EP1340278A1 - Method and device for recovering water produced by a fuel cell - Google Patents

Method and device for recovering water produced by a fuel cell

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Publication number
EP1340278A1
EP1340278A1 EP01996899A EP01996899A EP1340278A1 EP 1340278 A1 EP1340278 A1 EP 1340278A1 EP 01996899 A EP01996899 A EP 01996899A EP 01996899 A EP01996899 A EP 01996899A EP 1340278 A1 EP1340278 A1 EP 1340278A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
outlet
circuit
water
hydrogen
separator
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01996899A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pierre Charlat
Gérard BOUDIERE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
Publication of EP1340278A1 publication Critical patent/EP1340278A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
    • H01M8/04156—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0017—Non-aqueous electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0065—Solid electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0082—Organic polymers
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of fuel cells, more particularly of the air or oxygen and hydrogen type, and more specifically the problem of recovering the water produced by the operation of the cell.
  • a fuel cell of the above type formed at least by one element, comprises a cathode compartment comprising an electrode and connected to an oxidant supply circuit, i.e. mainly air, enriched or not oxygen.
  • an element comprises a second compartment called anode containing an electrode which is separated from the first by a permeation and reaction membrane via the catalysts that the two electrodes have.
  • Such an anode compartment is connected to a combustible circuit which is hydrogen.
  • part of the water formed at the cathode passes through the membrane and ends up in the anode compartment, more particularly at the outlet of the hydrogen circuit.
  • This outlet is also known to be traversed by residual hydrogen, nitrogen and impurities.
  • the water balance of a fuel cell must be ensured so that the amount of water evaporated by the passage of gases through the cell must be less than the amount of water produced by the reaction. This is the reason why it is interesting to recover the produced water which ends up at the outlet of the anode compartment.
  • the operation of the cell leaves residual hydrogen in the anode compartment, this hydrogen incorporated into the water implying taking certain precautions to ensure the recovery of the latter safely.
  • the generally adopted solution is to completely separate the air-oxygen and hydrogen circuits and to reject the water produced at the anode outlet by a separate specific outlet.
  • the object of the invention adjustment for the purpose of overcoming the above drawbacks by proposing a new method and a new device making it possible to recover the water produced by the operation of a fuel cell and, more particularly , by that coming from the anode compartment.
  • the object of the invention also relates, for the implementation of the above method, to a device for recovering the water produced by a fuel cell, of the type comprising at least one element composed of a cathode compartment provided an electrode and connected to an oxidant supply circuit and an anode compartment, provided with an electrode separated from the first by a membrane, and connected to a hydrogen supply circuit, characterized in that it comprises two separators placed in series at the outlet of the hydrogen circuit, each defining at least one inlet chamber separated, by a hydrophilic filter, from an outlet chamber connected to the hydric circuit of the cell, a loss generating device of load being interposed between the separators.
  • FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing a variant of the invention.
  • the device for recovering the operating water from a fuel cell is illustrated in the example according to FIG. 1 with a battery consisting of a single element 1 comprising, in a conventional manner, a cathode compartment 2 and an anode compartment 3 which are separated by a membrane 4.
  • the compartments 2 and 3 contain two electrodes 5 and 6, respectively associated with a catalyst and function as cathode and anode.
  • the electrodes 5 and 6 are provided with two terminals 7 and 8 between which, by the operation of the fuel cell, there appears a potential difference which is taken up by a charging or consumption circuit 9 which can be isolated from at least one of the terminals by a switch 9a.
  • compartment 2 is associated with a circuit 11 for supplying oxidant, preferably in air, enriched or not with oxygen.
  • a circuit includes an input branch 12 connected to compartment 2 and an output branch 13 coming from the latter.
  • the output branch 13 is provided with a phase separator 13 ⁇ , from which extend a first sub-branch 13a responsible for evacuating impurities and nitrogen towards the ambient medium and a sub-branch 13b charged with evacuate the water produced in the cathode compartment in the direction of the water humidification and / or cooling circuit of the fuel cell.
