CN213988945U - Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell system - Google Patents
Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN213988945U CN213988945U CN202120162496.8U CN202120162496U CN213988945U CN 213988945 U CN213988945 U CN 213988945U CN 202120162496 U CN202120162496 U CN 202120162496U CN 213988945 U CN213988945 U CN 213988945U
- Authority
- CN
- China
- Prior art keywords
- fuel cell
- hydrogen
- anode
- hydrogen supply
- supply module
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 78
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 72
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 66
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 66
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 46
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 42
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000498 cooling water Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- -1 hydrogen ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000006722 reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000110 cooling liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Landscapes
- Fuel Cell (AREA)
Abstract
The present application relates to an anode sub-system of a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, the anode sub-system comprising: a hydrogen supply module for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen supply source to the fuel cell stack, the hydrogen supply module having a water separator provided therein; a fuel cell stack for receiving hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen supply module, the hydrogen being supplied to an anode side of the fuel cell stack; and a cooling device connected between the anode side of the fuel cell stack and the hydrogen supply module, in which the hot mixed gas coming out of the anode of the fuel cell stack is cooled to a predetermined temperature to condense water vapor. The hot mixed gas from the anode can be cooled to the expected temperature, and the water vapor is condensed, so that the moisture content of the gas entering the anode is reduced, the normal use of the fuel cell is ensured, and the service life of the cell is prolonged.
Description
Technical Field
The present application relates to fuel cell systems, and more particularly to an anode sub-system for a fuel cell.
Background
With the popularization of electric vehicles, fuel cells are increasingly widely used as one of their very important components, and in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, a positive subsystem is used to supply hydrogen into a fuel cell stack and to recycle a mixed gas including residual hydrogen after reaction and water vapor generated by the reaction, which comes out from an anode, so that the hydrogen is reused. For this purpose, a water separator is usually provided in the fuel cell system to separate water therefrom.
However, in actual operation, the highest humidity required in the reaction of the fuel cell stack is 50% relative humidity, and the mixed gas coming out from the anode often has saturated water vapor with very high humidity, which will cause the gas with relatively high humidity to circulate into the anode of the fuel cell stack in case the water vapor cannot be effectively separated, thereby affecting the efficiency of the fuel cell stack.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in existing anode subsystems to reduce the moisture content of the mixed gases exiting the anodes of the fuel cell stack, thereby reducing the humidity of the gases recirculated into the fuel cell stack, and thereby increasing the efficiency of the fuel cell.
SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL
It is an object of the present application to provide an anode sub-system for a fuel cell that reduces the moisture content of the mixed gas exiting the anode, thereby reducing the moisture content of the gas that is recirculated into the anode.
To this end, the present application provides an anode sub-system for a fuel cell, comprising: a hydrogen supply module for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen supply source to the fuel cell stack, the hydrogen supply module having a water separator provided therein; a fuel cell stack for receiving hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen supply module, the hydrogen being supplied to an anode side of the fuel cell stack; and a cooling device connected between the anode side of the fuel cell stack and the hydrogen supply module, in which the hot mixed gas coming out of the anode of the fuel cell stack is cooled to a predetermined temperature to condense water vapor.
Optionally, the cooling device has a cooling duct, the mixed gas flows in the cooling duct, and the cooling medium flows outside the cooling duct.
Alternatively, the cooling device has a cooling duct, the mixed gas flows outside the cooling duct, and the cooling medium flows inside the cooling duct.
Optionally, the cooling device is a heat exchanger.
Alternatively, the heat exchanger has heat exchange tubes, the mixed gas flows outside the heat exchange tubes, and the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply module flows inside the heat exchange tubes.
Alternatively, the heat exchanger has heat exchange tubes in which the mixed gas flows, and the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply module flows outside the heat exchange tubes.
Optionally, characterized in that the cooling medium is cooling water.
Optionally, the cooling device has a water collector to collect water produced by condensation in the cooling device.
