Anti-tilt fuel cell system

Abstract

The utility model relates to an anti-tilt fuel cell system, which comprises a vehicle body and a fuel cell system arranged in the vehicle body, fuel cell system mounting racks are arranged on two sides of the fuel cell system, and the fuel cell system mounting racks are in running fit with the fuel cell system. Therefore, the fuel cell system is always adjusted to be in a vertical state under the action of gravity when the vehicle is in an inclined state. The system is simple in structure and reasonable in design, when a vehicle is located on a ramp with a gradient, a fuel cell system can still be in a vertical state, so that the drainage strategy of a fuel cell is consistent with that of the fuel cell on a horizontal road surface, the complexity of system control is not increased, and compared with a complex multi-drainage-valve scheme, the system is simple in structure and convenient to use. The device is easy to implement and maintain, and has high practicability and economical efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an anti-tilting fuel cell system. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy stored in fuel into electrical energy. During operation, the electrochemical reaction inside the stack of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell produces water. To ensure the continuous and stable operation of the fuel cell reaction, the water produced by the reaction needs to be drained in a timely manner to prevent water from flooding the inside of the stack, which would hinder the diffusion of gas inside the fuel cell, leading to insufficient gas in the reaction and preventing the chemical reaction from proceeding fully. This would reduce the efficiency of the fuel cell, and if no measures are taken, it could even cause irreversible damage to the fuel cell.

[0003] A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, a hydrogen supply module, an air supply module, a cooling module, and an electrical module. With the development of fuel cell technology, its application in mobile devices such as vehicles and ships is becoming increasingly widespread. However, when a vehicle is going uphill or downhill, the fuel cell system tilts along with it due to the vehicle's tilt. This tilting causes liquid water inside the fuel cell system to accumulate due to gravity, preventing it from draining properly and thus affecting the normal operation of the fuel cell system, potentially even leading to system damage.

[0004] Existing technical solutions (such as patents CN202310864897.1 and CN202310721378.X) involve installing multiple drain valves in the fuel cell system and using angle sensors to control the opening of different drain valves based on the tilt angle to address drainage issues in tilted states. However, this approach has several drawbacks. Firstly, it requires arranging drain valves in multiple locations to meet drainage requirements at varying tilt angles, resulting in a complex structure that increases system cost and maintenance difficulty. Secondly, these solutions typically require precise sensors and complex control logic, placing higher demands on system reliability and stability. Furthermore, purging and draining a tilted fuel cell stack or system inevitably leads to excessive hydrogen or air emissions, wasting resources and reducing system efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention addresses the aforementioned problems by providing an anti-tilt fuel cell system. When a vehicle is on a slope, the fuel cell system remains in a vertical or near-vertical state, ensuring that the fuel cell's drainage strategy remains consistent with that on a level road surface. This does not increase the complexity of system control. Compared to complex multi-valve solutions, this invention has a simple structure, is easy to implement and maintain, and offers high practicality and economy.

[0006] This utility model is constructed as follows: it includes a vehicle body and a fuel cell system disposed inside the vehicle body. Fuel cell system mounting brackets are provided on both sides of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system mounting brackets and the fuel cell system are rotatably coupled to ensure that the fuel cell system is always adjusted to a vertical state under the action of gravity when the vehicle is tilted.

[0007] Furthermore, a rotating fixing device is provided between the fuel cell system mounting bracket and the fuel cell system.

[0008] Furthermore, the rotating fixing device is a universal joint or a thrust bearing assembly.

[0009] Furthermore, the fixing point of the rotating fixing device is located at the upper middle position of the center of gravity of the fuel cell system to enhance gravity adaptive capability.

[0010] Furthermore, anti-sway dampers are provided at the front and rear of the fuel cell system.

[0011] Furthermore, the anti-sway damper is fixed to the vehicle body via a damper bracket.

[0012] Furthermore, the anti-sway damper is connected at both ends to the damper bracket and the fuel cell system, respectively.

[0013] Furthermore, a buffer pad is provided at the connection between the fuel cell system mounting bracket and the vehicle body.

[0014] Furthermore, a hydrogen gas source input pipeline is provided on the side of the fuel cell system. This hydrogen gas source input pipeline is connected to the fuel cell system through the rotating and fixing device of the fuel cell system mounting frame. The outer end of the hydrogen gas source input pipeline is the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell system.

[0015] Furthermore, the fuel cell system is provided with a coolant inlet hose and a coolant outlet hose on both sides of the front.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] (1) Solving the problem of tilting drainage in fuel cell system: Through the design of two rotating fixing devices on the left and right, the fuel cell system can automatically adjust its posture when the vehicle is tilted to maintain a near-vertical state, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the drainage system and avoiding system performance degradation or damage due to poor drainage.

