Fuel cell gas-water separator capable of quick low-temperature start-up

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of fuel cell gas-water separator of quick low temperature starting, including gas-water separator body, the gas-water separator body has inner chamber, and the hydrogen gas inlet joint, hydrogen gas outlet joint and drainage outlet being communicated with inner chamber, the drainage outlet is connected hot air purging cavity, the hot air purging cavity bottom is equipped with drainage hole, drainage hole is equipped with drainage valve;The hot air purging cavity is also equipped with purging hole, and purging hole is connected with purge valve;The control mechanism for controlling that drainage outlet and hot air purging cavity are communicated or disconnected is also equipped between the drainage outlet and hot air purging cavity;The gas-water separator body is also equipped with the exhaust hole being communicated with inner chamber, and exhaust hole is equipped with exhaust valve.The utility model can effectively solve the problem of drainage valve freezing, without preheating drainage valve, can reduce the time of low temperature starting, without integrated heating element, will not additional increase system auxiliary power consumption, so that fuel cell system output power is higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of gas-water separation technology, specifically relating to a fuel cell gas-water separator that can start up quickly at low temperatures. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the low-temperature start-up time of a fuel cell system is considered one of the key indicators for evaluating its performance. Therefore, all fuel cell systems must meet the requirements for low-temperature start-up. The national standard specifies the following low-temperature start-up procedure: the fuel cell is first started and running, then purged and shut down, the fuel cell system is stored at low temperature, and finally, the system is started at low temperature.

[0003] Currently, there are three main types of gas-water separators used in fuel cells: cyclone type, baffle type, and combined type. For example, the utility model with announcement number CN212461749U discloses a cyclone type gas-water separator for a closed-loop fuel cell system, which includes a shell, an exhaust pipe, a guide plate, an isolation plate, and a drain pipe. The exhaust pipe is connected to the upper part of the shell, and the drain pipe is connected to the lower part of the shell. The isolation plate divides the shell into a separation section and a collection section. The separation section is located above the collection section, and a separator inlet is machined on the separation section. Guide plates are arranged circumferentially on the side wall of the separation section.

[0004] For example, patent application CN120242691A discloses an air-water separation device, including a separation device body. An air-water input pipe is located at the bottom of the side of the body, and a horizontal cavity is located inside the body. Several dehumidifying air pads are arranged in parallel within the horizontal cavity, and a horizontal filter baffle is fixedly installed at the lower end of each dehumidifying air pad. This patent application combines baffle-type and centrifugal methods for air-water separation, greatly improving separation efficiency. Furthermore, through the coordinated control of humidity and temperature sensors, precise air-water separation management is achieved.

[0005] Existing gas-liquid separators, whether baffle-type or cyclone-type, all include drain and vent valves. The timed opening and closing of these valves allows for efficient hydrogen utilization and the removal of excess moisture, maintaining humidity within the anode chamber and ensuring optimal fuel cell stack performance. However, whether using a single drain and vent valve or separate drain and vent valves, the freezing of the drain valve during cryogenic storage remains a concern. Therefore, a heated drain valve is necessary, and frozen valves must be preheated before system startup. This results in longer low-temperature startup times, and the added heating module increases system cost and size, while also reducing system output efficiency. Furthermore, the gas-liquid separation efficiency of existing fuel cell gas-liquid separators needs improvement. Utility Model Content

[0006] This invention addresses the problem of drain valves easily freezing during low-temperature storage in fuel cell gas-liquid separators by providing a fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up. The specific technical solution adopted is as follows:

[0007] A fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up includes a gas-liquid separator body. The gas-liquid separator body has an inner cavity, and a hydrogen inlet connector, a hydrogen outlet connector, and a drain outlet communicating with the inner cavity. The drain outlet is externally connected to a hot air purging chamber. The bottom of the hot air purging chamber is provided with a drain hole, and a drain valve is provided at the drain hole. The hot air purging chamber is also provided with a purging hole, which is connected to the purging valve. A control mechanism for controlling the connection or disconnection between the drain outlet and the hot air purging chamber is also provided between the drain outlet and the hot air purging chamber. The gas-liquid separator body also has an exhaust hole communicating with the inner cavity, and an exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust hole.

