Ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle

Abstract

Ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising: a main body (10) installed in an ion filter (1) and having ion granules filled therein; a test element (20) arranged within the main device part (10) and having a varying position based on a volume of the ion granules; and an elastic element (30) configured between a first side end in the main device part (10) and the test element (20) to push the test element (20) within the main device part (10), wherein the check element (20) identifies the replacement time of a cartridge of the ion filter (1) and indicates the main unit part (10) with a movement position of the check element (20) for replacing the cartridge.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle, and more particularly to an ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle that detects the replacement lifetime of a fuel cell ion filter cartridge. BACKGROUND

[0002] Recently, various environmentally friendly electric vehicles have been developed that can reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution, such as fuel cell vehicles and hybrid vehicles. A fuel cell vehicle is a vehicle that uses electricity generated by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen as a power source. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses an internal combustion engine while traveling at high speed or on a mountain road, and uses electricity as a power source while traveling at low speed or while stopped.

[0003] Generally, the existing internal combustion engine vehicle is powered by motive power generated by an explosive reaction of fossil fuel with oxygen in the air inside an engine to convert the chemical energy into mechanical energy, while the fuel cell vehicle is powered by electrical energy generated by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen supplied via a high-pressure hydrogen tank or converter with oxygen in the air supplied by an air turbocompressor inside a fuel cell stack.In other words, the fuel cell system is a device that directly converts the energy of the fuel into electrical energy, and is a system that includes a pair of electrodes configured of an anode and a cathode having an electrolyte disposed therebetween, and obtains electricity and heat through an electrochemical reaction of the ionized fuel gas.

[0004] A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell can exhibit high current density, low operating temperature, low corrosion, and reduced electrolyte loss, and as a result, it has begun to be developed as a power source for military use or spacecraft. Recently, however, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell can exhibit high power density and can be modularized due to a simplified device, and as a result, research into applying the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell as a power source for vehicles has been actively pursued.

[0005] The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured to generate electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of the reaction gas, a hydrogen supply device configured to supply hydrogen, which is a fuel for the fuel cell stack, an air supply device that supplies air, wherein oxygen, which is an oxidizer necessary for the electrochemical reaction, is supplied to the fuel cell stack, and a heat and water control system configured to expel heat, which is a byproduct from the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell stack, to the outside to optimally adjust an operating temperature of the fuel cell stack and perform a water control function.

[0006] In this configuration, the heat and water control system includes an ion filter. The ion filter removes metal ions from the cooling water circulating within the fuel cell stack and then expels them to increase the service life of the fuel cell and stabilize the fuel cell system. In other words, the fuel cell vehicle's ion filter is arranged on a stack cooling water circuit to filter ions to prevent electric shock due to a high output target equivalent to 100 kW, thus ensuring the electrical stability of the system.

[0007] For example, an ion resin is installed within a cartridge to remove and control electrical conductivity, increasing in proportion to an increase in the amount of cation / anion present in the collected cooling water so that the electrical conductivity is equal to or lower than a predetermined level, thereby increasing the insulation stability of the vehicle. Therefore, an inside of the ion filter contains the ion resin, which mainly filters ions contained in the cooling water. The cooling water circulating in the fuel cell stack and discharged enters the ion filter to remove the metal ions therefrom, passes through the ion resin in the ion filter, and then circulates again in the fuel cell stack, thereby appropriately adjusting the ion density, that is, the electrical conductivity, within the stack cooling water.

[0008] Meanwhile, the electrical conductivity of the stack cooling water is measured with an electrical conductivity sensor. Specifically, when the electrical conductivity measured by the electrical conductivity sensor is equal to or greater than a reference value, the ion filter cartridge is replaced to control the electrical conductivity in the stack cooling water to be equal to or less than a predetermined level. For example, the electrical conductivity is measured by the electrical conductivity sensor, and a cooling water electrical conductivity signal is periodically transmitted to a fuel cell control unit (FCU) via a control unit network (CAN) communication to determine whether the ion filter cartridge needs to be replaced.

[0009] However, in the case of the above detection method using the electrical conductivity sensor, the volume of the electrical conductivity sensor is increased and its cost (0.00001) is increased. Therefore, the detection method using the electrical conductivity sensor is useless from a layout and economic point of view. Furthermore, if the electrical conductivity sensor and CAN communication are poor, it may be difficult for a consumer to determine the replacement time of the ion filter cartridge.

