A fuel cell inlet valve resistant to water immersion

Abstract

The utility model discloses a waterproof fuel cell air inlet valve of immersion, including valve body, be provided with the air inlet channel for connecting air pipe and the air outlet channel for connecting electric pile on the valve body, its characterized in that, the air inlet channel vertical setting is on the valve body, and the upper end is formed with the air inlet that penetrates, the air outlet channel transverse setting is on the valve body, and one end is formed with the air outlet that penetrates, and the other end is linked together with the air inlet channel, the lower end of air inlet channel and / or air outlet channel is provided with the atomizer for atomizing liquid water fog, the utility model has the advantages of reasonable structure design, can avoid the condensate water direct flow into fuel cell, is favorable to guarantee battery performance etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a waterproof fuel cell intake valve. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy. Its core principle is that fuel (such as hydrogen) reacts with an oxidant (such as air) at the electrodes to produce water, releasing both electrical and thermal energy. Compared to traditional combustion power generation methods, fuel cells offer advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, low pollutant emissions, and strong sustainability, thus holding broad application prospects in transportation, distributed energy, and portable power supplies.

[0003] To achieve this efficient energy conversion, fuel cells typically employ a stack structure, consisting of multiple individual cells stacked together. Each individual cell includes an anode channel for guiding fuel and a cathode channel for guiding oxidant, separated by an electrolyte membrane. During operation, to maintain the proton conductivity of the electrolyte membrane and prevent it from becoming excessively dry, the input fuel or oxidant is usually humidified to maintain appropriate membrane wettability.

[0004] In practical applications, air is readily available and requires no storage, so fuel cells typically use air as the oxidant, and the air is humidified before being fed into the fuel cell. The humidified air contains a certain amount of water vapor, some of which can condense on the pipe walls during transport. This condensate may accumulate after entering the fuel cell inlet valve and flow into the cathode channel, causing partial or complete blockage. This affects gas distribution and reaction efficiency, ultimately reducing the overall performance of the fuel cell. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is: how to provide a fuel cell inlet valve with a reasonable structural design that can prevent condensate from flowing directly into the fuel cell and is conducive to ensuring battery performance and preventing water immersion.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A waterproof fuel cell intake valve includes a valve body, on which an intake channel for connecting to an intake pipe and an outlet channel for connecting to a fuel cell stack are provided; characterized in that the intake channel is vertically arranged on the valve body and has an intake port formed at its upper end; the outlet channel is horizontally arranged on the valve body and has an outlet port formed at one end, and the other end is connected to the intake channel; an atomizer for atomizing liquid water is provided at the lower end of the intake channel and / or the outlet channel.

[0007] In the above structure, the air inlet is vertically positioned on the valve body, allowing air to be blown in from top to bottom. Water droplets condensed inside the pipes, under the combined action of airflow and gravity, enter the bottom of the air inlet and / or outlet channels. After being atomized by an atomizer, the liquid water is carried into the fuel cell stack by the airflow. This ensures that the air humidity meets the humidification requirements of the electrolyte membrane while preventing large streams of liquid water from clogging the flow channels and affecting battery performance, thus guaranteeing the fuel cell's performance. As for the water vapor entering with the airflow and the water produced after the reaction, due to the heat generated inside the fuel cell stack during operation, neither the water vapor entering with the airflow nor the water produced after the reaction can form accumulated liquid water in the flow channels and is ultimately carried out of the fuel cell stack by the airflow.

[0008] Furthermore, the lower end of the air inlet channel is lower than the air outlet channel, forming a relatively recessed liquid accumulation chamber, and the atomizer is disposed in the liquid accumulation chamber.

[0009] In this way, the liquid accumulation chamber, which is recessed relative to the air outlet channel, can collect condensed water droplets into the liquid accumulation chamber, preventing occasionally larger water droplets from exceeding the atomization speed of the atomizer and flowing directly into the fuel cell stack, thus affecting fuel cell formation. The collection in the liquid accumulation chamber allows condensed water droplets to be more reliably atomized into the airflow.

[0010] Furthermore, the air outlet is inclined downward at one end facing the air inlet.

[0011] In this way, some of the water droplets that fall into the air outlet can be collected and flow into the liquid accumulation chamber, and finally atomized by the atomizer, thus minimizing the direct entry of liquid water droplets into the fuel cell stack.

