Fan for a fuel cell assembly for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, fuel cell assembly, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a fan (1) for a fuel cell assembly (205) for a vehicle (200a), in particular a utility vehicle (200b), wherein in order to recirculate a gas mixture (40) used to operate the fuel cell assembly (205), the fan (1) has a drive motor (7, 8, 9) with a motor shaft (7), which defines an axis (A), a rotor (9) coupled to the motor shaft (7), and a stator (8) situated radially outside the rotor (9); the fan (1) has a fan impeller (5) coupled to the motor shaft (7), the fan impeller (5) being designed to convey the gas mixture (40) during a rotation of the motor shaft (7); the fan (1) comprises an axial bearing (19) with an axial bearing support (19a), which is fixed to the housing, and an axial bearing rotor (19b), which is connected to the motor shaft (7) for conjoint rotation therewith, for supporting the motor shaft (7); the fan (1) comprises a radial bearing (11) for supporting the motor shaft (7); the fan (1) comprises a main housing (2) and a volute component (43b) which forms a volute (43) and is mounted on the main housing (2); and the radial bearing (11) and the axial bearing support (19a) are provided on the volute component (43b).

Description

[0001] Blower for a fuel cell assembly for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, fuel cell assembly, vehicle

[0002] The disclosure relates to a blower for a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle. The disclosure also relates to a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising a fuel cell stack that can be supplied with a gas mixture on the anode side and a blower, and to a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising a fuel cell arrangement.

[0003] Such blowers for fuel cell arrays are known from the prior art. A fuel cell array of this type comprises a fuel cell system with galvanic cells that can be used to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy is generated from a so-called fuel cell reaction, a chemical reaction between a supplied fuel, for example hydrogen, and an oxidant, usually oxygen. To increase energy yield, several cells or fuel cells can be combined to form a fuel cell stack. In addition to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell array typically includes other components, such as a compressor for supplying the fuel cell stack with the oxidant, for example air, on the cathode side.

[0004] For fuel cell systems, particularly for mobile applications with different operating points, such as vehicles, especially commercial vehicles, it is useful to incorporate recirculation of a gas mixture containing the fuel in the anode path. The aim is to return fuel not consumed through chemical reactions, especially electrolysis, to the system, to remove harmful gases, such as nitrogen (also known as "purging"), and / or to allow purging of the fuel cell stack to prevent and / or remove liquid and / or water accumulation.

[0005] Recirculation can be implemented passively and / or actively. Active recirculation means that a blower is used to circulate the fuel or gas mixture within the anode path according to the operating points and other requirements.

[0006] The design of a recirculation blower, i.e., a blower for recirculation in the anode path, is challenging because hydrogen, nitrogen, and moisture are problematic features of the gas mixture, requiring special measures regarding tightness, robustness, and service life. Known recirculation blowers therefore exhibit some features of compressors, in particular Roots compressors, scroll compressors, claw compressors, and / or turbomachinery. US 2013 0239568 A1, for example, discloses a turbocharger. WO 2018 / 088778 A1 discloses a turbocompressor with a separate cooling channel.

[0007] DE 10 2018 213 571 A1 discloses a turbocharger, in particular an exhaust gas turbocharger, with a housing having an inlet and an outlet for a medium to be compressed, with a compressor wheel which is arranged non-rotatably on a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing by at least one floating bearing and one fixed bearing, and with a medium-current machine which has a rotor arranged non-rotatably on the shaft upstream of the compressor wheel and a housing-fixed stator with at least one drive winding and several radially inwardly extending stator teeth, wherein a housing-fixed cover cap is associated upstream of the rotor, to which an inner sleeve surrounding the rotor is attached in a housing-fixed manner, and wherein a housing-fixed outer sleeve is arranged coaxially to the inner sleeve, wherein the stator teeth extend through the outer sleeve at least to the inner sleeve, so that between the inner sleeve,The outer sleeve and stator teeth form flow channels as the only flow paths for the medium through the turbocharger. The rotary bearing acts as the floating bearing for the shaft. This means that only radial forces are transmitted to or supported by the housing from the inner sleeve. The rotor is axially displaceable within the rotary bearing, allowing axial tolerances or length changes to be advantageously compensated for without affecting the operation of the turbocharger.

