Air-liquid separator

Abstract

To construct a gas liquid separator that has a simple configuration but can eliminate freezing at the bottom of the gas liquid separator and quickly discharge water from the bottom.SOLUTION: A gas liquid separator includes a housing H, a gas-liquid separation portion that separates water from the water-containing gas in the upper part of the housing H, a water storage portion 7 that stores water separated from the water-containing gas in the lower part of the housing H, a discharge hole passage 11 that discharges water in the water storage portion 7 to the outside of the housing, and a heating member 20 that is disposed at the bottom of the water storage portion 7 in a region where the water flows into the discharge hole path 11, and whose temperature increases due to heat transmitted from a heating element F that generates heat when energized. The heating member 20 includes a main body portion 22 housed in the bottom of the water storage portion 7 with the heating element F disposed outside the water storage portion 7, and a plate-shaped portion 21 that protrudes upward from the main body portion 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas-liquid separator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a fuel cell system equipped with a freeze inhibitor circulation section for circulating a freeze inhibitor within an exhaust gas passage to prevent water passing through the exhaust gas passage discharged from the fuel cell from freezing.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which, in order to prevent the water produced in the oxidizing off-gas passage from freezing, a freeze inhibitor using ethylene glycol is injected into the oxidizing off-gas passage, and the freeze inhibitor is separated from the water produced by heating in the downstream portion of the oxidizing off-gas passage, recovered, and reused.

[0004] Patent document 2 describes a fuel cell system in which water separated from fuel off-gas discharged from a fuel cell stack by a gas-liquid separator is sent from a fluid inlet to a valve device, and is drained by controlling this valve device, and a heating device is placed in the inner hole of the fluid inlet.

[0005] This patent document 2 describes that a PTC heater, which generates heat when supplied with electricity, is placed at the end of the cylindrical cover body as a heating device, and that when water inside the cover body freezes, it is thawed by the heat generated by the PTC heater.

[0006] Patent Document 3 describes a fuel cell system in which fuel exhaust gas discharged from an anode electrode is separated into gas and liquid in a gas-liquid separator, and compressed oxidant gas is introduced into an exhaust flow path that discharges the liquid, thereby heating the exhaust flow path and its vicinity using the heat of the compressed oxidant gas.

[0007] Patent Document 3 also describes a heater unit that heats the compressed oxidant gas that is guided to the discharge passage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-5228 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-139935 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-149339 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In a power generation system using a fuel cell, in order to reuse the fuel gas contained in the fuel off-gas (anode off-gas) in the fuel cell, the fuel off-gas is returned to the fuel gas supply flow path after water has been removed by a gas-liquid separator.

[0010] As described in Patent Document 2, a gas-liquid separator is used in such a way that the separated water is temporarily stored at the bottom and the stored water is discharged to the outside by opening a valve at a predetermined timing.

[0011] In a fuel cell vehicle that runs on electricity generated by a fuel cell, when the vehicle is driven or parked in cold climates, the water stored in the bottom of the gas-liquid separator may freeze, making it difficult to drain. When a fuel cell vehicle is parked in cold climates, control is performed to drain the water stored in the gas-liquid separator when power generation by the fuel cell is stopped, but water droplets remaining on the anode side of the fuel cell or in the path through which the anode off-gas flows may flow into the gas-liquid separator and freeze, so some kind of countermeasure is required.

[0012] To eliminate such inconveniences, it is possible to prevent freezing by using the antifreeze agent described in Patent Document 1. However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, in which water is evaporated by heating with a heater and the water and antifreeze agent are separated, the current consumed by the heater is large, and the mechanism for recovering the antifreeze agent is likely to become complicated.

[0013] Furthermore, as described in Patent Document 2, in a configuration using a PTC heater, the valve device can also be heated by the heat of the PTC heater when current is applied. However, in this configuration, the PTC heater and the valve device are separated, and it is conceivable that it would take time to thaw the frozen area near the valve device. Furthermore, if the PTC heater were placed close to the valve device in the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is conceivable that the PTC heater would cause the inconvenience of impeding the flow of water.

[0014] Furthermore, as described in Patent Document 3, it is also possible to provide a configuration in which the liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separator is unfrozen by supplying compressed oxidant gas, but the configuration of Patent Document 3 requires a dedicated gas flow path, which raises concerns about the complexity of the configuration.

