribution tank (1) is provided with a gas-liquid mixture inlet (11), and the top is provided with an exhaust port (12); a guide plate (13) is installed inside the water distribution tank (1) directly opposite the gas-liquid mixture inlet (11), the guide plate (13) dividing the space inside the water distribution tank (1) into a first cavity (10) and a second cavity (20) that are connected to each other; the water collection tank (2) is provided with a drain port (21).

2. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide plate (13) includes a guide surface (131) which faces the gas-liquid mixture inlet (11). The guide surface (131) is an arc-shaped surface or an inclined surface.

3. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The exhaust port (12) is located directly above the guide plate (13).

4. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second cavity (20) is provided with an inclined partition (14), which is located on the side of the water tank (1) near the gas-liquid mixture inlet (11). The inclined partition (14) divides the second cavity (20) into an upper cavity (202) and a lower cavity (201) that are interconnected.

5. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inclined partition (14) is tilted downward.

6. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 4, characterized in that, The exhaust port (12) is located directly above the inclined partition (14).

7. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 4, characterized in that, Multiple inclined baffles (14) are provided, and the inclined baffles (14) are respectively staggered on two opposite sides of the water distribution tank (1).

8. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that, A water distribution baffle (3) is also provided between the water distribution tank (1) and the water collection tank (2). The water distribution baffle (3) and the side wall of the water collection tank (2) form a water drop hole (32). A vent hole (31) is also provided on the water distribution baffle (3).

9. A fuel cell water distributor according to claim 8, characterized in that, The ventilation hole (31) is provided in two parts, and is located on the side wall next to the side wall where the gas-liquid mixture inlet (11) is located.

10. A fuel cell water distributor according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The water collection tank (2) is provided with a water collection cavity (22), and the drain outlet (21) is connected to the water collection cavity (22). The water collection cavity (22) is funnel-shaped.

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