Device for drying a gas flow

Abstract

The invention relates to, inter alia, a drying device (50) for drying a gas flow (80), in particular for drying a hydrogen gas flow, comprising a gas guiding device (51) which has a gas guiding channel (53); a gas inlet (54) which is designed to introduce the gas flow (80) to be dried into the gas guiding device (51), in particular into the gas guiding channel (53); a gas outlet (55) which is designed to discharge the dried gas flow (82) out of the gas guiding device (51); a cooling device (56) for cooling the gas flow, in particular in an active manner, said cooling device being connected at least to a cooling section (58) of the gas guiding channel (53) so as to exchange heat, wherein the gas guiding channel (53) is guided along the cooling device (56) in said cooling section (58), and a condensate discharge (59) which is designed to discharge liquid (84) condensed out of the gas flow during the cooling process. In order to dry the gas flow as effectively as possible, in particular with as little required material as possible, an embodiment proposes that more than 50% of the length of the gas guiding channel (53) is guided along the cooling device (56) in the cooling section (58), and the gas guiding channel (53) has a device (60) in the cooling section (58) of the gas guiding channel for increasing the linear speed of the gas flow in comparison to the linear speed of the gas flow at the gas inlet (54).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Device for drying a gas stream

[0003] The present invention relates firstly to a drying device for drying a gas stream according to the preamble of patent claim 1, as well as according to the preamble of patent claim 2. Furthermore, the invention also relates to an energy system, in particular a domestic energy system, according to the preamble of patent claim 16, as well as to a method for producing a drying device according to the preamble of patent claim 15.

[0004] In many processes, it is necessary or desirable to dry a moist gas stream. This can be achieved in a variety of ways.

[0005] In a drying principle that forms the basis for the present invention, drying occurs by cooling the initially moist gas stream in a gas cooler. This cooling increases the relative humidity in the gas to such an extent that the excess moisture in the gas condenses. The condensed liquid is separated from the gas stream and drained from the gas cooler via a condensate drain.

[0006] Such a gas cooler is described, for example, in DE 196 22 530 A1. In this known solution, the gas is cooled in a cooling block. This cooling block is cooled externally using a Peltier element. The gas to be dried is introduced via a gas supply pipe into a recess in the cooling block, whereby the recess forms an annular space. The cold side of the Peltier element is in surface contact with the recess in the cooling block. In this way, the gas stream contained in the recess is cooled. The liquid condensed from the moist gas leaves the recess in the cooling block via a condensate drain. The dried gas stream leaves the gas cooler via a gas discharge pipe. The area available for active cooling of the gas stream in this known solution is very limited, which reduces the cooling performance and efficiency of the gas cooler.An increase in cooling performance and efficiency is only possible if the gas cooler is dimensioned accordingly larger, which also entails more material, more installation space, higher manufacturing costs and a higher thermal mass.

[0007] CN 215428142 U discloses a gas cooler having a gas guide channel in a cooling section located between a gas inlet and a gas outlet. This gas guide channel has a folded, curved shape. This cooling section is cooled by a cooling element. Condensate produced during drying is discharged via a condensate drain. The gas guide channel largely runs perpendicular to the cooling element, so that only a very small portion of the gas guide channel runs past the gas guide channel. However, this reduces the efficiency of the gas cooler.

[0008] Another type of cooling is described in CN 110375563 A. This gas cooler is constructed according to the tube-in-tube principle. A first tube interacts with a gas inlet and a cooling device, while a second tube interacts with a gas outlet and the cooling device.

[0009] Based on the cited prior art, the present invention is based on the object of developing a device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the gas stream is dried as effectively as possible, in particular with the lowest possible material requirement, a compact design, low manufacturing costs and the most flexible dimensioning possible.

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by the drying device for drying a gas stream having the features of independent patent claim 1, which represents the first aspect of the invention, by the drying device for drying a gas stream having the features of independent patent claim 2, which represents the second aspect of the invention, by the energy system having the features of independent patent claim 14, which represents the third aspect of the invention, and by the method for producing a drying device having the features of independent patent claim 15, which represents the fourth aspect of the invention. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description and the drawings.In this case, features and details disclosed in connection with one of the aspects of the invention also apply in full in connection with all other aspects of the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made in full to the other aspects of the invention.

[0011] All aspects of the invention are based on the common inventive concept that a drying device is provided by means of which an initially moist gas stream is dried by cooling, in particular active cooling, and that moisture condensed during cooling is removed from the drying device via an integrated water separation.

[0012] Active cooling increases the relative humidity (RH) in the gas stream to over 100% RH, and the excess moisture condenses. A particular challenge is the separation of condensate from the aerosol. A so-called demister is ideal for this purpose. This demister creates targeted hydrophilic and / or hydrophobic regions in a porous body, each providing separate space for the gas and condensate to collect and drain away. The formation of increasingly larger droplets is supported by momentum exchange, wetting, and film formation, particularly on hydrophilic surfaces such as metallic walls, metallic porous bodies, metallic meshes, or felts. Hydrophobic regions are often formed by plastic meshes, plastic sponges, or other porous plastic bodies. It goes without saying that these elements and materials can be selectively mixed or cascaded within a flow-through installation space.This particularly includes elements that can be used to specifically achieve a wicking effect toward a larger separated liquid volume. The condensed liquid can thus be separated from the gas stream more easily and efficiently and is ultimately collected, for example, in a collecting device, which in particular represents a type of separation vessel. From there, the liquid can be removed from the drying device via a condensate drain or condensate drain. Further preferred embodiments of this are described further below.

[0013] The drying device according to the invention is particularly suitable for continuous operation, but also for cyclical operation, such as occurs in electrolysis, for example, due to operation during the day and downtime at night. The present invention is preferably located in the field of microtechnology with regard to its manufacturing and process engineering.

[0014] The condensate is preferably separated using gravimetric condensate separation, i.e. weight-controlled.

[0015] The first two aspects of the invention each relate to a drying device for drying a gas stream. These are alternative embodiments, but they share the same basic inventive concept and each achieve the same problem. In particular, these drying devices make it possible to achieve efficient cooling and thus efficient drying of the gas stream. The optimized flow guidance and significantly increased heat transfer enable a compact design and material savings, which in turn leads to optimized efficiency and costs. In another embodiment, a drying device is provided that combines the features of the first and second aspects of the invention.

[0016] The drying devices of both aspects of the invention have the common components and features described below.