[0015] For these reasons, there is a need for a gas-liquid separator that has a simple structure yet can eliminate freezing at the bottom of the gas-liquid separator and quickly discharge water from the bottom. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The characteristic configuration of the gas-liquid separator of the present invention is that it comprises a housing to which a water-containing gas is supplied, a gas-liquid separation section arranged in the upper part of the housing and separating water from the water-containing gas, a water storage section arranged in the lower part of the housing and storing the water separated from the water-containing gas by the gas-liquid separation section, a discharge hole path arranged in the housing below the water storage section and discharging the water sent from the water storage section to the outside of the housing, and a heating element arranged in an area at the bottom of the water storage section where the water flows into the discharge hole path and whose temperature rises due to heat transferred from a heating element that generates heat when electricity is applied, and the heating element has a main body portion accommodated in the bottom of the water storage section when the heating element is arranged outside the water storage section, and a plate-like portion protruding upward from the main body portion in a plate-like shape.

[0017] According to this configuration, when the water in the water storage section freezes, increasing the temperature of the heating element directly applies heat to the frozen portion at the bottom of the water storage section where the water flows into the drain hole, thereby thawing the frozen portion. Furthermore, because the heating element has a main body and a plate-shaped portion protruding upward from the main body, the temperature of the water storage section is increased by contacting the area with a large heat transfer surface (mainly the plate-shaped portion) with the water flowing into the water storage section, thereby enabling thawing even when the water level in the water storage section is relatively high. Furthermore, with this configuration, heat from a heating element located outside the water storage section is transferred to the heating element, eliminating the inconvenience of water in the water storage section coming into contact with the heating element and ensuring reliable electrical insulation. Thus, a gas-liquid separator has been constructed that, despite its simple configuration, can thaw the frozen portion at the bottom of the gas-liquid separator and quickly drain the water from the bottom.

[0018] As another configuration, the plate-shaped portion may extend to a position close to the discharge hole passage when placed at the bottom of the water storage portion.

[0019] This brings the end in the extension direction into a positional relationship close to the discharge hole passage, and the heat transferred from this end makes it possible to melt ice that has accumulated near the discharge hole passage.

[0020] In another configuration, the heating element is provided on the side of the discharge hole path, perpendicular to the extending direction of the plate-like portion The vertical length , perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the extension direction It may be made larger than the maximum width in the horizontal direction.

[0021] In this way, the vertical length of the heating element is greater than the maximum horizontal width on the side of the discharge hole, so that a larger area of ​​heat transfer can be secured for the water flowing into the discharge hole. As a result, the water storage capacity of the water storage section is increased, making the device more compact, and the temperature of the water storage section can be raised quickly to prevent freezing.

[0022] In another configuration, the main body portion may be connected to the lower part of the plate-like portion and may have wing-like portions on both sides of the lateral direction, with the lateral center as the reference point, whose width decreases from the base end to the tip end close to the discharge hole passage.

[0023] With this, the wing-like portions are formed in the region extending laterally from the lower end of the main body, and the heat from the wide surface of the wing-like portions enables the thawing of the discharge hole passages. Also, the width of the wing-like portions narrows toward the tip, which is closer to the discharge hole passages, and the thermal conductivity improves toward the tip, not only enabling the thawing of the discharge hole passages to be effective, but also reducing the resistance acting on the water from the wing-like portions when the water heated by the heating element flows into the discharge hole passages, allowing for a smooth flow.

[0024] As another configuration, the upper surface of the wing-like portion may be inclined downward toward the outer side in the lateral direction.

[0025] This allows the water flowing into the water reservoir to flow outward on the upper surface of the wing-shaped portion, reducing the resistance acting on the water from the wing-shaped portion and enabling a smooth flow. Also, if the temperature of the heating element is increased when the water reservoir is frozen, the heat is transferred from the wide surface of the wing-shaped portion, achieving rapid thawing.

[0026] As another configuration, the lower surface of the wing-like portion may be inclined upward as it goes outward in the lateral direction.

