Fuel cell and thermal device thereof, and manufacturing method

Abstract

Provided is a fuel cell thermal device (100), comprising: an outer housing (110), which is provided with at least two openings in communication with the internal space thereof, the at least two openings comprising a first opening (101) and a second opening (102); a filler (130), which is arranged in the internal space and has a material with a heating function on the surface or the interior thereof; an inner housing (120), which is arranged in the internal space and is surrounded by the filler (130), and has a space for accommodating an object; a fluid, which flows into the internal space through the first opening (101) and flows out through the second opening (102); and a fluid driving device, which is in communication with the first opening (101) and the second opening (102) via a pipeline, and provides power for the fluid to flow into or out of the internal space. The fuel cell thermal device (100) is configured such that the fluid comes into contact and reacts with the material with a heating function in the internal space so as to generate heat, which is transferred to the inside object via the inner housing (120); or heat generated by the object inside the inner housing (120) is transferred through the inner housing (120) to the filler (130) in the internal space and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler (130).

Description

Fuel cell, thermal device and manufacturing method thereof

[0001] This application claims priority and other related rights and interests of the Chinese patent application with application number 202410183347.8 filed on February 19, 2024. The entire content of the Chinese patent application is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a fuel cell, and more particularly, to a fuel cell thermal device and a fuel cell having the thermal device. Background Art

[0003] As a "chemical generator", the proton exchange membrane fuel cell utilizes the reverse reaction principle of water electrolysis, so that hydrogen (anode) and oxygen (cathode) generate electricity through electrochemical reaction under the action of catalyst.

[0004] The electrochemical reaction of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell occurs in the stack system (hereinafter referred to as the "stack"). The stack is the power generation system of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, including stacked membrane electrode assemblies and bipolar plates.

[0005] Since the membrane electrode assembly can only generate electricity effectively within a limited operating temperature range, the membrane electrode assembly has very strict temperature requirements, which are manifested in the following two aspects:

[0006] First, when the temperature of the membrane electrode assembly is too high, it will cause irreversible damage to the membrane electrode assembly. When the temperature of the membrane electrode assembly is too low, the electrochemical reaction rate in the membrane electrode assembly is too slow, and it cannot effectively generate electricity, and users cannot use it. Therefore, it must be heated before use, so that it can be preheated to the lower limit of the operating temperature as soon as possible to reduce the user's waiting time. According to relevant research by Juhl Andreasen et al., the preheating time required for the electric heating stack to reach the lower limit of the operating temperature is usually around 30-60 minutes. Such a long waiting time will inevitably seriously affect the user's experience and limit the application scope of fuel cells.

[0007] Furthermore, the uniformity of the MEA's operating temperature also significantly impacts its power generation capacity. Operating temperatures across the MEA should be as consistent as possible, as should the operating temperatures across different layers of the MEA. Only in this way can the MEA's power generation capacity be maximized.

[0008] Therefore, in order to ensure the working state of the fuel cell, it is necessary to heat and dissipate heat from the fuel cell stack, fuel device, hydrogen production device and other components.

[0009] In existing technologies, heating or cooling fuel cells often relies on electrical heating or refrigerant circulation, requiring significant additional electricity consumption or the addition of heat exchangers, resulting in complex structures and numerous devices. Consequently, existing fuel cell stacks suffer from long startup times, poor power generation capabilities, and high manufacturing and operating costs, severely impacting user experience and reducing the value of fuel cells, creating a technological bottleneck hindering their development. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention provides a fuel cell thermal device with short preheating time, fast heat dissipation speed, high temperature consistency, simple structure, low cost and wide application range, for example, it is particularly suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

[0011] In one aspect, a fuel cell thermal device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0012] An outer shell having an inner space, wherein the outer shell is provided with at least two openings communicating with the inner space, wherein the at least two openings include a first opening and a second opening;

[0013] A filler is disposed in the internal space, wherein the surface of the filler has a material having a heat-generating function or the interior of the filler contains a material having a heat-generating function;