[0008] German patent application 102023210206.4, which was not yet published on the filing date of the present disclosure, describes a blower for a fuel cell arrangement for recirculating a gas mixture used for the operation of the fuel cell arrangement, with a drive motor comprising a rotor coupled to a motor shaft and a stator arranged radially outside the rotor.

[0009] The blower assembly should be designed to minimize tolerances between the motor shaft bearings. However, existing technology includes solutions where, particularly in recirculation blowers with a media-gap motor, the tolerance chain extends across two or three components. This results in one or two interfaces between components, leading to coaxiality deviations or concentricity tolerances between the bearings. This can significantly reduce bearing lifespan, especially at high speeds. Furthermore, each mechanical interface adds to the assembly effort. Therefore, the bearing arrangement is a crucial aspect of ensuring the blower's functionality and robust operation.The arrangement of the bearings particularly affects the aspect of assembly, in order to enable proper operation with the correct bearing clearance, especially for sensitive bearing technologies that may be necessary for high-speed applications.

[0010] Against the background of this prior art, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a blower for a fuel cell assembly of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, which is suitable for enriching the prior art and improving at least the aforementioned aspects of the prior art. In particular, it is the object of the disclosure to provide an improved blower with assembly and operating characteristics that are advantageous with respect to an axial bearing. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain further developments of the disclosure.

[0011] The problem is then solved according to one aspect of the disclosure by a blower for a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle; wherein the blower for recirculating a gas mixture used for operating the fuel cell arrangement comprises a drive motor with a motor shaft defining an axis, a rotor coupled to the motor shaft and a stator arranged radially outside the rotor; the blower comprises a blower impeller coupled to the motor shaft, the blower impeller being configured to convey the gas mixture when the motor shaft rotates; the blower comprises a thrust bearing with a housing-fixed thrust bearing carrier and a thrust bearing rotor non-rotatably connected to the motor shaft for supporting the motor shaft; the blower comprises a radial bearing for supporting the motor shaft; the blower comprises a main housing and a volute-forming component mounted to the main housing;and the radial bearing and the axial bearing carrier are arranged on the volute component.;

[0012] It was recognized that the bearing technology used is essential for achieving a long service life due to the blower's design as a high-speed application. For such blowers, foil bearings or air bearings are particularly suitable. Furthermore, it was recognized that the mounting of the axial and radial bearings must be precise, especially the adjustment of the axial bearing clearance. Since, in such blowers designed as media-gap motors with an optional water separator, the axial bearing is primarily positioned behind the blower impeller, supporting the axial bearing between the thrust bearing rotor and the blower impeller is not a trivial task.According to the disclosure, it is therefore proposed that the radial bearing and the axial bearing carrier can be arranged on the volute component, or that corresponding bearing seats can be provided on the volute component. Arranging the axial and radial bearings on the volute component allows the bearings to be positioned in an impeller rear chamber, i.e., on the rear side of the fan impeller. Furthermore, this arrangement allows for precise adjustment of the bearings relative to each other. The arrangement of the axial bearing, in particular, on the volute component can provide relatively easy access to the axial bearing. During assembly and / or maintenance, the arrangement of the axial bearing rotor relative to the motor shaft and relative to the axial bearing carrier can be checked and / or adjusted.

[0013] The disclosure thus enables the described arrangement of the axial bearing components to allow the axial position of the motor shaft with the attached axial bearing rotor relative to the axial bearing carrier to be adjusted, and any tolerances with respect to the housing to be measured. The arrangement also allows for comparatively simple assembly, as the alignment of the axial bearing components is simplified during installation. This also allows for a better positioning of the axial bearing components, which can improve the bearing's operating characteristics, particularly with regard to smooth running and / or reduced wear. It is therefore ensured that appropriate quality controls for the correct adjustment of the axial play and a rotationally fixed connection between the axial bearing rotor and the motor shaft are comparatively simple and thus effective.

