DE102021214838A1 - Compressor device for a hydrogen feed and method of manufacturing a compressor device for a hydrogen feed - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a compressor device (10) for a hydrogen supply, comprising a housing (H); a rotor (RT) with an impeller (SR) in the housing (H); a first magnet device (ME1), which is arranged in the housing (H) and a second magnet device (ME2), which is arranged or included in and/or on the rotor (RT), with a predetermined orientation and/or position of the rotor (RT ) in the housing (H) by a first magnetic field from the first magnetic device (ME1) and by a second magnetic field from the second magnetic device (ME2), which at least partially overlap.

Description

The present invention relates to a hydrogen supply compressor device and a method of manufacturing a hydrogen supply compressor device.

State of the art

Compressors can be built into or connected to hydrogen tank systems. Bearings filled with oil, for example grooved bearings, can be installed to support the moving areas, such as an impeller.

Previously known compressors contain at least two deep groove ball bearings, which can be largely protected from aggressive media (e.g. from hydrogen) and external influences. Known ball bearings may rely on lubricants to enhance or maintain their function. However, these can be flushed out by the hydrogen. Such purging can foul the hydrogen system and shorten compressor life.

With a rotational speed of the impeller, the flow of hydrogen and the pressure in the supply system to the fuel cell can be influenced and support the functioning of the compressor.

In the DE112006003013B4 describes a tank with a fitting and a valve.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a hydrogen feed compressor device according to claim 1 and a method of manufacturing a hydrogen feed compressor device according to claim 10.

Preferred developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Advantages of the Invention

The idea on which the present invention is based is to specify a compressor device for supplying hydrogen and a method for producing a compressor device for supplying hydrogen
the proposed invention makes the compressor more efficient and the service life can be extended enormously.

According to the invention, the compressor device for supplying hydrogen comprises a housing; a rotor with an impeller in the housing, with which a flow of hydrogen can be generated; a first magnet device which is arranged in the housing and a second magnet device which is arranged or included in and/or on the rotor, the first magnet device being aligned towards the second magnet device and the second magnet device being aligned towards the first magnet device, with a predetermined The alignment and/or position of the rotor in the housing can be adjusted by a first magnetic field from the first magnetic device and by a second magnetic field from the second magnetic device, which at least partially overlap.

The compressor device can be connected to a supply of hydrogen, for example to hydrogen lines, and connected to an anode circuit on a fuel cell, for example for recirculation. On the other hand, the compressor device can also be attached to the cathode side or in or on other devices. The impeller can include blading.

The magnet device(s) can include a permanent magnet and/or a controllable electromagnet, for example with coils. The magnetic fields generated by the magnet devices can at least partially overlap and penetrate one another and thus generate an attractive or repulsive force between the rotor and the stator/housing. In the case of electromagnets, the magnetic field can be controlled by a controllable power connection.

In the case of the compressor device, the magnetic fields can be used to optimize a compressor (wheel) bearing (impeller) in order to prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of contamination of the bearing, the rotor and/or the fuel cell by the usual bearing oil. Usually, several magnets are installed in the impeller, these are necessary to drive the impeller. According to the invention, these magnets can thus be retained. The compressor device can also include the supply lines mentioned and/or a recirculation pump.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, the rotor comprises a disk shape with a disk surface, and an axis of rotation of the rotor runs perpendicularly through the disk surface and the first magnet device is arranged in the housing and opposite the disk surface and the second magnet device is arranged in and/or on the disk surface and is opposite to the first magnetic device.

The disk shape may be a flat disk having a predetermined radius from the axis of rotation and a predetermined thickness in an axial direction along the axis of rotation. The disk shape can have an upper disk surface and a lower disk surface, which can close off the disk shape at the top and bottom in the axial direction and can be parallel to one another and have the same radius.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, the first magnet device and/or the second magnet device comprises a ring around the axis of rotation or partial segments which together form a ring.

The second magnet device can have a first ring, an inner ring with respect to the axis of rotation, and thus a second ring, and thus an outer ring with respect to the axis of rotation, which can radially encircle the first ring. The second magnet device can also have additional rings. The rings may be concentric about the axis of rotation and may be coplanar within the disc mold or abut one of the disc faces. The rings can be continuous or can comprise partial segments.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, it comprises a third magnet device, which is arranged in the housing and is arranged at at least two opposite positions radially outside the disk surface and faces the second magnet device, the second magnet device being arranged at least in regions in a radial edge area of the disk shape is.

