Automatic processing assembly device for hydrogen fuel cell coolant

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of hydrogen fuel cell coolant automatic processing assembly devices, including movable cabinet and control unit, gas purging unit, other auxiliary component unit;Gas purging unit includes purging branch;Purging branch one end is communicated with the purging port opened on movable cabinet;Other end is communicated with the compressed air interface opened on movable cabinet;Other auxiliary component unit includes liquid storage tank, and the bottom of liquid storage tank is communicated to the filling port opened on movable cabinet with liquid injection pipeline route.This application is integrated in movable cabinet inside by gas purging unit, other auxiliary component unit and control unit, develop a kind of coolant comprehensive recovery device, can be integrated in all directions such as recovery, filling, storage and transportation, filtration, all the devices used in the process of collection are concentrated in a regional space, make standardization independent movable cabinet, coolant is recovered with the aid of gas purging unit, and recovery efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hydrogen fuel cell testing technology, specifically to an automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for hydrogen fuel cells. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen fuel cells are power generation devices that directly convert the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. Because they directly convert to electricity without the intermediate conversion of heat or mechanical energy, their power generation efficiency can reach over 50%. Furthermore, hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through electrochemical reactions, unlike traditional combustion or energy storage methods, thus avoiding environmental pollution. They are also relatively quiet during operation, making them an ideal clean new energy source with advantages such as high conversion efficiency and zero pollution, and thus have broad application prospects.

[0003] Currently, hydrogen fuel cell testing and research is booming, leading to a surge in hydrogen fuel cell engine performance research and testing. To simulate the low-temperature cold-start characteristics of engines under low-temperature conditions, the fuel cell liquid cooling circuit needs to be filled with hydrogen fuel cell-specific antifreeze or special pure water to meet the internal cooling requirements of the engine. Since fuel cell coolant significantly impacts fuel cell performance and lifespan, its operating cost is inherently high. After testing, most users need to recycle, filter, store, and refill the coolant.

[0004] Existing coolant recovery equipment generally has limited functionality, with poor integration of functions such as recovery, filtration, storage, and refilling. It cannot meet the various research and testing needs of fuel cells, and its recovery efficiency is not ideal. In addition, after the test, manual refilling and storage of coolant are often used, which is extremely inconvenient and results in serious waste. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is: how to provide an integrated assembly device that combines hydrogen fuel cell coolant filling, recovery, filtration and pipeline purging.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0007] An automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell includes a mobile cabinet and a control unit installed inside the cabinet. The assembly is characterized by further including a gas purging unit and other auxiliary components located inside the cabinet, with the control unit connected to the gas purging unit and other auxiliary components.

[0008] The gas purging unit includes a purging branch; one end of the purging branch is connected to a purging port on the mobile cabinet, and the purging port is connected to the hydrogen fuel cell water circuit interface; the other end is connected to a compressed air interface on the mobile cabinet.

[0009] The other auxiliary components include a liquid storage tank, the bottom of which is connected to a filling port on the mobile cabinet via a liquid injection pipe; a resin return filtration branch is also branched off from the liquid injection pipe and connected back to the liquid storage tank; the top of the liquid storage tank is connected to a recovery port on the mobile cabinet via a recovery pipe.

[0010] This application integrates a gas purging unit, other auxiliary components, and a control unit within a mobile cabinet. The mobile cabinet is then connected to the engine of the hydrogen fuel cell under test. The other auxiliary components are equipped with resin return filtration branches, injection lines, and recovery lines. Therefore, based on testing requirements, this application develops a comprehensive coolant recovery device that integrates recovery, filling, storage, transportation, and filtration. All components used in the collection process are concentrated in one area, forming a standardized, independent, mobile cabinet that is aesthetically pleasing, easy to operate, and convenient to use. With the assistance of the purging unit, the coolant recovery efficiency is improved.

[0011] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the purging branch is provided with a gas pressure regulating valve, a float flow meter and a first shut-off valve in sequence.

[0012] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the injection pipeline is equipped with an electric water replenishment pump, a second shut-off valve, and an electric valve.

[0013] As a further embodiment of this utility model: one end of the resin return filtration branch is connected to the injection pipeline located between the second and third shut-off valves; the other end is connected to the upper part of the storage tank.