[0008] Furthermore, the gas-water separator body has a sealed cavity outside the drain outlet, the control mechanism is located inside the sealed cavity, and the hot air purging cavity is connected to the sealed cavity.

[0009] Furthermore, the hot air purging chamber and the gas-water separator body are designed separately and fixed by bolts.

[0010] Furthermore, the drain outlet is located at the bottom of the inner cavity of the gas-water separator. The control mechanism includes a sealing device located within a sealed cavity. The sealing device includes a drain baffle and a limiting member. When the drain baffle is positioned on the drain outlet side, it blocks the drain outlet, disconnecting it from the hot air purging chamber. When the drain baffle is positioned away from the drain outlet, it is limited by the limiting member, connecting the drain outlet to the hot air purging chamber. The sealing device also includes a drive unit for moving the drain baffle. The sealing device can control the connection and disconnection between the drain outlet and the hot air purging chamber, facilitating separate purging and drying of the hot air purging chamber and the drain valve.

[0011] Furthermore, the side of the drain baffle is sealed to the inner wall of the sealing cavity. The driving unit includes a reset elastic member for holding the drain baffle away from the drain outlet. The limiting member includes a sealing plate for closing the opening of the sealing cavity on the side facing the hot air purging chamber. One side of the sealing plate has a protrusion extending into the sealing cavity, and a gap is left between the protrusion and the inner wall of the sealing cavity. The driving unit also includes a pressure gas inlet connector on the gas-water separator body, which connects to the area of ​​the inner wall of the sealing cavity corresponding to the protrusion. High-pressure gas is introduced between the protrusion and the inner wall of the sealing cavity through the pressure gas inlet connector. The resulting pressure can push the drain baffle towards the drain outlet until the drain outlet is blocked, thus disconnecting the drain outlet from the hot air purging chamber.

[0012] Furthermore, the gas-liquid separator body is also provided with a drainage channel. One end of the drainage channel is connected to the sealing cavity, and the other end is connected to the hot air purging cavity. The opening of the drainage channel at the end connected to the sealing cavity is located in the area between the drainage outlet and the drainage baffle when the drainage baffle is away from the drainage outlet. When the drainage baffle is away from the drainage outlet, the opening of the drainage channel at the end connected to the sealing cavity is not blocked. When the drainage baffle is located on the drainage outlet side, the drainage outlet is blocked, and the connection between the drainage outlet and the drainage channel is also blocked.

[0013] Furthermore, the reset elastic element is a compression spring located near the drain outlet and compressed when the drain baffle is located on the drain outlet side, or the reset elastic element is a tension spring located away from the drain outlet and stretched when the drain baffle is located on the drain outlet side.

[0014] Furthermore, the reset elastic element is a compression spring located near the drain outlet and compressed when the drain baffle is located on the drain outlet side. The air-water separator body is provided with several positioning grooves on the end face of the drain outlet. The drain baffle is provided with several guide posts on the side edge facing the drain outlet, which are matched with the positioning grooves one by one. Each guide post is provided with the compression spring.

[0015] Furthermore, the drain baffle is provided with a first sealing ring on the side facing the drain outlet, and the position of the first sealing ring corresponds to the outer circumference of the drain outlet; the side of the drain baffle that mates with the inner wall of the sealing cavity is provided with a second sealing ring.

[0016] Furthermore, the purge port is located on the top surface of the hot air purge cavity, and the purge port is connected to the purge valve through a silicone connecting tube.

[0017] The second aspect of this utility model addresses the problem of poor gas-water separation performance in gas-water separators by providing a gas-water separator for fuel cells, the specific technical solution of which is as follows:

[0018] A gas-water separator for a fuel cell includes a gas-water separator body. The gas-water separator body has an inner cavity, and a hydrogen inlet connector, a hydrogen outlet connector, and a drain outlet communicating with the inner cavity. The hydrogen inlet connector and the hydrogen outlet connector are located at the upper ends of the gas-water separator body, respectively. The drain outlet is located at the bottom of the inner cavity of the gas-water separator body. A liquid separation plate is provided in the middle of the inner cavity. The liquid separation plate has through holes for liquid to flow through. The inner cavity has a separation chamber above the liquid separation plate and a water storage chamber below it.

