EP1799614A1 - Electric generator for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Electric generator for motor vehicle

Info

Publication number
EP1799614A1
EP1799614A1 EP05810742A EP05810742A EP1799614A1 EP 1799614 A1 EP1799614 A1 EP 1799614A1 EP 05810742 A EP05810742 A EP 05810742A EP 05810742 A EP05810742 A EP 05810742A EP 1799614 A1 EP1799614 A1 EP 1799614A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reformer
water
air
reformate
fuel cell
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Withdrawn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
EP05810742A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Samuel Barbier
Fabien Boudjemaa
Gérard Olivier
Abdelhakim Oulefki
Robert Yu
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.)
Renault SAS
Original Assignee
Renault SAS
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 Renault SAS filed Critical Renault SAS
Publication of EP1799614A1 publication Critical patent/EP1799614A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • C01B3/382—Multi-step processes
    • 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
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0205—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step
    • C01B2203/0227—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step
    • C01B2203/0244—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0283—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
    • C01B2203/0288—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step containing two CO-shift steps
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0435—Catalytic purification
    • C01B2203/044—Selective oxidation of carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C01B2203/047—Composition of the impurity the impurity being carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/06—Integration with other chemical processes
    • C01B2203/066—Integration with other chemical processes with fuel cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/08—Methods of heating or cooling
    • C01B2203/0805—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0838—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by heat exchange with exothermic reactions, other than by combustion of fuel
    • C01B2203/0844—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by heat exchange with exothermic reactions, other than by combustion of fuel the non-combustive exothermic reaction being another reforming reaction as defined in groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/0294
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1288—Evaporation of one or more of the different feed components
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/14—Details of the flowsheet
    • C01B2203/142—At least two reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/80—Aspect of integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas not covered by groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/1695
    • C01B2203/82—Several process steps of C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/08 integrated into a single apparatus
    • 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 an electricity generator for a motor vehicle, comprising
  • a reformer capable of producing a reformate from a primary fuel, of air and of water, feed circuits of said reformer with primary fuel, with air and with water,
  • a compressor capable of compressing the air intended for said fuel cell and / or said reformer
  • feed circuits of said reformate and air fuel cell connecting said fuel cell to said reformer and said compressor, respectively.
  • Such an electricity generator, or “power module” (MP) 1 is used in particular in a motor vehicle V to power the electrical consumers of the vehicle, in particular an electric traction motor. It allows its transformation of a fuel embedded in the vehicle into electric power.
  • the fuel may be hydrogen, directly consumable by the fuel cell. For increased autonomy, it is more generally used a primary fuel easier to store you! only gasoline, diesel, naphtha, alcohol, an ester, or a hydrocarbon.
  • the generator then comprises reforming means, that is to say of transformation of the primary fuel into hydrogen.
  • FIG. 1 shows a typical simplified architecture of an electricity generator 10 according to the prior art.
  • the generator shown comprises a fuel cell 20, for example of the PEMFC type, supplied with hydrogen and oxygen, via pipes 22 and 24, respectively.
  • the fuel cell 20 comprises anode compartments 26 and cathode 28 cooled by means of a cell cooling circuit 30 having a radiator 32 able to evacuate to the outside the recovered heat energy.
  • Oxygen is supplied from outside air, successively compressed by a low pressure (LP) compressor 36 and a high pressure (HP) compressor 38 separated by an exchanger 40, called "Low Pressure Induction Air Heater”. or RAS BP exchanger.
  • the compressor BP 36 able to compress the air at a pressure conventionally between 2 and 3 bar, is driven by a motor 42.
  • the HP 38 compressor is able to compress the air coming out of the exchanger
  • BP RAS at a pressure typically between 4 and 5 bar.
  • the HP compressor 38 is coupled to a turbine 44 recovering mechanical energy by expansion of the hot exhaust gas from the fuel cell 20, transported by a pipe 46.
  • RAS HP Another exchanger 50, called “RAS HP" is provided downstream of the compressor
  • the RAS heat exchangers HP 50 and RAS BP 40 are integrated in an air cooling circuit 52, comprising a radiator 54 able to evacuate towards the fuel cell. outside the recovered heat energy.
  • the generator 10 further comprises reforming means, or "FPS" (English, “Fuel Processing System”), comprising an autothermal reactor, called “ATR” or “reformer 60” able to transform, in the presence of air and of water vapor, the primary fuel into a reformate rich in hydrogen.
  • FPS Reforming Means
  • ATR autothermal reactor
  • reformer 60 able to transform, in the presence of air and of water vapor, the primary fuel into a reformate rich in hydrogen.