[0014] The blower can be used to recirculate a gas mixture associated with an anode region of the fuel cell assembly. The gas mixture can contain hydrogen as fuel. It can also contain other components, particularly those resulting from the reaction of hydrogen in the anode region of the fuel cell assembly. The gas mixture can contain water, which is also a byproduct of the hydrogen reaction. The gas mixture can be passed through the anode region of the fuel cell assembly.

[0015] The blower can be operated by the drive motor, which can be an electric motor. The electric motor can be a brushless motor. The drive motor can be a media-gap motor. In this case, the medium conveyed by the blower, in particular the gas mixture used in the fuel cell arrangement, can be conveyed through an annular channel.

[0016] The blower impeller, coupled to the motor shaft, is designed to convey the gas mixture when the impeller rotates. The blower impeller may have an arrangement of blades distributed around its circumference. Rotation of the blower impeller conveys the gas mixture, acting as a pump. The blower impeller can convey the gas mixture radially due to its rotation.

[0017] Optionally, the blower includes a second radial bearing for supporting the motor shaft; this second radial bearing is located in the main housing. It was recognized that the blower is designed so that the volute component can be mounted directly to the main housing. This ensures that only one mechanical interface exists between the two components that carry the radial bearing seats: the main housing and the volute component.

[0018] Optionally, the motor shaft has a shaft end, and the thrust bearing is located at this shaft end. This allows the thrust bearing to be positioned at the end of the blower, meaning that the thrust bearing and thrust bearing rotor are installed during one of the final assembly steps. This enables effective adjustment of the thrust bearing rotor to achieve the correct position between the thrust bearing supports.

[0019] Optionally, the motor shaft has a fully formed shoulder; and the thrust runner is axially secured to the motor shaft at the shoulder. This allows the thrust runner, i.e., the rotating thrust bearing disc on the motor shaft, to be axially secured, with the shoulder limiting the movement along the axis in one direction. Optionally, the blower has a pressed-on and / or screw-on fastener on the motor shaft to axially secure the thrust runner. This allows the thrust runner to be axially secured by a nut, a bolt, and / or a pressed-on fastener, with the fastener limiting the movement along the axis in one direction.For example, the axial bearing rotor can be secured along the axis by a combination of the shoulder and the fastening device.

[0020] Optionally, the axial bearing rotor has a disc-shaped section and a contact section projecting from the disc-shaped section towards the fan impeller and resting against the motor shaft. The radial bearing contacts this contact section to support the motor shaft. In other words, the axial bearing rotor can have a sectionally L-shaped cross-section, with one leg of the "L," i.e., the disc-shaped section, used for axial support and the other leg of the "L," i.e., the contact section, used for radial support. This allows the axial bearing rotor to run on the radial bearing. This can simplify the design of the fan impeller by means of the contact section, as well as its assembly. Alternatively, the radial bearing makes full contact with the motor shaft.The arrangement of the axial bearing rotor makes it possible to implement a flat or disc-shaped axial bearing rotor, which further simplifies assembly and avoids possible leverage forces on the axial bearing.

[0021] Optionally, the axial bearing has a second axial bearing support; and the blower has a housing cover that holds the second axial bearing support and can be mounted to the volute component. This allows access to the axial bearing via the housing cover. Furthermore, holding the second axial bearing support with the housing cover allows for effective adjustment of the axial bearing relative to the second axial bearing support.

[0022] Optionally, the blower impeller has an upstream side exposed to the gas mixture and a backside arranged opposite the upstream side in the direction of, or relative to, the axis of, the upstream side; and the axial bearing is arranged on the backside of the blower impeller in the direction of the axis. It was found that arranging the axial bearing on the backside of the blower impeller is advantageous for mounting it close to the impeller without significantly affecting the gas mixture's flow path. Furthermore, this arrangement allows the axial bearing to have a comparatively large surface area perpendicular to the axis, which can result in advantageous bearing characteristics.