[0019] Furthermore, the separation chamber forms a gas-liquid separation channel from the hydrogen inlet to the hydrogen outlet. The liquid separation plate corresponds to the middle region of the gas-liquid separation channel. The gas-liquid separation channel has baffles at both the upstream and downstream ends of the liquid separation plate, which block a portion of the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas-liquid separation channel. When the gas-liquid mixture impacts the baffles, the gas flow direction changes and the gas velocity decreases, causing some liquid to flow down the baffles, thus achieving gas-liquid separation.

[0020] Furthermore, the cross-section of the gas-liquid separation channel in the area where the liquid separation plate is located is increased, which can reduce the flow rate of the gas-liquid mixture passing through this area and promote gas-liquid separation.

[0021] Furthermore, the opening of the hydrogen inlet connector at one end of the gas-liquid separation channel is located circumferentially in the gas-liquid separation channel, so that the faster-flowing gas-liquid mixture vertically impacts the wall at the inlet, changing the gas flow direction and reducing the gas flow rate, thus separating out some large-particle liquid.

[0022] Furthermore, one side of the gas-liquid separator body is provided with an opening and fitted with a cover plate, and the gas-liquid separator body has a slot in its inner cavity for installing the liquid separation plate.

[0023] Furthermore, the gas-liquid separation channel has a narrowed region with a reduced cross-section between the liquid separation plate area and the hydrogen outlet area. A gas entrainment outlet is provided on one side of this narrowed region, and the water storage chamber is connected to the gas entrainment outlet via a connecting channel. When the gas-liquid mixture flows through this narrowed region, the flow velocity increases, thereby entraining the gas entering the water storage chamber into the narrowed region through the gas entrainment outlet, and causing them to converge and flow towards the hydrogen outlet.

[0024] Furthermore, the gas-water separation channel is roughly U-shaped, the U-shaped structure includes two arms and a connecting area connecting the two arms, the liquid separation plate is located on the side of the connecting area near the water storage chamber, the hydrogen inlet connector is located on the side of one end of one arm, and the hydrogen outlet connector is located on the top surface of one end of the other arm.

[0025] The beneficial effects of the first aspect of this utility model are as follows:

[0026] (1) This invention achieves heating and purging functions by fully utilizing the waste heat of the system's air subsystem, draining the water accumulated in the drain valve, and preventing freezing after low-temperature storage. This invention does not require integrated heating elements and does not increase the system's auxiliary power consumption, resulting in higher output power and higher efficiency for the fuel cell system.

[0027] (2) This utility model can effectively solve the problem of the drain valve freezing, without the need to preheat the drain and hydrogen discharge valve, and can reduce the time of low temperature start-up.

[0028] (3) This invention solves the problem of drain valve freezing without the need for integrated heating elements, resulting in a smaller overall size, which is more conducive to layout, while improving the volumetric power density and mass power density of the system. Furthermore, the internal volume of the gas-water separator in this invention does not need to be reduced, solving the problem of hydrogen pressure fluctuations during hydrogen discharge due to its small size. Additionally, the drain outlet in the gas-water separator of this invention is farther from the hydrogen inlet connector, making it less susceptible to the influence of the inlet gas.

[0029] The beneficial effects of the second aspect of this utility model are as follows: by providing baffles at the upstream and downstream ends of the liquid separation plate in the gas-water separation channel, the gas-water separation efficiency is improved, and the gas-water separator has a simple structure and is easy to process and install. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a fuel cell gas-water separator that can start up quickly at low temperatures.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a fuel cell gas-water separator that can start up quickly at low temperatures, from another perspective.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a fuel cell gas-water separator that can start up quickly at low temperatures, from another perspective.

[0033] Figure 4 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a fuel cell gas-water separator with its cover opened, enabling rapid low-temperature start-up.

[0034] Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a fuel cell gas-water separator with its cover opened, allowing for rapid low-temperature start-up.

