Fuel cell module

Abstract

In fuel cell modules, the assembly efficiency of the air compressor and intercooler is improved while reducing the noise radiated from the piping between the air compressor and intercooler. [Solution] A fuel cell module FCM is configured with an air compressor ACP, an intercooler IC that exchanges heat between the air discharged from the air compressor ACP and the refrigerant, and piping P1 to P3 connected between the air compressor ACP and the intercooler IC, with piping P2 being made of a metal material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell module.

Background Art

[0002] As a fuel cell module, for example, there is one that suppresses noise generated from an air compressor by configuring a pipe between the air compressor and an intercooler with a metal member. Related technologies include Patent Documents 1 and 2.

[0003] By the way, in order to improve the assembly efficiency of the air compressor and the intercooler, it is desirable that the pipe between the air compressor and the intercooler is configured by an elastic member or the like and can be freely bent.

[0004] However, when the pipe between the air compressor and the intercooler is configured by an elastic member or the like, the pipe is likely to vibrate due to the pressure pulsation of the air discharged from the air compressor, so there is a concern that radiated noise will be generated from the pipe.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] An object according to one aspect of the present invention is to reduce radiated noise generated from a pipe between an air compressor and an intercooler while improving the assembly efficiency of the air compressor and the intercooler in a fuel cell module.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is a fuel cell module comprising an air compressor, an intercooler that exchanges heat between the air discharged from the air compressor and a refrigerant, and a first pipe connected between the air compressor and the intercooler, wherein a portion of the first pipe is made of a metal member.

[0008] This reduces the proportion of the total surface area of ​​the piping that is prone to vibration compared to a case where the entire piping is made of materials that are more prone to vibration than metal materials, thereby reducing the noise radiated from the piping between the air compressor and the intercooler. In addition, since the portion of the first piping, excluding a part of it, can be made of materials that are less rigid than metal materials and can be freely bent, the assembly efficiency of the air compressor and intercooler can be improved.

[0009] Furthermore, a portion of the piping may be made into a bent shape.

[0010] This allows for even greater rigidity in a portion of the piping compared to when a portion of the piping is straight, thereby further reducing the noise radiated from that portion of the piping, and further reducing the noise radiated from the piping between the air compressor and the intercooler.

[0011] Furthermore, the portion of the piping other than the part of the piping may be made of an elastic material.

[0012] This improves the assembly efficiency of the air compressor and intercooler compared to cases where the entire piping system is made of metal components.

[0013] Furthermore, the portion of the piping other than the aforementioned part may be in a straight shape.

[0014] This allows for relatively high vibration resistance in parts of the piping other than a specific section, thereby suppressing deterioration of those parts.

[0015] Furthermore, in the fuel cell module described above, the length of a portion of the first pipe, the length of the portion of the first pipe not included in the first pipe, and the diameter of the first pipe may be set such that the sound pressure level generated from the first pipe, which is the result of multiplying the excitation force that vibrates the first pipe by the sound pressure level per unit excitation force and unit surface area of ​​the pipe and the surface area of ​​the first pipe, is less than or equal to a threshold.

[0016] Furthermore, the fuel cell module may include an air cleaner that supplies air to the air compressor, and a second pipe connected between the air cleaner and the air compressor, wherein a portion of the second pipe may be made of a metal member.

[0017] This reduces the proportion of the area of ​​the second piping that is prone to vibration compared to a case where the entire second piping is made of a material that is more prone to vibration than metal, thereby reducing the noise radiated from the second piping. In addition, since the portion of the second piping other than a part of it can be made of a material that is less rigid than metal and can be freely bent, the assembly efficiency of the air cleaner and air compressor can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, in a fuel cell module, it is possible to improve the assembly efficiency of the air compressor and intercooler while reducing the radiated noise generated from the piping between the air compressor and the intercooler. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a fuel cell module according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of a fuel cell module according to an embodiment.

[0021] The fuel cell module FCM shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as a forklift or a towing tractor, and supplies power to a load Lo mounted on the vehicle.

[0022] The fuel cell module FCM also includes a fuel cell stack FCS as a main unit and a plurality of types of auxiliary machines for generating power in the fuel cell stack FCS.