[0023] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a fuel cell arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, is provided, comprising a fuel cell stack that can be supplied with a gas mixture on the anode side and a blower as described above. Optionally, the blower has one or more features described as optional and / or advantageous in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0024] The blower can be connected via appropriate piping within the fuel cell assembly to one or more fuel cell modules or fuel cell stacks in such a way that the blower can guide the gas mixture through the anode area of ​​the fuel cell assembly. The blower can also be connected to a fuel source or fuel storage system, which allows the fuel content of the recirculated gas mixture to be adjusted.

[0025] The blower can be connected to a fuel cell module via a piping arrangement within the fuel cell assembly. The blower can be designed to recirculate hydrogen-containing gas within the fuel cell assembly. In particular, the recirculation of the hydrogen-containing gas can be configured for the anode side of the fuel cell assembly. The blower can be controlled as needed via a control device, which can take into account the operating state of the fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly can also include several blowers of the type described above, which are integrated into the fuel cell assembly via piping. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, is provided comprising a fuel cell assembly as described above.Optionally, the blower and / or fuel cell assembly may have one or more features described as optional and / or advantageous in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0026] The blower and / or the fuel cell assembly can be used in a mobile application. In particular, the blower and / or the fuel cell assembly can be used in an electric vehicle, where the electrical power is generated by the fuel cell assembly and can optionally be supplied to a buffer battery or traction battery. Alternatively, the fuel cell assembly with the blower can be used in a stationary application. The blower can also be used to provide a gas flow in other areas. In particular, the blower can be used to achieve a flow through the cathode side of the fuel cell assembly.

[0027] Further features of the disclosure and its technical effects will become apparent from the figures and the description of the preferred embodiments shown in the figures.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0029] Fig. 2 shows a section of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0030] Fig. 3 a perspective view of a volute component of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a section of a detail of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0032] Fig. 5 shows a section of a detail of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure; and

[0033] Fig. 6 shows a section of a detail of a blower according to one aspect of the disclosure. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 200a, in particular a commercial vehicle 200b, according to one aspect of the disclosure.

[0034] Vehicle 200a, in particular commercial vehicle 200b, is hereinafter referred to as vehicle 200a, 200b. Vehicle 200a, 200b is, for example, a land vehicle or a watercraft.

[0035] The vehicle 200a, 200b comprises a fuel cell assembly 205, an energy storage device 260, and an electric main drive 250. The fuel cell assembly 205 is configured to provide electrical energy 65 to the energy storage device 260. The energy storage device 260 is, for example, a rechargeable energy storage device 260 and serves as a buffer battery for storing electrical energy 65. The energy storage device 260 is also referred to as a traction battery. The energy storage device 260 is connected to the electric main drive 250 to supply the electric main drive 250 with electrical energy 65 so that the electric main drive 250 can propel the vehicle 200a, 200b.

[0036] The fuel cell assembly 205 comprises a blower 1, a compressor 210, a fuel cell system 204 or a fuel cell stack 206 and optionally an expander 270. The fuel cell stack 206 has a cathode 207 and an anode 208.

[0037] The blower 1 of the present embodiments is used in a fuel cell arrangement 205 in which hydrogen-containing gas is circulated as a gas mixture 40 and reacts electrochemically to generate electrical energy 65. In particular, the blower 1 described here is used to purge an anode region of the fuel cell stack 206 and / or to ensure a predetermined composition of the gas mixture 40 located in the anode region. More precisely, the hydrogen-containing gas mixture 40 becomes enriched with nitrogen due to the reaction. The composition of the gas mixture 40 is not directly determined by the recirculation blower itself, but can be adjusted by purging, by releasing nitrogen from the gas mixture 40. The blower 1 is configured to supply the anode 208 with the gas mixture 40 and thus with the fuel.