[0027] This ensures a large heat transfer area on the underside of the wing-like portion, allowing for rapid thawing, and by bringing the lateral center of the wing-like portion close to the bottom of the water storage section, a space is created between the underside of the wing-like portion in the area outside this center and the bottom of the water storage section for the water to flow after thawing, allowing the water to flow smoothly from this space into the discharge hole. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the flow of gas between the anode side of the fuel cell and a gas-liquid separator. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the gas-liquid separator and the heating element and holder in an assembled state. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a heating member, a heat generating element, and a holder. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the gas-liquid separator in a state where the on-off valve is closed. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the gas-liquid separator in a state where the on-off valve is open. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing a list of a heating element and cross sections of the heating element at locations indicated by a plurality of cross-section indication lines. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a heating element of another embodiment (a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Basic configuration] Figure 1 shows a fuel cell FC mounted on a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) and a gas-liquid separator A that separates water contained in anode off-gas (an example of a water-containing gas) discharged from the anode side of the fuel cell FC.

[0030] A fuel cell FC generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction by supplying hydrogen gas as fuel gas to the anode side and air containing oxygen as oxidizing gas to the cathode side, but the figure shows only the anode side of the fuel cell FC.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, in a power generation system having a fuel cell FC, hydrogen gas stored in a fuel tank T is supplied to the anode side of the fuel cell FC through a supply path L1, and anode off-gas discharged from the anode side of the fuel cell FC is supplied to an inlet section 3 of a gas-liquid separator A through a discharge path L2.

[0032] The anode off-gas contains unreacted hydrogen gas, and the gas-liquid separator A guides the anode off-gas supplied from the inlet 3 to the gas-liquid separation section 5, where water is separated from the anode off-gas and stored in the water storage section 7. The dry anode off-gas from which the water has been separated is sent to the reduction path L3 from the outlet 4. The anode off-gas sent to the reduction path L3 in this way is supplied from the supply path L1 to the anode side of the fuel cell FC by the circulation pump P in the flow path of the reduction path L3, and the unreacted hydrogen is used for power generation.

[0033] [Gas-liquid separator] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, the gas-liquid separator A has a housing H consisting of an upper housing 1 and a lower housing 2, and the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 are integrated by connecting their respective flange portions to form the housing H having an internal space.

[0034] The upper housing 1 has a cylindrical inlet 3 and a cylindrical outlet 4 at its upper position, and a gas-liquid separation section 5 therein that separates water from anode off-gas (water-containing gas). The gas-liquid separation section 5 has a plurality of vertical plate-like collision walls 5a that separate water by collision with the anode off-gas supplied from the inlet 3. The dry anode off-gas that has passed through the gas-liquid separation section 5 is discharged from the outlet 4.

[0035] The lower housing 2 has an open space 6 that allows the water separated in the gas-liquid separation section 5 to fall, a water storage section 7 that stores the water that has fallen through this open space 6, and a filter unit 8 above the water storage section 7 that removes dust and other particles contained in the water.

[0036] 4 and 5, the lower part of the lower housing 2 has a plurality of funnel-shaped inner surfaces 2a that taper downward, and the filter unit 8 is disposed adjacent to the upper side of the lowest funnel-shaped inner surface 2a. In addition, a cylindrical inner surface 2b that is circular in plan view is formed at a position connected to the lower side of the lowest funnel-shaped inner surface 2a.

[0037] The space surrounded by the funnel-shaped inner surface 2a at the lowest end and the space surrounded by the cylindrical inner surface 2b form the water storage section 7. The water storage section 7 is not limited to a space that is circular in plan view, but may also be rectangular, elliptical, or polygonal in plan view.

[0038] The filter unit 8 has a filter material 8b on the inner circumferential side of an annular frame 8a, and the center is fixed with a screw 8c to a support part of the lower housing 2. This allows dust contained in the water flowing into the water storage part 7 to be removed by the filter material 8b.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a block-shaped portion 10 is integrally formed at the lower end of the lower housing 2, and the water storage portion 7 described above is formed in this block-shaped portion 10.

[0040] The block-shaped portion 10 has a horizontally oriented recessed portion 10a formed at a position communicating with the storage space of the water storage portion 7, the recessed portion 10a being recessed radially outward from the water storage portion 7 in a plan view. At the outer end of the recessed portion 10a, a discharge hole 11 is formed as a small-diameter orifice that sends the water stored in the water storage portion 7 laterally.