  • the anode compartment 3 is associated with a hydrogen supply circuit 14, such a circuit comprising a supply or input branch 15 and an output branch 16. In order to recover the water which is caused to circulate by the branch 16, it is planned to set up the following device.
  • the outlet branch 16 comprises two separators in series 20 and 30.
  • the first separator 20 has an inlet chamber 21 to which the outlet branch 16 is connected.
  • the inlet chamber 21 is delimited inside the separator 20 by a hydrophilic type filter 22, typically a fabric and / or felt of polyamide fibers, which separates the inlet chamber 21 from an outlet chamber 23 connected, by a line or pipe 24, for example at the bottom - branch 13b.
  • the intake chamber 21 is also provided with an outlet sub-branch 16a, provided with a restriction 17, for example a calibrated hole, opening into the intake chamber 31 of the downstream separator 30, also provided with a hydrophilic nylon filter 32 separating the inlet chamber 31 from an outlet chamber 33 connected by a water evacuation pipe 34 to the line 24.
  • the gaseous residue is evacuated from the room 31 by the pipe 16b.
  • the pressures in the intake chambers 21 and 31 are different, which makes it possible to efficiently separate the water from the gas even with a low upstream pressure, and considerably reduce the filter surfaces for a given flow rate at treat, the pressure drop created by the water in the restriction is always significantly greater than the pressure drop created by the gas alone (in general, less than 200 mbar for an upstream pressure of approximately 1 bar).
  • hydrophilic filters 22 and 32 are to ensure the total and complete removal of the water included in the mixture circulating in the outlet branch 16 and, to assume this function, it is suitable to have filters made of a material porous hydrophilic whose pore diameter is less than 5 microns.
  • the branch 16 is connected, beyond a non-return member 25, either controlled like a tap or the like, or automatic like a non-return valve, as illustrated, to a pressure recovery pump 26 the outlet 27 of which is connected to the inlet chamber 21 of the upstream separator 20.
  • the second inlet 28 of the pump 26 is connected to a line 29 for circulation of water coming, for example, either from the cooling circuit or from the cathode circuit.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

The invention concerns two separators (20, 30) in series in the output portion of a hydrogen circuit defining each at least an intake chamber (21, 31), separated by a hydrophilic filter (22, 32), from an output chamber (23, 33) connected to the water circuit (24) of the cell. The invention is applicable to air-hydrogen fuel cells.

Description

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF DE RECUPERATION DE L'EAU PRODUITE PAR UNE PILE A COMBUSTIBLE METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING THE WATER PRODUCED BY A FUEL CELL
L'invention concerne le domaine des piles à combustible, plus particulièrement du type air ou oxygène et hydrogène, et plus spécifiquement le problème de la récupération de l'eau produite par le fonctionnement de la pile.The invention relates to the field of fuel cells, more particularly of the air or oxygen and hydrogen type, and more specifically the problem of recovering the water produced by the operation of the cell.
Une pile à combustible du type ci-dessus, formée au moins par un élément, comprend un compartiment cathode comprenant une électrode et raccordé à un circuit d'alimentation en comburant, c'est-à-dire de l'air principalement, enrichi ou non en oxygène. Un tel élément comprend un second compartiment dit anode contenant une électrode qui est séparée de la première par une membrane de perméation et de réaction par l'intermédiaire des catalyseurs que les deux électrodes possèdent. Un tel compartiment anode est raccordé à un circuit combustible qui est de l'hydrogène.A fuel cell of the above type, formed at least by one element, comprises a cathode compartment comprising an electrode and connected to an oxidant supply circuit, i.e. mainly air, enriched or not oxygen. Such an element comprises a second compartment called anode containing an electrode which is separated from the first by a permeation and reaction membrane via the catalysts that the two electrodes have. Such an anode compartment is connected to a combustible circuit which is hydrogen.