[0035] Figure 6 A front view of the gas-water separator for a fuel cell capable of rapid low-temperature start-up after the cover is opened.

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Sectional view along the AA direction.

[0037] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of part I.

[0038] Figure 9 for Figure 6 Sectional view along the BB direction.

[0039] Figure 10 for Figure 9 A magnified view of part II.

[0040] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the gas-water separator for a fuel cell that can start up quickly at low temperatures, after the hot air purging chamber has been removed.

[0041] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A cross-sectional view along the CC direction.

[0042] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A magnified view of a section of section III.

[0043] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid separation plate.

[0044] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the drainage baffle and limiting component in the sealing device.

[0045] Figure 16 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the cavity for hot air blowing.

[0046] Figure 17 A front view schematic diagram of the hot air blowing cavity.

[0047] Figure 18 for Figure 17 Sectional view along the DD direction.

[0048] Figure 19 for Figure 17 A sectional view along the EE direction.

[0049] Figure label:

[0050] Gas-water separator body 1, hydrogen inlet connector 11, hydrogen outlet connector 12, drain outlet 13, exhaust valve 14, drain channel 15, liquid separation plate 16, separation chamber 17, baffle 171, gas entrainment outlet 172, water storage chamber 18, hot air purging chamber 2, drain hole 21, drain valve 22, purging hole 23, purging valve 24, sealing chamber 3, sealing device 31, drain baffle 32, first sealing ring 321, second sealing ring 322, guide column 323, sealing plate 33, protrusion 34, reset elastic element 35, pressure gas inlet connector 36, cover plate 4. Detailed Implementation

[0051] like Figures 1-19 As shown, a fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up includes a gas-liquid separator body 1. The gas-liquid separator body 1 has an inner cavity, and a hydrogen inlet connector 11, a hydrogen outlet connector 12, and a drain outlet 13 communicating with the inner cavity. The drain outlet 13 is located on one side of the bottom of the inner cavity of the gas-liquid separator body 1. The gas-liquid separator body 1 also has an exhaust port communicating with the inner cavity, and an exhaust valve 14 is provided at the exhaust port.

[0052] The drain outlet 13 is connected to the hot air purging chamber 2. The bottom of the hot air purging chamber 2 is provided with a drain hole 21, and a drain valve 22 is provided at the drain hole 21. The hot air purging chamber 2 is also provided with a purging hole 23, which is connected to the purging valve 24. The hot air purging chamber 2 and the gas-water separator body 1 are designed separately and are fixed by bolts. The purging hole 23 is located on the top surface of the hot air purging chamber 2 and is connected to the purging valve 24 through a silicone connecting tube.

[0053] The air-water separator body 1 has a sealed cavity 3 outside the drain outlet 13, which is connected to the hot air purging cavity 2. A control mechanism is also provided between the drain outlet 13 and the hot air purging cavity 2 to control the connection or disconnection between the drain outlet 13 and the hot air purging cavity 2. The control mechanism is located inside the sealed cavity 3.

[0054] The control mechanism includes a sealing device 31 disposed within the sealing cavity 3. The sealing device 31 includes a drain baffle 32 and a limiting member. When the drain baffle 32 is located on the side of the drain outlet 13, it blocks the drain outlet 13, disconnecting the drain outlet 13 from the hot air purging chamber 2. When the drain baffle 32 is located on the side away from the drain outlet 13, it is limited by the limiting member, and the drain outlet 13 is connected to the hot air purging chamber 2. The side of the drain baffle 32 is sealed to the inner wall of the sealing cavity 3. The drain baffle 32 has a first sealing ring 321 on the side facing the drain outlet 13, and the position of the first sealing ring 321 corresponds to the outer circumference of the drain outlet 13. The side of the drain baffle 32 that mates with the inner wall of the sealing cavity 3 has a second sealing ring 322.

[0055] The limiting component includes a sealing plate 33 for closing the opening of the sealing cavity 3 on the side facing the hot air blowing cavity 2. One side of the sealing plate 33 is provided with a protrusion 34 extending into the sealing cavity 3, and a gap is left between the protrusion 34 and the inner wall of the sealing cavity 3.