[0038] Several of the blowers 1 described above can be used in the fuel cell assembly 205. Furthermore, the fuel cell assembly 205 generally includes a control unit (not shown) which, among other things, controls the operation of the blower 1. This includes controlling the speed of the blower 1, which allows the blower output to be adjusted. In addition, the operating state of the fuel cell assembly 205 is taken into account to determine whether or not operation of the blower 1 is necessary. If the blower 1 is not operated, the gas mixture 40 can easily pass through the blower 1 due to its design as a media-gap motor.

[0039] Due to the structure of the blower 1 described above, and in particular a flow guide device 14 or a guide grid 14, it is conceivable that the separation function for separating water from the gas mixture 40 can be achieved by the flow through the blower 1, since the guide grid 14 can impart a swirl to the gas flow.

[0040] The compressor 210 is configured to supply an airflow to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 206, i.e., to the cathode 207. For this purpose, the compressor 210 is configured to be powered by electrical energy 65 in order to draw in air, compress it, and supply it to the fuel cell stack 206 as supply air 240. The expander 270 is configured to be supplied with exhaust air 245 from the fuel cell stack 206 in order to convert energy from the exhaust air 245 into electrical energy 65.

[0041] Blower 1 is further described with reference to Figures 2 to 6.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a section of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The blower 1 according to Figure 2 is a blower 1 for a fuel cell arrangement 205 for a vehicle 200a, in particular a commercial vehicle 200b. Such a blower 1 and vehicle 200a, 200b are each described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 2 is described with reference to Figure 1.

[0043] The blower 1 is designed to recirculate the gas mixture 40 used for operating the fuel cell arrangement 205. For this purpose, the blower 1 has a drive motor 7, 8, 9 with a motor shaft 7, a rotor 9 coupled to the motor shaft 7, and a stator 8 arranged radially outside the rotor 9. The motor shaft 7 defines an axis A, which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft 7. For illustrative purposes only, the axis A is shown parallel to the motor shaft 7.

[0044] The blower 1 comprises a multi-part housing (not shown) consisting of a main housing 2 and a volute component 43b. In the assembled state, the main housing 2 and the volute component 43b are mounted together. The blower 1 also includes a jacket component 2a. The jacket component 2a is arranged radially inside the main housing 2 and forms an annular channel 10.

[0045] The stator 8 is non-rotatably connected to the main housing 2. In the present embodiment, the rotor 9 comprises one or more permanent magnet elements 9a (only schematically indicated in Figure 2). When energy is applied, the stator 8 generates a rotating magnetic field, so that the rotor 9 rotates about the axis A together with the motor shaft 7 when energy is applied to the stator 8.

[0046] The rotor 9 is connected to the rotatable motor shaft 7, allowing the rotor 9 to rotate together with the motor shaft 7. The motor shaft 7 is rotatably mounted on both sides via radial bearings 11 and 12. The radial bearings 11 and 12 are designed as foil bearings 1T and 12'. The radial bearings 11 and 12 are arranged at opposite shaft ends 7a and 7d of the motor shaft 7. In the assembled state, one shaft end 7a of the motor shaft 7 extends into the volute component 43b, and the other shaft end 7d of the motor shaft 7 extends through the casing part 2a into the main housing 2 on the inlet side. The blower 1 is configured to direct the gas mixture 40. For this purpose, the blower 1 has an inlet side 41 in the area of ​​the inlet flange 13 and an outlet side 42 in the area of ​​the volute component 43b.

[0047] The main housing 2 forms an outer circumference of a main section of the blower 1 and, in the present embodiment, is essentially cylindrical. In the assembled state, the drive motor 7, 8, 9 is arranged radially inside the main housing 2, comprising the radially outer stator 8, the radially inner rotor 9, and the motor shaft 7 connected to the rotor 9. The main housing 2 includes the inlet flange 13 or an inlet pipe.

[0048] The blower 1 has a blower impeller 5 coupled to the motor shaft 7. The blower impeller 5 is rotationally fixed to the motor shaft 7. Rotation of the motor shaft 7 causes rotation of the blower impeller 5. The blower impeller 5 is thus arranged on the motor shaft 7.