[0017] Each drying device dries a gas stream. The invention is fundamentally not limited to the drying of specific gas streams or gas types. In a preferred embodiment, the drying device is used in conjunction with the drying of a hydrogen gas stream. With the increasing use of renewable energies, the production and supply of hydrogen, among other things, is playing an increasingly important role. Hydrogen is considered one of the promising options for climate-friendly energy production. The liquid condensed during cooling, i.e., the condensate, is primarily water.

[0018] The drying devices firstly comprise a gas guiding device. The gas guiding device, which can be designed in different ways, comprises all components and elements required for the transport and drying of the gas stream and optionally for the removal of liquid condensed from the gas stream. The gas guiding device firstly comprises a gas guiding channel through which the gas stream to be dried is passed. A channel is in particular a guided, in this case also closed, path, similar to a pipe, or a tube. The gas guiding channel interacts with a gas inlet. This gas inlet is provided to introduce the gas stream to be dried into the gas guiding device, in particular into the gas guiding channel. During operation of the drying device, the moist gas stream enters the gas guiding device, and in particular into the gas guiding channel, via the gas inlet.Depending on the design, the gas inlet can be directly connected to the gas guide channel or represent the end region of the gas guide channel. In other designs, however, additional components can also be provided between the gas inlet and the gas guide channel if required. A gas outlet is also provided to discharge the dried gas stream from the gas guide device. The initially moist gas stream flowing through the gas guide channel is dried as it flows through the gas guide channel, i.e. the absolute humidity of the gas stream decreases, and is discharged from the drying device as a dried gas stream via the gas outlet at the end of the drying process. It can be advantageous to provide additional components between the end of the gas guide channel and the gas outlet, some of which are explained in more detail below using a few examples.

[0019] The actual cooling of the gas stream, which also leads to drying of the gas stream as described above, is carried out by means of a cooling device. In principle, the invention is not limited to specific types of cooling devices. Some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments are explained in more detail in the further course of the description. In particular, the cooling device is provided for the active cooling of the gas stream. With active cooling, the thermal energy stored in the gas stream to be cooled is removed with the aid of a specially designed component.

[0020] In the described embodiments, the cooling device provides, in particular, a cold, flat or curved surface specifically adjusted to a temperature. The temperature to be set can also be adjusted depending on the operating state or the heat output to be dissipated. Other structural designs can also realize heat dissipation via a non-flat surface, for example via bores or channels through which a cooling medium is pumped, or the cooling section of the gas guide channel can be immersed in a cold, thermostatted liquid that can absorb the heat output to be dissipated. The cooling device is in heat exchange communication with at least one section of the gas guide channel, which is referred to below as the cooling section of the gas guide channel.This means that the cooling device and the cooling section interact in such a way, for example are aligned with one another or are arranged in such a way in relation to one another in the gas guide device that in the region of the cooling section a heat exchange occurs between the cooling device and the gas flow flowing through the cooling section of the gas guide channel, via which heat exchange the heat is dissipated from the gas flow. For this purpose, the gas guide channel, or at least its cooling section, is guided along the cooling device. This means that the gas guide channel runs past the cooling device along a specific path, for example parallel to the cooling device. "Guided along" also means in particular that the gas guide channel runs past the cooling device at a constant distance. The cooling effect of the cooling device on the gas flow flowing in the gas guide channel is therefore equally good in all areas of the gas guide channel in the cooling section.According to one embodiment, this can be achieved by having both the cooling section and at least the contact surface of the cooling device in a plate-shaped configuration, with the plates lying on top of or against each other. The gas guide channel is formed in the plate-shaped cooling section and then lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the cooling device.

[0021] Finally, the drying devices also comprise a condensate drain provided to remove liquid condensed from the gas stream during or after cooling. The liquid condensed during the drying process is, for example, water, which can be reused and made available to other processes. The water is produced, for example, during an electrolysis process. For this purpose, the condensate drain can be connected to suitable lines or line elements via which the condensed liquid can be transported to other locations. According to the first aspect of the invention, a drying device for drying a gas stream is provided, which has the features of independent patent claim 1.

[0022] In addition to the features described above, this drying device is characterized according to the invention in that the gas guide channel in the cooling section is preferably guided along the cooling device over more than 50% of its length, and that the gas guide channel in its cooling section has a device for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow compared to the linear velocity of the gas flow before entering the cooling section, in particular at the gas inlet, or is designed as such a device for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow.

[0023] This initially provides a large area in which the gas stream is cooled as it flows past the cooling device. Preferably, the gas guide channel in the cooling section can be routed past the cooling device for more than 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%, up to 100% of its length. In a preferred embodiment, the entire gas guide channel in its cooling section runs along the cooling device.

[0024] The linear velocity is in particular the velocity of the gas flow in a straight, i.e. linear, direction through the gas guide channel.

[0025] By increasing the linear speed, and preferably by utilizing centrifugal forces in curves of the gas guide channel in its cooling section, which are preferably rounded, as described in more detail below, liquid and aerosols condensed from the gas stream can be combined into larger droplets in the gas stream.

[0026] In addition, an increase in linear velocity is achieved by reducing the flow cross-section. Preferably, the gas guide channel has a gap width of less than 1 mm. This will be explained in more detail later in the description. In addition to the special guidance of the gas guide channel in the cooling section with respect to the cooling device, the laminar flow in the gas guide channel with a very narrow gap also leads to very good cooling overall. Preferably, exactly one flow path in the form of the gas guide channel is provided in the cooling section. This results in larger heat transfer surfaces, which lead to particularly efficient cooling. This significantly increases heat transfer in both turbulent and laminar flow. The component that implements the gas guide channel can be made significantly more compact. The increase in linear velocity can be achieved in different ways.Some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of such a device will be explained in more detail in the further course of the description.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the gas guiding device, in particular the cooling section of the gas guiding device, is designed as a plate-shaped component in the drying device according to the first aspect of the invention. The individual components of the gas guiding device, in particular the gas guiding channel, preferably in the cooling section of the gas guiding device, are then arranged or formed within and / or on a base plate. For example, these components, in particular the gas guiding channel, can be milled, embossed, punched, etched, or the like into the base plate material. Preferably used elements can also be thin sheets or foils into which the channels are introduced by punching, laser cutting, or water jet cutting. The individual sheets or foils can then be stacked on top of one another and finally reliably joined to one another, preferably using soldering or diffusion welding processes.

[0028] This allows virtually any channel geometry to be created. In particular, channel geometries with very small gap widths of preferably 0.1 to 1 mm and / or channel widths preferably between 0.1 and 2 mm are possible. This results in laminar flow conditions with very high heat transfer coefficients.