[0014] an inner shell having a space for accommodating an object, the inner shell being disposed in the inner space of the outer shell and surrounded by the filler;

[0015] a fluid that flows into the interior space through the first opening and flows out of the second opening; and

[0016] a fluid driving device, which is connected to the first opening and the second opening via a pipeline and provides power for the fluid to flow into or out of the internal space;

[0017] The fuel cell thermal device is configured as follows: the fluid contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler in the internal space to generate heat, and the heat is transferred to the object inside the inner shell via the inner shell; or, the heat generated by the object inside the inner shell is transferred to the filler in the internal space via the inner shell and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the object contained within the interior space of the inner shell includes at least one of a fuel device, a hydrogen production device, and a power generation device. In other embodiments of the present invention, the inner shell is a portion of at least one of the fuel device, the hydrogen production device, and the power generation device.

[0019] In some embodiments of the invention, the inner housing comprises a duct.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least two openings on the outer shell include a third opening and a fourth opening, the third opening being connected to one end of the pipe, and the fourth opening being connected to the other end of the pipe. In some embodiments of the present invention, the third opening and the first opening may be combined into a single opening, and the fourth opening and the second opening may be combined into a single opening, and a manifold may be used within the outer shell to branch the fluid paths of the combined openings.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, the pipes are arranged in a ring shape within the inner space of the outer shell.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, the conduit is arranged in a spiral shape within the interior space of the outer shell. In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the spiral conduits are arranged within the interior space of the outer shell. In some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of the spiral conduits are arranged in one or more rows within the interior space of the outer shell. In some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of the spiral conduits in each row are in fluid flow communication with one another.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention, the object includes a liquid or gas flowing in the pipe. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas includes at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas includes at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, water, hydrocarbons. In other embodiments of the present invention, the object includes a catalyst disposed in the pipe. In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst includes a metal material, for example, the metal material can be contained in the pipe in the form of particles or a catalyst bed. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: platinum, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, zinc.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material used to make the outer shell and / or inner shell includes a metal material and / or a non-metallic material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1 W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 1 W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and titanium. In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and carbon.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material used to make the filler includes a metal material or a non-metallic material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 0.1W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: foam metal, metal corrugated filler, metal mesh. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel and titanium. In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: ceramic, clay, clay, zeolite, medical stone, cordierite and carbon. In some embodiments of the present invention, the ceramic includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material having the heat generating function comprises a metal material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material comprises at least one of the following: platinum, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and zinc.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fluid comprises a liquid or a gas. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas comprises at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, or nitrogen. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas comprises at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, or a hydrocarbon. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hydrocarbon comprises at least one of the following: methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, gasoline, or diesel.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fluid driving device includes at least one of the following: a pump, a blower, a fan, an air compressor, and a compressor.

[0029] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a fuel cell thermal device, comprising:

[0030] Providing an outer shell, the outer shell having an inner space, and at least two openings in communication with the inner space are formed on the outer shell, the at least two openings including a first opening and a second opening;

[0031] Providing a filler, which is arranged in the internal space, wherein the filler is configured to have a material having a heat-generating function on its surface or inside thereof;

[0032] providing an inner shell having a space for accommodating an object, wherein the inner shell is disposed in the inner space of the outer shell and is surrounded by the filler;

[0033] providing a fluid driving device, which is in communication with the first opening and the second opening via a pipeline and is configured to drive the fluid into or out of the internal space to provide power, so that the fluid flows into the internal space through the first opening and flows out of the second opening; and

[0034] The fuel cell thermal device is configured such that: the fluid contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler in the internal space to generate heat, and the heat is transferred to an object inside the inner shell via the inner shell; or, the heat generated by the object inside the inner shell is transferred to the filler in the internal space via the inner shell and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler.

