Fuel cell system

Abstract

A fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system of the present invention is characterized by a gas-liquid separator that removes foreign matter from the air between the stack and the air supply unit, thereby preventing foreign matter from being supplied to the stack, thereby improving the performance and extending the life of the stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This technology relates to a fuel cell system.

[0002] In particular, this technology can filter foreign substances contained in the air supplied to the stack. Therefore, this technology can improve the function of the stack and extend the life of the stack.

Background Art

[0003] William Gilbert conducted an experiment on the difference in gravity of pumpkins, Benjamin Franklin conducted an experiment using a kite, and Volta invented a chemical battery, achieving discoveries and developments regarding electrical energy. Due to these experimental results, electrical energy is being utilized in the entire industry and daily life.

[0004] Electrical energy can be produced in various ways. Among the production of electrical energy, the largest proportion is occupied by the utilization of oil. However, oil is predicted to be depleted someday, and oil has an adverse impact on the environment, and the development of alternative energy to replace oil is required.

[0005] In recent years, research on methods for generating electrical energy that has no fear of depletion and has no adverse impact on the environment has become active, and the most spotlighted field in this research is the fuel cell field.

[0006] A fuel cell produces electrical energy by utilizing a stack composed of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Looking at the principle of a fuel cell, hydrogen is supplied to the anode and oxygen is supplied to the cathode. Therefore, at the anode, hydrogen ions and electrons are released to generate an electric current, and at the cathode, hydrogen ions and oxygen combine to form water vapor and are discharged.

[0007] Such fuel cells have the advantages of high efficiency, adjustable capacity, the ability to use various fuels, emissions that are close to environmentally friendly substances, and the ability to be continuously charged. Thus, fuel cells have various advantages, but there are problems to be solved. This problem is the supply of foreign matter to the stack. If foreign matter is supplied to the stack, the performance and lifespan of the stack will decrease.

[0008] Most of the foreign matter supplied to the stack has been revealed to be supplied along with the supply of oxygen. It has been revealed that the main foreign matter is metal pieces of the impeller of the air compressor utilized to supply oxygen.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a fuel cell system that prevents the supply of foreign matter to the stack and can extend the performance and lifespan of the stack.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] A fuel cell system according to an embodiment includes a fuel cell stack, a hydrogen supply unit that supplies hydrogen to the stack, and an air supply unit that supplies air to the stack.

[0011] A gas-liquid separator is disposed between the stack and the air supply unit to remove foreign matter from the air supplied to the stack.

[0012] The gas-liquid separator is characterized by including a housing, an air intake portion formed on one side of the housing, an air outlet portion formed on the other side of the housing, and an air rotating portion disposed within the air intake portion to rotate the air supplied to the air intake portion.

[0013] The air rotating part is a closed block with an inclined shape.

[0014] The housing includes an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing. The air intake part is formed in the outer housing, the air outlet part is formed in the inner housing, the air outlet part is formed to penetrate the outer housing from the center of the inner housing, and the air intake part is characterized by being eccentrically positioned with respect to the center of the outer housing.

[0015] The air rotating part is disposed along the circumference of the inner housing above the inner housing.

[0016] The air rotating part is a closed block inclined in a curved shape.

[0017] A flow path variable cylinder is disposed between the inner housing and the air outlet part.

[0018] The flow path variable cylinder is characterized in that its diameter increases from the lower side to the upper side.

[0019] The air intake part further includes a filter for filtering foreign matter.

[0020] The air supply unit includes an air compressor for supplying compressed air and a fuel cell humidifier that receives the compressed air and supplies air containing moisture to the stack.

[0021] It is characterized by including a flow path connecting the gas-liquid separator and the air supply unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] In the fuel cell system of the present invention according to one embodiment, a gas-liquid separator is provided in the flow path through which air is supplied to the stack, preventing foreign matter from being supplied to the stack.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

[0024]

Figure 2

[0025]

Figure 3

[0026]

Figure 4

[0027]

Figure 5

[0028]

Figure 6

[0029]

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0031] When adding reference numerals to the components and the like in the drawings, it should be noted that the same components and the like are given the same numerals as much as possible, even if they are shown on other drawings. Also, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0032] In addition, the sizes, shapes, etc. of the components shown in the drawings can be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Also, terms and the like specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present invention are for explaining embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The fuel cell system of the present invention can include a stack 100, a water tank 200, an air supply unit 300, a hydrogen supply unit 400, and a gas-liquid separator 500. Further, the present invention can further include a water pump 600.