Optionally, the hydrogen supply module has a drain integrated with the water collector
The present application also provides a fuel cell system comprising an anode sub-system as described above.
Through the anode sub-system with the structure, namely the cooling device or the heat exchanger is arranged between the hydrogen supply module and the fuel cell stack, hot mixed gas coming out of the anode can be cooled to a desired temperature, water vapor is condensed, the moisture content of gas recycled into the anode is reduced, the normal use of the fuel cell is ensured, and the service life of the cell is prolonged.
Drawings
The foregoing and other aspects of the present application will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken together with the following drawings. It is noted that the drawings may not be to scale for clarity of illustration and will not detract from the understanding of the present application. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an anode sub-system according to a first embodiment of the present application; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an anode sub-system according to a second embodiment of the present application.
Detailed Description
In the drawings of the present application, features that are structurally identical or functionally similar are denoted by the same reference numerals, which are not drawn to scale but are exaggerated for clarity.
In operation of a conventional fuel cell, hydrogen is first pumped into the fuel cell stack by a hydrogen pump, an oxidation reaction occurs at the anode of the fuel cell stack to produce hydrogen ions, which then travel to the cathode to undergo a reduction reaction with oxygen from the cathode of the fuel cell stack to produce water, and therefore, there is typically moisture present in the fuel cell stack, which places relatively stringent requirements on the liquid water content of the gas entering the anode, or which otherwise causes the stack to risk flooding.
The mixed gas containing water, which is generally discharged from the fuel cell stack, is also recycled to the hydrogen supply source for reuse, and for this reason, a water separator is generally provided in the hydrogen supply source to separate the water from the mixed gas, and the gas from which the water is separated is supplied again to the anode of the fuel cell stack.
In such an operation, if the moisture content of the mixed gas before entering the water separator is too high, water separation is insufficient, so that more hydrogen gas with high moisture content enters the anode, and the reaction efficiency at the anode is reduced, so that the operation efficiency of the whole fuel cell system is reduced, even the fuel cell is out of service, and the service life is shortened.
Fig. 1 is an anode sub-system of a fuel cell system according to a first embodiment of the present application, including a hydrogen supply module 1 for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen supply source to a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack 2 receiving the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen supply module 1, and a cooling device 3 disposed between the hydrogen supply module 1 and the fuel cell stack 2.
As shown in fig. 1, hydrogen from a hydrogen supply source is supplied to the hydrogen supply module 1 through a pipe 4, enters the anode side of the fuel cell stack 2 through a pipe 5 after passing through a water separator in the hydrogen supply module 1, an oxidation reaction occurs at the anode side of the fuel cell stack 2, and hydrogen ions further reach the cathode of the fuel cell stack to undergo a reduction reaction with oxygen.
The remaining hydrogen gas comes out of the anode of the fuel cell stack 2, along with water, which is a product of the reaction. Thus, the mixed gas comprising hydrogen and water vapor is fed from the fuel cell stack 2 through the pipe 6 to the cooling device 3, cooled in the cooling device 3 and lowered to a set temperature while a portion of the water vapor is condensed, and the mixed gas after cooling and removing a portion of the water vapor is discharged from the cooling device 3, circulated back to the hydrogen supply module 1 through the pipe 7, and the water is separated by the water separator therein, and then used again, for example, to start the next hydrogen circulation, into the fuel cell stack 2.
The gas and water vapor that are not reused are discharged to the outside of the hydrogen supply module 1 through the exhaust port 8, and enter the atmosphere.
The cooling device 3 may be cooled by cooling water, and specifically, the mixed gas after the reaction flows through a cooling pipe in the cooling device 3, and the cooling water flows outside the pipe to exchange heat with the hot mixed gas.
The cooling medium may also be another medium.
It may be so arranged that the cooling water flows in the cooling duct of the cooling device 3 and the hot mixed gas flows outside the cooling duct to perform heat exchange.