[0035] In addition, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a fuel cell, which may be a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, etc., which includes: the fuel cell thermal device described in any one of the above embodiments; and an object device arranged inside the fuel cell thermal device, the object device including at least one of a fuel device and a hydrogen production device; or, the object device is a part of at least one of a fuel device and a hydrogen production device.

[0036] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the fluid flows through the filler in the outer shell, contacts the heat-generating material on the surface or inside of the filler, generates heat, and transfers the heat through the inner shell to the internal fuel device, hydrogen production device and other heating objects, thereby achieving the purpose of heating. On the other hand, the fluid flows in the outer shell, contacts the filler, absorbs the heat transferred from the internal fuel device and hydrogen production device to the inner shell and filler, and takes away the heat by flowing out of the outer shell, thereby achieving the purpose of cooling. Therefore, the implementation of the present invention can not only effectively solve the problem of long waiting time for users caused by the long preheating time of the fuel cell, improve the temperature consistency of the fuel cell, but also reduce the manufacturing cost and processing difficulty of the fuel cell, and expand the scope of application of the fuel cell.

[0037] Various aspects, features, advantages, etc. of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. According to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the above aspects, features, advantages, etc. of the present invention will become more clear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell thermal device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell thermal device shown in FIG1.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fuel cell thermal device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fuel cell thermal device according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG5 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell thermal device shown in FIG4.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fuel cell thermal device according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fuel cell thermal device according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIG8 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell thermal device shown in FIG7.

[0046] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel cell thermal device according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the technical solutions of the present invention can be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided as examples so that the disclosure of the present invention is thorough and comprehensive, and the various aspects and features of the present invention are fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. Therefore, processes, elements and techniques that are not necessary for those skilled in the art to fully understand the various aspects and features of the present invention may not be described. Unless otherwise stated, similar reference numerals represent similar elements throughout the drawings and text descriptions, and therefore, the relevant descriptions may not be repeated. In addition, the features or aspects of each exemplary embodiment should generally be considered to be applicable to other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

[0048] Certain terms may be used in the following description, but these terms are not intended to limit the invention. For example, terms such as "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "above," and "below" may be used to refer to directions in the accompanying drawings with reference to the accompanying drawings. Terms such as "front," "back," "rear," "side," "outside," and "inside" may be used to describe the orientation and / or position of parts of a component within a consistent but arbitrary reference frame, which can be clearly understood by reference to the written description of the component and the associated drawings. Such terms may include the words specifically mentioned above, their derivatives, and words of similar meaning. Similarly, the terms "first," "second," and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless the context clearly indicates so.

[0049] It should be understood that when an element or feature is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or feature, or one or more intervening elements or features may be present. Additionally, it should be further understood that when an element or feature is referred to as being "between" two elements or features, it can be the only element or feature between the two elements or features, or one or more intervening elements or features may also be present.

[0050] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, but are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, "one" and "a kind of" are intended to also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are used in this manual to represent the existence of stated features, integral bodies, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, integral bodies, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or their sets. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as "at least one of ..." modify the entire list of elements when they are before a list of elements, rather than modifying the separate elements of the list.

[0051] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," "substantially," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation rather than as terms of degree, and are intended to take into account the inherent variation in measurements or calculations that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize. As used herein, the terms "use," "using," and "used" may be considered synonymous with the terms "utilize," "utilizing," and "utilized," respectively.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that, unless expressly defined otherwise herein, terms (such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and / or this specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0053] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a fuel cell thermal device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fuel cell thermal device 100 is primarily used for thermal management of fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, including heating and cooling related fuel cell components. As shown, fuel cell thermal device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outer shell 110, an inner shell 120, and a filler 130 interposed between outer shell 110 and inner shell 120.

[0054] Inner housing 120 is positioned within the interior space of outer housing 110 and is surrounded by filler 130. Inner housing 120 has a space for accommodating an object, or inner housing 120 itself can serve as the portion to be heated. Filler 130 may have a heat-generating material on its surface or within its interior. This heat-generating material may be referred to as a heat-generating material.