[0035] Each of the hydrogen supply unit 400 and the air supply unit 300 supplies hydrogen and air (oxygen) to the stack 100.

[0036] The hydrogen supply unit 400 supplies the stored hydrogen to the stack 100.

[0037] The air supply unit 300 can include an air compressor 310 and a fuel cell humidifier 320. Here, the fuel cell humidifier 320 can be connected to the water tank 200. Therefore, the air supply unit 300 can supply air containing moisture to the stack 100.

[0038] The air compressor 310 compresses air and supplies it to the fuel cell humidifier 320, and the fuel cell humidifier 320 can add moisture to the compressed air and supply it to the stack 100.

[0039] In the stack 100, hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the anode side and the cathode side, respectively. The hydrogen supplied to the anode side loses electrons and becomes hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions are located on the cathode side through the electrolyte, and on the cathode side, the hydrogen ions, oxygen, and electrons can chemically bond to become water vapor.

[0040] On the other hand, here, the water pump 600 serves to discharge the water vapor generated in the stack 100. The water pump 600 can be connected to the fuel cell humidifier 320 and the flow path to re - supply moisture to the fuel cell humidifier 320.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, a gas - liquid separator 500 can be arranged between the stack 100 and the air supply unit 300. More precisely, the gas - liquid separator 500 can be arranged between the fuel cell humidifier 320 and the stack 100. The gas - liquid separator 500 can remove foreign substances in the air supplied to the stack 100.

[0042] The air compressor 310 of the air supply unit 300 rotates the impeller to compress air. At this time, metal pieces can be generated due to friction on the impeller, and the generated metal pieces can be moved in one direction by the impeller again and supplied to the stack 100. The stack 100 supplied with the metal pieces may have reduced operating efficiency and a shortened lifespan of the stack 100.

[0043] The present invention arranges the gas - liquid separator 500 between the air supply unit 300 and the stack 100 to remove foreign substances contained in the air from the stack 100. Therefore, air without foreign substances can be supplied to the stack 100.

[0044] The gas-liquid separator 500 is characterized by utilizing the air that is moved faster by the air supply unit 300. That is, the gas-liquid separator 500 of the present invention imparts a rotational force to the air moving at high speed so that foreign substances in the air are removed. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator 500 can supply the air that does not contain foreign substances to the stack 100.

[0045] On the other hand, when the gas-liquid separator 500 rotates the compressed air at high speed, the moisture in the air can also be removed together. To solve this, a flow path can be designed between the gas-liquid separator 500 and the fuel cell humidifier 320.

[0046] The gas-liquid separator 500 includes a discharge part 560, and the flow path of the discharge part 560 can be designed to be connected to the air supply unit 300. More precisely, the flow path of the discharge part 560 can be connected to the fuel cell humidifier 320.

[0047] The discharge part 560 can be controlled to operate according to the control signal of the control part and the gate can be opened. Therefore, the moisture separated from the air by the gas-liquid separator 500 can be supplied to the fuel cell humidifier 320 again.

[0048] On the other hand, regardless of the above method, the operator can separate the storage part 550 (first embodiment) from the housing 540 or the external housing 541 (second embodiment) to remove and clean foreign substances. Further, in the present invention, a filtering part 570 is provided in the storage part 550 of the gas-liquid separator 500, and the moisture can be moved downward and the foreign substances can be located only in the filtering part 570.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gas-liquid separator according to the first embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to the first embodiment.

[0051] The gas-liquid separator 500 according to the first embodiment includes an air intake part 510, an air outlet part 520, and an air rotating part 530.

[0052] The air intake part 510 is the part where air containing foreign matters is drawn in, and the air extraction part 520 is the part where the air from which foreign matters have been removed is extracted, and the air extraction part 520 is connected to the stack 100.