Fig. 2 shows an anode sub-system of a fuel cell system according to a second embodiment of the present application, which differs from the first embodiment in that the cooling device of fig. 1 is replaced by a heat exchanger 9, the heat exchanger 9 being connected between the hydrogen supply module 1 and the fuel cell stack 2. The heat exchanger 9 comprises heat exchange tubes and a housing, and hydrogen from the hydrogen supply module 1 enters the heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger 9 through the tubes 10, flows therein, and then exits the heat exchanger 9 through the tubes 5 to enter the anode side of the fuel cell stack 2. The hot mixed gas coming out of the anode of the fuel cell stack 2 enters the heat exchanger 9 again through the pipe 6, flows outside the heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger 9 and inside the casing, and exchanges heat with the hydrogen gas located inside the heat exchange tubes, thereby lowering the temperature of the mixed gas to a desired value.
It may be so arranged that the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply module 1 flows outside the heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger 9 and the hot mixed gas from the fuel cell stack 2 flows inside the heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger 9 to exchange heat therebetween to lower the temperature of the hot mixed gas.
In the case of the second embodiment, the hydrogen itself can be used as the cooling medium to perform heat exchange without using an additional cooling liquid, reducing the operation cost of the system.
As described above, by means of the arrangement of the cooling device 3 or the heat exchanger 9, the hot gas mixture from the anodes is cooled to a certain temperature, water is condensed, then liquid water and the water vapor still present are separated by the water separator in the hydrogen supply module 1, and the gas at the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack 2 can be controlled to the desired optimum operating humidity.
In the second embodiment of the present application, on the one hand, the temperature of the hot mixed gas coming out of the anode is lowered to reduce saturated steam by the heat exchanger 9 located between the hydrogen supply module 1 and the fuel cell stack 2, and on the other hand, no additional energy consumption is caused by using the hydrogen itself from the hydrogen supply module 1 as a cooling medium, the cooling medium being hydrogen before entering the anode, and the cooled medium being the mixed gas coming out of the anode, which are recirculated in the heat exchanger, thereby increasing the energy efficiency of the entire fuel cell.
In this way, by arranging the cooling device 3 or the heat exchanger 9 between the hydrogen supply module 1 and the fuel cell stack 2, the gas entering the anode can reach the expected water vapor saturation, the normal use of the fuel cell is ensured, and the service life of the cell is prolonged.
The present application is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified, for example, the cooling device may be provided with a water collector to collect water condensed in the cooling device.
The hydrogen supply module 1 may have a drain port to drain the water separated in the water separator, and optionally, the drain port may be integrated with the water collector.
Although specific embodiments of the present application have been described herein in detail, they have been presented for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the application. Various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application.
Claims (10)
1. An anode sub-system for a fuel cell, comprising:
a hydrogen supply module for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen supply source to the fuel cell stack, the hydrogen supply module having a water separator provided therein;
a fuel cell stack for receiving hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen supply module, the hydrogen being supplied to an anode side of the fuel cell stack; and
a cooling device connected between the anode side of the fuel cell stack and the hydrogen supply module, in which the hot mixed gas coming out of the anode of the fuel cell stack is cooled to a predetermined temperature to condense water vapor.
2. The fuel cell anode sub-system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device has a cooling pipe in which the mixed gas flows and a cooling medium flows outside the cooling pipe.
3. The fuel cell anode sub-system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device has a cooling pipe, the mixed gas flows outside the cooling pipe, and a cooling medium flows inside the cooling pipe.
4. The fuel cell anode sub-system of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is a heat exchanger.
5. The fuel cell anode sub-system according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger has heat exchange tubes, the mixed gas flows outside the heat exchange tubes, and the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply module flows inside the heat exchange tubes.
6. The fuel cell anode sub-system according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger has heat exchange tubes in which the mixed gas flows, and the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply module flows outside the heat exchange tubes.