[0055] The outer shell 110 is provided with openings 101, 102 and openings 103, 104. Among them, opening 101 is used to allow the inflow of fluid, which flows through the packing 130 and then flows out of opening 102. Opening 103 is for a tube 121 connected to the inner shell 120 to extend, and opening 104 is for a tube 122 connected to the inner shell 120 to extend. In some embodiments, a seal, such as an O-ring, is provided between opening 103 and tube 121 to prevent the fluid from leaking through the gap between the two. In some embodiments, a seal, such as an O-ring, is provided between opening 104 and tube 122 to prevent the fluid from leaking through the gap between the two. In an optional embodiment, the fluid flow path of the inner shell 120 can share an opening with the fluid flow path of the outer shell 110. For example, a three-way manifold is provided in an opening on the outer shell 110 to divide the incoming fluid into two outflow paths, one path for the fluid to enter the inner shell 120, and the other path for the fluid to enter the packing 130. In another optional embodiment, a three-way manifold is provided in an opening on the outer shell 110 to combine the fluid flowing out of the inner shell 120 and the fluid passing through the packing 130 into one outflow path.

[0056] The fuel cell thermal device 100 further includes a fluid drive device (not shown), which is connected to the openings 101 and 102 via a conduit to provide power for the fluid to flow into or out of the interior space of the outer shell 110. In some embodiments, the fuel cell thermal device 100 may further include another fluid drive device, which is connected to the tubes 121 and 122 via a conduit to provide power for the fluid to flow into or out of the inner shell 120. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid drive device that provides power for the fluid to flow into the inner shell 120 and the fluid drive device that provides power for the fluid to flow into or out of the outer shell 110 may be the same drive device. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fluid drive device may include at least one of the following: a pump, a blower, a fan, a compressor, or a compressor.

[0057] The fuel cell thermal device 100 is configured such that the fluid flowing into the interior space of the outer shell 110 contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler 130 to generate heat. This heat is then transferred to an object within the inner shell 120 via the inner shell 120. In an alternative embodiment, the fuel cell thermal device 100 can also be configured such that heat generated by an object within the inner shell 120 is transferred to the filler 130 in the interior space via the inner shell 120 and carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler 130. Thus, the fuel cell thermal device 100 can both heat and dissipate heat from an object, thereby achieving the purpose of thermal management.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present invention, the object contained within the interior space of the inner shell 120 includes at least one of a fuel device, a hydrogen production device, and a power generation device. In other embodiments of the present invention, the inner shell 120 is a portion of at least one of the fuel device, the hydrogen production device, and the power generation device.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material used to make the outer shell 110 and / or the inner shell 120 includes a metal material and / or a non-metallic material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1 W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 1 W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and titanium. In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and carbon.

[0060] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material used to make the filler 130 includes a metal material or a non-metallic material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 0.1W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: foam metal, metal corrugated filler, metal mesh. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel and titanium. In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: ceramic, clay, clay, zeolite, medical stone, cordierite and carbon. In some embodiments of the present invention, the ceramic includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material having the heat generating function, i.e., the heat generating material, comprises a metal material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material comprises at least one of the following: platinum, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and zinc.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fluid flowing into the outer shell 110 and reacting with the filler 130 comprises a liquid or a gas. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas comprises at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas comprises at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, and a hydrocarbon. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hydrocarbon comprises at least one of the following: methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, gasoline, and diesel.

[0063] It should be understood that the present invention does not impose any particular limitation on the shape or number of inner housing 120. In the embodiment shown in FIG1 , the fuel cell thermal device 100 includes one inner housing 120, which is rectangular. In other embodiments, the fuel cell thermal device may include multiple inner housings to provide thermal management for multiple objects and improve thermal management efficiency.