Lors du fonctionnement, une partie de l'eau formée à la cathode passe à travers la membrane et se retrouve dans le compartiment anode, plus particulièrement à la sortie du circuit hydrogène. Cette sortie est également connue pour être parcourue par de l'hydrogène résiduel, de l'azote et des impuretés.During operation, part of the water formed at the cathode passes through the membrane and ends up in the anode compartment, more particularly at the outlet of the hydrogen circuit. This outlet is also known to be traversed by residual hydrogen, nitrogen and impurities.
Le bilan hydrique d'une pile à combustible doit être assuré de telle sorte que la quantité d'eau évaporée par le passage des gaz dans la pile doit être inférieur à la quantité d'eau produite par la réaction. C'est la raison pour laquelle il est intéressant de récupérer l'eau produite qui se retrouve à la sortie du compartiment anode. Cependant, le fonctionnement de la pile laisse subsister de l'hydrogène résiduel dans le compartiment anode, cet hydrogène incorporé à l'eau impliquant de prendre des précautions certaines pour assurer la récupération de cette dernière en toute sécurité. Pour respecter ces exigences, la solution généralement retenue est de séparer complètement les circuits air-oxygène et hydrogène et de rejeter l'eau produite à la sortie anode par une sortie spécifique distincte.The water balance of a fuel cell must be ensured so that the amount of water evaporated by the passage of gases through the cell must be less than the amount of water produced by the reaction. This is the reason why it is interesting to recover the produced water which ends up at the outlet of the anode compartment. However, the operation of the cell leaves residual hydrogen in the anode compartment, this hydrogen incorporated into the water implying taking certain precautions to ensure the recovery of the latter safely. To comply with these requirements, the generally adopted solution is to completely separate the air-oxygen and hydrogen circuits and to reject the water produced at the anode outlet by a separate specific outlet.
L'eau est alors perdue tandis que les impuretés et l'azote sont éliminés par des purges régulières de la sortie du circuit hydrogène. Cette non-récupération n'est pas favorable à un bilan hydrique convenable et c'est la raison pour laquelle d'autres solutions ont été proposées. L'une d'elles envisage d'injecter l'eau du compartiment anode en sortie du compartiment cathode en même temps qu'une partie du mélange hydrogène résiduel, azote et impuretés est injecté en entrée du circuit cathode.The water is then lost while the impurities and nitrogen are eliminated by regular purges from the outlet of the hydrogen circuit. This non-recovery is not favorable to a suitable water balance and this is the reason why other solutions have been proposed. One of them plans to inject the water from the anode compartment at the outlet of the cathode compartment at the same time as part of the residual hydrogen, nitrogen and impurities mixture is injected at the inlet of the cathode circuit.
De cette façon, l'hydrogène est détruit au contact du catalyseur de la cathode grâce à la présence d'un excès d'oxygène dans le mélange gazeux comburant.In this way, the hydrogen is destroyed on contact with the cathode catalyst thanks to the presence of an excess of oxygen in the oxidizing gas mixture.
Une telle possibilité de raccordement n'est toutefois pas offerte toujours en fonction de la technologie structurelle de la pile, surtout lorsque l'entrée air côté cathode et l'entrée eau sont séparées. Par ailleurs, la présence d'eau liquide en entrée air peut être la cause d'une perturbation de l'écoulement à l'intérieur de la pile. Dans ces conditions, il faut alors mettre en place une disposition complexe de plusieurs jeux de séparateurs de phases en cascade, ce qui complique l'installation de la pile, en grève le prix de revient et ne favorise pas le maintien en fonction dans des conditions optimales à coût intéressant.However, such a connection possibility is not always offered depending on the structural technology of the cell, especially when the air inlet on the cathode side and the water inlet are separated. Furthermore, the presence of liquid water at the air inlet can be the cause of a disturbance of the flow inside the cell. Under these conditions, it is then necessary to put in place a complex arrangement of several sets of cascade phase separators, which complicates the installation of the battery, strikes the cost price and does not promote the maintenance in function under conditions optimal at an attractive cost.