[0029] Such a configuration is particularly well suited for producing a soldered gas guiding device or drying device. A particularly suitable method for producing a drying device is explained further below in connection with the fourth aspect of the invention. In the simplest embodiment, a single plate-shaped gas guiding device and a single cooling device are required. However, two or more cooling devices can also be provided. The cooling device(s) can then be connected to the plate-shaped gas guiding device from one or both sides, so that cooling can take place from one side or both sides. It is also possible to provide several plate-shaped gas guiding devices that are arranged next to one another to form a stack.A cooling device can then be provided on one or both outer surfaces of the stack. It is also conceivable to provide additional cooling devices within the stack.

[0030] Such a drying device, especially a brazed one, allows for specific adaptation to different drying requirements. Centrifugal separation through increased gas velocity is easily integrated. The drying device offers the possibility of a compact design. This means material savings for efficiency and cost optimization (cooling time * mass and material).

[0031] According to the second aspect of the invention, a drying device for drying a gas stream is provided, which has the features of independent claim 2.

[0032] In addition to the features described above, this drying device is characterized according to the invention in that the gas guide device is designed as a tube-within-a-tube device. This means that the gas guide device has at least two tubes arranged concentrically within one another. The moist, cooling gas stream, which releases heat in the direction of flow, flows through one tube, while the dried gas stream, which absorbs heat in the direction of flow, flows through the other tube in countercurrent.

[0033] For this purpose, the gas guide device has a first pipe, which is designed as the gas guide channel or which represents a component of the gas guide channel, and which is connected to the gas inlet and the cooling section of the gas guide channel. The cooling section, in turn, is the section of the gas guide channel that is in heat exchange connection with the cooling device. Furthermore, the gas guide device has a second pipe, which adjoins the cooling section of the gas guide channel with a first end and is connected to the gas outlet with a second end. Depending on the design, the first end can be connected directly to the cooling section. In other designs, however, further components of the drying device can be provided or interposed between the first end and the cooling section.Some preferred embodiments of such further components are described in more detail below.

[0034] Depending on the design, the two tubes can be arranged differently within each other. According to a first alternative, the second tube is routed inside the first tube. According to a second alternative, the second tube is routed outside the first tube.

[0035] According to the invention, the two tubes are arranged one inside the other in such a way that the moist gas stream to be dried is guided countercurrently past the dried gas stream. The dry, cold gas stream can be used countercurrently inside or outside the gas guide channel to cool the incoming moist gas and thus increase the efficiency of the drying device, which represents a gas cooler. This means lower energy requirements for active cooling. Cooling by guiding the dry gas stream past the moist gas stream represents so-called passive cooling. This means that the heat can be dissipated without the need for additional dedicated components.

[0036] With such a pipe-in-pipe solution, standard components, especially pipes, cylindrical screw connections, fittings, filters, and demisters, can be used to construct the pressure vessel. Flexible dimensioning is also possible.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, a pre-cooling section, in particular a passive one, is formed upstream of the cooling section of the gas guide channel in the flow direction of the moist gas flow to be dried. This pre-cooling section is formed by the first tube and the second tube and has little or no thermal coupling with the cooling device. The area of ​​the gas guide device that has the cooling device that is in heat exchange connection with the cooling section of the gas guide channel then represents the main cooler, while the pre-cooling section represents a pre-cooler. The dry, cold gas flow that flows through the second tube towards the gas outlet can be used according to the countercurrent principle inside or outside the first tube, which represents the gas guide channel and transports the moist gas flow from the gas inlet towards the main cooler, in order to cool the incoming, moist gas and thus increase the efficiency of the gas cooling.The longer the pre-cooling section, the more efficient the pre-cooling and thus the overall cooling process. The pre-cooling section can be shortened by increasing the heat transfer coefficients, for example, by reducing the gap between the concentric tubes.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, a drying device with such a pre-cooling section provides active gas cooling with liquid separator, realized by the main cooler, including passive countercurrent pre-cooling, realized by the pre-cooler.

[0039] To improve gas flow in the first tube, which constitutes the gas flow channel or part of the gas flow channel, a gas flow element, in particular a spiral-shaped gas flow element, is preferably arranged or formed in the first tube, particularly in the pre-cooling section. This can be, for example, a spring element, such as a metal spring element, a 3D-printed element, or the like. The gas flow element can serve to increase the linear velocity of the gas flow for a given cross-section of the annular gap between the two concentric tubes and, at the same time, to prevent condensing or even freezing liquid from blocking part of the cross-section through which it flows. The invention is not limited to the two examples mentioned.For example, a gas guide element can also be realized by channels introduced into the outer side of the inner tube, for example by turning, engraving, lasering, rolling and the like, preferably with a very tight fit between the outer and inner tube.

[0040] According to a further preferred embodiment, the gas guide channel has a device in its cooling section for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow compared to the linear velocity of the gas flow at the gas inlet, or it is designed as a device for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow. These are the inventive features of the drying device according to the first aspect of the invention, so that at this point, to avoid repetition, reference is made in full to the corresponding statements regarding the first aspect of the invention above.

[0041] If the aforementioned features according to the first aspect of the invention are implemented in the drying device according to the second aspect of the invention, the drying device is a combination of the two drying devices according to the first and second aspects of the invention. In particular, the main cooler can be designed as in a drying device according to the first aspect of the invention, and a pre-cooler can be provided according to the tube-in-tube principle, as is implemented in the drying device according to the second aspect of the invention. Likewise, embodiments are conceivable in which the drying device according to the second aspect of the invention additionally has a further main cooler according to the first aspect of the invention, and thus two main coolers.

[0042] A number of preferred developments are described below which can be used in both drying devices of the first aspect of the invention and the second aspect of the invention.