[0041] The block-shaped portion 10 is connected to the discharge hole passage 11 via an internal flow path 10b, and is formed with a cylindrical discharge portion 12 that discharges water downward from the discharge hole passage 11. Furthermore, the block-shaped portion 10 is provided with an electromagnetic on-off valve V that controls the flow of water from the discharge hole passage 11 to the discharge portion 12.

[0042] 1, 4, and 5, a heating element 20 is provided at the bottom of the water storage section 7 in an area where the water stored in the water storage section 7 flows to the discharge hole path 11. The heating element 20 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, for example. The outside of the water storage section 7 (outside of the block-shaped section 10) is provided with a heating element F that generates heat when electricity is applied and transfers the heat to the heating element 20.

[0043] A through-hole portion 10c communicating with the space in the water storage portion 7 is formed in the block-shaped portion 10 on the opposite side of the space in the water storage portion 7 from the discharge hole passage 11, and the heating member 20 is arranged so as to be inserted into the through-hole portion 10c. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the heating member 20 has a plate-shaped portion 21 integrally formed on the base end side, and is fixed to the block-shaped portion 10 by a holder 30 that is positioned to cover the plate-shaped portion 21 and the heating element F. The specific shape and fixing form of the heating member 20 will be described later.

[0044] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the discharge hole passage 11 is formed at a position slightly higher than the bottom wall 7a of the water storage section 7, and a recessed portion 10a is formed coaxially with this discharge hole passage 11. As described above, the discharge hole passage 11 is formed in a horizontal position so that its inner end communicates with the space of the water storage section 7 and its outer end communicates with the outside of one vertical wall-shaped end of the block-shaped portion 10. The discharge side end of the discharge hole passage 11 opens into the truncated cone-shaped protrusion 10T.

[0045] The discharge hole 11 and the discharge section 12 are connected via the block internal flow path 10b of the block-shaped section 10, and by opening the opening / closing valve V, water from the discharge hole 11 flows through the block internal flow path 10b to the discharge section 12 and is discharged.

[0046] [On-off valve] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the on-off valve V includes a plunger 15 made of a magnetic material such as iron, an electromagnetic solenoid 16 arranged in the area surrounding the plunger 15, a spring 17 that urges the plunger 15 in the protruding direction, and a valve body 18 arranged in a position that blocks the downstream end of the discharge hole 11 and made of a membrane-like material such as rubber that can flexibly deform between a blocking position and an open position.

[0047] When the electromagnetic solenoid 16 is in a non-energized state, the plunger 15 of the on-off valve V is protruded by the biasing force of the spring 17 as shown in Fig. 4, and the valve body 18 is held in a position that closes the outer end of the discharge hole passage 11. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic solenoid 16 is in a powered state, the plunger 15 shifts in a direction away from the outer end of the discharge hole passage 11 against the biasing force of the spring 17 as shown in Fig. 5, and the valve body 18 operates to an open position.

[0048] [Heating member] When the fuel cell vehicle is parked in a low-temperature environment after stopping power generation of the fuel cell, the water remaining in the area extending from the water storage section 7 to the discharge hole 11 may freeze. Also, when the fuel cell vehicle is driven in a low-temperature environment, the water in the water storage section 7 may freeze. To prevent such freezing, the gas-liquid separator A is provided with a heating member 20 housed in the bottom of the water storage section 7, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5.

[0049] 2 and 3, the heating element 20 is arranged in a manner that it is inserted into the bottom of the water storage section 7 from the outside (outside the block-shaped portion 10 of the lower housing 2) into the through-hole portion 10c. This heating element 20 has a heating element F arranged on the outer surface of the plate-shaped portion 21 integrally formed on the base end side, and a holder 30 arranged in a position that covers these, and is fixed to the block-shaped portion 10 of the lower housing 2 with a plurality of bolts 34.

[0050] The heating element F is arranged in contact with the outer surface of the plate-shaped portion 21 (on the left side in Figs. 4 and 5), and when the heating element F generates heat, the heat is transferred to the heating member 20. The heating element F is a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater, which has the characteristic that its electrical resistance increases as its temperature increases.

