Novel fuel cell humidifier shell structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of hydrogen-air fuel cells, in particular to a novel fuel cell humidifier shell structure which is characterized in that a hydrophilic hollow membrane tube is arranged in a humidifier shell and is used for circulating dry air; the two end covers are installed on the two sides of the humidifier shell. The dry air inlet is formed in the end cover on the side edge of the humidifier shell; and the dry air outlet is positioned on the end cover on the other side edge of the humidifier shell. Through the square wet air outlet, the cross section is larger, and the low position at the bottom is more beneficial to drainage, so that the flow resistance can be effectively reduced, the energy consumption can be effectively reduced by matching with an expansion machine in practical application, the drainage can be smoother, the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube is effectively prevented from being flooded by water or frozen and damaged at low temperature, and the service life of the membrane tube is prolonged. Therefore, the reliability and durability of the fuel cell system are improved, and the stable operation of the hydrogen fuel cell system is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hydrogen-air fuel cell technology, and in particular to a novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure. Background Technology

[0002] A hydrogen-air fuel cell is a device that uses hydrogen as a reducing agent and oxygen as an oxidizing agent to convert chemical energy into electrical energy through a redox reaction. It boasts advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, cleanliness, environmental friendliness, and low noise. Currently, hydrogen-air fuel cells are widely used in automobiles, power plants, portable power supplies, emergency power supplies, and home power supplies.

[0003] In existing hydrogen-air fuel cell technology, dry air needs to be humidified by a humidifier before entering the fuel cell. In fuel cell systems, the humidifier typically utilizes the high-temperature, high-humidity air and liquid water from the fuel cell stack reaction outlet, achieving humidification through the principle of heat transfer. Applications often require humidity, temperature, and pressure monitoring to better verify performance. Excess liquid water after humidification must be drained as quickly as possible to prevent accumulation in the humidifier, which could flood the membrane tubes or cause them to freeze and damage at low temperatures. In high-power fuel cell systems, an expander with energy recovery is usually used to recover energy and improve fuel cell system efficiency. In this case, the wet-side flow resistance of the humidifier must be as low as possible; excessive flow resistance hinders energy recovery by the expander.

[0004] However, existing fuel cell humidifier housings generally suffer from single-function limitations, lack temperature, humidity, and pressure detection, which hinders performance testing; they also have high wet-side flow resistance, which is detrimental to energy recovery; their structural design leads to suboptimal system integration and high costs in practical applications; and their housing design is not conducive to drainage, which can cause water to accumulate inside at low temperatures, easily freezing and damaging the membrane tubes, thus affecting the reliability and durability of the system.

[0005] Based on the above background, a novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure is proposed to solve the problem. Utility Model Content

[0006] Other features and advantages of this invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objectives and other advantages of this invention can be realized and obtained through the structures particularly pointed out in the description and other accompanying drawings.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings and provide a novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is: a novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure, comprising:

[0009] The humidifier housing contains a hydrophilic hollow membrane tube for the circulation of dry air.

[0010] Two end caps are provided and installed on both sides of the humidifier housing;

[0011] The dry air inlet is located on the end cap on the side of the humidifier housing;

[0012] The dry air outlet is located on the end cap on the other side of the humidifier housing;

[0013] The humid air inlet is a circular shape with bolt holes around its perimeter and is installed on the right side of the humidifier housing;

[0014] The humidified air outlet is square-shaped with bolt holes around its perimeter and is installed on the left side of the humidifier housing;

[0015] The temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensor is provided in at least two parts, which are installed on the humidifier housing and are used to detect the temperature, pressure and humidity of the humidified air at the inlet and outlet.

[0016] In some embodiments, the dry air and humid air entering the humidifier housing flow in opposite directions, and the humid air flows through the outside of the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube.

[0017] In some embodiments, the end cap is detachably connected to the humidifier housing via bolt holes.

[0018] In some embodiments, a sealing ring structure is installed between the end cap and the humidifier housing.

[0019] In some embodiments, a sealing ring structure is installed on the humid air inlet end face.

[0020] In some embodiments, the temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensor body includes a sealing ring structure and is fastened to the humidifier housing by bolts.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0022] 1. By using an integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure sensor on the humidifier housing to perform integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure detection inside the housing, the performance detection capability of the humidifier is effectively improved, realizing the multi-functionality of the humidifier;

[0023] 2. Through the bolt holes of the humid air inlet, air connectors or back pressure valves can be flexibly installed, effectively improving the overall system integration, thereby reducing system costs and achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement of the fuel cell system;

[0024] 3. The square humid air outlet has a larger cross-section and a lower bottom position, which is more conducive to drainage. This not only effectively reduces flow resistance, but also effectively reduces energy consumption when used with an expander in practical applications. Furthermore, drainage is smoother, effectively preventing water from flooding the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube or freezing and damaging the membrane tube at low temperatures. This improves the reliability and durability of the fuel cell system and ensures the stable operation of the hydrogen fuel cell system.

[0025] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0026] Undoubtedly, such and other objects of this invention will become more apparent after the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in various accompanying drawings and illustrations.

[0027] To make the above-mentioned beneficial effects and other objects, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, one or more preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0029] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals, and the drawings are schematic and not necessarily drawn to actual scale.

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only one or more embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on such drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Explanation of key figure labels:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the housing structure of a novel fuel cell humidifier according to the present invention.