[0043] Preferably, the gas guide channel, at least in its cooling section, is designed to be free of dead spaces. This means, in particular, that the gas guide channel has no areas that are not involved in guiding the gas flow.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the gas guide channel, at least in its cooling section, has a gap width of 0.1 mm to 1 mm and / or a channel width of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. The very narrow flow channels, up to p-technology (0.1 - 0.3 mm gap width), enable, in particular with the unique properties of hydrogen: a) exceptionally small pressure losses at a given volume flow due to very low density and viscosity and b) a very high specific thermal conductivity, i.e. extremely good heat transfer coefficients and thus an extremely small design. Furthermore, a very high pressure loss, for example up to 1 bar, can be tolerated. The aforementioned configurations can be realized both in the drying device according to the first aspect of the invention and in the drying device according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the active cooling can be achieved by Peltier elements, so that the cooling device has at least one Peltier element. Peltier elements are known and familiar to those skilled in the art. A Peltier element is a thermoelectric energy converter that can convert a heat flow into electricity or pump heat from one side to the other by applying a voltage. A Peltier element generally has a cold side, a warm side, and thermoelectric elements located between them. The cold side then interacts with the cooling section of the gas guide channel, with the cooling section of the gas guide channel being guided past the cold side of the Peltier element. In another embodiment, the cooling device can have at least one compressor cooler. This type of cooling element is preferably, but not necessarily, used in a drying device according to the first aspect of the invention.In another embodiment, which is preferably but not necessarily used in a drying device according to the second aspect of the invention, the cooling device has a clamp or sleeve made of a heat-dissipating material, for example aluminum, which is placed in particular around the area to be cooled. Combinations of different cooling devices are also possible, or the drying device may have more than one cooling device. The invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments of the cooling device. For example, the cooling device can also be implemented in the form of liquid cooling. For example, the entire gas guiding device, at least the area with the gas guiding channel, in particular at least the cooling section of the gas guiding channel, or a part thereof, could be immersed in a cooling liquid.

[0046] In order to increase the linear velocity of the gas flow in the cooling section of the gas guide channel, in a preferred embodiment, the gas guide channel in the cooling section of the gas guide channel has at least one channel section that has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas guide channel upstream of the cooling section, for example at the gas inlet. The smaller cross-section of the gas guide channel in its cooling section increases the linear velocity of the gas flow flowing through. At the same time, the volume of the gas flow flowing through is reduced. In the aforementioned case, the channel section in a preferred embodiment is a single channel section that is guided along or past the cooling device.The advantage of a single flow channel in a two-phase flow lies in particular in the forced guidance and / or the avoidance of dead zones, as described above, that block parts of the heat exchange surface. This channel section is preferably as long as possible, as explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments. The channel section can, for example, have a channel depth preferably between 0.1 and 1 mm, thus generating very good heat transfer in the laminar flow present.

[0047] In another embodiment, the gas guide channel in the cooling section is divided into two or more independent channel sections, each with a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas guide channel upstream of the cooling section, for example, at the gas inlet. However, it is to be expected that individual channels may become blocked by liquid zones and / or zones with frozen water.

[0048] In both cases, the cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one channel section preferably has a size that is between 5% and 60% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas guide channel upstream of the cooling section, for example at the gas inlet.

[0049] In order to increase the linear velocity and also to be able to combine condensed liquid and aerosols in the gas into larger droplets by utilizing centrifugal forces in, preferably tight, curves, the gas guide channel in the cooling section preferably has a channel section that has a curved, meandering, spiral, or helical shape. In a preferred embodiment, a meandering shape is implemented, with the respective changes in direction having a curved or rounded, preferably circular-segment-shaped or approximately circular-segment-shaped shape.

[0050] In order to be able to collect the liquid condensed during the drying process in the drying device, the gas guiding device preferably has a collecting device for collecting liquid condensed from the gas stream. This can, for example, be connected to the end of the cooling section of the gas guiding channel or be designed as the end of the cooling section of the gas guiding channel. The collecting device is preferably connected to the condensate drain so that the condensed liquid can be removed from the drying device.

[0051] As already generally described above, at least one further component can be provided between the end of the cooling section of the gas guide channel and the gas outlet. In this regard, reference is also made to the general description of the invention above.

[0052] In one embodiment, at least one at least partially hydrophilic zone and / or at least one at least partially hydrophobic zone can be formed between the end of the cooling section of the gas guide channel and the gas outlet, or at least one at least partially hydrophilic insert and / or at least one at least partially hydrophobic insert is arranged between the end of the cooling section of the gas guide channel and the gas outlet.

[0053] For example, a demister and / or a drainage element can be arranged here.

[0054] A demister, also called a droplet eliminator or aerosol separator, is a device for separating liquid droplets from flowing gaseous media. The demister can be made of, for example, a porous, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or even an optimized partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic material, a fine-pored foam, a sintered metal, or the like. By specifically designing hydrophilic and hydrophobic zones and locally varying effective pore sizes in the demister, it is also possible to create targeted flow paths for the escaping gas and collection points and discharge paths or drainage elements for the condensate. It is important that the demister is not flooded too quickly with liquid or aerosols, so that they can drip out of the demister, for example, into a drainage element. In one embodiment, separation via a demister with removal by wicking is provided.In one embodiment, the demister is designed as a hydrophobic demister. In one embodiment, the demister is partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic with controlled porosities. For example, the hydrophobic part can have large pore diameters, while the hydrophilic part has small pore diameters. The drainage element can be designed, for example, as a wire grid, a wire mesh, or in the form of another type of liquid separator. In a preferred embodiment, aerosols contained in the gas stream can be removed via a subsequent demister and from there fed to the separated liquid volume via a drainage element acting as a condensate bridge with a continuous water film, for example a wire mesh, via gravity and / or capillary action / wicking.

[0055] In a further embodiment, a temperature sensor element can preferably be arranged at the gas outlet and / or at the end of the cooling section of the gas guide channel and / or behind a demister. In order to determine the loading state of a downstream adsorption dryer, the liquid mass flow, for example the water mass flow, must be known. The liquid, for example liquid water, is already separated in the gas guide device in the region of the cooling section of the gas guide channel. The residual amount of gaseous moisture, for example gaseous water, can be determined via the dew point and the gas mass flow. Since dew point and mass flow sensors are very cost-intensive, existing parameters are used to feed the loading model: The gas quantity can be determined, for example, from the electrolyzer membrane area and current.The dew point can be determined using a cost-effective temperature sensor, which is preferably located at the outlet of the gas cooler, since the relative humidity of the gas there is always 100% and this does not need to be measured separately.

[0056] In one embodiment, the drying device has a monitoring device for monitoring the functionality of the drying device, or interacts with such a monitoring device. The monitoring device is provided in such a way that it is capable of monitoring the functionality, and thus the effectiveness, of the drying device. In one embodiment, to which the present invention is not limited, this monitoring is carried out on the basis of the amount of condensate, for example the amount of water, discharged from the drying device. This can be carried out directly or indirectly, for example via pressure measurement at a valve device downstream of the drying device or the condensate discharge. Depending on requirements, a second cooling stage can be arranged or formed in the gas guide device downstream of the cooling section of the gas guide channel and upstream of the gas outlet in the direction of flow.For example, a multi-stage variant with a cryogenic second stage is conceivable, which cools the gas even further by freezing the remaining liquid.