L'objet de l'invention ajustement pour but de surmonter les inconvénients ci- dessus en proposant un nouveau procédé et un nouveau dispositif permettant d'assurer la récupération de l'eau produite par le fonctionnement d'une pile à combustible et, plus particulièrement, par celle issue du compartiment anode.The object of the invention adjustment for the purpose of overcoming the above drawbacks by proposing a new method and a new device making it possible to recover the water produced by the operation of a fuel cell and, more particularly , by that coming from the anode compartment.
Pour atteindre l'objectif ci-dessus dans le procédé selon l'invention :To achieve the above objective in the method according to the invention:
• dispose, en sortie du circuit hydrogène du compartiment anode, deux séparateurs en série, chacun équipé au moins d'un filtre à caractère hydrophile, délimitant dans le séparateur une chambre d'admission et une chambre de sortie reliée à une canalisation d'évacuation d'eau,• has, at the outlet of the hydrogen circuit of the anode compartment, two separators in series, each fitted with at least one hydrophilic filter, delimiting in the separator an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber connected to an evacuation pipe of water,
• créée une perte de charge dans le circuit entre les deux séparateurs, • assure en permanence le passage de fluide provenant du compartiment anode à travers le séparateur. L'objet de l'invention vise également, pour la mise en œuvre du procédé ci- dessus, un dispositif de récupération de l'eau produite par une pile à combustible, du type comprenant au moins un élément composé d'un compartiment cathode pourvu d'une électrode et raccordé à un circuit d'alimentation en comburant et d'un compartiment anode, pourvu d'une électrode séparée de la première par une membrane, et raccordé à un circuit d'alimentation en hydrogène, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend deux séparateurs placés en série en sortie du circuit hydrogène, chacun définissant au moins une chambre d'admission séparée, par un filtre hydrophile, d'une chambre de sortie raccordée au circuit hydrique de la pile, un dispositif générateur de perte de charge étant interposé entre les séparateurs. D'autres caractéristiques ressortent de la description faite ci-dessous en référence aux dessins annexés qui montrent, à titre d'exemples non limitatifs, des modes de réalisation de l'objet de l'invention.• creates a pressure drop in the circuit between the two separators, • permanently ensures the passage of fluid from the anode compartment through the separator. The object of the invention also relates, for the implementation of the above method, to a device for recovering the water produced by a fuel cell, of the type comprising at least one element composed of a cathode compartment provided an electrode and connected to an oxidant supply circuit and an anode compartment, provided with an electrode separated from the first by a membrane, and connected to a hydrogen supply circuit, characterized in that it comprises two separators placed in series at the outlet of the hydrogen circuit, each defining at least one inlet chamber separated, by a hydrophilic filter, from an outlet chamber connected to the hydric circuit of the cell, a loss generating device of load being interposed between the separators. Other characteristics will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.
La fig. 1 représente un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, et la fig. 2 est un schéma analogue à celui de la fig. 1 mais montrant une variante de l'invention.Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing a variant of the invention.
Le dispositif de récupération de l'eau de fonctionnement d'une pile à combustible est illustré dans l'exemple selon la fig. 1 avec une pile constituée par un seul élément 1 comprenant, de façon classique, un compartiment cathode 2 et un compartiment anode 3 qui sont séparés par une membrane 4. Les compartiments 2 et 3 contiennent deux électrodes 5 et 6, respectivement associées à un catalyseur et à fonction de cathode et d'anode.The device for recovering the operating water from a fuel cell is illustrated in the example according to FIG. 1 with a battery consisting of a single element 1 comprising, in a conventional manner, a cathode compartment 2 and an anode compartment 3 which are separated by a membrane 4. The compartments 2 and 3 contain two electrodes 5 and 6, respectively associated with a catalyst and function as cathode and anode.