[0056] The sealing device 31 also includes a drive unit for moving the drain baffle 32. The drive unit includes a reset elastic element 35 for holding the drain baffle 32 away from the drain outlet 13. The drive unit also includes a pressurized gas inlet connector 36 provided on the gas-water separator body 1, which connects to the area of ​​the inner wall of the sealing cavity 3 corresponding to the protrusion 34. High-pressure gas is introduced through the pressurized gas inlet connector 36, so that the portion of the sealing cavity 3 away from the drain outlet 13 of the drain baffle 32 is filled with high-pressure gas. After reaching a certain pressure, the driving force provided by the gas pressure can counteract the elastic force provided by the reset elastic element 35 and the frictional force between the drain baffle 32 and the side wall of the sealing cavity 3, so that the drain baffle 32 is driven by the high-pressure gas to move towards the drain outlet 13 until one end face of the drain baffle 32 abuts against the end face of the drain outlet 13, sealing the drain outlet 13. At this time, the drain outlet 13 is disconnected from the hot air purging chamber 2. The high-pressure gas introduced through the pressure gas inlet connector 36 can be compressed air or inert gases such as nitrogen or helium, with nitrogen or helium being preferred.

[0057] The reset elastic element 35 is a compression spring located near the drain outlet 13 and compressed when the drain baffle 32 is located on the drain outlet 13 side, or the reset elastic element 35 is a tension spring located away from the drain outlet 13 and stretched when the drain baffle 32 is located on the drain outlet 13 side.

[0058] In this embodiment, the reset elastic element 35 is a compression spring located near the drain outlet 13 and compressed when the drain baffle 32 is located on the drain outlet 13 side. The gas-water separator body 1 is provided with several positioning grooves on the end face of the drain outlet 13. The drain baffle 32 is provided with several guide posts 323 on the side edge facing the drain outlet 13, which are matched with the positioning grooves one by one. Each guide post 323 is provided with a compression spring.

[0059] The gas-water separator body 1 is also provided with a drainage channel 15. One end of the drainage channel 15 is connected to the sealing cavity 3, and the other end is connected to the hot air purging cavity 2. When the opening of the drainage channel 15 connected to the sealing cavity 3 is located in the area between the drainage outlet 13 and the drainage baffle 32 on the side of the drainage baffle 32 away from the drainage outlet 13.

[0060] Hydrogen inlet connector 11 and hydrogen outlet connector 12 are located at the upper ends of the gas-water separator body 1, respectively. Drain outlet 13 is located at the bottom of the inner cavity of the gas-water separator body 1. A liquid separation plate 16 is provided in the middle of the inner cavity. The liquid separation plate 16 has through holes for liquid to flow through. The inner cavity above the liquid separation plate 16 is the separation chamber 17, and the lower part is the water storage chamber 18.

[0061] The gas-liquid separation channel is roughly U-shaped. The U-shaped structure includes two arms and a connecting area connecting the two arms. The liquid separation plate 16 is located on the side of the connecting area near the water storage chamber 18. The hydrogen inlet connector 11 is located on the side of one end of one arm, and the hydrogen outlet connector 12 is located on the top surface of one end of the other arm.

[0062] Separation chamber 17 forms a gas-liquid separation channel from hydrogen inlet connector 11 to hydrogen outlet connector 12. Liquid separation plate 16 corresponds to the middle region of the gas-liquid separation channel. Baffles 171 are provided at both the upstream and downstream ends of liquid separation plate 16, blocking a portion of the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas-liquid separation channel. When the gas-liquid mixture impacts baffle 171, the gas flow direction changes while the gas velocity decreases, and some liquid flows down along baffle 171, achieving gas-liquid separation.

[0063] The cross-section of the gas-liquid separation channel is increased in the area where the liquid separation plate 16 is located, which can reduce the flow rate of the gas-liquid mixture passing through this area and promote gas-liquid separation.

[0064] The opening of the hydrogen inlet connector 11 at one end of the gas-liquid separation channel is located circumferentially in the gas-liquid separation channel, so that the faster-flowing gas-liquid mixture vertically impacts the wall at the inlet, changing the gas flow direction and reducing the gas flow rate, thus separating out some large-particle liquid.