[0053] The air rotating part 530 rotates the air drawn into the air intake part 510 quickly, and utilizes centrifugal force to remove foreign matters from the air.

[0054] The gas-liquid separator 500 according to the first embodiment can include an air intake part 510, an air extraction part 520, an air rotating part 530, a housing 540, a storage part 550, and a discharge part 560.

[0055] The housing 540 has a cylindrical shape and can be formed as a space with an empty interior.

[0056] The air intake part 510 can be formed to extend from one side of the housing 540. Also, the air extraction part 520 can be formed to extend above the housing 540.

[0057] Therefore, the air intake part 510 and the air extraction part 520 can be observed outside the housing 540.

[0058] The air intake part 510 communicates with one side of the housing 540, and the air extraction part 520 can be formed to communicate with the upper side and extend inside the housing 540.

[0059] On the other hand, a filter can be provided in the air intake part 510 to remove foreign matters with a large size in addition to foreign matters with a fine size. The filter is formed in the form of a net and can remove foreign matters with a large size. Also, a closed block in an inclined form can be arranged in the air intake part 510.

[0060] The closing block can be the air rotating part 530 that applies a rotational force to the moving air. That is, as can be confirmed from FIG. 3, the closing block can continuously reduce the size of the flow path of the air intake part 510 having a set size from one side to the other side.

[0061] Therefore, the air passing through the air intake part 510 passes through a flow path that continuously becomes smaller due to the closing block, and then the air moves between the housing 540 with an increasing space size and the air outlet part 520 and can rotate and move between the housing 540 and the air outlet part 520. Here, foreign substances contained in the air are separated from the air by centrifugal force and are located inside the housing 540 and tend to fall.

[0062] The air from which foreign substances have been removed moves into the internal space of the air outlet part 520, and the air from which foreign substances have been removed passes through the air outlet part 520 and is supplied to the stack 100.

[0063] A storage part 550 is located below the housing 540. The storage part 550 can be in a form inclined toward the center, and the cross-section of the storage part 550 can be observed to be conical. The storage part 550 and the housing 540 are in communication. Therefore, foreign substances separated from the air can gather in the storage part 550. A discharge part 560 is located below the storage part 550.

[0064] Although not shown in the figure, the discharge part 560 can be connected to the control part. The gate of the discharge part 560 can be opened according to a control signal of the control part. When the gate of the discharge part 560 is opened, the foreign substances and moisture located in the storage part 550 can be moved to the outside of the storage part 550.

[0065] That is, the foreign substances and moisture can be supplied again to the fuel cell humidifier 320 without being filtered by the opening of the gate of the discharge part 560. In this case, the operator can remove the foreign substances by cleaning the fuel cell humidifier 320.

[0066] On the one hand, the discharge part 560 can maintain the gate in a closed state without being operated and store foreign matters and moisture in the storage part 550. The storage part 550 and the housing 540 are each composed of threads and can be coupled or separated. Therefore, after separating the storage part 550 from the housing 540, the operator can remove the foreign matters in the storage part 550 and then couple them again.

[0067] Also, the gas-liquid separator 500 can reduce noise.

[0068] That is, the gas-liquid separator 500 forms a specific wavelength band by rotating air, and thereby can cancel out the air vibrating in the wavelength band of a specific band to reduce noise (especially, the low-frequency sound domain band).

[0069] As an example, when air is supplied to the air intake part 510, noise may be generated due to pulsation or the like in the gas-liquid separator 500, but a wavelength band that cancels out the wavelength band in which noise is generated by the internal structure of the gas-liquid separator 500 is formed to reduce noise.

[0070] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gas-liquid separator according to the first first embodiment.

[0071] In the gas-liquid separator 500 according to the first first embodiment, a filtration part 570 can be arranged in the storage part 550. The filtration part 570 can allow the moisture separated from the air by the rotation of the air to pass through and position only the foreign matters (metal pieces) on the filtration part 570.

[0072] If the moisture located in the storage part 550 is more than a set amount, the discharge part 560 can open the gate according to the signal of the control part and supply the moisture to the fuel cell humidifier 320 again. Here, the operator can separate the storage part 550 from the housing 540, wash only the foreign matters located on the filtration part 570, and then couple them again.