[0057] In order to increase the efficiency of the drying device, sufficiently strong insulation can be implemented.

[0058] The drying device is preferably provided for continuous operation and is also suitable for batch freezing / thawing operation.

[0059] According to the third aspect of the invention, an energy system, in particular a building energy system or home energy system, is provided which has the features of independent claim 14.

[0060] The energy system comprises an electrolysis device, a fuel cell device, a high-pressure storage device, and a connecting line device, via which, in a preferred embodiment, the electrolysis device is connected to the high-pressure storage device, and the high-pressure storage device is connected to the fuel cell device. According to the invention, at least one drying device according to the first aspect of the invention and / or according to the second aspect of the invention is arranged in the energy system.

[0061] For example, the drying device can be used as a variant between two stages of a booster compressor to increase the separation / drying efficiency. The drying device according to the invention can be used at various points in the energy system.

[0062] With regard to the design of the energy system, in particular with regard to its mode of operation, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made here in full to the statements on the first aspect of the invention, the second aspect of the invention and the general description of the invention. The energy system is in particular a whole consisting of several components, wherein the components are connected to one another to form a dedicated unit. In the present case, the energy system is a system for generating or providing energy, preferably electrical energy. In principle, the invention is not limited to specific types of energy systems. Various preferred exemplary embodiments are described below in this regard.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the energy system is a building energy system or a home energy system. Such energy systems are generally known from the prior art and serve to supply houses, for example low-energy houses, passive houses, or zero-energy houses, with energy in the form of heat and, in particular, in the form of electricity, for example, electricity from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) generators or small wind turbines. Such a home energy system creates the basis for the energy requirements of a house, in particular a low-energy house, a passive house, or a zero-energy house, to be fully covered from renewable energy sources, both in terms of electricity and heat requirements, thus ensuring complete CO2-free operation.At least, however, the electricity needs of a house can be covered almost entirely from renewable energy sources, in particular by means of a PV generator and / or a small wind turbine, in order to achieve an increase in self-consumption.

[0064] Such a home energy system is disclosed and described, for example, in the applicant's patent applications WO 2017 / 089468 A1 and WO 2017 / 089469 A1, the disclosure content of which is incorporated into the description of the present patent application.

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, a domestic energy system of the type mentioned has the following basic features: a DC feed-in point, preferably designed for a nominal voltage of 48 volts or for a nominal voltage between 200 and 1000 volts and / or an AC feed-in point, preferably designed for a voltage of 230 volts or 110 volts or a 3-phase feed-in with 230 volts or 110 volts per phase, wherein the DC feed-in point and / or the AC feed-in point is connected during operation at least temporarily to an electrical consumer having a consumption power, a PV generator electrically connected to the DC feed-in point at least temporarily for generating an electrical PV power, a fuel cell unit electrically connected to the DC feed-in point or to the AC feed-in point at least temporarily for generating an electrical fuel cell power,an electrolysis unit electrically connected to the DC feed point for generating hydrogen to be consumed by the fuel cell unit, wherein the electrolysis unit is supplied with an electrical electrolysis input power during operation, a hydrogen tank, in particular as a long-term energy storage device, which is at least temporarily fluidically connected to the fuel cell unit and the electrolysis unit and is designed to store hydrogen to be generated by the electrolysis unit and consumed by the fuel cell unit, a storage battery unit, in particular as a short-term energy storage device, which is or is to be electrically connected to the DC feed point,so that an electrical PV power and an electrical fuel cell power can be stored in the storage battery unit, and an electrical electrolysis input power and a consumption power can be drawn from the storage battery unit; and a control module for controlling the home energy system.

[0066] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a method for producing a drying device for drying a gas stream, in particular for drying a hydrogen gas stream, in particular a drying device according to the first aspect of the invention, is provided, wherein the drying device has a gas guide device with a gas guide channel. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore also made in full to the description of the first aspect of the invention, as well as to the general description of the invention above.

[0067] According to the invention, the method is characterized in that the drying device, in particular the gas guide device, is manufactured using a thermal process for the integral joining of materials. In this respect, the present invention is fundamentally not limited to specific processes. In a preferred embodiment, the manufacturing process is a soldering process. Such processes are generally known to those skilled in the art. However, it is not trivial and therefore would not have been obvious to those skilled in the art to use these processes to manufacture drying devices according to the present invention.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the gas guide device of the drying device is designed as a plate-shaped component in which the gas guide channel is formed. Furthermore, the gas guide device has a base plate. In such a case, the method is characterized in that the plate-shaped component and the base plate are joined together by means of the thermal method for the integral joining of materials, in particular by means of a soldering process.

[0069] The invention will now be explained in more detail using various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an energy system in which the drying device according to the invention is used;

[0071] Figures 2 to 4 show different views of a first embodiment of a drying device according to the invention according to the first aspect of the invention; and

[0072] Figure 5 is a view of a second embodiment of a drying device according to the invention according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0073] A drying device for drying a gas stream can be used in different ways and in different systems.

[0074] One possible system is, for example, an energy system. The invention is explained below using such an energy system as an example. Figure 1 first describes the basic structure of the energy system 10, wherein the energy system 10 is used as a home energy system. The energy system 10 initially has a first subsystem 20, which is designed as an indoor system. This means that the first subsystem 20 is located inside the house. In addition, the energy system 10 has a second subsystem 30 in the form of an outdoor system. This means that the second subsystem 30 is located outside the house.

[0075] The first subsystem 20 comprises a first energy source device, which is an electrolysis device 21 for producing hydrogen. The first subsystem 20 also comprises a fuel cell device 22.

[0076] The second subsystem 30 has a high-pressure storage device 31. The generated hydrogen is stored in the high-pressure storage device at up to 700 bar. Additionally, the second subsystem 30 has a medium-pressure storage device 32, in which the generated hydrogen is temporarily stored at pressures between 20 and 30 bar before being finally stored in the high-pressure storage device.

[0077] The individual components of the energy system 10 are connected to one another via a connecting line device 40, which consists of a number of different line sections 40a to 40k. At least one line section 40a is designed as a so-called bidirectional line section. This means that flow flows through the line section 40a in both directions during operation of the energy system 10.

[0078] For flushing the electrolysis device 21 and / or the fuel cell device 22, a flushing device 23 with a flushing chamber is provided, which is connected to the two aforementioned components via a line section 40g.