[0051] As described above, the heating member 20 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, and is formed integrally with a plate-shaped portion 21, a heating main body portion 22 (an example of a main body portion), and a vertical plate-shaped portion 23 (an example of a plate-shaped portion). The plate-shaped portion 21 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the heating main body portion 22 and the vertical plate-shaped portion 23 extend in an integrated state in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the plate-shaped portion 21.

[0052] 3 and 6, the vertical plate-like portion 23 is formed so that its width in the horizontal direction in plan view becomes slightly narrower towards the tip close to the discharge hole passage 11, and is formed so as to have a constant thickness in the height direction in side view. In contrast, the heating main body portion 22 has a tapered shape that becomes narrower along the extension direction in plan view towards the tip close to the discharge hole passage 11. In the region from near the center to the tip side, at least a part of the heating main body portion 22 is set so that its vertical length X (the thickness in the vertical direction of the heating member 20) is larger than its maximum horizontal width W (the maximum horizontal width of the heating main body portion 22).

[0053] 6 shows the heating member 20, the heating element F, and the holder 30 in an exploded state in a plan view. In addition, in the upper view of the heating member 20, the cylindrical inner surface 2b of the water storage section 7 formed in the lower housing 2 is shown by a two-dot chain line, thereby indicating the positional relationship between the heating member 20 and the water storage section 7 in a plan view.

[0054] In addition, in FIG. 6, cross sections corresponding to the cross section indication lines C1, C2, and C3 in the heating member 20 shown in the upper row are shown as C1 and C2 in the middle row and as C3 in the lower row.

[0055] 4 and 5, the heating member 20 is fixed to the lower housing 2, and the combined portion of the heating main body portion 22 and the vertical plate-shaped portion 23 is disposed inside the water storage portion 7. As shown in the cross-sectional view of C2 in FIG. 6, the heating main body portion 22 and the vertical plate-shaped portion 23 are dimensionally related such that the vertical length X of the vertical plate-shaped portion 23 is greater than the maximum width W of at least a portion of the heating main body portion 22 in the horizontal direction. The relationship between the maximum width W and the length X does not hold true for the entire region of the heating main body portion 22 and the vertical plate-shaped portion 23, but only holds true for a portion of the region.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6, the heating element 20 has wing-like portions 22a formed on the left and right portions of the heating main body 22, and on the upper surfaces of these left and right wing-like portions 22a, inclined surfaces 22b are formed that slope downward as they extend outward in the horizontal direction.

[0057] 3 and 4, a cylindrical portion 22c is formed so as to extend from the tip portion of the heating main body 22 in the protruding direction of the heating main body 22 (extending in the opposite direction to the plate-shaped portion 21). A main discharge hole 24 is formed in this cylindrical portion 22c, and an introduction hole 25 communicating with the main discharge hole 24 is formed in the lower surface of the heating main body 22. The inner diameter of this main discharge hole 24 is formed larger than the inner diameter of the discharge hole path 11.

[0058] When the heating member 20 is attached to the lower housing 2, the cylindrical portion 22c of the heating main body 22 is positioned so as to fit inside the recessed portion 10a. Furthermore, the tip of the vertical plate-like portion 23 is positioned close to the discharge hole passage 11. In this position, the main discharge hole 24 and the discharge hole passage 11 are coaxial. Furthermore, the main discharge hole 24 is formed in an area extending a predetermined distance from the tip position of the heating main body 22 toward the plate-like portion 21, and the introduction hole 25 communicates with this main discharge hole 24.

[0059] When the heating element 20 is attached to the lower housing 2, a gap as shown in Figures 4 and 5 is formed between the underside of the heating main body 22 and the bottom wall 7a of the water storage section 7. This gap reduces the thickness of the frozen portion even when the water is frozen, allowing rapid thawing by the heat applied from the heating element 20 and allowing the water to flow.

[0060] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the holder 30 is made of an insulating resin material, and includes a cover portion 31, a pair of connecting portions 32, and a connector portion 33 that are integrally formed.

[0061] The cover portion 31 is configured to accommodate the plate-shaped portion 21 of the heating member 20 and to be able to come into contact with the outer surface of the block-shaped portion 10. The connecting portion 32 is integrally formed with the outer edge of the cover portion 31 and has a bolt insertion hole 32a formed therein. The connector portion 33 has a pair of electrodes 33a inside a cylindrical connector space.