[0010] Furthermore, EP 1 736 242 A2, DE 10 2011 009 917 A1 and US 2005 / 0 058 868 A1 each already disclose an ion filter lifetime detection device for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising a main body installed in an ion filter and having ion granules filled therein; a check element arranged within the main body and having a varying position based on a volume of the ion granules; and an elastic element configured between a first side end in the main body and the check element to push the check element within the main body. OVERVIEW

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an ion filter life detecting device for a fuel cell vehicle, which improves the service of the vehicle by detecting a replacement life of a fuel cell ion filter cartridge using the principle of reducing a volume of an ion resin.

[0012] The object is achieved by an ion filter lifetime detection device having the features of claim 1. An advantageous further development can be found in the subclaim.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an ion filter life detecting device for a fuel cell vehicle includes a main body installed inside an ion filter and having an ion resin filled therein; a checking member disposed inside the main body and having a position that varies based on a volume of the ion resin; and an elastic member disposed between a side (e.g., a first side) end in the main body and the checking member for urging the checking member from one side to the other side. The checking member identifies the replacement timing of a cartridge of the ion filter, and the main body is displayed with a movement position of the checking member for replacing the cartridge.

[0014] A part or the entire main unit can be transparent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will now become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is an exemplary usage state diagram schematically illustrating an ion filter lifetime detection unit for a fuel cell vehicle installed within an ion filter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating the ion filter lifetime detecting device for a fuel cell vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is an exemplary drawing illustrating the main parts in the ion filter life detecting device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, with a main device part removed from the ion filter life detecting device; and Fig. 4 is an exemplary drawing illustrating a strong acid cation exchange resin of the ion resin in the ion filter lifetime detecting device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The term "vehicle" or "vehicle-like" or other similar term, as used herein, is intended to be inclusive of motor vehicles in general, such as passenger automobiles, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft, a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and to include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than oil). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more power sources, for example, both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

[0017] Although an exemplary embodiment is described using a plurality of units to perform the exemplary process, it is understood that the exemplary processes may also be performed by one or more modules. Additionally, the term controller / controller refers to a hardware device that includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store the modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute these modules to perform one or more processes, which are described further below.

[0018] Unless specifically stated or obvious from the context, as used herein, the term "approximately" should be understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example, within 2 standard deviations of the mean. "Approximately" can be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, all values provided herein are modified with "approximately."

[0019] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of the listed features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed terms.

[0020] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited or restricted to the following exemplary embodiments. Like reference numerals appearing in each drawing indicate like components.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary use state schematically illustrating a case in which an ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in an ion filter, and Fig. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating the ion filter life expectancy sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a main body 10 installed inside an ion filter 1 and having ion granules filled therein, a check member 20 disposed inside the main body 10 having a position that varies based on a volume of the ion granules, and an elastic member 30 disposed between a side (e.g., a first side) end in the main body 10 and the check member 20 for pushing the check member 20 from one side to the other side, that is, pushing the check member 20 along the inside of the main body 10.

[0023] The ion filter 1 may be installed within a fuel cell stack, an ion filter cartridge (not shown) may be installed within the ion filter 1, and an upper cover 3, which covers an upper portion of the ion filter 1 and which fixes and protects the ion filter life sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, may be detachably coupled to the upper portion of the ion filter 1 with a bolt, a pin, and the like to install the ion filter life sensing device over the ion filter cartridge. In this configuration, the upper cover 3 may be made of transparent materials such as plastic and glass, and thus the ion filter life sensing device can be identified from the outside.

[0024] In addition, an arrow pointing in Fig. 1 illustrates a movement of the cooling water applied to the fuel cell stack in which the ion filter 1 and the ion filter lifetime sensing device can be positioned on a channel of the cooling water to guide the cooling water, which is circulated by passing through the ion filter, both through the ion filter cartridge installed within the ion filter 1 and the ion filter lifetime sensing device.

[0025] With reference to Fig. 2, the main body 10 may have a substantially single shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) and may be formed to have one side open and the other side closed. Furthermore, the main body 10 may be installed inside the ion filter 1 to be identified from the outside through the top cover 3, and the cover may have a transparent part 11 made of transparent materials such as plastic and glass, and thus the main body 10 may be formed to allow a state of the inspection element 20 and the ion granules filled therein to be recognized from the outside.