[0079] The hydrogen produced by electrolysis in the electrolysis device 21 leaves the electrolysis device 21 via a line section 40f, which merges into the line section 40e. In the two line sections 40f and 40e, in the flow direction of the produced hydrogen, there is a check valve device 24, followed by a filter device 25 and a drying device 50, in which the produced hydrogen is filtered and dried. The filter device 25 and the drying device 50 can alternatively also be located in the second subsystem 30. From the drying device 50, the produced hydrogen flows via the line sections 40a and 40c to another check valve device 35, which marks one end of the line section 40c.From there, the hydrogen produced flows via a line section 40h and 40i into the medium-pressure accumulator 32, which is connected to a further line section 40j via a valve device 33, which is designed in particular as a shut-off valve, for example in the form of a solenoid valve. In the line section 40j, which ends in the high-pressure accumulator 31, a compressor device 34, in particular in the form of a piston compressor, is located upstream of the high-pressure accumulator 31. The hydrogen produced is stored in the high-pressure accumulator 31 via the compressor device 34. The hydrogen temporarily stored in the medium-pressure accumulator 32 is stored in the high-pressure accumulator 31 by actuating the compressor device 34.

[0080] This hydrogen production process up to its storage in the high-pressure storage device 31 represents a first operating mode of the energy system 10. In this first operating mode of the energy system 10, a pressure of 20 to 60 bar prevails in the line sections 40a to 40e of the connecting line device 40. A similar pressure also prevails in the medium-pressure storage device 32. The compressor device 34 compresses the hydrogen extracted from the medium-pressure storage device 32, which is an intermediate storage device, to such an extent that it can be stored in the high-pressure storage device 31 at pressures of up to 700 bar.

[0081] The hydrogen stored in the high-pressure storage device 31 is used to operate the fuel cell device 22. The fuel cell device 22 is operated in the second operating mode of the energy system 10. However, the fuel cell device 22 can only operate at pressures below 20 bar. In the second operating mode of the energy system 10, the hydrogen is withdrawn from the high-pressure storage device 31 via a line section 40k, expanded to the required pressure via an expansion device 36 in the form of a pressure reducer, and transported via a line section 40d into the bidirectional line section 40a, from where it enters the fuel cell device 22 via the line section 40b. At least one pressure measuring device 41, for example in the form of a pressure sensor, is provided to measure the pressure.The energy system 10 shown in Figure 1 represents a sub-area of ​​an overall home energy system, which is an electrically self-sufficient and completely renewable energy-based multi-hybrid home energy storage system.

[0082] The multi-hybrid home energy storage system makes it possible to distribute the electrical energy generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system, a small wind turbine, or similar system as needed throughout the year. The system operates as an off-grid system, independent of the electrical grid. Rather, the system is designed to ensure the home's electrical self-sufficiency, eliminating the need to draw electrical energy from the grid throughout the year.

[0083] The primary task of a home energy system is to make the electrical energy generated from photovoltaic (PV) modules or similar devices available to the consumer in the home. Secondarily, surplus electrical energy can be temporarily stored in a short-term battery storage system during periods of low load or high irradiation. Tertiary, the electrical energy can be stored as gaseous hydrogen in a long-term hydrogen storage system for medium- to long-term periods during periods of low irradiation, such as night, winter, or similar periods, and then made available again at any time as needed using fuel cells.

[0084] In addition to energy-related tasks, the system also functions as controlled living space ventilation through a built-in ventilation unit.

[0085] The hydrogen produced in the electrolysis plant flows via the hydrogen pipeline into the external pressure storage system.

[0086] If PV energy is missing or insufficient, energy is drawn from the battery to meet the consumer load. If the energy stored in the short-term storage system is insufficient, the fuel cell system can cover the additional electrical energy demand. In fuel cell operation, hydrogen flows from the pressure storage system to the fuel cell system via the hydrogen line.

[0087] Simultaneous operation of the fuel cell system and the electrolysis system is not permitted. The entire system is operated centrally via an energy manager with predictive energy management. The second subsystem is principally intended for outdoor operation, but under certain conditions, it can also be installed and operated within a specific area of ​​the house.

[0088] The drying device 50 shown in Figure 1 can, for example, be a drying device according to the invention. This drying device 50 according to the invention is described in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments with reference to Figures 2 to 5. Figures 2 to 4 show a first exemplary embodiment of a drying device according to the invention, while Figure 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a drying device 50 according to the invention.

[0089] Figures 2 to 4 show a drying device 50 by means of which an initially moist gas stream, in this case a hydrogen gas stream, is dried by a cooling process, in particular an active cooling process, and that moisture condensed during the cooling process, in this case water, is subsequently removed from the drying device 50 via an integrated water separation process.

[0090] The drying device 50 has a gas guide device 51, which is designed as a plate-shaped component 51a. The individual components of the gas guide device 51 are arranged or formed within a base plate 51c. For example, they can be milled, etched, or the like into the base plate material. Since the drying device 50 is preferably soldered, the base plate 51c has a solder receiver 52 at various locations.

[0091] The gas guiding device 51 has a gas guiding channel 53 through which the moist gas stream to be dried is conducted. The gas guiding channel 53 interacts with a gas inlet 54, through which the moist gas stream to be dried is introduced into the gas guiding device 51, in particular into the gas guiding channel 53.

[0092] The actual cooling of the gas stream, which also leads to the drying of the gas stream in the manner described above, is carried out by means of a cooling device 56, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a Peltier element 56a and which has electrical lines 57. The cooling device 56, 56a is in heat exchange connection with a cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53. This means that the cooling device 56, 56a and the cooling section 58 interact in such a way that, in the region of the cooling section 58, a heat exchange occurs between the cooling device 56, 56a and the gas stream flowing through the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53, via which heat exchange the gas stream is dissipated. For this purpose, the gas guide channel 53, or at least its cooling section 58, is guided along the cooling device 56, 56a over its entire length, i.e., 100%.

[0093] Furthermore, the drying device 50 also has a condensate discharge 59, via which liquid, here water, condensed from the gas stream during cooling is discharged.

[0094] In order to achieve efficient cooling, the gas guide channel 53 has, in its cooling section 58, a device 60 for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow compared to the linear velocity of the gas flow before entering the cooling section 58, in particular at the gas inlet 54. In order to achieve an increase in the linear velocity and, moreover, to be able to combine condensed liquid and aerosols in the gas into larger droplets by utilizing centrifugal forces in preferably tight curves, the gas guide channel 53 in the cooling section 58 preferably has a channel section that has a meandering course. This means that regions in the form of straight channel sections 61 and, in particular, rounded curves 62 alternate in close succession in turns. This creates a very long channel section with a small cross-sectional area.This allows liquid and aerosols condensed from the gas stream to merge into larger droplets in the gas stream.