[0065] One side of the gas-water separator body 1 is open and fitted with a cover plate 4. The gas-water separator body 1 has a slot in its inner cavity for installing a liquid separation plate 16.

[0066] The gas-liquid separation channel has a narrowed area with a reduced cross-section between the area where the liquid separation plate 16 is located and the area where the hydrogen outlet connector 12 is located. A gas entrainment outlet 172 is provided on one side of the narrowed area, and the water storage chamber 18 is connected to the gas entrainment outlet 172 through a connecting channel. When the gas-liquid mixture flows through this narrowed area, the flow rate increases, thereby entraining the gas entering the water storage chamber 18 into the narrowed area through the gas entrainment outlet 172 and converging together to flow towards the hydrogen outlet connector 12.

[0067] Work process:

[0068] (1) Normal operation of the fuel cell: After the hydrogen subsystem of the fuel cell system reacts, the gas-liquid mixture enters the gas-liquid separator body 1 through the hydrogen inlet connector 11. The faster-flowing gas-liquid mixture vertically impacts the wall at the inlet, changing the gas flow direction and reducing the gas velocity, separating some large liquid particles. The liquid can flow into the water storage chamber 18 through multiple small holes on the liquid separation plate 16. At the same time, the gas-liquid mixture impacts the baffle 171, achieving gas reversal and further gas-liquid separation. Furthermore, when the gas-liquid mixture passes through the gas-liquid separation channel in the area where the liquid separation plate 16 is located, the gas velocity is further reduced, further achieving gas-liquid separation. Some gas will also flow into the water storage chamber 18 through the small holes on the liquid separation plate 16. When the gas-liquid mixture flows through the narrowed area of ​​the gas-liquid separation channel, the flow velocity increases, thereby entraining the gas entering the water storage chamber 18 into the narrowed area through the gas entrainment outlet 172 and converging together to flow towards the hydrogen outlet connector 12. Additionally, under the elastic force of the reset elastic element 35, the sealing device 31 is in the open state, i.e., the drain outlet 13 is open. The liquid obtained by separating the gas-liquid mixture through the gas-liquid separator body 1 enters the hot air purging chamber 2 through the drain outlet 13 and the drain channel 15, and then discharges the liquid through the drain hole 21. Under normal operating conditions, the exhaust valve 14 and the purging valve 24 are in the closed state, and the drain valve 22 is in the periodic opening state.

[0069] During the fuel cell shutdown purging phase: High-pressure gas is introduced into the sealed chamber 3 through the pressurized gas inlet connector 36. Due to the high pressure inside the sealed chamber 3, the drain baffle 32 moves towards the drain outlet 13 under pressure, overcoming spring resistance, until the drain outlet 13 is blocked. Simultaneously, the first sealing ring 321 seals the drain outlet 13. Then, the exhaust valve 14 is opened to discharge the gas from the gas-water separator body 1. At the same time, the purge valve 24 is opened to introduce high-temperature, high-pressure gas into the hot air purge chamber 2 through the silicone connecting tube. The drain valve 22 is opened, and the high-temperature, high-pressure gas purges the hot air purge chamber 2 and then discharges through the drain valve 22, achieving rapid drying of the hot air purge chamber 2 and the drain valve 22. When the fuel cell system is shut down, the exhaust valve 14, purge valve 24, and drain valve 22 are closed. Since the exhaust valve 14 is only used during the purging phase and is located at a high position, it is not easy for water to accumulate and is not easy to freeze after low-temperature storage. Even if the exhaust valve 14 freezes during low-temperature storage, it can thaw itself using the hot gas inside the gas-water separator during normal system operation. Therefore, both the exhaust valve 14 and the drain valve 22 can be battery valves that do not require heating, which is more cost-effective.

[0070] During fuel cell shutdown: High-pressure gas is maintained in the sealed chamber 3, and the sealing device 31 is in the closed state to achieve isolation between the gas-water separator body 1 and the hot air purging chamber 2.