[0049] The blower impeller 5 has an upstream side 5a, which is exposed to the gas mixture 40, and a back side 5b, which is arranged opposite the upstream side 5a in the direction of the axis A. The upstream side 5a points towards the inlet side 41 and the back side 5b points in the opposite direction, i.e., towards the outlet-side housing part 2b.

[0050] The blower impeller 5 is designed to convey the gas mixture 40 from the inlet side 41 to the outlet side 42 when the motor shaft 7 rotates. For this purpose, the blower impeller 5 has blades arranged on the upstream side 5a, which are shaped to achieve a conveying or pumping function. Radially outside the blower impeller 5 is an annular gap that opens to form a volute 43. The gas mixture can flow radially outwards through this annular gap towards the volute 43.

[0051] The blower 1 has an annular channel 10 arranged radially between the rotor 9 and the stator 8. In other words, the annular channel 10 is located on the upstream side 5a of the blower impeller 5. The annular channel 10 is provided radially between the stator 8 and the rotor 9. The blower 1 has sealing elements (not shown) for fluidic sealing of the annular channel 10 against the stator 8. A radial inner wall of the annular channel 10 is formed by an outer circumference of the rotor 9. A radial outer wall of the annular channel 10 is formed by a cylindrical wall of the casing 2a, arranged radially outside the rotor 9 and radially inside the stator 8. The annular channel 10 thus has a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall. The gas mixture 40 can flow between the cylindrical inner wall and the cylindrical outer wall of the annular channel 10. The blower 1 is thus designed as a media gap motor 1*.

[0052] The main housing 2 incorporates a flow guide 14 in the inlet flange 13. The flow guide 14 is described below. The flow guide 14 is provided in the form of a guide vane 14 on the right-hand section of the inlet flange 13 in Figure 2, i.e., on the inlet side 41. The flow guide 14, or guide vane 14, has an arrangement of guide vanes (not shown) distributed around its circumference. Flow can pass through the guide vane 14 via a passage in the direction of the upstream side 5a of the fan impeller 5. The guide vane 14 is integrated with the elements of the inlet flange 13. In particular, the radial outer wall in the inlet area of ​​the inlet flange 13 has the guide vanes of the guide vane 14. The guide vanes are formed integrally with a tube of the inlet flange 13.This design enables a simplified manufacturing of the inlet flange 13, since the outer tube can be manufactured with the guide vanes of the guide grid 14.

[0053] The blower 1 comprises a thrust bearing 19 with a housing-mounted thrust bearing carrier 19a, a thrust bearing rotor 19b, and a housing-mounted second thrust bearing carrier 19c as components of the thrust bearing 19. The thrust bearing rotor 19b is rotationally fixed to the motor shaft 7. The thrust bearing 19 is designed to axially support the motor shaft 7.

[0054] The radial bearing 11 and the axial bearing carrier 19a are arranged on the volute component 43b. In other words, the volute component 43b holds the radial bearing 11 and the axial bearing carrier 19a. The radial bearing 11 is located between the fan impeller 5 and the axial bearing 19a. The second radial bearing 12 is located in the main housing 2. The radial bearings 11 and 12 are arranged along axis A at opposite shaft ends 7a and 7d of the motor shaft 7.

[0055] The axial bearing 19 is located on the rear side 5b of the fan impeller 5, relative to or in the direction of axis A. In other words, the volute component 43b with the axial bearing support 19a, the axial bearing rotor 19b, and the bearing support component 2b with the second axial bearing support 19c are located on the rear side 5b of the fan impeller 5, or in an impeller backspace defined by the fan impeller 5. The volute component 43b has a surface (not shown) facing the fan impeller 5, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the rear side 5b of the fan impeller 5. The axial bearing 19 is located at the shaft end 7a. The volute component 43b surrounds the shaft end 7a.