[0073] FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to the second embodiment.

[0074] FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to the second embodiment.

[0075] The configuration of the present invention according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the invention according to the first embodiment. However, since there are some differences, the different configurations will be intensively described below.

[0076] The gas-liquid separator 500 according to the second embodiment is the same as the gas-liquid separator 500 according to the first embodiment, but some structures may be different. When comparing the gas-liquid separator 500 according to the second embodiment with the gas-liquid separator 500 according to the first embodiment, the gas-liquid separator 500 according to the second embodiment is characterized by removing foreign matter in the air twice. For this purpose, the gas-liquid separator 500 according to the second embodiment can further include a flow path variable cylinder 580.

[0077] The gas-liquid separator 500 according to the second embodiment includes an air intake section 510, an air outlet section 520, an air rotation section 530, an external housing 541, an internal housing 545, a storage section 550, a discharge section 560, and a flow path variable cylinder 580.

[0078] The housing 540 according to the second embodiment includes an external housing 541 and an internal housing 545. Here, an air intake section 510 can be formed in the external housing 541, and an air outlet section 520 can be formed in the internal housing 545.

[0079] The air intake section 510 can be located above the external housing 541. That is, different from the air intake section 510 according to the first embodiment, the air intake section 510 according to the second embodiment is located above the external housing 541 and can move the compressed air from the upper side to the lower side. The position of the air intake section 510 can be located at an eccentric position that is not centered with respect to the center of the external housing 541.

[0080] The inner housing 545 can be formed in a cylindrical shape. The inner housing 545 can be formed in a form with an open lower side. The inner housing 545 can be aligned with the outer housing 541 and located inside the outer housing 541.

[0081] A protrusion can be formed on the upper side of the inner housing 545. The protrusion of the inner housing 545 abuts against the inner side of the upper side of the outer housing 541 to couple the inner housing 545, and at the same time, a distance can be formed from the inner side of the upper side of the outer housing 541.

[0082] On the other hand, an air extraction part 520 can be formed on the upper side of the inner housing 545. The air extraction part 520 can be located at the center of the inner housing 545. Therefore, when the inner housing 545 is aligned and located with the outer housing 541, the air extraction part 520 is located at a position not on the same line with respect to the air intake part 510.

[0083] Also in the case of the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the air rotating part 530 can be a closed block. The closed block can include a curved inclination. The curved inclination of the closed block is formed on the inner side. That is, the closed block has a curved inclination formed at a portion facing the air extraction part 520. Further, when compared with the case according to the first embodiment, the position of the closed block can be located on the upper side of the inner housing 545 that is not the air intake part 510.

[0084] As can be seen from FIG. 6, although the closed block is formed in an inclined form, a plurality of them can be spaced apart and arranged along the periphery of the inner housing 545.

[0085] In the case of the second embodiment, the air drawn into the air intake portion 510 can receive a rotational force due to the form in which the closing blocks are arranged in a circular shape. That is, the air drawn through the air intake portion 510 is located above the inner housing 545 and is moved in the radial direction. At this time, a rotational force can be applied by the closing blocks.

[0086] The air to which the rotational force is applied is rotated and can be moved downward while rotating along the space between the outer housing 541 and the inner housing 545. By such movement, foreign matter contained in the air can be primarily separated from the air by centrifugal force. The foreign matter separated from the air can be located in the storage portion 550 located below.

[0087] (On the other hand, in FIG. 5, it is observed that the space between the outer housing 541 and the storage portion 550 is closed by the flow path variable cylinder 580. It should be noted that a notch is formed in the flow path variable cylinder 580 in a portion not shown, allowing the movement of foreign matter.)

[0088] A part of the flow path variable cylinder 580 is supported by the inside of the outer housing 541, and the other part is located between the inner housing 545 and the air outlet portion 520.

[0089] The flow path variable cylinder 580 is formed such that its diameter continuously increases from the lower side to the upper side. Therefore, the flow path variable cylinder 580 changes the size of the flow path between the inner housing 545 with an unchanging diameter and the air outlet portion 520.