[0064] Figure 3 shows another example of a fuel cell thermal device of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the fuel cell thermal device 200 includes an outer shell 210, and three inner shells 220 are arranged inside the outer shell 210. A filler (not shown) is arranged between the inner shell 220 and the outer shell 210. The surface of the filler has or contains a heat-generating material, so that the fluid flowing into the internal space of the outer shell 210 contacts the heat-generating material and reacts to generate heat. The heat is transferred to the heated object inside the inner shell via the inner shell 220. In an optional embodiment, the heat generated by the object inside the inner shell 220 is transferred to the filler via the inner shell 220 and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler. Thus, the fuel cell thermal device 200 can both heat the object and dissipate heat from it to achieve the purpose of thermal management. Such a fuel cell thermal device 200 is suitable for thermal management of fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

[0065] The above describes the technical solution of a fuel cell thermal device having a rectangular inner shell as an example. It should be understood that the inner shell may also be in any other suitable shape.

[0066] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a fuel cell thermal device 300 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cell thermal device 300 is suitable for thermal management of fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, including heating or cooling relevant fuel cell components. As shown in the figure, the fuel cell thermal device 300 according to this embodiment of the present invention includes an outer shell 310, an inner shell 320, and a filler 330 interposed between the outer shell 310 and the inner shell 320. The inner shell 320 is a pipe, referred to as a tubular inner shell. In some embodiments of the present invention, the object to be heated includes a liquid or gas flowing within the tubular inner shell 320. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas includes at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, or nitrogen. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas includes at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, water, or hydrocarbons. In other embodiments of the present invention, the object includes a catalyst disposed within the pipe. In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst includes a metal material, for example, the metal material may be contained within the pipe in the form of pellets or a catalyst bed. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: platinum, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and zinc. In alternative embodiments, the tubular inner casing 320 itself can serve as part of the heating target, for example, as part of a fuel cell hydrogen production device. In other alternative embodiments, the tubular inner casing 320 itself can serve as either a fuel device or a power generation device, or as a portion thereof.

[0067] The inner space of the outer shell 310 accommodates the tubular inner shell 320, and the tubular inner shell 320 is filled with a filler 330. The tubular inner shell 320 has a space for accommodating an object, or the filler 330 has a material with a heat-generating function or a heat-generating material on its surface or inside.

[0068] The outer shell 310 is provided with openings 301, 302, and openings 303, 304. Opening 301 allows the fluid flowing through the packing 330 to flow in, and the fluid flows out through opening 102. Opening 303 allows the first end 321 of the tubular inner shell 320 to extend, and opening 304 allows the second end 322 of the tubular inner shell 320 to extend. In some embodiments, a seal, such as an O-ring, is provided between opening 303 and the first end 321 of the tubular inner shell 320 to prevent leakage of the fluid through the gap between them. In some embodiments, a seal, such as an O-ring, is provided between opening 304 and the second end 322 of the tubular inner shell 320 to prevent leakage of the fluid through the gap between them. In alternative embodiments, when the fluid flowing in the tubular inner shell 320 is the same as the fluid flowing through the packing, the fluid flow path of the tubular inner shell 320 can share openings with the fluid flow path of the outer shell 110. For example, a three-way manifold is provided in an opening on the outer shell 310 to divide the incoming fluid into two outflow paths, one path for the fluid to enter the tubular inner shell 320, and the other path for the fluid to enter the packing 330. In another optional embodiment, a three-way manifold is provided in an opening on the outer shell 310 to combine the fluid flowing out of the tubular inner shell 320 and the fluid passing through the packing 330 into one outflow path.

[0069] The fuel cell thermal device 300 further includes a fluid drive device (not shown) that communicates with the openings 301 and 302 via conduits to provide motive force for fluid to flow into or out of the interior of the outer shell 310. In some embodiments, the fuel cell thermal device 300 may further include another fluid drive device that communicates with the first end 321 and the second end 322 via conduits to provide motive force for fluid to flow into or out of the tubular inner shell 320. In alternative embodiments, the fluid drive device that provides motive force for fluid to flow into or out of the inner shell 320 may be the same fluid drive device that provides motive force for fluid to flow into or out of the outer shell 310. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fluid drive device may include at least one of the following: a pump, a blower, a fan, a compressor, or a compressor.