De manière classique, les électrodes 5 et 6 sont pourvues de deux bornes 7 et 8 entres lesquelles, par le fonctionnement de la pile à combustible, apparaît une différence de potentiel qui est prélevée par un circuit de charge ou de consommation 9 pouvant être isolé de l'une au moins des bornes par un commutateur 9a. De manière également conventionnelle, le compartiment 2 est associé à un circuit 11 d'alimentation en comburant, préférentiellement en air, enrichi ou non en oxygène. Un tel circuit comprend une branche d'entrée 12 raccordée au compartiment 2 et une branche de sortie 13 issue de ce dernier. La branche de sortie 13 est pourvue d'un séparateur de phase 13χ, à partir duquel s'étendent une première sous-branche 13a chargée d'évacuer les impuretés et l'azote vers le milieu ambiant et une sous-branche 13b chargée d'évacuer l'eau produite dans le compartiment cathode en direction du circuit hydrique d'humidification et/ou de refroidissement de la pile à combustible. De manière connue, le compartiment anode 3 est associé à un circuit 14 d'apport en hydrogène, un tel circuit comprenant une branche d'amenée ou d'entrée 15 et une branche de sortie 16. Dans le but de récupérer l'eau qui est amenée à circuler par la branche 16, il est prévu de mettre en place le dispositif suivant.Conventionally, the electrodes 5 and 6 are provided with two terminals 7 and 8 between which, by the operation of the fuel cell, there appears a potential difference which is taken up by a charging or consumption circuit 9 which can be isolated from at least one of the terminals by a switch 9a. Also conventionally, compartment 2 is associated with a circuit 11 for supplying oxidant, preferably in air, enriched or not with oxygen. Such a circuit includes an input branch 12 connected to compartment 2 and an output branch 13 coming from the latter. The output branch 13 is provided with a phase separator 13χ, from which extend a first sub-branch 13a responsible for evacuating impurities and nitrogen towards the ambient medium and a sub-branch 13b charged with evacuate the water produced in the cathode compartment in the direction of the water humidification and / or cooling circuit of the fuel cell. In known manner, the anode compartment 3 is associated with a hydrogen supply circuit 14, such a circuit comprising a supply or input branch 15 and an output branch 16. In order to recover the water which is caused to circulate by the branch 16, it is planned to set up the following device.
Dans une première forme de réalisation, selon la fig. 1, la branche de sortie 16 comprend deux séparateurs en série 20 et 30. Le premier séparateur 20 possède une chambre d'admission 21 à laquelle se raccorde la branche de sortie 16. La chambre d'admission 21 est délimitée à l'intérieur du séparateur 20 par un filtre 22 de type hydrophile, typiquement un tissu et/ou feutre en fibres polyamide, qui sépare la chambre d'admission 21 d'une chambre de sortie 23 raccordée, par une ligne ou canalisation 24, par exemple à la sous-branche 13b. La chambre d'admission 21 est aussi pourvue d'une sous-branche de sortie 16a, munie d'une restriction 17, par exemple un trou calibré, débouchant dans la chambre d'admission 31 du séparateur aval 30, muni également d'un filtre hydrophile en nylon 32 séparant la chambre d'admission 31 d'une chambre de sortie 33 raccordée par un conduit d'évacuation d'eau 34 à la ligne 24. Le résiduaire gazeux est évacué de la chambre 31 par le conduit 16b.In a first embodiment, according to FIG. 1, the outlet branch 16 comprises two separators in series 20 and 30. The first separator 20 has an inlet chamber 21 to which the outlet branch 16 is connected. The inlet chamber 21 is delimited inside the separator 20 by a hydrophilic type filter 22, typically a fabric and / or felt of polyamide fibers, which separates the inlet chamber 21 from an outlet chamber 23 connected, by a line or pipe 24, for example at the bottom - branch 13b. The intake chamber 21 is also provided with an outlet sub-branch 16a, provided with a restriction 17, for example a calibrated hole, opening into the intake chamber 31 of the downstream separator 30, also provided with a hydrophilic nylon filter 32 separating the inlet chamber 31 from an outlet chamber 33 connected by a water evacuation pipe 34 to the line 24. The gaseous residue is evacuated from the room 31 by the pipe 16b.
