Fuel cell cooling system with heat transfer fluid

Abstract

The invention is related to the fuel cell cooling system with heat transfer fluid, which quickly removes unwanted heat from the heated regions of the fuel cell (20) by transferring it to the heat transfer fluid that can change phase, in order to cool the fuel cell. The invention especially; it is related to the fuel cell (20) cooling system with the heat transfer fluid containing 10‐200 nanometer colemanite, borax, Al2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, boron carbide, szaybelite, boron solid par cles and a heat transfer fluid that can change phase, which takes the heat of the heated bipolar plate (21) in the fuel cell (20) with the help of a cooling plate (24) and transfers this heat energy to the heat exchanger (30) with the help of heat transfer pipes (40), allowing the fuel cell (20) to be cooled by condensing in the heat exchanger (30).

Description

[0001] FUEL CELL COOLING SYSTEM WITH HEAT TRANSFER FLUID

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to the fuel cell cooling system with heat transfer fluid, which quickly removes the waste heat released in the bipolar plates in the fuel cell with the heat transfer fluid that can change phase.

[0004] In particular, the invention relates to the heat transfer fluid-based fuel cell cooling system that utilizes the cooling plate to dissipate heat from a bipolar plate heated in a fuel cell, transfers this heat energy to a heat exchanger via heat transfer pipes, and facilitates the cooling of the fuel cell by condensing within the heat exchanger, incorporating phase-changeable heat transfer fluid containing 10-200 nanometer colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiCh, SiL, boron carbide, szaybelite, and boron solid particles.

[0005] THE KNOWN STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

[0006] Fossil fuels are generally used to meet the world's energy needs. But limited resources of fossil fuels, global warming, etc. for these reasons, the trend towards renewable energy sources has increased. In this direction, environmentally friendly fuel cells are in an important position to eliminate the sustainability problem of renewable energy sources such as wind or solar.

[0007] Fuel cells are electrochemical systems that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy with high efficiency. In fuel cells, hydrogen, and oxygen are fed separately to the anode and cathode in the electrolytic environment. In this case, while hydrogen and oxygen react through the electrolytic medium, electron (electric) current occurs through the wire connecting the two electrodes. The resulting electric current is direct current, and heat is released as a result of the completed combustion on the cathode.

[0008] Since the fuel cell only needs hydrogen, and oxygen to produce energy, it produces only water and heat as byproducts. This enables fuel cells to be an environmentally clean energy source. In addition, the use of hydrogen as a renewable energy source makes fuel cell technology environmentally friendly. Hydrogen is produced from solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, and biomass. In addition, fuel cells; it can be used as a very useful power source in remote areas such as spacecraft, weather stations, rural areas and some military applications. All fuel cell types require pumps, fans, compressors and intercoolers to circulate fuel and air. The reason why fuel cell devices fail or slow down is usually due to overheating. In this case, the use of the cooling system in bipolar plates becomes mandatory.

[0009] In the current technique, the heat released in the fuel cell is transmitted with the help of refrigerant and the fuel cell is cooled. However, there are negative reasons such as slow heat transfer, high energy consumption for cooling the cell, and higher operating costs due to unnecessary cos

[0010] As a result, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the current technique, the need for a new economical, useful, heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system and the inadequacy of existing solutions have made it necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field.

[0011] THE PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to the heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system which is developed to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and bring new advantages to the relevant technical field, which allows the cells to be cooled and the optimum operating temperature maintained by removing the heat released as a result of the combustion of fuel cell fuel (hydrogen) with the phasechanging heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer pipe.

[0013] The most important purpose of the invention is to include the heat transfer system with the heat transfer fluid that can change phase. The phase-changing fluid transfers heat from the liquid phase to the vapor phase. After transmitting the heat, it condenses and returns. In the phase-change heat transfer system, evaporation is accelerated with the heat received, thanks to the solid particles between 10 and 200 nanometers such as colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, szaybelite, boron carbide and boron. Since these nanoparticles have a catalyst effect, heat transfer is achieved quickly. After the heat transfer, these solid particles do not clump and do not stick to each other during condensation. It has a high capacity to retain heat. Thanks to these nanoparticles, heat pipes can be prepared without vacuuming. Sintering, grooving or pocketing process is not required on the inner surfaces of heat pipes. Thus, it can work vertically and horizontally without any shape restrictions.

[0014] Another purpose of the invention is that the heat transfer fluid contained in it does not have any flammable, explosive, allergen, carcinogenic, pathogenic effects, so it does not adversely affect the environment and human health.

[0015] Another purpose of the invention is that the fluid that can change phase as a result of our R&D studies has a heat transfer coefficient of 16098 W / mK. Therefore, the invention provides a fast heat transfer by reacting very quickly. Another purpose of the invention is to cool the fuel cells close to the lower limit within the optimum operating temperature range. Their efficiency is high when they operate close to the lower limit of these optimum operating temperatures. Since the phase-change heat transfer fluid in the invention can effectively transfer heat at low temperatures, the resulting heat is recycled efficiently.