[0070] In this embodiment, the fuel cell thermal device 300 is configured such that the fluid flowing into the interior space of the outer shell 310 contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler 330 to generate heat. This heat is then transferred to an object within the inner shell via the tubular inner shell 320. In an alternative embodiment, the fuel cell thermal device 300 can also be configured such that heat generated by an object within the inner shell 320 is transferred via the inner shell 320 to the filler 330 in the interior space and carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler 330. Thus, the fuel cell thermal device 300 can both heat and dissipate heat from an object, thereby achieving thermal management.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material used to make the outer shell 310 and / or the inner shell 320 includes a metal material and / or a non-metallic material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1 W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 1 W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and titanium. In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and carbon.

[0072] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material used to make the filler 330 includes a metal material or a non-metallic material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 0.1W / m·K. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: foam metal, metal corrugated filler, metal mesh. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel and titanium. In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: ceramic, clay, clay, zeolite, medical stone, cordierite and carbon. In some embodiments of the present invention, the ceramic includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material having the heat generating function, i.e., the heat generating material, comprises a metal material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metal material comprises at least one of the following: platinum, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and zinc.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fluid flowing into the outer shell 310 and reacting with the filler 330 comprises a liquid or a gas. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas comprises at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid or gas comprises at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, and a hydrocarbon. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hydrocarbon comprises at least one of the following: methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, gasoline, and diesel.

[0075] Figure 6 shows another example of a fuel cell thermal device according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the fuel cell thermal device 400 includes an outer shell 410, within which three tubular inner shells 420 are disposed. A filler (not shown) is disposed between the tubular inner shells 420 and the outer shell 410. The filler has a heat-generating material on its surface or contains heat within it, so that fluid flowing into the interior of the outer shell 410 contacts the heat-generating material and reacts to generate heat. This heat is then transferred via the tubular inner shells 420 to a heated object within the inner shell. In an alternative embodiment, heat generated by an object within the tubular inner shell 420 is transferred via the inner shell to the filler and carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler. Thus, the fuel cell thermal device 400 can both heat and dissipate heat from an object, achieving thermal management. Such a fuel cell thermal device 400 is suitable for thermal management of fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

[0076] In some embodiments of the present invention, the tubular inner shell (i.e., the pipe) is arranged in an S-shape or an inverted S-shape within the interior space of the outer shell. In other embodiments, the tubular inner shell is arranged in a ring-shaped configuration within the interior space of the outer shell. The shape of the tubular inner shell depends on the duration of thermal management of the object. For example, if the object needs to be heated or cooled for a long time, the tubular inner shell can be arranged in a curved shape to maximize the object's residence time within the tubular inner shell; and vice versa.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present invention, the tubular inner housing (i.e., the pipe) may be spirally shaped within the interior space of the outer housing. In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the spirally shaped pipes are arranged within the interior space of the outer housing. In some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of the spirally shaped pipes are arranged in one or more rows within the interior space of the outer housing. In some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of the spirally shaped pipes in each row are in fluid flow communication with one another.