7. The fuel cell anode sub-system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cooling medium is cooling water.
8. The fuel cell anode sub-system of claim 1, wherein the cooling device has a water collector to collect water condensed in the cooling device.
9. The fuel cell anode subsystem of claim 8, wherein the hydrogen supply module has a water drain integrated with the water collector.
10. A fuel cell system comprising an anode sub-system according to any one of claims 1-9.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202120162496.8U CN213988945U (en) | 2021-01-21 | 2021-01-21 | Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202120162496.8U CN213988945U (en) | 2021-01-21 | 2021-01-21 | Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN213988945U true CN213988945U (en) | 2021-08-17 |
Family
ID=77251630
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202120162496.8U Active CN213988945U (en) | 2021-01-21 | 2021-01-21 | Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN213988945U (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114284523A (en) * | 2021-12-24 | 2022-04-05 | 上海重塑能源科技有限公司 | Fuel cell anode circulation path with controllable dew point temperature and control method thereof |
| CN114497628A (en) * | 2022-01-25 | 2022-05-13 | 中山大洋电机股份有限公司 | Fuel cell system |
-
2021
- 2021-01-21 CN CN202120162496.8U patent/CN213988945U/en active Active
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114284523A (en) * | 2021-12-24 | 2022-04-05 | 上海重塑能源科技有限公司 | Fuel cell anode circulation path with controllable dew point temperature and control method thereof |
| CN114284523B (en) * | 2021-12-24 | 2024-01-19 | 上海重塑能源科技有限公司 | Fuel cell anode circulation loop capable of controlling dew point temperature and control method thereof |
| CN114497628A (en) * | 2022-01-25 | 2022-05-13 | 中山大洋电机股份有限公司 | Fuel cell system |
| CN114497628B (en) * | 2022-01-25 | 2024-01-05 | 中山大洋电机股份有限公司 | Fuel cell system |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6277508B1 (en) | Fuel cell power supply with exhaust recycling for improved water management | |
| CN109216734B (en) | Auxiliary system for facilitating humidification and low-temperature start of fuel cell | |
| US20030118883A1 (en) | Fuel cell power plant having a reduced free water volume | |
| JP3706937B2 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
| CN213988945U (en) | Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell system | |
| JP4486173B2 (en) | Polymer electrolyte fuel cell system | |
| JP2007242280A (en) | Fuel cell system | |
| JP4917005B2 (en) | Improved voltage degradation due to water removal, freezing durability, purge energy efficiency and stop / start cycles | |
| US7037610B2 (en) | Humidification of reactant streams in fuel cells | |
| KR100774472B1 (en) | Air preheating apparatus for fuel cell system | |
| CN113067014B (en) | Hydrogen circulation supply method for hydrogen fuel cell | |
| JP2008108473A (en) | Humidifying system for fuel cell | |
| US7479335B2 (en) | Anode humidification | |
| CN107331880B (en) | Power system of fuel cell and vehicle | |
| CN112993321B (en) | Cooling liquid circulating system for fuel cell | |
| US7919209B2 (en) | System stability and performance improvement with anode heat exchanger plumbing and re-circulation rate | |
| CN112993319A (en) | Fuel cell with heating auxiliary function | |
| CN221783255U (en) | Anode subsystem of fuel cell and fuel cell | |
| JP5161858B2 (en) | Operation method of polymer electrolyte fuel cell system | |
| JP4000971B2 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
| CN100401566C (en) | Fuel cell system and its drainage device | |
| JP4789402B2 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
| CN115810771B (en) | Fuel cell thermal cycle system and method utilizing liquid hydrogen cold energy | |
| CN212485378U (en) | Humidifying device and balance management system of fuel cell system | |
| KR20150072666A (en) | A heat exchange unit of suppling air to fuel cell cathod and a heat exchange method thereof |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| GR01 | Patent grant | ||
| GR01 | Patent grant |