[0016] The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly thanks to the figures given below and the detailed description written with reference to these figures and for this reason, the evaluation should be made taking into account these figures and detailed explanation.

[0017] FIGURES TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE INVENTION

[0018] Figure 1 - The subject of the invention is a drawing that gives a general diagram of a phase-changing heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system.

[0019] Figure 2 - The subject of the invention is a drawing that gives a detailed view of the phase-changing heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system.

[0020] Figure 3 - The subject of the invention is a drawing that gives a detailed view of the coolant plate in the phase-changing heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system.

[0021] REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0022] 10. Fuel Cell Cooling System with Heat Transfer Fluid

[0023] 20. Fuel Cell

[0024] 21. Bipolar Plates

[0025] 22. Membrane

[0026] 23. GDL + Catalyst

[0027] 24. Cooling Plate

[0028] 24.1 Inlet

[0029] 24.2 Outlet

[0030] 30. Heat Exchanger

[0031] 40. Heat Transfer Pipes 50. Expansion Valve

[0032] 60. Compressor

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] In this detailed description, the preferred configurations of the heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system are explained only in order to better understand the issue and in such a way that they do not create any limiting effects.

[0035] In Figure 1-3, the heat transfer fluid fuel cell cooling system (10) that is the subject of the invention; it consists of fuel cell (20), heat exchanger (30), heat transfer pipes (40), expansion valve (50) and compressor (60).

[0036] The basis of the fuel cell's (20) operating mechanism is bipolar plates (21), which help transport a phase-changing heat transfer fluid and provide physical durability to the fuel cell (20), a membrane (22) with proton conductivity, mechanical and thermal strength inside the fuel cell (20), mechanically resistant gas diffusion (GDL), and a catalyst (23) that provides heat transfer during fuel cell (20) operation. The bipolar plates (21) located in the fuel cell (20) heat up over time. The heat occurring in the bipolar plates (21) is transferred to the heat transfer fluid that can change phase, located inside the cooling plate (24). The heat transfer fluid in the cooling plate (24) is transferred to the heat exchanger (30) via heat transfer pipes (40) connected to the outlet (24.2). In the heat exchanger (30), the phase-changing heat transfer fluid condenses by transferring its heat. The heat transfer fluid, which can change phase with decreasing temperature, is quickly transmitted from the heat exchanger (30) to the cooling plate (24) inlet (24.2) through the heat transfer pipes (40), allowing the fuel cell (20) to cool. The cycle of the heat transfer fluid, which can change phase, is done by the compressor (60). The flow amount of the heat transfer fluid that can change phase is controlled by the expansion valve (50).

[0037] If the necessary system design is made, the heat transfer fluid that can change phase can also cycle with the natural flow method. In this case, the system can operate without the need for the use of compressor (60).

[0038] In the invention, there are solid particles between 10-200 nanometers such as colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, boron carbide, szaybelite, boron in the heat transfer fluid that can change phase, and thanks to these particles, and with the heat received from the bipolar plate (21), evaporation occurs, is accelerating. Since these nanoparticles have a catalyst effect, heat transfer is achieved quickly. During the condensation that occurs in the heat exchanger (30) after heat transfer, these solid particles do not clump and do not stick to each other. In addition, thanks to these nanoparticles, heat pipes can be prepared without vacuuming. There is no need for sintering, corrugation or pocketing on the inner surfaces of the heat pipes. Thus, it can work vertically and horizontally without any shape restrictions.

[0039] Alternatively, in the invention, the heat transfer fluid capable of changing phase may contain the above- mentioned solid particles between 10-50 or 50-100 or 100-150 nanometers.

[0040] Fuel cells (20) have optimum operating temperatures. Their efficiency is high when they operate close to the lower limit of these optimum operating temperatures. Since the phase-change heat transfer fluid in the invention can effectively transfer heat at low temperatures, the resulting heat is removed from the system efficiently.

[0041] The scope of protection of this application has been determined in the claims section and cannot be limited to what is described above for exemplary purposes, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can demonstrate the innovation in the invention by using similar embodiments and / or can apply this embodiment to other areas with similar purposes used in the relevant technique. Therefore, it is obvious that such structuring will lack the criteria of innovation and especially overcoming the known state of the technique.

Claims

CLAIMS1- The invention is related to the fuel cell cooling system with heat transfer fluid (10), which quickly removes unwanted heat from the heated regions of the fuel cell (20) in order to cool the fuel cell (20), and its feature; characterized by the fact that it contains a phase-changing heat transfer fluid containing 10-200 nanometers of colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiC , CuO, TiCh,Si L, boron carbide, szaybelite, boron solid particles that take the heat of the bipolar plate (21) heated in the fuel cell (20) with the help of a cooling plate (24) and transfer this heat energy to the heat exchanger (30) via heat transfer pipes (40) and condense in the heat exchanger (30), which allows the fuel cell (20) to cool down.2- It is the cooling system in accordance with claim 1 and its feature is; it is characterized by the fact that it contains the phase changeable heat transfer fluid with the heat transfer coefficient of 16098 W / mK.

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