[0014] The resin return filtration branch is equipped with a third shut-off valve, a first pressure sensor, and an ion filter.

[0015] As a further embodiment of this utility model, a switch valve is provided at the connection between the injection pipeline and the resin return filtration branch.

[0016] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the liquid storage tank is equipped with a liquid level sensor and a conductivity sensor inside, wherein the liquid level sensor and the conductivity sensor are electrically connected to the control unit.

[0017] As a further embodiment of this utility model: when the liquid inside the storage tank is at a high level, the third shut-off valve is disconnected, and the electric water replenishment pump and the switch valve are turned on.

[0018] When the liquid level inside the storage tank is low, the third shut-off valve opens, and the electric water pump and the switch valve are disconnected.

[0019] As a further embodiment of this utility model: one end of the recovery pipeline is connected to the top of the liquid storage tank, and the other end is connected to the recovery port, and an electric recovery pump is installed on the recovery pipeline.

[0020] As a further embodiment of this utility model, a manual liquid injection port is provided on the top of the liquid storage tank.

[0021] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the bottom of the liquid storage tank is connected to the drain port on the mobile cabinet via a pipeline, wherein a fourth shut-off valve is provided on the pipeline.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0023] 1. This application integrates the gas purging unit, other auxiliary components and control unit inside the mobile cabinet, and then connects the mobile cabinet to the engine of the external hydrogen fuel cell. The assembly unit is also equipped with a resin return filtration branch, a liquid injection pipeline and a recovery pipeline. Therefore, this application can integrate recovery, filling, storage and transportation, filtration and other functions into one unit, and concentrate all the devices used in the collection process into one area space to make a standardized independent mobile cabinet that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to operate.

[0024] 2. The equipment of this application has safety protection linkage, emergency shutdown and other protection functions. From the comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the convenience, safety, efficiency and cost of the equipment, it has been greatly improved and enhanced compared with the previous technology.

[0025] 3. This application incorporates a gas purging unit for purging the fuel cell water circuit. On one hand, after fuel cell testing is completed, it can be connected to the fuel cell water circuit outlet to facilitate coolant recovery and drainage. After the fuel cell completes temperature control testing under low-temperature conditions, the internal circulating coolant needs to be drained and recovered a second time to prevent waste due to incomplete recovery. On the other hand, since the medium used in low-temperature environments is not a cryogenic coolant, the internal cavity solution must be drained immediately after the fuel cell testing stops; otherwise, the inside of the battery will freeze rapidly due to the low temperature, causing irreversible damage to the proton exchange membrane inside the fuel cell.

[0026] 4. This application sets up a resin return filtration branch and a liquid injection pipeline, with the liquid injection pipeline able to connect back to the resin return filtration branch. The coolant used for testing is purified through the resin return filtration branch. When the drain port of the fuel cell engine under test is connected to the device's recovery port, the electric water pump is turned on to automatically replenish the liquid storage tank. When the tank level is high, the level sensor alarms, controlling the start / stop command of the electric water pump to stop the automatic liquid replenishment and recovery. This ensures that the liquid level in the tank is always controlled, and the pipeline can achieve both liquid injection and liquid recovery effects, reducing costs and improving practicality.

[0027] 5. The purpose of this application in setting up an electrical control unit is to improve the automation level of the entire coolant filtration and recovery function, so as to fully realize both long-term unattended operation locally and independent and safe operation remotely.

[0028] 6. The equipment in this application is designed as an integrated cabinet structure, which is movable as a whole, has an independent and beautiful appearance, convenient test port docking and easy disassembly, and the double door design ensures sufficient space for daily maintenance operations. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the automatic hydrogen fuel cell coolant treatment assembly device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of other auxiliary components in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is an isometric view of the automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0032] Figure 4 This is an isometric view of the automatic hydrogen fuel cell coolant treatment assembly device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a system logic diagram of the automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for hydrogen fuel cells according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] 1. Gas pressure regulating valve; 2. Float flow meter; 3. First shut-off valve;