[0062] With this configuration, when attaching the heating element 20 to the lower housing 2, as explained above, the heating element 20 is inserted into the internal space of the water storage section 7 through the through hole section 10c of the block-shaped section 10, the heating element F is placed on the outer surface of the plate-shaped section 21 of the heating element 20, the cover section 31 is placed so as to overlap the plate-shaped section 21 and the heating element F, and the bolt 34 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 32a of the connecting section 32 and screwed into the female threaded section of the block-shaped section 10 to fix the holder 30.

[0063] In addition, when the heating element 20 is attached, a sealing body 27 consisting of a rubber or resin ring is placed between the outer surface of the block-shaped portion 10 and the plate-shaped portion 21, and between the plate-shaped portion 21 and the cover portion 31.

[0064] With the heating member 20 attached in this manner, the heating element F is in close contact with the outer surface of the plate-shaped portion 21, and a conductive portion for supplying current from the electrode 33a of the connector portion 33 to the heating element F is formed.

[0065] [Heating by heating element] Although not shown in the drawings, the fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a control unit that controls the on-off valve V and controls the current supplied to the heating element F. This control unit calculates the amount of water produced as a result of power generation from the amount of power generated by the fuel cell while driving, estimates the amount of water stored in the water storage unit 7, and controls the discharge of water from the water storage unit 7 through the discharge hole 11 by opening the on-off valve V for a set period of time each time the estimated water amount reaches a set amount.

[0066] In place of this control mode, a water level sensor may be provided to detect the water surface position in order to measure the amount of water stored in the water storage section 7, and the control mode may be set so that the on-off valve V is opened to discharge the water stored in the water storage section 7 each time the water level detected by this water level sensor reaches a set value.

[0067] Furthermore, when the fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is parked in a sub-freezing low-temperature environment and the power generation of the fuel cell FC is stopped before the fuel cell vehicle is driven, the control unit supplies current to the heating element F to increase the temperature of the heating member 20, thereby eliminating freezing before the vehicle starts to drive. When eliminating freezing in this way, the on-off valve V is opened, and scavenging is performed in a mode in which a predetermined air stoichiometric ratio is set in the fuel cell FC and the fuel cell FC is operated (power generation).

[0068] In addition, in scavenging, as described above, when the fuel cell FC is operating (generating electricity), the gas inside the gas-liquid separator A is sent from the outlet 4 to the reduction path L3 by driving the circulation pump P shown in Figure 1, and the gas is supplied from this reduction path L3 to the anode side of the fuel cell FC, and the gas that has passed through the anode side of the fuel cell FC is returned to the inside of the gas-liquid separator A from the inlet 3 of the gas-liquid separator A via the exhaust path L2, thereby circulating the gas.

[0069] In particular, during scavenging, current is supplied to the heating element F to raise the temperature of the heating element 20, thereby raising the temperature of the space between the underside of the heating main body 22 and the bottom wall 7a of the water storage section 7, and raising the temperature of the heating main body 22 or the outer surface of the vertical plate-shaped section 23. This unfreezes these areas if they are frozen, and raises the temperature of the water if the temperature has dropped even in a situation where these areas are not frozen, and the thawed water is discharged from the discharge hole 11.

[0070] [Effects of the embodiment] In this way, when attaching the heating element 20, the heating element 20 is inserted from the outside into the through-hole 10c of the block-shaped portion 10 of the lower housing 2, the heating element F is placed on the outer surface of the plate-shaped portion 21, and the holder 30 is fixed to the outer surface of the block-shaped portion 10, thereby completing the attachment of the heating element 20. This makes attachment of the heating element 20 easy and reduces maintenance time and effort. Furthermore, with this configuration, the heating element F is placed outside the lower housing 2, so there is no risk of water coming into contact with the heating element F, the configuration for electrical insulation is simplified, and there is no risk of electrical leakage or short circuiting.

[0071] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, heating element 20 is integrally formed with heating body 22 and vertical plate-like portion 23, which are placed inside the space of water storage portion 7, allowing the wide outer surfaces in both the vertical and horizontal directions to come into contact with water, enabling efficient thawing. Furthermore, vertical plate-like portion 23 makes it possible to thaw even ice that is frozen at a relatively high water level in the water storage portion. In particular, a gap is formed between the underside of heating body 22 and bottom wall 7a of water storage portion 7, creating a water flow in this gap, and by flowing some of the water in this gap from inlet hole 25 to main discharge hole 24, the temperature of the water flowing into main discharge hole 24 can be raised.