[0012] Furthermore, a guide plate is provided inside the air inlet channel at a position higher than the air outlet channel. The guide plate is located on the side of the air inlet channel facing the air outlet and is inclined downwards towards the other side.

[0013] In this way, the airflow can be directed towards the bottom of the air outlet and blown into the air inlet valve through the guide plate, so that the water droplets in the airflow can fall better to a position away from the air outlet, so that the atomizer can atomize the water droplets.

[0014] Furthermore, the edge of the guide plate has a support wall extending axially along the air intake channel, the end face of the support wall being generally circular or arc-shaped, and the outer diameter matching the inner diameter of the air intake channel.

[0015] In this way, by using the circular or curved support wall to form an assembly relationship with the air intake channel, the guide vane can be easily installed.

[0016] Furthermore, a guide sleeve is fitted inside the air intake channel, and the inner wall of the guide sleeve has a spirally arranged spiral guide plate, the lower end of which faces away from the air outlet.

[0017] Water droplets typically condense and form on the sidewalls of pipes. With the aforementioned flow guide sleeve, the airflow in the middle can directly enter the bottom of the air intake channel from the middle of the flow guide sleeve, while the airflow on the outside forms a rotating airflow through the spiral flow guide sleeve. The condensed water droplets mixed in the airflow are moved away from the airflow in the middle by centrifugal force and are finally thrown out at the lower end of the spiral flow guide plate in the direction away from the air outlet. They then gather at the bottom of the air intake channel, are atomized by the atomizer, and are carried into the fuel cell by the airflow again.

[0018] Furthermore, the valve body has a horizontally arranged detection hole, the inner end of which is connected to the air inlet or air outlet; a gas pressure sensor is installed on the detection hole.

[0019] Furthermore, the atomizer is an ultrasonic atomizer, a mesh atomizer, or an electrostatic atomizer.

[0020] In summary, this utility model has advantages such as reasonable structural design, which can prevent condensate from flowing directly into the fuel cell, thus helping to ensure battery performance. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Example 1.

[0022] Figure 2 and Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell intake valve in Example 1.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell intake valve in Example 2.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the flow guide plate in Example 2.

[0025] Figure 6 and Figure 7 These are schematic diagrams of two other structures for the support wall and the guide plate.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the flow guide sleeve in Example 3.

[0027] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A cross-sectional structural diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.

[0029] Example 1: As Figures 1-3 As shown, a waterproof fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack 3 and a humidifier 5. A fuel cell inlet valve is installed at the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack 3, and the inlet of the fuel cell inlet valve is connected to the humidifier 5 via a pipe. The fuel cell inlet valve includes a valve body 1, which has an inlet channel 11 for connecting to an inlet pipe and an outlet channel 12 for connecting to the fuel cell stack. The inlet channel 11 is vertically arranged on the valve body 1, and its upper end forms an inlet. The outlet channel 12 is horizontally arranged on the valve body 1, and one end forms an outlet, while the other end is connected to the inlet channel 11. An atomizer 4 for atomizing liquid water is provided at the lower end of the inlet channel 11 and / or the outlet channel 12. The valve body 1 has a horizontally arranged detection hole, the inner end of which is connected to the outlet channel 12. A gas pressure sensor 2 is installed on the detection hole.

[0030] In this embodiment, the lower end of the air inlet channel 11 is lower than the air outlet channel 12, forming a relatively concave liquid accumulation chamber 15. The atomizer 4 is an ultrasonic atomizer and is disposed within the liquid accumulation chamber 15. In specific implementations, the atomizer can also be a mesh atomizer or an electrostatic atomizer.

[0031] To minimize the accumulation of liquid water flowing into the fuel cell stack, the outlet channel 12 is angled downwards at one end facing the inlet channel 11. This allows some water droplets that fall into the outlet channel to accumulate and flow into the liquid accumulation chamber, where they are ultimately atomized by the atomizer, thus preventing liquid water droplets from directly entering the fuel cell stack.