[0095] In order to collect the liquid condensed during the drying process in the drying device 50, the gas guide device 51 has a collecting device 63 for collecting liquid condensed from the gas stream. This device is connected to the end of the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53.

[0096] A demister 64 and a drainage element 65 are also provided between the end of the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 58 and the gas outlet 55. Any aerosols still present in the gas stream can be removed via the demister 64 and from there, via the drainage element 65, for example a wire mesh, acting as a condensate bridge, fed to the separated liquid volume in the collecting device 63. From there, the liquid can be removed from the gas guide device 51 of the drying device 50 via the condensate discharge 59.

[0097] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a drying device 50 according to the invention. In some parts, the drying device 50 has identical components compared to the first embodiment, which are provided with identical reference numerals and with regard to which reference is also made to the explanations regarding the first embodiment.

[0098] In contrast to the first embodiment, the drying device 50 has a gas guide device 51 designed as a tube-in-tube device 51b. This means that the gas guide device has two tubes 66, 68 arranged one inside the other.

[0099] For this purpose, the gas guide device 51, 51b has a first tube 66, which is designed as the gas guide channel 53 and which is connected to the gas inlet 54 and the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53. The first tube represents an outer tube. The cooling section 58, in turn, is the section of the gas guide channel 53 that is in heat-exchange connection with the cooling device 56. The cooling device 56 has a clamp or sleeve 56b made of a heat-dissipating material, for example aluminum, which is placed around the tube 66 that carries the gas stream to be cooled and dried. In this way, the gas stream flowing through the tube 66 is guided past the cooling device 56, 56b and is actively cooled in the process.

[0100] Furthermore, the gas guide device 51, 51b has a second tube 68, which, compared to the first tube 66, represents an inner tube because it is guided within the first tube 66. The second tube 68 adjoins the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53 with a first end 68a and is connected to the gas outlet 55 with a second end 68b. In the example shown, a connecting piece 67, designed as an intermediate piece, is located between the first tube 66 and the gas outlet 55. This component is optional and primarily serves to achieve the desired length of the gas guide device 51, 51b.

[0101] The two tubes are arranged one inside the other in such a way that the moist gas stream 80 to be dried, which enters the first tube 66, which functions as the gas guide channel 53 and represents the outer tube, via the gas inlet 54, is transported towards the cooling device 56, 56b. The flow direction of the moist gas stream to be dried is provided with the reference number 81. In countercurrent to this, the dried gas stream 82 is guided through the inner second tube 68 past the moist gas stream 80 to be dried. The flow direction of the dry gas stream 82 is provided with the reference number 83. In this way, the moist gas stream 80 to be dried is already cooled by the dry, cold gas stream 82 before it reaches the cooling device 56, 56b. This increases the efficiency of the drying device 50.

[0102] In the flow direction 81 of the moist gas stream 80 to be dried, upstream of the cooling device 56, 56b and upstream of the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53, which constitute the main cooling section 70 of the gas guide device 51, 51b, in which active cooling takes place, a passive pre-cooling section 69 is formed, which is formed by the first tube 66 and the second tube 68. The main cooling section 70 with the cooling device 56, 56b, which is in heat exchange communication with the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53, then represents the main cooler, while the pre-cooling section 69 represents a pre-cooler.

[0103] The dry, cold gas stream 82, which flows through the second pipe 68 toward 83 of the gas outlet 55, is used in the countercurrent principle within the first pipe 66, which represents the gas guide channel 53 and transports the moist gas stream 80 from the gas inlet 54 toward 81 of the main cooler, to pre-cool the incoming, moist gas 80 and thus increase the efficiency of the gas cooling. The longer the pre-cooling section 69, the more efficient the pre-cooling and thus the overall cooling process.

[0104] To improve gas flow in the first tube 66, which constitutes the gas guide channel 53, a gas guide element 71, in particular a spiral-shaped gas guide element, is arranged or formed in the first tube 66, particularly in the pre-cooling section 69. The gas flowing through the first tube 66 in the flow direction 81 toward the main cooling section 70 flows through the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53 past the cooling device 56, 56b and is thereby cooled. At the same time, drying occurs because moisture contained in the gas flow condenses. The now dry gas flow is diverted via deflection elements 72 into the second tube 68 and introduced therein, and flows through the second tube 68 toward the gas outlet 55.

[0105] The liquid condensed during the drying process in the main cooling section 70 is collected in a collecting device 63 located below the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53. The collecting device 63 is connected to a condensate drain 59 so that the condensed liquid 84 can be removed from the drying device 50.

[0106] A demister 64 and a drainage element 65 are arranged between the end of the cooling section 58 of the gas guide channel 53 and the gas outlet 55, here in front of the first end 68a of the second tube 68. This allows aerosols contained in the gas stream to be removed via the demister 64 and from there, via the drainage element 65, for example, a wire mesh, to be fed to the separated liquid volume in the collecting device 63.

[0107] List of reference symbols

[0108] 10 Energy system (house energy system)

[0109] 20 First subsystem (internal system)

[0110] 21 Electrolysis device

[0111] 22 Fuel cell device

[0112] 23 Flushing device (rinsing chamber)

[0113] 24 Check valve device

[0114] 25 Filter device

[0115] 30 Second subsystem (external system)

[0116] 31 High-pressure storage facility

[0117] 32 medium-pressure storage device

[0118] 33 Valve device

[0119] 34 Compressor setup

[0120] 35 Check valve device

[0121] 36 Pressure relief device (pressure reducer)