[0072] 4 and 5, the heating element 20 is arranged such that the cylindrical portion 22c is fitted into the recessed portion 10a, and since the cylindrical portion 22c is close to the discharge hole passage 11 formed in an orifice shape, even if the discharge hole passage 11 is frozen, it can be thawed by the heat from the cylindrical portion 22c. In particular, a main discharge hole 24 is formed in the cylindrical portion 22c coaxially with the discharge hole passage 11, and water is supplied to the main discharge hole 24 from the introduction hole 25, so that the water heated by the heating element 20 is sent out from the main discharge hole 24, and the discharge hole passage 11 can be thawed efficiently.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 6, the heating element 20 has a pair of wing-like portions 22a formed at the bottom of the heating main body 22, which expand outward on both sides of the horizontal centerline. When viewed in a plane, the pair of wing-like portions 22a are shaped to taper toward the tip (toward the position of the cylindrical portion 22c), which allows the water in the water storage portion 7 to flow smoothly into the discharge hole passage 11.

[0074] [Another embodiment] The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the above-described embodiments (common numbers and symbols are used to designate components having the same functions as those in the embodiments).

[0075] (a) As shown in Figure 7, the lower surface of the wing-like portion 22a may have a U-shaped inclined surface 22d that slopes upward toward the outer side in the horizontal direction. In this alternative embodiment (a), the upper surface of the wing-like portion 22a may be formed in a horizontal position, or the outer side in the width direction may be raised upward. In other words, the shape of the wing-like portion 22a may be any shape as long as a gap is formed between the lower surface of the heating main body 22 and the bottom wall 7a of the water storage portion 7.

[0076] (b) In a portion of the heating element 20, the cross-sectional shape may be trapezoidal, rectangular, or other shapes other than a fixed cross-section, so that the maximum width in the horizontal direction is greater than the length in the vertical direction. Also, in order to increase the surface area of ​​the heating element 20 and improve the efficiency of heat exchange with water, grooves or irregularities may be formed on the surface. Furthermore, the entire heating element 20 may be configured so that the maximum width in the horizontal direction is greater than the length in the vertical direction.

[0077] Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradictions arise. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not deviate from the purpose of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] The present invention can be used in a gas-liquid separator. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 5 Gas-liquid separation section 7. Water storage section 11 Discharge hole path 20 Heating element 22 Heating main body (main body) 22a Wings 23 Vertical plate-shaped portion (plate-shaped portion) F Heating element H Housing W width X Thickness

Claims

1. a housing to which a water-containing gas is supplied; a gas-liquid separator disposed in an upper portion of the housing and configured to separate water from the water-containing gas; a water storage section disposed in a lower portion of the housing and configured to store water separated from the water-containing gas by the gas-liquid separation section; a discharge hole disposed below the water storage portion of the housing and configured to discharge the water sent from the water storage portion to the outside of the housing; a heating element disposed in a region where the water flows into the discharge hole at the bottom of the water storage portion, the heating element being heated by heat transmitted from a heating element that generates heat when energized; The heating element is a gas-liquid separator having a main body portion that is accommodated in the bottom of the water storage portion with the heating element positioned outside the water storage portion, and a plate-shaped portion that protrudes upward from the main body portion in a plate-like manner.

2. 2. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped portion extends to a position close to the discharge hole when the plate-shaped portion is disposed at the bottom of the water storage portion.

3. A gas-liquid separator as described in claim 2, wherein the heating element has a length in a vertical direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the plate-shaped portion on the side of the discharge hole path that is greater than the maximum width in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the extension direction.

4. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion is connected to the lower part of the plate-shaped portion and has wing-shaped portions on both sides of the horizontal direction, with the horizontal center as the reference, whose width decreases from the base end toward the tip end close to the discharge hole path.

5. 5. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 4, wherein the upper surfaces of the wing-like portions are inclined downwardly toward the outer sides in the lateral direction.

6. 5. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 4, wherein the lower surface of each of the wing-like portions is inclined upward toward the outer side in the lateral direction.

Images