The two opposite positions radially outside the disk surface may radially abut the disk surface/shape, such as by a predetermined distance, and lie on a connecting line, which may perpendicularly intersect through the axis of rotation. By positioning it radially outside the disk, the magnetic field of the third magnet device can overlap with the magnetic field of the second magnet device located in the edge area of the disk shape, and an attractive or repelling force can be achieved between the third and the second magnet device, whereby the disk shape along the connecting straight line can be positioned radially at a specific point. The third magnet device can encircle the disk shape radially at its outer edge partially or completely, continuously or in partial segments, with several coplanar connecting lines being able to exist, which can all intersect in the axis of rotation. In this case, each partial area of the third magnetic device has a counter-area lying opposite with a straight connecting line in order to stabilize the radial position of the disc shape.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, the rotor includes an axial area, which extends from the impeller along an axis of rotation of the rotor and includes a first rotary plate, which extends perpendicularly from the axis of rotation and radially to the axial area and the second magnet device on an upper side and/or Underside of the rotary plate is attached and / or comprised by this and the first magnetic device faces the second magnetic device.

The axial portion may advantageously comprise an elongate element, such as having cylindrical symmetry. The rotary plate may itself have a disc shape and extend to a predetermined radius planar and perpendicular to the axis of rotation. In a radial edge area, the (first) rotary plate can be exposed to the magnetic field of the first magnetic device and there itself have the second magnetic device on or in the rotary plate or have a magnetizable material which is then attracted by the magnetic field of the first magnetic device during a rotary movement or at rest or can be repelled and thus the first rotary plate and thus the axial region firmly connected to it can be kept horizontal with respect to a vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the rotary plate), or at least the probability of this can be increased. The effect of the magnetic field on the housing can be influenced with a taper or recesses in the radial edge area of the first rotary plate, for example a magnetic shoulder can be formed all around the axis of rotation or in sections. The first rotating plate may be spaced a predetermined distance from the disc shape.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, the rotor comprises a second rotary plate, which extends radially away from the axial region at an axial distance from the first rotary plate and a fourth magnet device is attached to the second rotary plate and/or is surrounded by it and a third magnet device is surrounded in the housing and the fourth magnetic device is arranged opposite, whereby an axial tensile force can be generated on the axial region along the axis of rotation.

An axial position of the impeller (rotor) can be set and maintained by the axial tensile force.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, the second magnet device and/or the third magnet device and/or the fourth magnet device encircles the axis of rotation radially at least in regions.

The areas of the magnetic devices mentioned can advantageously be arranged point-symmetrically to the axis of rotation in order to balance their radial effect against one another and to hold the impeller radially in a fixed or almost fixed position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, the first magnet device and/or the second magnet device and/or the third magnet device and/or the fourth magnet device comprises a permanent magnet and/or an electromagnet.

According to a preferred embodiment of the compressor device, differently polarized magnetic fields can be generated by the third magnet device and by the fourth magnet device.

There are two options for magnetic storage, passive storage using permanent magnets and active storage using permanent magnets and coils.
The magnets used in the magnet devices can be coated depending on the surrounding medium. This then has an influence on the size of the bearing point and thus on the housing.

Permanent magnet bearings can have the advantage over active bearings that they do not require a complex controller and a separate power supply.

The bearing can still be optimized so that it can be attached directly to the impeller and thus the influence of the lever arm can be significantly reduced.

According to the invention, in the method for producing a compressor device for supplying hydrogen, a housing is provided; arranging a rotor with an impeller in the housing, with which a flow of hydrogen can be generated; arranging a first magnetic device in the housing and arranging a second magnetic device in and/or on the rotor, the first magnetic device being aligned towards the second magnetic device and the second magnetic device being aligned towards the first magnetic device, with a predetermined alignment and/or position of the rotor can be adjusted in the housing by a first magnetic field from the first magnetic device and by a second magnetic field from the second magnetic device, which overlap at least in certain areas.

The compressor device can also be characterized by the features mentioned in connection with the method and its advantages, and vice versa.

Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention result from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

character list

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments given in the schematic figures of the drawing.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Lagerung eines Laufrads gemäß einem Vergleichsbeispiel zur vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kompressoreinrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kompressoreinrichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 4a eine schematische Darstellung einer Kompressoreinrichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung
• 4b eine schematische Darstellung einer Kompressoreinrichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung
• 5 eine Blockdarstellung von Verfahrensschritten des Verfahrens zum Herstellen einer Kompressoreinrichtung für eine Wasserstoffzufuhr gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a bearing of an impeller according to a comparative example of the present invention;
• 2 a schematic representation of a compressor device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of a compressor device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;
• 4a a schematic representation of a compressor device according to a further embodiment of the present invention
• 4b a schematic representation of a compressor device according to a further embodiment of the present invention
• 5 a block diagram of method steps of the method for producing a compressor device for a hydrogen supply according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figures, the same reference symbols denote the same elements or elements with the same function.

1 shows a schematic representation of a bearing of an impeller according to a comparative example of the present invention.

The impeller SR can have a rotating rod, which can extend along the axis of rotation of the impeller, wherein two grooved ball bearings LR spaced apart from one another can be arranged on the axis of rotation along the rotating rod NB to. There can be gap dimensions d1, d2, d3 and d4 between the impeller SR and the housing. The impeller is shown schematically with a smooth surface, but may have structures for generating a gas flow, for example lamellae.

2 shows a schematic representation of a compressor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The compressor device 10 for hydrogen supply includes a housing H; a rotor RT with an impeller SR in the housing H, with which a flow of hydrogen can be generated; a first magnetic device ME1, which is arranged in/on the housing H and a second magnetic device ME2, which is arranged or included in and/or on the rotor RT, with the first magnetic device ME1 being aligned towards the second magnetic device ME2 and the second magnetic device ME2 towards first magnet device ME1, wherein a predetermined alignment and/or position of the rotor RT in the housing H can be adjusted by a first magnetic field from the first magnet device ME1 and by a second magnetic field from the second magnet device ME2, which overlap at least in certain areas.

The rotor RT may include an axial portion AB extending in the form of a rod from the impeller SR along an axis of rotation of the rotor RT and a first rotary plate DP1 extending perpendicularly from the axis of rotation and radially to the axial portion AB and of disk shape SF a predetermined distance apart and the second magnet device ME2 is attached to and/or encompassed by a top and/or bottom of the rotating plate DP1 and the first magnet device ME1 faces the second magnet device ME2.

The axial area AB can have a cylindrical symmetry. The rotary plate DP1 itself may have a disk shape and extend to a predetermined radius planar and perpendicular to the axis of rotation. In a radial edge area, the (first) rotary plate DP1 can be exposed to the magnetic field of the first magnetic device ME1 and there itself have the second magnetic device ME2 on or in the rotary plate or can have a magnetizable material which then, during a rotary movement or at rest, is separated from the magnetic field of the first Magnetic device ME1 can be attracted or repelled and thus the first rotary plate DP1 and thus the axial region AB firmly connected to it can be kept horizontal with respect to a vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the rotary plate), or at least the probability of this can be increased. The effect of the magnetic field on the housing can be influenced with a taper or recesses in the radial edge region, for example a magnetic shoulder can be formed all around the axis of rotation or in sections. At the lower end of the axial area AB, opposite the end of the disk shape SF, the axial area can have a point or spherical surface and can be placed on a bottom of the housing H. There, the axial area can taper conically toward the housing H. In principle, such a bearing can allow the axis AR to be tilted and/or inclined.

The first magnet device ME1 can be arranged above the edge area of the first rotary plate DP1 and/or below the edge area in the axial direction and opposite the rotary plate DP1 and spaced from it by a small gap. The first magnetic device ME1 can encircle the axial area AB completely or in segments.

The first rotary plate DP1 can have a narrowing at its radial edge, which can be tantamount to a magnetic shoulder, with a web made of soft iron (made of the material of the first rotary plate or separately) with another widening on the radial outside being able to be present. The axis of the axial area can then always be pulled into a central (vertical) position by magnetic field lines to the first magnetic device ME1. This allows for magnetic storage and alignment.