[0122] 40 Connecting line device

[0123] 40a to 40k line section

[0124] 41 Pressure measuring device

[0125] 50 drying device

[0126] 51 Gas routing device

[0127] 51a Plate-shaped component

[0128] 51b Pipe-in-pipe device

[0129] 51c base plate

[0130] 52 Solder collector

[0131] 53 Gas duct

[0132] 54 Gas inlet

[0133] 55 Gas outlet

[0134] 56 Cooling device

[0135] 56a Peltier element

[0136] 56b Clamp or sleeve made of heat-conducting material

[0137] 57 Electrical cable

[0138] 58 Cooling section of the gas duct 59 Condensate drain

[0139] 60 Device for increasing the linear speed

[0140] 61 canal section

[0141] 62 Curve

[0142] 63 Catch device

[0143] 64 Demister

[0144] 65 Drainage element

[0145] 66 First Pipe

[0146] 67 connecting piece

[0147] 68 Second pipe

[0148] 68a First end of the second pipe

[0149] 68b Second end of the second pipe

[0150] 69 Pre-cooling section

[0151] 70 Main cooling section

[0152] 71 Gas guide element

[0153] 72 deflection element

[0154] 80 Gas stream to be dried

[0155] 81 Flow direction of the gas stream to be dried

[0156] 82 Dried gas stream

[0157] 83 Flow direction of the dried gas stream

[0158] 84 Condensed liquid

Claims

Patent claims 1. Drying device (50) for drying a gas stream (80), in particular for drying a hydrogen gas stream, comprising a gas guidance device (51) comprising a gas guidance channel (53), a gas inlet (54) provided for introducing the gas stream (80) to be dried into the gas guidance device (51), in particular into the gas guidance channel (53), a gas outlet (55) provided for discharging the dried gas stream (82) from the gas guidance device (51), a cooling device (56) for, in particular actively, cooling the gas stream, which is in heat exchange connection with at least a cooling section (58) of the gas guidance channel (53), wherein the gas guidance channel (53) is guided along the cooling device (56) in this cooling section (58), and a condensate drain (59) provided for discharging liquid (84) condensed from the gas stream during cooling. characterized bythat the gas guide channel (53) in the cooling section (58) is preferably guided along the cooling device (56) over more than 50% of its length, and that the gas guide channel (53) in its cooling section (58) has a device (60) for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow compared to the linear velocity of the gas flow before entering the cooling section (58), or is designed as such a device (60) for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow.

2. Drying device (50) for drying a gas stream (80), in particular for drying a hydrogen gas stream, comprising a gas guidance device (51) comprising a gas guidance channel (53), a gas inlet (54) provided for introducing the gas stream (80) to be dried into the gas guidance device (51), in particular into the gas guidance channel (53), a gas outlet (55) provided for discharging the dried gas stream (82) from the gas guidance device (51), a cooling device (56) for, in particular actively, cooling the gas stream, which is in heat exchange connection with at least a cooling section (58) of the gas guidance channel (53), wherein the gas guidance channel (55) is guided along the cooling device (56) in this cooling section (58). and with a condensate drain (59) provided to drain liquid (84) condensed from the gas stream during cooling, characterized in that the gas guidance device (51) is designed as a tube-in-tube device (51b), with a first tube (66) which is designed as the gas guidance channel (53) and which is connected to the gas inlet (54) and the cooling section (58) of the gas guidance channel (53), with a second tube (68) which connects to the cooling section (58) of the gas guidance channel (53) at a first end (68a) and is connected to the gas outlet (55) at a second end (68b), that the second tube (68) is guided inside the first tube (66), or that the second tube (68) is guided outside the first tube (66), such that the gas stream (80) to be dried flows countercurrently past the dried Gas flow (82) is routed past.

3. Drying device according to claim 2, characterized in that in the direction of flow of the gas stream (80) to be dried a pre-cooling section (69), in particular a passive pre-cooling section, is formed in front of the cooling section (58) of the gas guide channel (53), which is formed by the first tube (66) and the second tube (68).

4. Drying device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a gas guiding element (71), in particular a spiral gas guiding element, is arranged or formed in the first tube (66), in particular in the pre-cooling section (69).

5. Drying device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the gas guide channel (53) in its cooling section (58) has a device (60) for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow compared to the linear velocity of the gas flow before entering the cooling section (58) or is designed as a device (60) for increasing the linear velocity of the gas flow.

6. Drying device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gas guide channel (53), at least in its cooling section (58), is designed in the form of a single channel section, and / or that the gas guide channel (53), at least in its cooling section (58), is designed without dead space.

7. Drying device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the gas guide channel (53), at least in its cooling section (58), has a gap width of 0.1 mm to 1 mm and / or a channel width of 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

8. Drying device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cooling device (56) has a Peltier element (56a) or a compressor cooler, or that the cooling device (56) has a clamp or sleeve (56b) made of a heat-dissipating material.

9. Drying device according to one of claims 1 or 5, characterized in that the gas guide channel (53) in the cooling section (58) has at least one channel section (61) having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas guide channel (53) at the gas inlet (54), or that the gas guide channel (53) in the cooling section (58) is divided into two or more channel sections that are independent of each other and that have a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas guide channel at the gas inlet, and that the cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one channel section (61) preferably has a size that is between 5% and 60% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas guide channel at the gas inlet.

10. Drying device according to one of claims 1, 5 or 9, characterized in that the gas guide channel (53) in the cooling section (58) has a channel section (61) which has a curved, meandering, snail-shaped or spiral course.

11. Drying device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the gas guidance device (51 , 51a, 51b) has a collecting device (63) for collecting liquid (84) condensed from the gas stream, which is connected to the end of the cooling section (58) of the gas guidance channel (53), or which is designed as the end of the cooling section (58) of the gas guidance channel (53), and that the collecting device (63) is in particular connected to the condensate drain (59).

12. Drying device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a demister (64) and / or a drainage element (65) is arranged between the end of the cooling section (58) of the gas guide channel (53) and the gas outlet (55), and / or that between the end of the cooling section (58) of the gas guide channel (53) and at least one at least partially hydrophilic zone and / or at least one at least partially hydrophobic zone is formed at the gas outlet (55), or that at least one at least partially hydrophilic insert and / or at least one at least partially hydrophobic insert is arranged between the end of the cooling section (58) of the gas guide channel (53) and the gas outlet (55).

13. Drying device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a temperature sensor element is arranged at the gas outlet (55), and / or that the drying device has a monitoring device for monitoring the functionality of the drying device or interacts with such a monitoring device, in particular on the basis of the amount of condensate discharged 14. Energy system (10) comprising an electrolysis device (21), a fuel cell device (22), a high-pressure storage device (31) and a connecting line device (40) via which the electrolysis device (21) is preferably connected to the high-pressure storage device (31) and the high-pressure storage device (31) to the fuel cell device (22), characterized in that at least one drying device (50) according to one of claims 1 to 13 is arranged in the energy system.

15. Method for manufacturing a drying device (50) for drying a gas stream (80), in particular for drying a hydrogen gas stream, in particular a drying device according to one of claims 1 or 9 or 10, wherein the drying device (50) has a gas guiding device (51) with a gas guiding channel (53), characterized in that the drying device (50), in particular the gas guiding device (51), is manufactured by means of a thermal process for the material joining of materials, in particular by means of a soldering process.

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