[0023] That is, the fuel cell module FCM includes a DCDC converter CNV, a power storage device B, etc. as electrical system auxiliary machines.

[0024] The fuel cell module FCM also includes a radiator R, a water pump WP, etc. as cooling system auxiliary machines.

[0025] The fuel cell module FCM also includes a fuel tank HT, an injector INJ, a gas-liquid separator GLS, a diluter DIL, etc. as hydrogen gas system auxiliary machines.

[0026] The fuel cell module FCM also includes an air cleaner AC, a flow sensor Sf, an air compressor ACP, an intercooler IC, an air pressure regulating valve ARV, etc. as oxidant gas system auxiliary machines.

[0027] The fuel cell module FCM further includes a control device Cnt, etc.

[0028] The fuel cell stack FCS is composed of a plurality of fuel cells connected in series to each other, and generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen contained in hydrogen gas and oxygen contained in air.

[0029] The DC-DC converter (CNV) converts the voltage output from the fuel cell stack (FCS) to a predetermined voltage. The power output from the DC-DC converter (CNV) is supplied to various auxiliary equipment and loads (Lo).

[0030] Energy storage device B consists of lithium-ion capacitors and other components and is connected between the DC-DC converter CNV and the load Lo.

[0031] The radiator R exchanges heat between the refrigerant discharged from the fuel cell module (FCM) and the outside air.

[0032] The water pump (WP) supplies the refrigerant, which has been heated by the radiator (R), to the fuel cell stack (FCS).

[0033] The fuel tank (HT) is a storage container for hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas stored in the fuel tank (HT) is supplied to the fuel cell stack (FCS) via the injector (INJ).

[0034] The injector (INJ) regulates the flow rate of hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell stack (FCS).

[0035] The gas-liquid separator GLS separates hydrogen gas containing unreacted hydrogen discharged from the fuel cell stack FCS from the generated water produced in the fuel cell stack FCS. A portion of the separated hydrogen gas and generated water is sent to the diluent DIL, and the remaining hydrogen gas is sent to the hydrogen circulation pump HP.

[0036] The diluent DIL (Diluter Isolator) dilutes hydrogen gas containing unreacted hydrogen emitted from the fuel cell (FC) with air containing unreacted oxygen also emitted from the fuel cell (FC), and discharges it to the outside or inside of the fuel cell module (FCM).

[0037] The hydrogen circulation pump (HP) resupplies the hydrogen gas received from the gas-liquid separator (GLS) to the fuel cell stack (FCS).

[0038] The air cleaner AC removes harmful gases and particulate matter from the air outside the fuel cell module FCM and supplies the resulting air to the air compressor ACP via the flow sensor Sf.

[0039] The flow sensor Sf is, for example, an air flow meter that detects the flow rate of air supplied to the air compressor ACP and sends the detected flow rate to the control device Cnt.

[0040] The air compressor (ACP) compresses the air supplied from the air cleaner (AC) and delivers it to the fuel cell stack (FCS) via the intercooler (IC).

[0041] The intercooler IC exchanges heat between compressed air (ACP) and refrigerant and supplies it to the fuel cell stack (FCS).

[0042] The air pressure regulating valve (ARV) adjusts the pressure and flow rate of the air supplied to the fuel cell stack (FCS).

[0043] The control device Cnt, for example, is composed of a microcomputer and controls the operation of each auxiliary device to control the power generation of the fuel cell stack FCS. Specifically, when controlling the power generation of the fuel cell stack FCS, the control device Cnt changes the target power generation according to the charge rate of the energy storage device B, and controls the operation of each auxiliary device (such as the air compressor ACP) so that the power generation of the fuel cell stack FCS follows the target power generation, using PI (Proportional-Integral) control or the like. For example, the control device Cnt controls the operation of the air compressor ACP so that the flow rate detected by the flow sensor Sf follows the flow rate corresponding to the target power generation.

[0044] Furthermore, the air discharged from the air compressor ACP is supplied to the intercooler IC through piping P1 (the portion of the first piping excluding a part), piping P2 (part of the first piping), and piping P3 (the portion of the first piping excluding a part). If piping P1 to P3 are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as piping P (the first piping).