[0056] The motor shaft 7 has a circumferentially formed shoulder 7b. The shoulder 7b can also be referred to as a circumferential step and / or stop and / or delineates two adjacent sections of the motor shaft 7 with different radii. The axial bearing rotor 19b is axially secured to the motor shaft 7 at the shoulder 7b. The motor shaft 7 also has a second shoulder 7e. During assembly, the blower impeller 5 is pushed against the second shoulder 7e. The blower impeller 5 is axially secured by the second shoulder 7e and the axial bearing rotor 19b. The arrangement of the shoulder 7b is adapted to the axial extension of the blower impeller 5.

[0057] The blower 1 has a fastening element 7c pressed onto the motor shaft 7 and / or a screwable fastening element 7c on the motor shaft 7 for securing the axial bearing rotor 19b in the axial direction. The axial bearing rotor 19b is arranged between the fastening element 7c and the shoulder 7b. The axial bearing rotor 19b is axially secured by the fastening element 7c and the shoulder 7b.

[0058] With appropriate dimensioning of the flow guide device 14, it can be achieved that liquid components from the gas mixture 40 can be separated onto the outer wall of the annular channel 10. The liquid components can be separated via a water separation channel 16 provided only on the inlet-side housing part 2a.

[0059] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a volute component 43b of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the revelation. The volute component 43b is the volute component 43 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0060] The volute component 43b comprises, in addition to the volute 43, ribs 43d. The ribs 43d are designed to serve as a bearing surface or bearing seat for the axial bearing support 19a. The ribs 43d make the volute component 43b comparatively lightweight. The ribs 43d are designed such that the volute component 43b can be manufactured, for example, from aluminum using a die-casting process.

[0061] Figure 4 shows a section of a detail of a blower 1 according to an aspect of the Revelation. Blower 1 is the same blower 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0062] The axial bearing rotor 19b has a disc-shaped section 19ba and a contact section 19bb that projects from the disc-shaped section 19ba towards the blower impeller 5 and rests against the motor shaft 7. The disc-shaped section 19ba has a primarily radial extension. The contact section 19bb has an axial extension to make contact with the blower impeller 5.

[0063] The radial bearing 11 contacts the mounting section 19bb to support the motor shaft 7. In other words, the mounting section 19bb, and thus the axial bearing rotor 19b, projects along axis A from the axial bearing carrier 19a through the radial bearing 11 to the fan impeller 5.

[0064] Figure 5 shows a section of a detail of a blower 1 according to one aspect of the revelation. The blower 1 according to Figure 5 is an alternative to the blower 1 according to Figures 1 to 4. The blower 1 according to Figure 5 is described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, and the differences between the blowers 1 are described.

[0065] According to Figure 5, the axial bearing rotor 19b has only the disk-shaped section 19ba. The radial bearing 11 makes circumferential contact with the motor shaft 7.

[0066] The blower 1 has an axial disk 19d. The axial disk 19d rests on the ribbing 43d of the volute component 43b and serves as an axial retainer for the radial bearing 11.

[0067] Figure 6 shows a section of a detail of a blower 1 according to an aspect of the revelation. Figure 6 shows the axial bearing rotor 19b and the radial bearing 11 of Figure 5 in detail.

[0068] Reference mark (part of the description)