[0090] The variable flow path cylinder 580 is formed such that its diameter continuously increases from the lower side to the upper side. Therefore, the size of the flow path between the internal housing 545 and the variable flow path cylinder 580 continuously decreases from the lower side to the upper side, and the air passing through this flow path is pressurized. Conversely, the flow path between the variable flow path cylinder 580 and the air extraction part 520 continuously decreases from the upper side to the lower side, so the air passing through this flow path can also be pressurized.

[0091] On the other hand, around the variable flow path cylinder 580, diagonal holes can be formed along the circumference of the variable flow path cylinder 580 in order to impart a rotational force to the passing air.

[0092] To explain the process of secondary removal of foreign matter from the air, the air moving while rotating between the external housing 541 and the internal housing 545 moves between the internal housing 545 and the variable flow path cylinder 580 through the communicated part of the internal housing 545.

[0093] At this time, since the air passes through the narrowed flow path, it becomes accelerated. Then, the accelerated air comes to pass between the variable flow path cylinder 580 and the air extraction part 520. The air to which a rotational force is again imparted while passing through the holes of the variable flow path cylinder 580 is rotated again and moves rotationally between the air extraction part 520 and the variable flow path cylinder 580. Then, the foreign matter remaining in the air is separated secondarily. The foreign matter is discharged to the storage part 550 located on the lower side along the inside of the variable flow path cylinder 580.

[0094] On the other hand, the air moving between the variable flow path cylinder 580 and the air extraction part 520 can be accelerated while being rotated by the narrowed flow path.

[0095] After that, the air from which foreign matter has been removed is moved through the lower side of the air extraction part 520 and can be supplied to the external stack 100.

[0096] Here, foreign matter separated from the air may be located in the storage section 550. And moisture may be located in the storage section 550.

[0097] The storage section 550 can be connected to the fuel cell humidifier 320. Therefore, when the gate of the discharge section 560 is opened by the control section, the moisture can be supplied again to the fuel cell humidifier 320. On the other hand, in this case, foreign matter can also be supplied to the fuel cell humidifier 320 together. Therefore, in this case, it may be necessary to clean the fuel cell humidifier 320.

[0098] FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to the second second embodiment.

[0099] In the case of the second second embodiment, the gas-liquid separator 500 can further include a filtration section 570. The filtration section 570 serves a role similar to that of the filtration section 570 of the first first embodiment described above. Therefore, the filtration section 570 allows moisture to pass downward, but not foreign matter.

[0100] In this case, the control section can apply a control signal to the discharge section 560 to open the gate and supply moisture to the fuel cell humidifier 320. The operator can separate the storage section 550 and the external housing 541 as needed to clean the filtration section 570 and remove foreign matter.

[0101] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be variously improved and changed without departing from the technical idea of the present invention provided by the following claims.

Industrial Applicability

[0102] The present invention is a fuel cell system, characterized by a gas-liquid separator that removes foreign matter in air from a flow path supplied to a stack, and can improve the function of the stack and extend the life of the stack.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, a hydrogen supply unit that supplies hydrogen to the stack, and an air supply unit that supplies air to the stack, comprising a gas-liquid separator disposed between the stack and the air supply unit, wherein the gas-liquid separator includes a housing, an air intake portion formed on one side of the housing, an air outlet portion formed on the other side of the housing, and an air rotating portion that rotates air, wherein the housing includes an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing, wherein the air intake portion is formed in the outer housing, wherein the air outlet portion is formed in the inner housing, wherein the air outlet portion is formed to penetrate the outer housing from the center of the inner housing, wherein the air intake portion is eccentrically positioned with respect to the center of the outer housing, wherein an air rotating portion is disposed along the periphery of the inner housing above the inner housing, the fuel cell system, characterized in that the air rotating portion is a closed block inclined in a curved shape.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that a flow path variable cylinder is disposed between the inner housing and the air outlet portion.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 2, characterized in that the diameter of the flow path variable cylinder increases from the lower side to the upper side.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that the air intake portion further includes a filter for filtering foreign matter.

5. The air supply unit, an air compressor that supplies compressed air, a fuel cell humidifier that receives the compressed air and supplies air containing moisture to the stack, The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized by comprising.

6. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a flow path connecting the gas-liquid separator and the air supply unit.

Images