[0018] (2) Improve system stability: The anti-sway damper in the front and rear directions can effectively limit the front and rear sway of the fuel cell system when the vehicle accelerates or decelerates, ensuring that the system can maintain stable operation under various working conditions, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the system.

[0019] (3) Simple structure and easy integration: The device of the present invention has a simple structure, mainly consisting of a rotating fixed point and an anti-sway damper, which is easy to integrate with existing fuel cell systems. No large-scale modification of the fuel cell system is required, reducing development and maintenance costs.

[0020] (4) No additional power unit required: This invention utilizes the natural effect of gravity, eliminating the need for an additional power unit to adjust the attitude of the fuel cell system, thereby further improving the reliability and economy of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0024] In the diagram: 1-Fuel cell system, 2-Fuel cell system mounting bracket, 3-Rotation fixing device, 4-Fuel cell system hydrogen inlet, 5-Coolant inlet hose, 6-Coolant outlet hose, 7-Anti-sway damper, 8-Damper bracket, 9-Vehicle body. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] Example: Refer to Appendix Figure 1-3 As shown, an anti-tilt fuel cell system is provided, including a vehicle body 9 and a fuel cell system 1 disposed inside the vehicle body. Fuel cell system mounting brackets 2 are provided on both sides of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system mounting brackets and the fuel cell system are rotatably coupled to ensure that the fuel cell system is always adjusted to a vertical or near-vertical state under the action of gravity when the vehicle is tilted.

[0027] The fuel cell system is mounted on the vehicle chassis or other equipment via two fixed points. These mounting points, located on the left and right sides, have universal joints or bearing structures, allowing free rotation around their axes. When the vehicle is on a slope, the fuel cell system adjusts its posture around these two fixed points under gravity, maintaining a vertical or near-vertical position. This design utilizes the natural force of gravity, requiring no additional power unit, resulting in a simple and highly reliable structure. Because the fuel cell system maintains a near-vertical or vertical position even when the vehicle is tilted, the position and direction of the drain valve remain unchanged, ensuring the proper functioning of the drainage system.

[0028] In this embodiment of the present invention, a rotating fixing device 3 is provided between the fuel cell system mounting frame and the fuel cell system.

[0029] In this embodiment of the utility model, the rotating fixing device 3 is a universal joint or a thrust bearing assembly.

[0030] In this embodiment of the invention, the fixing point of the rotating fixing device is located at the upper middle position of the center of gravity of the fuel cell system, so that the center of gravity of the fuel cell system is below the fixing point of the rotating fixing device, thereby enhancing the gravity adaptive capability.

[0031] In this embodiment of the invention, anti-sway dampers 7 are provided at the front and rear of the fuel cell system.

[0032] The anti-sway damper is fixed to the vehicle body by the damper bracket 9.

[0033] The anti-sway damper is connected at both ends to the damper bracket and the fuel cell system, respectively.

[0034] Anti-sway dampers are installed in the front and rear directions of the fuel cell system. One end of each damper is connected to the fuel cell system, and the other end is connected to the vehicle chassis. The function of the anti-sway damper is to limit the front and rear sway of the fuel cell system when the vehicle accelerates or decelerates. Through the damping effect of the damper, the anti-sway damper can effectively reduce the shaking of the fuel cell system during vehicle operation, ensuring that the fuel cell system can maintain stable operation under various operating conditions.

[0035] In this embodiment of the invention, a buffer pad is provided at the connection between the fuel cell system mounting bracket and the chassis of the vehicle body; the buffer pad can be a polyurethane buffer pad, which absorbs bumps and impacts and protects the fuel cell system.

[0036] In this embodiment of the present invention, a hydrogen gas source input pipeline is provided on the side of the fuel cell system. The hydrogen gas source input pipeline is connected to the fuel cell system through the rotating and fixing device of the fuel cell system mounting frame. The outer end of the hydrogen gas source input pipeline is the hydrogen inlet 4 of the fuel cell system.

[0037] The hydrogen gas source input pipeline is connected by a metal flexible hose, and the hydrogen input port of the fuel cell system is located at the fixed installation point of the fuel cell system, so that the hydrogen input port does not shift as the fuel cell system moves on different slopes.