[0036] 4. Second shut-off valve; 5. First pressure sensor; 6. Electric valve; 7. Third shut-off valve; 8. Ion filter; 9. Electric recovery pump; 10. Conductivity sensor; 11. Electric water replenishment pump; 12. Fourth shut-off valve; 13. Liquid storage tank; 14. Liquid level sensor;

[0037] 15. PLC controller;

[0038] 16. Purge port; 17. Filling port; 18. Recovery port; 19. Drain port; 20. Compressed air interface; 21. Power switch; 22. Wiring port. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of this utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 An automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell includes a mobile cabinet, a gas purging unit, other auxiliary components, and a control unit integrated inside the mobile cabinet. The mobile cabinet has a cuboid structure. A purging port 16 and a filling port 17 are provided on the upper part of one side wall. A recovery port 18 and a drain port 19 are provided on the lower part of one side wall, below the purging port 16 and the filling port 17. A compressed air interface 20 is provided on the upper part of the other side wall of the mobile cabinet, and a power switch 21 and a wiring port 22 are provided on the lower part of the other side wall of the mobile cabinet.

[0041] Reference Figure 1 The gas purging unit includes a purging branch, which is composed of stainless steel pipes. One end of the purging branch is connected to the purging port 16 opened on the mobile cabinet, and the other end is connected to the compressed air interface 20 opened on the mobile cabinet. In addition, a gas pressure regulating valve 1, a float flow meter 2 and a first shut-off valve 3 are sequentially installed on the purging branch between the two.

[0042] It is important to note that the gas pressure regulating valve 1, float flow meter 2, and first shut-off valve 3, along with several stainless steel pipelines, form a purging branch. The primary design purpose of this branch is to purge the fuel cell water circuit. Firstly, after the fuel cell testing is completed, it can be connected to the fuel cell water circuit outlet to facilitate liquid recovery and drainage. After the fuel cell completes the temperature control test under low-temperature conditions, the internal circulating coolant needs to be drained and recovered a second time to prevent waste due to incomplete recovery. Secondly, since the medium used in the low-temperature environment is not a cryogenic coolant, the internal cavity solution must be drained immediately after the fuel cell testing stops; otherwise, the inside of the battery will freeze rapidly due to the low temperature, causing irreversible damage to the proton exchange membrane inside the fuel cell.

[0043] For the reasons mentioned above, a gas purging unit is selected for the coolant assembly. The specific operation is as follows: When in use, first open the manual first shut-off valve 3 to connect the purging port 16 to the fuel cell water circuit interface, and simultaneously open the source gas circuit pressure regulating valve 1. After reducing the pressure to a suitable level, purging is performed. At the same time, the purging branch is equipped with a float flow meter 2, which can simultaneously monitor the auxiliary purging flow in real time to ensure the safety of the device when using gas purging.

[0044] The airflow direction reference in the gas purging unit Figure 1 The branch arrows indicate directions.

[0045] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Other auxiliary components include a liquid storage tank 13, the bottom of which is connected to a filling port 17 on the mobile cabinet via a liquid injection pipe. A branch of the liquid injection pipe serves as a resin return filtration branch, the other end of which connects to a position slightly above the liquid storage tank 13. The liquid storage tank 13 is also connected to a recovery port 18 on the mobile cabinet via a recovery pipe. The liquid storage tank 13 contains a liquid level sensor 14 and a conductivity sensor 10, both of which are electrically connected to the control unit.

[0046] The injection pipeline is equipped with an electric water pump 11, a second shut-off valve 4, and an electric valve 6. One end of the injection pipeline is connected to the bottom of the storage tank 13, and the other end is connected to the filling port 17. A resin return filtration branch is branched off from the injection pipeline on the side of the second shut-off valve 4. A switch valve is provided at the connection between the injection pipeline and the resin return filtration branch.

[0047] The resin return filtration branch includes a third shut-off valve 7, a first pressure sensor 5, and an ion filter 8. The resin return filtration branch uses a stainless steel rigid pipe.

[0048] One end of the recovery pipeline is connected to the top of the liquid storage tank 13, and the other end is connected to the recovery port 18. An electric recovery pump 9 is installed on the recovery pipeline, and the recovery pipeline is made of PTFE low-temperature resistant silicone hose.