Avec un tel agencement, les pressions dans les chambres d'admission 21 et 31 sont différentes, ce qui permet de séparer efficacement l'eau du gaz même avec une faible pression amont, et de réduire considérablement les surfaces de filtres pour un débit donné à traiter, la perte de charge créée par l'eau dans la restriction étant toujours nettement supérieure à la perte de charge créée par le gaz seul (en général, inférieure à 200 mbar pour une pression amont d'environ 1 bar).With such an arrangement, the pressures in the intake chambers 21 and 31 are different, which makes it possible to efficiently separate the water from the gas even with a low upstream pressure, and considerably reduce the filter surfaces for a given flow rate at treat, the pressure drop created by the water in the restriction is always significantly greater than the pressure drop created by the gas alone (in general, less than 200 mbar for an upstream pressure of approximately 1 bar).
Par les moyens ci-dessus, il est possible de mettre en œuvre le procédé consistant à assurer l'évacuation du mélange issu du compartiment 3 de manière permanente, par la branche 16 jusque dans la chambre d'admission 21 du séparateur 20. Les filtres hydrophiles 22 et 32 permettent d'assurer une séparation complète entre les produits gazeux inclus au mélange, pour partie au moins composés d'hydrogène, dans la branche de sortie 16 et l'eau qui est évacuée/recyclée par la canalisation 24.By the above means, it is possible to implement the process consisting in ensuring the evacuation of the mixture from compartment 3 permanently, by branch 16 into the inlet chamber 21 of the separator 20. The filters hydrophilic 22 and 32 make it possible to ensure complete separation between the gaseous products included in the mixture, at least partly composed of hydrogen, in the outlet branch 16 and the water which is evacuated / recycled through line 24.
La fonctionnalité des filtres hydrophiles 22 et 32 est d'assurer le prélèvement total et complet de l'eau incluse dans le mélange circulant dans la branche de sortie 16 et, pour assumer cette fonction, il est convenable de disposer des filtres constitués en un matériau poreux hydrophile dont le diamètre de pores est inférieur à 5 microns. Selon une variante représentée par la fig. 2, la branche 16 est raccordée, au-delà d'un organe de non retour 25, soit commandé comme un robinet ou analogue, soit automatique comme un clapet anti-retour, tel qu'illustré, à une pompe de rétablissement de pression 26 dont la sortie 27 est branchée à la chambre d'admission 21 du séparateur amont 20. La seconde entrée 28 de la pompe 26 est raccordée à une ligne 29 de circulation d'eau en provenance par exemple, soit du circuit de refroidissement, soit du circuit cathode.The functionality of hydrophilic filters 22 and 32 is to ensure the total and complete removal of the water included in the mixture circulating in the outlet branch 16 and, to assume this function, it is suitable to have filters made of a material porous hydrophilic whose pore diameter is less than 5 microns. According to a variant shown in FIG. 2, the branch 16 is connected, beyond a non-return member 25, either controlled like a tap or the like, or automatic like a non-return valve, as illustrated, to a pressure recovery pump 26 the outlet 27 of which is connected to the inlet chamber 21 of the upstream separator 20. The second inlet 28 of the pump 26 is connected to a line 29 for circulation of water coming, for example, either from the cooling circuit or from the cathode circuit.
L'invention n'est pas limitée aux exemples décrits et représentés car diverses modifications peuvent y être apportées sans sortir du cadre des revendications ci- après. The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown since various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims below.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1 - Procédé de récupération de l'eau produite par une pile à combustible, dans lequel on :1 - Process for recovering the water produced by a fuel cell, in which:
• dispose, en sortie du circuit hydrogène du compartiment anode, deux séparateurs en série, chacun équipé au moins d'un filtre à caractère hydrophile, délimitant dans le séparateur une chambre d'admission et une chambre de sortie reliée à une canalisation d'évacuation d'eau,• has, at the outlet of the hydrogen circuit of the anode compartment, two separators in series, each fitted with at least one hydrophilic filter, delimiting in the separator an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber connected to an evacuation pipe of water,
• créée une perte de charge dans le circuit entre les deux séparateurs, • assure en permanence le passage de fluide provenant du compartiment anode à travers le séparateur.• creates a pressure drop in the circuit between the two separators, • permanently ensures the passage of fluid from the anode compartment through the separator.