3 shows a schematic representation of a compressor device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

The 3 12 shows a similar embodiment of the compressor assembly 10 to the embodiment shown in FIG 2 , with the difference that a second rotary plate DP2 is arranged on the axial region AB at a distance in the axial direction from the first rotary plate DP1 and extends perpendicularly away from the axis of rotation. In other words, the rotor RT can comprise a second rotary plate DP2, which extends radially away from the axial region AB at an axial distance from the first rotary plate DP1 and a fourth magnetic device ME4 is attached to the second rotary plate DP2 and/or is surrounded by it and a third magnetic device ME3 in the Housing H is included and the fourth magnetic device ME4 is arranged opposite, whereby an axial tensile force can be generated on the axial region AB along the axis of rotation (arrow representation).

An axial position of the impeller (rotor) can be set and maintained by the axial tensile force. The fourth magnet device ME4 can be axially opposite to the third magnet device ME3, which can be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet or a magnetizable material, above or below the second rotating plate DP2. As a result, an attractive force can be generated between the fourth magnet device ME4 and the second rotating plate DP2 and thus with the rotor.

4a shows a schematic representation of a compressor device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

After 4a the rotor can comprise a disk shape SF with a disk surface, and an axis of rotation of the rotor can run perpendicularly through the disk surface and the first magnet device ME1 can be arranged in the housing H and the lower disk surface opposite and the second magnet device ME2 can be arranged in and/or on the ( be arranged lower) disc surface and the first magnet device ME1 opposite, whereby the lower disc surface can be held in a predetermined position relative to the housing H. The magnetic field of the first magnetic device ME1 and the magnetic field of the second magnetic device ME2 can overlap and exert a repulsive force, so that the disk of the rotor can be held at a specific height above the housing.

The compressor device 10 can include a third magnet device ME3, which is arranged laterally in the housing H and is arranged at at least two opposite positions radially outside the disc shape SF and faces the second magnet device ME2, with the second magnet device ME2 being partially in a radial edge area of the disc shape SF is arranged.

The second magnet device ME2 can comprise a bimetal, for example.

The magnetic field of the third magnet device ME3 and the magnetic field of the second magnet device ME2 can overlap and exert a repulsive or attractive force so that the disc SF of the rotor can be held at a specific radial position in the housing. For this purpose, the third magnet device ME3 can always have at least two partial areas along a straight line perpendicular (horizontally in the 4a) be arranged so that the attractive or repulsive force between the two partial areas of the third magnetic device ME3 and the adjacent partial areas of the second magnetic device, which are also always located in pairs along a straight line in the radial edge area of the disk shape, can be radially symmetrical along this straight line. In other words, each sub-area of the second magnetic device can be opposite a sub-area of the third magnetic device, which also applies to the sub-areas of the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device.

The 4a thus shows an arrangement of the disc shape in the housing H that is self-positioning due to the magnetic fields.

The third magnetic device ME3 can thus prevent or at least reduce the risk of the housing H hitting the end faces (e.g. in the event of load impacts on the rotor), since attracting or repelling forces can act in the same way along the straight line on both radial areas. If required and depending on the mass of the disk SF, additional running bearings LL (e.g. made of plastic) can be present, in particular on the underside of the disk SF. The execution of 4a has a reduction in the installation space for storage, the number of components required can be reduced, the magnets under and to the side of the disc SF can be better protected from media such as hydrogen.

With large masses, speeds and current pulses, the permanent magnets of the ME1 and ME3 can be replaced by electromagnets.

4b shows a schematic representation of a compressor device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

The 4b FIG. 12 shows a plan view of the disc shape SF from below. FIG 4a seen. The second magnet device ME2 can include an inner ring a around the axis of rotation or partial segments (not shown for the inner ring), which together form a ring, and/or an outer ring b around the axis of rotation or partial segments, which together form a ring .

The second magnetic device ME2 of 4a and 4b can also consist of soft iron parts (or other magnetizable materials), which can be a separate part of the disk SF or the material of the disk SF itself.

5 shows a block diagram of method steps of the method for producing a compressor device for a hydrogen supply according to an embodiment of the present invention

In the method for producing a compressor device for supplying hydrogen, a housing is provided S1; an arrangement S2 of a rotor with an impeller in the housing, with which a flow of hydrogen can be generated; arranging S3 a first magnetic device in the housing and arranging S4 a second magnetic device in and/or on the rotor, the first magnetic device being aligned towards the second magnetic device and the second magnetic device being aligned towards the first magnetic device, with a predetermined alignment and/or position of the rotor in the housing can be adjusted by a first magnetic field from the first magnet device and by a second magnetic field from the second magnet device, which at least partially overlap.