[0045] The piping P1 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber hose and is connected to the air discharge section D from the air compressor ACP. The elastic material constituting the piping P1 is not limited to rubber, but can be made of any material that can be freely bent when assembling the air compressor ACP and the intercooler IC, such as soft polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane resin. The air discharge section D may be integrated with the air compressor ACP or it may be a separate component. The material constituting the air discharge section D is not particularly limited, but can be stainless steel or any other material that has higher rigidity than the material constituting the piping P1.

[0046] Piping P2 is composed of a bent metal component, such as a stainless steel elbow pipe, and is connected to piping P1. The metal component constituting piping P2 is not limited to stainless steel, as long as it is more rigid and less prone to vibration than the components constituting piping P1 and P3. Furthermore, the bending angle of piping P2 is not particularly limited, as long as it is bent at an appropriate angle when assembling the air compressor ACP and intercooler IC. Alternatively, piping P2 may be made straight by setting its bending angle to 180 degrees.

[0047] The piping P3 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber hose and is connected between the piping P2 and the air inlet S that allows air supplied from the piping P2 to flow into the intercooler IC. The elastic material constituting the piping P3 is not limited to rubber, but can be made of any material that can be freely bent when assembling the air compressor ACP and the intercooler IC, such as soft polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane resin. The air inlet S may be integrated with the intercooler IC or it may be a separate component. The material constituting the air inlet S is not particularly limited, but can be stainless steel or any other material that has higher rigidity than the material constituting the piping P3.

[0048] When assembling the piping P1 to P3 during the manufacturing of the fuel cell module (FCM), for example, one end of piping P1 is connected to the air discharge section D, the other end of piping P1 is connected to one end of piping P2, the other end of piping P2 is connected to one end of piping P3, and the other end of piping P3 is connected to the air inlet section S. The air discharge section D, piping P1 to P3, and air inlet section S may be connected to each other using, for example, clips. Furthermore, the assembly order of piping P1 to P3 is not particularly limited.

[0049] Alternatively, the air discharge section D may be omitted, and the piping P1 may be directly connected to the air compressor ACP.

[0050] Alternatively, the air inlet S may be omitted, and the piping P3 may be directly connected to the intercooler IC.

[0051] Here, we assume that the air compressor ACP is composed of, for example, a swashplate type, turbo type, Roots type, or vane type air compressor, and that the air discharged from the air compressor ACP is pressure pulsating.

[0052] In this case, the air discharged from the air compressor ACP experiences pressure pulsations, causing the piping P to vibrate, resulting in radiated noise from the piping P. This radiated noise may cause discomfort to the user, so it is desirable to reduce it.

[0053] Furthermore, the sound pressure level generated from the piping P can be determined, for example, by the following formula 1. The excitation force that vibrates the piping P is, for example, the force that vibrates the piping P caused by the air discharged from a motor (not shown) provided in the air compressor ACP, and is a value based on the motor's capacity. The unit excitation force and the sound pressure level per unit piping surface area are arbitrary values ​​determined in advance by experiments or simulations. The surface area of ​​the piping P is a value determined by the length and diameter of the piping P (e.g., piping P1, P3) that vibrates due to the air discharged from the air compressor ACP. Furthermore, piping P2 is assumed not to vibrate, or to vibrate almost completely, due to the air discharged from the air compressor ACP.

[0054] Sound pressure level [dB] generated from pipe P = (excitation force [N] causing pipe P to vibrate) × (sound pressure level per unit excitation force and unit pipe surface area [dB / N·m]) 2 ]) × (Surface area of ​​pipe P [m 2 ]) ...expression 1 In other words, the sound pressure level generated from pipe P changes according to the surface area of ​​pipe P that vibrates due to the air discharged from air compressor ACP. The smaller the surface area of ​​pipe P that vibrates due to the air discharged from air compressor ACP, the lower the sound pressure level generated from pipe P can be.

[0055] Therefore, in the fuel cell module FCM of this embodiment, pipe P2 is made of a metal component among the pipes P1 to P3.