[0032] In this embodiment, the air inlet is vertically positioned on the valve body, allowing air to be blown in from top to bottom. Water droplets condensed inside the pipes, under the combined influence of airflow and gravity, enter the bottom of the air inlet and / or outlet channels. The liquid water is then atomized by an atomizer and carried into the fuel cell stack by the airflow. This ensures that the air humidity meets the humidification requirements of the electrolyte membrane while preventing large streams of liquid water from clogging the flow channels and affecting battery performance, thus guaranteeing the fuel cell's performance. As for the water vapor entering with the airflow and the water produced after the reaction, due to the heat generated inside the fuel cell stack during operation, neither the water vapor entering with the airflow nor the water produced after the reaction can form accumulated liquid water in the flow channels and is ultimately carried out of the fuel cell stack by the airflow.

[0033] Example 2: As Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, in this embodiment, based on Embodiment 1, a guide plate 13 is further provided inside the air inlet channel 11 at a position higher than the air outlet channel 12. The guide plate 13 is located on the side of the air inlet channel 11 facing the air outlet and is inclined downwards towards the other side. The guide plate allows the airflow to be blown into the air inlet valve towards the bottom of the air outlet channel, thereby allowing water droplets in the airflow to fall more effectively away from the air outlet, so that the atomizer can atomize the water droplets.

[0034] To facilitate the installation of the air intake manifold, a support wall 14 is formed along the axial direction of the air intake channel 11, with the end face of the support wall 14 being generally arc-shaped and its outer diameter matching the inner diameter of the air intake channel 11. The arc-shaped support wall and the air intake channel form an assembly relationship, allowing for convenient placement of the air intake manifold. In specific implementations, a portion of the air intake manifold 13 can also be connected to the support wall 14, such as... Figure 6 As shown. Alternatively, the support wall 14 can be made into a cylindrical shape with rounded ends, as shown. Figure 7 As shown.

[0035] Example 3: The main difference between this example and Example 2 is that, as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, a guide sleeve 15 is fitted inside the air inlet channel 11. The inner wall of the guide sleeve 15 has a spirally arranged spiral guide plate 16, the lower end of which faces away from the air outlet. Water droplets are usually condensed and formed on the side wall of the pipe. With the guide sleeve structure described above, part of the airflow in the middle can directly enter the bottom of the air inlet channel from the middle of the guide sleeve, while the airflow on the outside forms a rotating airflow after passing through the spiral guide sleeve. The condensed water droplets mixed in the airflow are moved away from the airflow in the middle by centrifugal force and are finally thrown out at the lower end of the spiral guide plate in the direction away from the air outlet, and gather at the bottom of the air inlet channel. After being atomized by the atomizer, they are carried into the fuel cell by the airflow again.

[0036] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A waterproof fuel cell inlet valve, comprising a valve body (1), wherein the valve body (1) is provided with an inlet channel (11) for connecting to an inlet pipe and an outlet channel (12) for connecting to a fuel cell stack; characterized in that, The air inlet channel (11) is vertically arranged on the valve body (1), and an air inlet is formed through the upper end; the air outlet channel (12) is horizontally arranged on the valve body (1), and an air outlet is formed through one end, while the other end is connected to the air inlet channel (11); an atomizer (4) for atomizing liquid water is provided at the lower end of the air inlet channel (11) and / or the air outlet channel (12).

2. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end of the air inlet channel (11) is lower than the air outlet channel (12) and forms a relatively concave liquid accumulation chamber (15), and the atomizer (4) is disposed in the liquid accumulation chamber (15).

3. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The air outlet (12) is inclined downward at one end facing the air inlet (11).

4. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A guide plate (13) is provided in the air inlet channel (11) at a position higher than the air outlet channel (12). The guide plate (13) is located on the side of the air inlet channel (11) facing the air outlet and is inclined downwards towards the other side.

5. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The edge of the guide plate (13) has a support wall (14) extending axially along the air intake channel (11). The end face of the support wall (14) is generally circular or arc-shaped, and its outer diameter matches the inner diameter of the air intake channel (11).

6. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet channel (11) is fitted with a guide sleeve, and the inner wall of the guide sleeve has a spiral guide plate arranged in a spiral manner, with the lower end of the spiral guide plate facing away from the air outlet.

7. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The valve body (1) has a horizontally arranged detection hole, the inner end of which is connected to the air inlet channel (11) or the air outlet channel (12); a gas pressure sensor (2) is installed on the detection hole.

8. The waterproof fuel cell intake valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The atomizer is an ultrasonic atomizer, a mesh atomizer, or an electrostatic atomizer.

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