Although the present invention has been fully described above with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, it is not restricted thereto but can be modified in a variety of ways.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 112006003013 B4 [0005]

Claims (10)

Compressor device (10) for a hydrogen supply, comprising: - a housing (H); - A rotor (RT) with an impeller (SR) in the housing (H), with which a flow of hydrogen can be generated; - A first magnet device (ME1), which is arranged in the housing (H) and a second magnet device (ME2), which is arranged or included in and/or on the rotor (RT), the first magnet device (ME1) for the second magnet device ( ME2) and the second magnet device (ME2) is oriented towards the first magnet device (ME1), with a predetermined orientation and/or position of the rotor (RT) in the housing (H) being set by a first magnetic field from the first magnet device (ME1 ) and can be adjusted by a second magnetic field from the second magnet device (ME2), which at least partially overlaps. Compressor device (10) after claim 1 , in which the rotor (RT) comprises a disk shape (SF) with a disk surface, and an axis of rotation of the rotor (RT) runs perpendicularly through the disk surface and the first magnet device (ME1) is arranged in the housing (H) and opposite the disk surface and the second magnetic device (ME2) is arranged in and/or on the pane surface and is opposite the first magnetic device (ME1). Compressor device (10) after claim 1 or 2 , In which the first magnetic device (ME1) and/or the second magnetic device (ME2) comprises a ring around the axis of rotation or partial segments which together form a ring. Compressor device (10) after claim 2 or 3 , which comprises a third magnet device (ME3), which is arranged in the housing (H) and is arranged at at least two opposite positions radially outside the disk surface and faces the second magnet device (ME2), the second magnet device (ME2) being at least partially is arranged in a radial edge area of the disc shape. Compressor device (10) after claim 1 , in which the rotor (RT) comprises an axial region (AB) which extends from the impeller (SR) along an axis of rotation of the rotor (RT) and comprises a first rotary plate (DP1) which extends perpendicularly from the axis of rotation and radially to the Axial range (AB) stretched away and the second magnet device (ME2) is attached to an upper side and/or underside of the rotary plate (DP) and/or encompassed by it and the first magnet device (ME1) faces the second magnet device (ME2). Compressor device (10) after claim 5 , in which the rotor (RT) comprises a second rotary plate (DP2) which extends radially away from the axial region (AB) at an axial distance from the first rotary plate (DP1) and fastens a fourth magnet device (ME4) to the second rotary plate (DP2) and/ or is comprised by this and a third magnetic device (ME3) is comprised in the housing (H) and is arranged opposite the fourth magnetic device (ME4), whereby an axial tensile force can be generated on the axial region (AB) along the axis of rotation. Compressor device (10) after claim 5 or 6 , in which the second magnetic device (ME2) and/or the third magnetic device (ME3) and/or the fourth magnetic device (ME4) radially encircles the axis of rotation at least in regions. Compressor device (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , In which the first magnetic device (ME1) and/or the second magnetic device (ME2) and/or the third magnetic device (ME3) and/or the fourth magnetic device (ME4) comprises a permanent magnet and/or an electromagnet. Compressor device (10) after claim 6 , in which differently polarized magnetic fields can be generated by the third magnetic device (ME3) and by the fourth magnetic device (ME4). Method for manufacturing a compressor device (10) for a hydrogen supply, comprising the steps: - Providing (S1) a housing (H); - Arranging (S2) a rotor (RT) with an impeller (SR) in the housing (H), with which a flow of hydrogen can be generated; - Arranging (S3) a first magnetic device (ME1) in the housing (H) and arranging (S4) a second magnetic device (ME2) in and/or on the rotor (RT), the first magnetic device (ME1) for the second magnetic device (ME2) is aligned and the second magnetic device (ME2) is aligned towards the first magnetic device (ME1), with a predetermined alignment and/or position of the rotor (RT) in the housing (H) being determined by a first magnetic field from the first magnetic device (ME1) and can be adjusted by a second magnetic field from the second magnet device (ME2), which at least partially overlaps.

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