[0033] Explanation of main attached diagram markings: Humidifier housing-1, End cap-2, Dry air inlet-3, Dry air outlet-4, Humid air inlet-5, Humid air outlet-6, Temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensor-7. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The following detailed description of the embodiments of this utility model, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will provide a thorough understanding of how this utility model uses technical means to solve technical problems and achieve technical effects, enabling its implementation. It should be noted that, provided there is no conflict, the various embodiments and features within them can be combined with each other, and all resulting technical solutions are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0035] Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description for illustrative purposes to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention may be practiced without the specific details or particular methods described herein.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 This utility model provides a novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure, including: a humidifier housing 1, end caps 2, a dry air inlet 3, a dry air outlet 4, a humid air inlet 5, a humid air outlet 6, and an integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure sensor 7. The humidifier housing 1 contains a hydrophilic hollow membrane tube (not shown in the figure) for the flow of dry air. Two end caps 2 are provided and installed on both sides of the humidifier housing 1. The dry air inlet 3 is located on the end cap 2 on one side of the humidifier housing 1; the dry air outlet 4 is located on the end cap 2 on the other side of the humidifier housing 1; the humid air inlet 5 is circular with bolt holes around its perimeter and is installed on the right side of the humidifier housing 1; the humid air outlet 6 is square with bolt holes around its perimeter and is installed on the left side of the humidifier housing 1; at least two integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors 7 are provided and installed on the humidifier housing 1 respectively, and are used to detect the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the air at the humid air inlet and outlet.

[0037] During use, the humidifier housing 1 is connected to the fuel cell and expander respectively. When the fuel cell is running, dry air enters the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube inside the humidifier housing 1 through the dry air inlet 3, and then flows out through the dry air outlet 4 and into the fuel cell stack. At the same time, the humid air and flowing water from the fuel cell stack enter the humidifier housing 1 through the humid air inlet 5 and are outside the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube. Finally, the humid air flows out through the humid air outlet 6. The temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensor 7 on the humidifier housing 1 performs integrated temperature, humidity and pressure detection inside the housing, which effectively improves the performance detection capability of the humidifier. Through the bolt hole of the humid air inlet 5, an air connector or a back pressure valve can be flexibly installed. The square humid air outlet 6 has a large cross-section and a low bottom position, which is more conducive to drainage, effectively reducing flow resistance and making drainage smoother. In practical applications, it can effectively reduce energy consumption when used with an expander.

[0038] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, the dry air and humid air entering the humidifier housing 1 flow in opposite directions, and the humid air flows through the outside of the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube (not shown in the figure). This ensures that the flow of dry air and humid air does not interfere with each other.

[0039] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, the end cap 2 and the humidifier housing 1 are detachably connected via bolt holes. This facilitates disassembly, assembly, and maintenance.

[0040] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, a sealing ring structure (not shown in the figure) is installed between the end cap 2 and the humidifier housing 1. This has the function of increasing the airtightness between the end cap 2 and the humidifier housing 1.

[0041] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, a sealing ring structure (not shown in the figure) is installed on the end face of the humid air inlet 5. The humid air inlet 5 can be used to connect and lock the humid air inlet connector or to connect and lock the back pressure valve through bolt holes. The sealing ring structure has the function of increasing the airtightness between the fittings installed on the humid air inlet 5. And the bolt holes on the humid air outlet 6 are used to connect and lock the humid air outlet connector (not shown in the figure) or the outlet connection device (not shown in the figure).

[0042] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, the integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure sensor 7 body includes a sealing ring structure (not shown in the figure) and is fastened to the humidifier housing 1 by bolts. This increases the airtightness between the integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure sensor 7 and the humidifier housing 1, thereby making the detection data more accurate.

[0043] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific processing steps or materials disclosed herein, but should be extended to equivalent substitutions of such features as understood by those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0044] The term "embodiment" in this specification refers to a specific feature or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment that is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, phrases or "embodiments" appearing in various places throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0045] Furthermore, the described features or characteristics may be incorporated into one or more embodiments in any other suitable manner. In the above description, specific details, such as thickness, quantity, etc., are provided to provide a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented without the aforementioned one or more specific details or may be implemented using other methods, components, materials, etc.

Claims

1. A novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure, characterized in that, include: The humidifier housing (1) is equipped with a hydrophilic hollow membrane tube for the circulation of dry air; End caps (2), two of which are provided and installed on both sides of the humidifier housing (1); Dry air inlet (3), which is located on the end cap (2) on the side of the humidifier housing (1); Dry air outlet (4) is located on the end cap (2) on the other side of the humidifier housing (1); The humid air inlet (5) is a circular shape with bolt holes around its perimeter and is installed on the right side of the humidifier housing (1); The humid air outlet (6) is square-shaped with bolt holes around its perimeter and is installed on the left side of the humidifier housing (1); The temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensor (7) is provided in at least two and is installed on the humidifier housing (1) respectively and is used to detect the temperature, pressure and humidity of the humid air inlet and outlet air respectively.

2. The novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dry air and humid air entering the humidifier housing (1) flow in opposite directions, and the humid air flows through the outside of the hydrophilic hollow membrane tube.

3. The novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end cap (2) is detachably connected to the humidifier housing (1) via bolt holes.

4. A novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, A sealing ring structure is installed between the end cap (2) and the humidifier housing (1).

5. The novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing ring structure is installed on the end face of the humid air inlet (5).

6. The novel fuel cell humidifier housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensor (7) has a sealing ring structure and is fastened to the humidifier housing (1) by bolts.

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