[0026] Specifically, the inspection element 20 may be made of fluorescent material and the like, and thus can be identified from the outside through the transparent part 11. Furthermore, the inspection element 20 may be formed to maintain airtightness (e.g., a seal) between the periphery of the inspection element 20 and the inside of the main body 10, and thus, the inspection element 20 may be formed to move while responding to a change in the volume of the ion granules filled in the main body 10.

[0027] Fig. 3 is an exemplary drawing illustrating the main parts within the ion filter lifetime sensing device, with a main device part removed from the ion filter lifetime sensing device. Referring to Fig. 3, the inside of the main device part 10 may be formed to be biased to one side within the main device part 10, the elastic element 30 may be installed between one side (e.g., a first side) of the inspection element 20 and one side end in the main device part 10 to push the inspection element 20 from one side to the other side (e.g., along the inside of the main device part 10) using an elastic force, and the inside of the main device part 10 in the other side (e.g., a second side) direction of the inspection element 20 may be filled with the ion granules. Therefore, when the volume of the ion granules is reduced, the inspection element 20 may move in the opposite side direction relative to the reduced amount in the volume of the ion granules by the elastic force of the elastic element 30. The elastic element 30 may be a spring, which is generally used, such asa spiral spring, a leaf spring and a linear spring.

[0028] Meanwhile, a mesh member 30 may be provided within the main body 10 in the second lateral direction of the inspection member 20 to prevent the ion granules filled in the second lateral direction of the inspection member 20 from leaking. Furthermore, the main body 10 may be formed with a display part 13 for displaying the cartridge replacement timing of the ion filter 1 during the movement of the inspection member 20. In other words, the display part 13, which can display a moving position of the inspection member 20 in the transparent part 11, may be formed in a longitudinal direction of the transparent part 11, and the cartridge replacement timing of the ion filter 10 can be understood based on the reduction in volume of the ion granules when the inspection member 20 moves up to the position of the display part 13.A principle of reducing the volume of the ion granules of the ion filter to which the present disclosure is applied will be described below with reference to FIG. Fig. 4 described.

[0029] Fig. 4 is an exemplary drawing showing a granule of acidic cation exchange of the ion granule within the ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, an acid cation exchange (SAC) granule is filtered through a pattern such as R - SO3H + Na+ → R - SO3Na + H+ and can then be adsorbed by ions. Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, an alkali anion exchange (SBA) granule is filtered through a pattern such as R - NOH + Cl- → R - NCl + OH- and can then be adsorbed by ions.

[0030] Using the above schemes, the volume of acid-cation exchange granules can be reduced by approximately 8%, and the volume of alkali-anion exchange granules can be reduced by approximately 20%. Therefore, when the ion filter cartridge reaches the replacement time due to the reduction in the volume of ion granules, the check element 20 can move to the position of the indicator part 13, and thus the cartridge replacement time can be identified.

[0031] According to the present disclosure, the ion filter life detection device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can be replaced along with the replacement of the ion filter cartridge. The elastic member 30 can be used fixed, and the main body 10, which is equipped with the ion granules, the inspection element 20, and the mesh member 40, can be replaced.

[0032] The ion filter life detection device for a fuel cell vehicle according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, configured as described above, eliminates the need for an electrical conductivity sensor to achieve the economic effect of saving manufacturing costs. In addition, it eliminates the need for an electronic controller to reduce the failure occurrence situation, and saves manufacturing costs by eliminating wiring and electromagnetic wave test verification. The present disclosure also has a simplified structure and can thus be manufactured more easily to save manufacturing costs, and improves vehicle maintenance by confirming the life of the ion filter cartridge in real time by a driver and at a service center. SYMBOL OF EACH OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE FIGURES 1 ion filter 3 upper cover 10 Main unit 11 transparent part 20 test member or element 30 elastic member or element

Claims

[1] Ion filter lifetime sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising: a main body (10) installed in an ion filter (1) and having ion granules filled therein; a test element (20) arranged within the main device part (10) and having a varying position based on a volume of the ion granules; and an elastic element (30) configured between a first side end in the main device part (10) and the test element (20) to push the test element (20) within the main device part (10), wherein the check element (20) identifies the replacement time of a cartridge of the ion filter (1) and indicates the main unit part (10) with a movement position of the check element (20) for replacing the cartridge. [2] The ion filter lifetime detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the main body (10) or the whole thereof is formed to be transparent.

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