2 - Dispositif de récupération de l'eau produite par une pile à combustible, du type comprenant au moins un élément (1) composé d'un compartiment cathode (2) pourvu d'une électrode (5) et raccordé à un circuit (11) d'alimentation en comburant et d'un compartiment anode (3), pourvu d'une électrode (6) séparée de la première par une membrane (4), et raccordé à un circuit (14) d'alimentation en hydrogène, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend deux séparateurs (20 ; 30) placés en série en sortie (16) du circuit hydrogène du compartiment anode, chacun définissant au moins une chambre d'admission (21) séparée, par un filtre hydrophile (22 ; 32), d'une chambre de sortie (23), un dispositif générateur de perte de charge (17) étantn interposé entre les séparateurs (20 ; 30).2 - Device for recovering the water produced by a fuel cell, of the type comprising at least one element (1) composed of a cathode compartment (2) provided with an electrode (5) and connected to a circuit (11 ) of oxidant supply and an anode compartment (3), provided with an electrode (6) separated from the first by a membrane (4), and connected to a circuit (14) for supplying hydrogen, characterized in that it comprises two separators (20; 30) placed in series at the outlet (16) of the hydrogen circuit of the anode compartment, each defining at least one inlet chamber (21) separated by a hydrophilic filter (22; 32 ), an outlet chamber (23), a pressure drop generating device (17) being interposed between the separators (20; 30).
3 - Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la sortie du circuit hydrogène est raccordée à la chambre d'admission du séparateur amont (20) via une pompe (26) dont la seconde entrée (28) est raccordée à une canalisation (29) issue de la branche (13b) de sortie d'eau d'un séparateur (13χ) placé en sortie (13) du compartiment cathode.3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the outlet of the hydrogen circuit is connected to the inlet chamber of the upstream separator (20) via a pump (26) whose second inlet (28) is connected to a pipe ( 29) from the branch (13b) of water outlet from a separator (13χ) placed at the outlet (13) of the cathode compartment.
4 - Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 2 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le diamètre des portes d'au moins le filtre (22) du séparateur amont (22) est inférieur à 5 microns. 5 - Dispositif selon les revendications 2 et 4, caractérisé en ce que les filtres hydrophiles (22 ; 32) sont constitués de fibres de nylon. 4 - Device according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the diameter of the doors of at least the filter (22) of the upstream separator (22) is less than 5 microns. 5 - Device according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the hydrophilic filters (22; 32) are made of nylon fibers.
EP01996899A 2000-11-14 2001-11-12 Method and device for recovering water produced by a fuel cell Withdrawn EP1340278A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0014652 2000-11-14
FR0014652A FR2816760B1 (en) 2000-11-14 2000-11-14 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING THE WATER PRODUCED BY A FUEL CELL
PCT/FR2001/003516 WO2002041427A1 (en) 2000-11-14 2001-11-12 Method and device for recovering water produced by a fuel cell

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EP (1) EP1340278A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2002223054A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2389610A1 (en)
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WO (1) WO2002041427A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2829706B1 (en) * 2001-09-20 2003-10-31 Air Liquide GAS AND LIQUID PHASE SEPARATOR, AND FUEL CELL-BASED ENERGY PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY PROVIDED WITH SUCH A SEPARATOR
ATE408902T1 (en) * 2004-03-04 2008-10-15 Siemens Ag FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME
US7955742B2 (en) * 2004-07-28 2011-06-07 American Power Conversion Corporation Fuel cell housing and fuel cell assemblies

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AU2002223054A1 (en) 2002-05-27
FR2816760B1 (en) 2003-10-31
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CA2389610A1 (en) 2002-05-23
FR2816760A1 (en) 2002-05-17
US6821662B1 (en) 2004-11-23

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