[0049] Reference Figure 2 It should be noted that the other auxiliary components are divided into three parts according to their design functions:

[0050] Part 1: The liquid storage tank 13 and the electric recovery pump 9 are connected by a PTFE low-temperature resistant silicone hose. The electric recovery pump 9 is also connected to the recovery port 18 by a PTFE low-temperature resistant silicone hose. At the same time, a liquid level sensor 14 is installed on the liquid storage tank 13, forming a coolant recovery-storage unit. Main design purpose: for the recovery of coolant in the fuel cell water circuit.

[0051] Specific operation: When the drain port of the fuel cell engine under test is connected to the recovery port 18 of the device, the electric return water pump 9 is turned on to automatically replenish water to the storage tank 13. When the water level in the tank is high, the level sensor 14 alarms and controls the electric recovery pump 9 to start and stop automatically replenishing and recovering water. A manual filling port is provided on the top of the storage tank 13 to support manual filling and recovery by the test personnel. A drain port is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 13, which is connected to the fourth shut-off valve 12, allowing the test personnel to manually drain the water, forming a drainage unit to facilitate daily cleaning after the storage tank is emptied.

[0052] A recovery loop is set up for automatic replenishment of coolant in the storage tank 13, ensuring that coolant entering the device can be automatically and smoothly added without the need for manual intervention by an external water pump. The storage tank 13 is designed to facilitate the storage, filtration, and handling of the recovered coolant. Furthermore, a level sensor 14 is installed inside the tank to monitor changes in the liquid level in real time, preventing cavitation from the electric water pump 11 or overfilling and wasting coolant from the electric recovery pump 9.

[0053] Part Two: The electric water pump 11, the second shut-off valve 4, and the electric valve 6 are connected via PTFE low-temperature resistant silicone hoses, forming a coolant filling and storage unit. Main design purpose: For filling the coolant circuit of the fuel cell with coolant.

[0054] Specific operating principle: The fuel cell engine under test is connected to the filling port 17 of the recovery assembly. At this time, the second shut-off valve 4 and the electric valve 6 are working. At the same time, when the liquid level sensor 14 on the liquid storage tank 13 is in a high liquid level state, the electric water pump 11 can be turned on and the third shut-off valve 7 is closed (i.e., the third shut-off valve 7 is not working). At this time, the liquid in the liquid storage tank 13 enters the fuel cell engine under test through the electric water pump 11, the second shut-off valve 4, the electric valve 6 and the filling port 17 in sequence for replenishment.

[0055] When the liquid level in the storage tank 13 drops to a low level, the electric water pump 11 automatically stops, i.e., the liquid replenishment stops; then the third shut-off valve 7 opens, and the liquid from the tested hydrogen fuel cell engine can enter the storage tank 13 from the filling port 17 in sequence through the electric valve 6, the second shut-off valve 4, the third shut-off valve 7, the first pressure sensor 5, and the ion filter 8, realizing the recycling of the liquid.

[0056] The second shut-off valve 4 is designed to support manual adjustment and control, which is suitable for controlling the circulation flow and pressure when adding coolant to different types of fuel cells.

[0057] Part Three: The first pressure sensor 5, the third shut-off valve 7, the ion filter 8, the conductivity sensor 10, and the liquid storage tank 13 are connected sequentially by stainless steel rigid pipes to form a coolant filtration-detection unit. Main design purpose: For filtering the coolant in the fuel cell liquid cooling circuit.

[0058] Specific operation and principle: A conductivity sensor 10 is installed inside the coolant tank for real-time monitoring of the coolant conductivity. When the overall conductivity of the coolant is extremely high, the PLC controller 15 issues a coolant failure warning. At this time, the third shut-off valve 7 is opened first and the second shut-off valve 4 is closed. Simultaneously, the electric water pump 11 is turned on. The connected coolant tank 13, under the action of the ion filter 8 in the circuit, begins to filter the medium in the coolant tank in real time. That is, the coolant enters the third shut-off valve 7 through the electric water pump 11 in sequence, and then enters the coolant tank 13 through the first pressure sensor 5 and the ion filter 8 in sequence, thereby achieving the filtration treatment of the coolant in the coolant tank. The purpose of setting up a coolant filtration and recovery system is to filter impurities from the coolant in the storage tank 13 through the deion filter 8 until the test water (coolant) reaches a safe threshold. This safe threshold is determined according to actual site requirements and is not limited in this application. To ensure the purity of the coolant entering the testing equipment, a pressure sensor 5 is installed to monitor the water supply pressure in the filtration branch, ensuring that the pressure in the pipeline branch is always maintained within a safe range, thus guaranteeing the service life of the vulnerable component, the deion filter 8. It should be noted that both the deion filter 8 and the conductivity sensor 10 are commonly used devices in the field. This application only uses them without modification, therefore their principles are not described in detail.