[0078] FIG7 is a perspective view of a fuel cell thermal device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell thermal device shown in FIG7 . As shown in FIG7 and FIG8 , in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell thermal device 500 includes an outer shell 510 and a tubular inner shell 520. Within the outer shell 510, the tubular inner shells 520 are arranged in two columns (or rows). Each column / row of tubular inner shells 520 can be formed by a pipe wound around a common axis to form a plurality of cylindrical units, with adjacent cylindrical units in fluid communication with each other. Although not shown, it should be understood that the fuel cell thermal device 500 also includes a filler having the characteristics, properties, or functions of the filler described in any of the aforementioned embodiments. In alternative embodiments, within the outer shell 510, the tubular inner shells 520 can be arranged in a single column (or row) or in three columns (or rows). In other embodiments, within the outer shell 510, the multiple cylindrical units can be arranged in a straight line or linear pattern, or they can be randomly arranged. In other optional embodiments, the tubular inner shell 520 may be wound into various shapes such as a cone, a cuboid, etc., in addition to being wound into a cylindrical unit, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0079] FIG9 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel cell thermal device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the fuel cell thermal device 600 includes an outer shell 610, an inner shell 620-1, and an inner shell 620-2. The inner shell 620-1 and the inner shell 620-2 each house different devices or form a part of a different device. The inner shell 620-1 is formed as a thick tube, and the inner shell 620-2 is formed as a thin tube, with the thin tube winding around and extending over the thick tube. In some embodiments, the inner shell 620-2 may be a preheater for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and the inner shell 620-1 may be a reformer for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. In this way, the fuel cell thermal device 600 can simultaneously perform thermal management, including heating and cooling, for both the preheater and the reformer of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, thereby improving thermal management efficiency and reducing the production cost of the fuel cell.

[0080] In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a fuel cell thermal device, comprising:

[0081] Providing an outer shell, the outer shell having an inner space, and at least two openings in communication with the inner space are formed on the outer shell, the at least two openings including a first opening and a second opening;

[0082] Providing a filler, which is arranged in the internal space, wherein the filler is configured to have a material having a heat-generating function on its surface or inside thereof;

[0083] providing an inner shell having a space for accommodating an object, wherein the inner shell is disposed in the inner space of the outer shell and is surrounded by the filler;

[0084] providing a fluid driving device, which is in communication with the first opening and the second opening via a pipeline and is configured to drive the fluid into or out of the internal space to provide power, so that the fluid flows into the internal space through the first opening and flows out of the second opening; and

[0085] The fuel cell thermal device is configured such that: the fluid contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler in the internal space to generate heat, and the heat is transferred to an object inside the inner shell via the inner shell; or, the heat generated by the object inside the inner shell is transferred to the filler in the internal space via the inner shell and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler.

[0086] It should be understood that the materials used to make the outer shell, inner shell, filler, fluid, and heat-generating material are the same as those in the above embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0087] In addition, embodiments of the present invention further provide a fuel cell, such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising: the fuel cell thermal device described in any of the aforementioned embodiments; and a target device disposed within the fuel cell thermal device, wherein the target device includes at least one of a fuel device and a hydrogen production device; or the target device is a component of at least one of the fuel device and the hydrogen production device. The target device may be housed in the inner housing, or the inner housing may be a component of the target device.

[0088] Those skilled in the art should understand that what is disclosed above is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and certainly cannot be used to limit the scope of rights for which the present invention is requested for patent protection. Equivalent changes made based on the embodiment of the present invention still fall within the scope covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fuel cell thermal device comprising: An outer shell having an inner space, wherein the outer shell is provided with at least two openings communicating with the inner space, wherein the at least two openings include a first opening and a second opening; A filler is disposed in the internal space, wherein the surface of the filler has a material having a heat-generating function or the interior of the filler contains a material having a heat-generating function; an inner shell having a space for accommodating an object, the inner shell being disposed in the inner space of the outer shell and surrounded by the filler; a fluid that flows into the interior space through the first opening and flows out of the second opening; as well as a fluid driving device, which is connected to the first opening and the second opening via a pipeline and provides power for the fluid to flow into or out of the internal space; The fuel cell thermal device is configured as follows: the fluid contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler in the internal space to generate heat, and the heat is transferred to the object inside the inner shell via the inner shell; or, the heat generated by the object inside the inner shell is transferred to the filler in the internal space via the inner shell and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler.

2. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, characterized in that The object accommodated in the inner space of the inner shell includes at least any one of a fuel device, a hydrogen production device, and a power generation device; or the inner shell is a part of at least one of the fuel device, the hydrogen production device, and the power generation device.

3. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, characterized in that The inner housing includes a conduit.

4. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 3, characterized in that The at least two openings on the outer shell include a third opening and a fourth opening, The third opening is connected to one end of the pipeline, and the fourth opening is connected to the other end of the pipeline.

5. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 3, characterized in that The pipes are arranged in a ring shape in the inner space of the outer shell.

6. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 3, characterized in that The pipes are arranged in a spiral shape in the inner space of the outer shell.

7. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 6, characterized in that A plurality of spiral pipes are arranged in the inner space of the outer shell.

8. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 7, characterized in that In the inner space of the outer shell, the plurality of spiral pipes are arranged in one or more rows.

9. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 8, characterized in that The plurality of spiral tubes in each column are in fluid flow communication with each other.

10. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 3, characterized in that The object includes liquid or gas flowing in the pipe.

11. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 10, characterized in that The liquid or gas contains at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen.

12. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 11, characterized in that The liquid or gas includes at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, water, and hydrocarbons.

13. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 3, characterized in that The object includes a catalyst disposed in the pipe.

14. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, wherein: The material for making the outer shell and / or the inner shell includes metal material and / or non-metal material.

15. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 14, characterized in that The thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1 W / m·K; and / or the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 1 W / m·K.

16. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 14, characterized in that The metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel and titanium; And / or, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and carbon.

17. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, wherein: The material used to make the filler includes metal material or non-metal material.

18. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 17, characterized in that The thermal conductivity of the metal material is greater than 1 W / m·K; and / or the thermal conductivity of the non-metallic material is greater than 0.1 W / m·K.

19. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 17, wherein: The metal material includes at least one of the following: foam metal, metal corrugated filler, and metal mesh.

20. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 17, wherein: The metal material includes at least one of the following: copper, iron, aluminum, nickel and titanium; And / or, the non-metallic material includes at least one of the following: ceramic, clay, clay, zeolite, medical stone, cordierite and carbon.

21. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 20, characterized in that The ceramic includes at least one of the following: aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide.

22. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, wherein: The material for making the heating element includes metal material.

23. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 22, characterized in that The metal material includes at least one of the following: platinum, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, and zinc.

24. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid includes liquid or gas.

25. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 24, characterized in that The liquid or gas contains at least one of the following: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen.

26. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 25, characterized in that The liquid or gas includes at least one of the following: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, and hydrocarbons.

27. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 26, characterized in that The hydrocarbon includes at least one of the following: methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, gasoline, and diesel.

28. The fuel cell thermal device according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid driving device includes at least one of the following: a pump, a blower, a fan, an air compressor, and a compressor.

29. A fuel cell comprising: The fuel cell thermal device according to any one of claims 1 to 28; as well as The target device is arranged inside the fuel cell thermal device, and the target device includes at least one of a fuel device, a hydrogen production device, and a power generation device; or the target device is a part that constitutes at least one of the fuel device, the hydrogen production device, and the power generation device.

30. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell thermal device, comprising: Providing an outer shell, the outer shell having an inner space, and at least two openings in communication with the inner space are formed on the outer shell, the at least two openings including a first opening and a second opening; Providing a filler, which is arranged in the internal space, wherein the filler is configured to have a material having a heat-generating function on its surface or inside thereof; providing an inner shell having a space for accommodating an object, wherein the inner shell is disposed in the inner space of the outer shell and is surrounded by the filler; providing a fluid driving device, which is in communication with the first opening and the second opening via a pipeline and is configured to drive the fluid into or out of the internal space to provide power, so that the fluid flows into the internal space through the first opening and flows out of the second opening; as well as The fuel cell thermal device is configured such that: the fluid contacts and reacts with the heat-generating material of the filler in the internal space to generate heat, and the heat is transferred to an object inside the inner shell via the inner shell; or, the heat generated by the object inside the inner shell is transferred to the filler in the internal space via the inner shell and is carried away by the fluid flowing through the filler.

Images