[0038] In this embodiment of the present invention, a coolant inlet hose 5 and a coolant outlet hose 6 are respectively provided on the front two sides of the fuel cell system; the hydrogen supply line, coolant inlet hose and coolant outlet hose of the fuel cell system are all flexible connecting pipes. When the fuel cell system is on a slope and tilted, the hydrogen supply line and coolant supply line are flexible connecting pipes, which can extend and retract with the angle adjustment of the fuel cell system without affecting the gas and coolant supply.

[0039] In this embodiment of the invention, the fuel cell system 1 is fixed to a vehicle chassis or other transportation vehicle such as a ship via a fuel cell system mounting bracket 2. A rotating fixing device 3 is installed on the fuel cell system. This rotating fixing device can be a thrust bearing or a universal joint, etc. The mounting position of the rotating fixing device on the fuel cell system is located at the upper center of the fuel cell system's center of gravity, ensuring that the fuel cell system can rotate around the rotating fixing device under the influence of gravity. The hydrogen inlet 4 of the fuel cell system is located on the same axis as the rotating fixing device 3, so that the relative position of the hydrogen supply and the fuel cell system remains unchanged during rotation, reducing frequent swaying of the hydrogen supply pipeline and preventing loosening that could lead to hydrogen loss. Gas leakage is prevented, improving safety. Both the inlet and outlet pipes of the fuel cell coolant utilize flexible hoses. An anti-sway damper is installed around the fuel cell system; this damper prevents the fuel cell system from swaying during sudden acceleration or deceleration, thus avoiding frequent swaying. The damper's function is to prevent swaying; on a slope, when the fuel cell system's gravity acts on the damper, the damper is compressed, and the fuel cell system rotates around the rotating fixed device 3 under gravity, ensuring the fuel cell remains in a vertical position. The swaying direction of the fuel cell system is consistent with the forward and backward direction of the vehicle or ship.

[0040] Unless otherwise stated, if any technical solution disclosed in this utility model discloses a numerical range, then the disclosed numerical range is a preferred numerical range. Any person skilled in the art should understand that the preferred numerical range is merely one among many feasible numerical values ​​that has a more obvious or representative technical effect. Because there are many numerical values, it is impossible to list them all. Therefore, this utility model discloses only some numerical values ​​to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model. Furthermore, the numerical values ​​listed above should not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0041] If the terms "first" or "second" are used in this document to specify components, those skilled in the art should know that the use of "first" or "second" is merely for the purpose of distinguishing components in description, and unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning.

[0042] Meanwhile, if the present invention discloses or relates to mutually fixedly connected parts or structural components, then unless otherwise stated, the fixed connection can be understood as: a detachable fixed connection (e.g., using bolts or screws), or a non-detachable fixed connection (e.g., riveting, welding). Of course, the mutually fixed connection can also be replaced by an integral structure (e.g., manufactured by casting process) (except where it is obviously impossible to use an integral forming process).

[0043] In addition, unless otherwise stated, the terms used to indicate positional relationships or shapes in any of the technical solutions disclosed in this utility model above include states or shapes that are similar to, close to, or approximate with them.

[0044] Any component provided by this utility model can be assembled from multiple individual components, or it can be a single component manufactured by a one-piece molding process.

[0045] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and not to limit it; although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the specific implementation of this utility model or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the spirit of the technical solution of this utility model, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the technical solution claimed by this utility model.

Claims

1. An anti-tilting fuel cell system, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a vehicle body and a fuel cell system installed inside the vehicle body. Fuel cell system mounting brackets are provided on both sides of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system mounting brackets and the fuel cell system are rotatably connected to ensure that the fuel cell system is always adjusted to a vertical state under the action of gravity when the vehicle is tilted.

2. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A rotating fixing device is provided between the fuel cell system mounting bracket and the fuel cell system.

3. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotating fixing device is a universal joint or a thrust bearing assembly.

4. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fixing point of the rotating fixing device is located at the upper middle position of the center of gravity of the fuel cell system to enhance the gravity adaptive capability.

5. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Anti-sway dampers are installed at the front and rear of the fuel cell system.

6. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The anti-sway damper is fixed to the vehicle body by a damper bracket.

7. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The anti-sway damper is connected at both ends to the damper bracket and the fuel cell system, respectively.

8. The anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A cushioning pad is provided at the connection between the fuel cell system mounting bracket and the vehicle body.

9. An anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 2, characterized in that, A hydrogen gas source input pipeline is provided on the side of the fuel cell system. The hydrogen gas source input pipeline is connected to the fuel cell system through the rotating and fixing device of the fuel cell system mounting frame. The outer end of the hydrogen gas source input pipeline is the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell system.

10. An anti-tilting fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell system has a coolant inlet hose and a coolant outlet hose on its front two sides, respectively.

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