[0059] Simultaneously, in conjunction with the central controller readings within the cabinet, the conductivity remains extremely low even after continuous central controller readings. No color fading occurs when passing through the deion filter, indicating it is qualified and the filtration effect meets the test requirements. The ion filter 8 itself uses internal exchange resin to replace various anions and cations in the coolant, thereby adsorbing anions and cations released by the fuel cell stack and related components of the cooling water circuit. This maintains the conductivity of the cooling water circuit at a low value, preventing system leakage. The device employs an innovative replaceable filter element design, with a typical service life of ≥6 months, effectively reducing operating costs.

[0060] It should be noted that the third shut-off valve 7 can be used to adjust the filtration pressure to prevent irreversible damage to the ion filter 8 caused by excessive filtration pressure from the water pump.

[0061] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The control unit includes a PLC controller 15 and its electrical accessories located inside the mobile cabinet, forming a PLC control-failure early warning unit.

[0062] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. An automated cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising a mobile cabinet and a control unit installed inside the cabinet, characterized in that, It also includes a gas purging unit and other auxiliary components located inside the cabinet, and the control unit is connected to the gas purging unit and other auxiliary components; The gas purging unit includes a purging branch; one end of the purging branch is connected to a purging port (16) opened on the mobile cabinet, and the purging port (16) is connected to the hydrogen fuel cell water circuit interface; the other end is connected to a compressed air interface (20) opened on the mobile cabinet. The other auxiliary components include a liquid storage tank (13), the bottom of which is connected to a filling port (17) on the mobile cabinet via a liquid injection pipeline; a resin return filtration branch is also branched off from the liquid injection pipeline and connected back to the liquid storage tank (13); the top of the liquid storage tank (13) is connected to a recovery port (18) on the mobile cabinet via a recovery pipeline.

2. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The purging branch is sequentially equipped with a gas pressure regulating valve (1), a float flow meter (2), and a first shut-off valve (3).

3. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The injection pipeline is equipped with an electric water replenishment pump (11), a second shut-off valve (4), and an electric valve (6).

4. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 3, characterized in that: One end of the resin return filtration branch is connected to the injection pipeline located between the second shut-off valve (4) and the third shut-off valve (7); the other end is connected to the upper part of the storage tank (13). The resin return filtration branch is equipped with a third shut-off valve (7), a first pressure sensor (5), and an ion filter (8).

5. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 4, characterized in that: A switch valve is provided at the connection between the injection pipeline and the resin return filtration branch.

6. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 5, characterized in that: The liquid storage tank (13) is equipped with a liquid level sensor (14) and a conductivity sensor (10), wherein the liquid level sensor (14) and the conductivity sensor (10) are electrically connected to the control unit.

7. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the liquid inside the storage tank (13) is at a high level, the third shut-off valve (7) is disconnected, and the electric water pump (11) and the switch valve are turned on. When the liquid inside the storage tank (13) is at a low level, the third shut-off valve (7) is opened, and the electric water pump (11) and the switch valve are disconnected.

8. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the recovery pipeline is connected to the top of the liquid storage tank (13), and the other end is connected to the recovery port (18). An electric recovery pump (9) is installed on the recovery pipeline.

9. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the liquid storage tank (13) is provided with a manual liquid injection port.

10. The automatic cooling fluid treatment assembly for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the liquid storage tank (13) is connected to the drain port (19) on the mobile cabinet via a pipeline, wherein a fourth shut-off valve (12) is provided on the pipeline.

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