[0071] During the low-temperature start-up phase of the fuel cell: When the fuel cell system restarts, the drain valve 22 opens first. After the pressure inside the gas-liquid separator is established, the high-pressure gas in the sealed chamber 3 is released. Under the action of the elastic force of the reset elastic element 35, the drain baffle 32 moves away from the drain outlet 13. The liquid obtained from the separation of the gas-liquid mixture enters the hot air purging chamber 2 through the drain outlet 13 and is then discharged from the system through the drain hole 21. Due to the purging with hot air during the shutdown purging phase, the drain valve 22 will not freeze. Therefore, venting can be achieved quickly without the need for pre-heating to break the ice, reducing the low-temperature start-up time.

Claims

1. A fuel cell gas-water separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up, comprising a gas-water separator body, the gas-water separator body having an inner cavity, and a hydrogen inlet connector, a hydrogen outlet connector, and a drain outlet communicating with the inner cavity, characterized in that, The drain outlet is connected to a hot air purging chamber. The bottom of the hot air purging chamber is provided with a drain hole and a drain valve is provided at the drain hole. The hot air purging chamber is also provided with a purging hole, which is connected to the purging valve. A control mechanism is also provided between the drainage outlet and the hot air purging chamber to control the connection or disconnection between the drainage outlet and the hot air purging chamber. The gas-water separator body also has an exhaust port that connects to the inner cavity, and an exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust port.

2. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas-water separator body has a sealed cavity outside the drain outlet, the control mechanism is located inside the sealed cavity, and the hot air purging cavity is connected to the sealed cavity.

3. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hot air purging chamber and the gas-water separator body are designed separately and are fixed together by bolts.

4. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drain outlet is located at the bottom side of the inner cavity of the gas-water separator body. The control mechanism includes a sealing device located in the sealing cavity. The sealing device includes a drain baffle and a limiting member. When the drain baffle is located on the side of the drain outlet, it blocks the drain outlet and disconnects the drain outlet from the hot air purging chamber. When the drainage baffle is located on the side away from the drainage outlet, it is limited by the limiting member, and the drainage outlet is connected to the hot air blowing cavity. The sealing device also includes a drive unit for moving the drainage baffle.

5. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 4, characterized in that, The side of the drain baffle is sealed to the inner wall of the sealing cavity, and the drive unit includes a reset elastic element for holding the drain baffle away from the drain outlet. The limiting member includes a sealing plate for closing the opening of the sealing cavity on the side facing the hot air blowing cavity. One side of the sealing plate is provided with a protrusion that extends into the sealing cavity, and a gap is left between the protrusion and the inner wall of the sealing cavity. The drive unit also includes a pressure gas inlet connector provided on the gas-water separator body, the pressure gas inlet connector being connected to the area of ​​the inner wall of the sealed cavity corresponding to the protrusion; The gas-water separator body is also provided with a drainage channel. One end of the drainage channel is connected to the sealing cavity, and the other end is connected to the hot air purging cavity. The opening of the drainage channel at the end connected to the sealing cavity is located in the area between the drainage outlet and the drainage baffle when the drainage baffle is away from the drainage outlet.

6. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 5, characterized in that, The reset elastic element is a compression spring located near the drain outlet and compressed when the drain baffle is located on the drain outlet side, or the reset elastic element is a tension spring located away from the drain outlet and stretched when the drain baffle is located on the drain outlet side.

7. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 6, characterized in that, The reset elastic element is a compression spring located near the drain outlet and compressed when the drain baffle is located on the drain outlet side. The gas-water separator body has several positioning grooves on the end face of the drain outlet, and the drain baffle has several guide posts on one side edge facing the drain outlet that cooperate with the positioning grooves one by one. Each guide post is equipped with a compression spring.

8. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 7, characterized in that, The drain baffle is provided with a first sealing ring on the side facing the drain outlet, and the position of the first sealing ring corresponds to the outer circumference of the drain outlet; The side of the drainage baffle that mates with the inner wall of the sealing cavity is provided with a second sealing ring.

9. The fuel cell gas-liquid separator capable of rapid low-temperature start-up according to claim 1, characterized in that, The purge port is located on the top surface of the hot air purge chamber, and the purge port is connected to the purge valve through a silicone connecting tube.

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