[0069] 1 blower

[0070] T Media gap motor

[0071] 2 Main cases

[0072] 2a inlet-side jacket part

[0073] 5 Blower impeller

[0074] 5a Inflow side

[0075] 5b reverse

[0076] 6 Housing covers

[0077] 7 Motor shaft

[0078] 7a Wave end

[0079] 7b Shoulder

[0080] 7c Fasteners

[0081] 7d Wave end

[0082] 7e second shoulder

[0083] 8 Stator

[0084] 9 Rotor

[0085] 9a Permanent magnet element

[0086] 10 Ring channel

[0087] 11 radial bearings

[0088] 1 T foil storage

[0089] 12 radial bearings

[0090] 12' foil storage

[0091] 13 Entry flange

[0092] 14 Flow guidance device, guide grid

[0093] 16 Water separator channel

[0094] 19 axial bearings

[0095] 19a Axial bearing support

[0096] 19b Axial bearing rotor

[0097] 19ba disc-shaped section

[0098] 19bb Plant section

[0099] 19c second axial bearing support

[0100] 19d Axial disk 0 Gas mixture 1 Inlet side 2 Outlet side 3 Volute

[0101] 43b Volute component

[0102] 43c outlet

[0103] 43d ribbing

[0104] 46 Fuel

[0105] 47 anode-side exhaust air

[0106] 48 Liquid

[0107] 65 electrical energy

[0108] 200a vehicle

[0109] 200b commercial vehicle

[0110] 204 Fuel cell system

[0111] 205 Fuel cell arrangement

[0112] 206 fuel cell stacks

[0113] 207 Cathode

[0114] 208 Anode

[0115] 240 supply air

[0116] 245 Exhaust air

[0117] 250 main drive

[0118] 260 Energy storage device

[0119] Axis

Claims

Patent claims 1. Blower (1) for a fuel cell arrangement (205) for a vehicle (200a), in particular a commercial vehicle (200b); wherein - the blower (1) for recirculating a gas mixture (40) used for the operation of the fuel cell arrangement (205) comprises a drive motor (7, 8, 9) with a motor shaft (7) defining an axis (A), a rotor (9) coupled to the motor shaft (7) and a stator (8) arranged radially outside the rotor (9); - the blower (1) has a blower impeller (5) coupled to the motor shaft (7), wherein the blower impeller (5) is designed to convey the gas mixture (40) when the motor shaft (7) rotates; - the blower (1) comprises an axial bearing (19) with a housing-fixed axial bearing support (19a), and an axial bearing rotor (19b) connected to the motor shaft (7) in a rotationally fixed manner for supporting the motor shaft (7); - the blower (1) includes a radial bearing (11) for supporting the motor shaft (7); - the blower (1) comprises a main housing (2) and a volute component (43b) forming a volute (43) and mounted on the main housing (2); and - the radial bearing (11) and the axial bearing support (19a) are arranged on the volute component (43b).

2. Blower (1) according to claim 1, wherein - the blower (1) includes a second radial bearing (12) for supporting the motor shaft (7); - and the second radial bearing (12) is arranged in the main housing (2).

3. Blower (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the motor shaft (7) has a shaft end (7a); and - the axial bearing (19) is arranged at the shaft end (7a).

4. Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the motor shaft (7) has a fully formed shoulder (7b); and - the axial bearing rotor (19b) is secured in the axial direction at the shoulder (7b) and connected to the motor shaft (7).

5. Blower (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein - the blower (1) has a fastening element (7c) pressed onto the motor shaft (7) and / or a screwable fastening element (7c) on the motor shaft (7) for securing the axial bearing rotor (19b) in the axial direction.

6. Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the axial bearing rotor (19b) has a disc-shaped section (19ba) and a contact section (19bb) projecting from the disc-shaped section (19ba) towards the blower impeller (5) and bearing against the motor shaft (7), and the radial bearing (11) contacts the contact section (19bb) for supporting the motor shaft (7); or - the radial bearing (11) fully contacts the motor shaft (7).

7. Blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the axial bearing (19) has a second axial bearing support (19c); and - the blower (1) has a housing cover (6) which holds the second axial bearing support (19c) and can be mounted on the volute component (43b).

8. Blower (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein - the blower impeller (5) has an upstream side (5a) accessible to the gas mixture (40) and a back side (5b) arranged opposite the upstream side (5a) in the direction of the axis (A); and - the axial bearing (19) is arranged in the direction of the axis (A) on the rear (5b) of the blower impeller (5).

9. Fuel cell arrangement (205) for a vehicle (200a), in particular a commercial vehicle (200b), comprising a fuel cell stack (206) that can be supplied with a gas mixture (40) on the anode side and a blower (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle (200a), in particular commercial vehicle (200b), comprising a fuel cell arrangement (205) according to claim 9.

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