[0056] As a result, compared to the case where the entire piping P is made of a material that is more prone to vibration than a metal material, the proportion of the surface area of ​​the entire piping P that is prone to vibration can be reduced. In other words, the surface area of ​​the piping P in Equation 1 above can be reduced, and thus the radiated noise generated from the piping P between the air compressor ACP and the intercooler IC can be reduced.

[0057] Furthermore, the lengths of pipes P1 to P3 and the diameter of pipe P are not particularly limited, but should be set to a value such that the sound pressure level generated from pipe P, as calculated by formula 1 above, is below a threshold. The threshold should be a value that takes into account, for example, the sound pressure level generated from pipe P when the user does not feel any discomfort, and the assembly efficiency of the air compressor ACP and intercooler IC.

[0058] Furthermore, in the fuel cell module FCM of this embodiment, pipes P1 and P3 are made of elastic material, and their rigidity is lower than that of pipe P2.

[0059] This allows the piping P2 to be bent relatively freely compared to when the entire piping P is made of metal components, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the air compressor ACP and intercooler IC.

[0060] Furthermore, in the fuel cell module (FCM) of this embodiment, the piping P2 is bent.

[0061] This allows for even greater rigidity of pipe P2 compared to when pipe P2 is in a straight shape, thereby further reducing the radiated sound from pipe P2 and further reducing the radiated sound from pipe P.

[0062] Furthermore, in the fuel cell module (FCM) of this embodiment, the piping P1 and P3 are in a straight shape.

[0063] This allows for relatively high vibration resistance of pipes P1 and P3, thereby suppressing deterioration of pipes P1 and P3.

[0064] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0065] <Variation> In the fuel cell module FCM of the above embodiment, a portion of the piping P (first piping) between the air compressor ACP and the intercooler IC is made of a metal member in order to reduce the radiated noise generated from the piping P (first piping). However, a portion of the piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP (second piping) may also be made of a metal member in order to reduce the radiated noise generated from the piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP.

[0066] As a result, compared to a case where the entire piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP is made of a material that is more prone to vibration than metal, the proportion of the area that is prone to vibration within the total area of ​​the piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP can be reduced, thereby reducing the noise radiated from the piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP. In addition, since the portion of the piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP, excluding a part of the piping between the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP, can be made of a material that is less rigid than metal and can be freely bent, the assembly efficiency of the air cleaner AC and the air compressor ACP can be improved. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] FCM Fuel Cell Module Lo load FCS Fuel Cell Stack HT fuel tank INJ Injector HP Hydrogen Circulation Pump GLS gas liquid separator DIL Diluent R Radiator WP Water Pump CNV DC-DC converter B Energy storage device AC Air Cleaner Sf flow sensor ACP Air Compressor ARV Air Pressure Regulating Valve Cnt control unit P1-P3 Piping D Air discharge section S Air inlet

Claims

1. Air compressor and An intercooler that exchanges heat between the air discharged from the air compressor and the refrigerant, A first pipe connected between the air compressor and the intercooler, Equipped with, A portion of the first piping is made of metal components. Fuel cell module.

2. A fuel cell module according to claim 1, A portion of the first piping is bent. Fuel cell module.

3. A fuel cell module according to claim 1, Of the first piping, the portion other than a part of the first piping is made of an elastic member. Fuel cell module.

4. A fuel cell module according to claim 1, Of the first piping, the portion other than a part of the first piping is configured in a straight shape. Fuel cell module.

5. A fuel cell module according to claim 1, The length of a portion of the first pipe, the length of the portion of the first pipe not included, and the diameter of the first pipe are set such that the sound pressure level generated from the first pipe, which is the result of multiplying the excitation force that vibrates the first pipe by the sound pressure level per unit excitation force and unit surface area of ​​the pipe and the surface area of ​​the first pipe, is below a threshold. Fuel cell module.

6. A fuel cell module according to claim 1, An air cleaner that supplies air to the aforementioned air compressor, A second pipe connected between the air cleaner and the air compressor, Equipped with, A portion of the second piping is made of metal. Fuel cell module.

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