  • the reformer 60 is supplied with compressed air, from the outlet of the HP compressor 38, via a pipe 62, supplied with primary fuel, from a tank, not shown, via a pipe 64, and supplied with water, in the form of steam, via a pipe
  • the reactants Prior to their introduction into the reformer 60, the reactants, that is to say the primary fuel, water and air, are heated to about 700 0 C via a heat exchanger 70 by means of a burner catalytic converter 72.
  • the catalytic burner 72 is supplied with compressed air by the compressor HP 38 via a pipe 74, and residual hydrogen, that is to say unused by the fuel cell 20, by the The intermediate of a pipe 76.
  • the exhaust gases of the burner 72 are sent, via a pipe 78, to the inlet of the turbine 44, and then discharged to the turbine. 'outside.
  • the reformate produced by the reformer 60 passes, successively in the direction of the reformate flow, an exchanger "HTS” 82, a purifier “HTS” 84 (in English “High Temperature Shift"), a heat exchanger “LTS” 86 (in English “Low Temperature Shift”), an LTS 88 purifier, a PrOx 90 exchanger (in English "Preferential Oxidation”), a preferential oxidation reactor PrOx 92, and a pre-anodic condenser 94, before joining the anode compartment 26 of the fuel cell 20.
  • the preferential oxidation reactor PrOx 92 is further supplied with compressed air leaving the compressor HP 38 via a pipe 95.
  • the purification and the preferential oxidation make it possible to convert a large part of the CO present in the reformate to CO 2 .
  • the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and PrOx 90 are intended to cool the reformate between each treatment stage. They are cooled by a circulation of the water intended for the reformer 60, the heat energy recovered by the water being able to be used in the exchanger 70 for the vaporization and the heating of the reagents of the reformer 60, as represented, or to be taken supported by an external cooling circuit.
  • the water outlets of the HTS exchangers 82, LTS 88 and PrOx 90 thus meet in the common pipe 66 connected to the inlet of the exchanger 70 of the reformer.
  • the hydrogen contained in the reformate is partially converted by an electrochemical reaction to provide electricity.
  • the hydrogen not consumed by the fuel cell 20 leaving the anode compartment 26 via a pipe 96 passes through an anode condenser 100, before feeding, via the pipe 76, the burner 72.
  • the hot air leaving the cathode compartment 28 by a pipe 102 passes through a cathode condenser 104, before being sent through the pipe 46 to the turbine 44 and discharged to the outside via the pipe 106.
  • the anodic condensers 100, cathode 104 and pre-anodic 94 are cooled by means of a condenser cooling circuit, referenced 110, comprising a radiator 112 able to evacuate to the outside the recovered heat energy.
  • the water recovered by these condensers is sent, via pipes not shown, to a tank not shown, then, if necessary, pumped to the entries 114, 116 and 118 of the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and PrOx 90.
  • the cooling circuits 30, 52 and 110 of the fuel cell 20, the compressed air by the compressors 36 and 38 and the condensers 94, 100 and 104, respectively, have been shown separated from each other for the sake of clarity. drawing. In fact, these three circuits are merged into a single cooling circuit, after the "vehicle cooling circuit".
  • the BP 40 RAS exchanger cools the air heated by the BP 36 compressor, which increases the compression ratio and reduces the mechanical work required for each compressor.
  • the compressed air feeds the burner 72, the reformer 60 through the exchanger 70, and the cathode compartment 28 of the fuel cell 20 via the HP RAS exchanger 50. Downstream of the heat exchanger HP 50, the temperature of the compressed air is about 110 0 C.
  • the exchanger 70 of the reformer 60 heated by the exhaust gas of the burner 72, heats all the reagents for the reformer 60 to a temperature suitable for reforming the fuel, the temperature of the reformer 60 being typically of the order of 700 ° C.
  • the reformate leaving the reformer 60 is then cooled to about 400 ° C. by the HTS exchanger 82, then to about 200 ° C. by the LTS exchanger 86, then finally to about 120 ° C. by the PrOx exchanger. 90.
  • the reformate can thus be purified efficiently in the HTS 84 and LTS 88 purifiers, then preferentially oxidized in the PrOx oxidation reactor 92.
  • the pre-anodic condenser 94 also has the function of recovering a portion of the water vapor contained in the purified reformate.
  • the hydrogen of the injected reformate is partially converted by an electrochemical reaction to provide electricity.
  • the residual hydrogen leaving the anode compartment at a pressure of about 3 bars is used by the burner 72, after recovery of the water vapor in the anode condenser 100.
  • the fuel cell 20 has a heat output of about 60 to 70 kW.
  • the condensers 94, 100 and 104 give off about 30 to 40 kW and the heat exchangers 40, 50, 82, 86 and 118 release a total of about 10 kW.
  • the cooling circuit of the vehicle must therefore exchange with the ambient a heat output of the order of 100 to 120 kW, for a raw fuel cell power of 70 kWe.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a generator of the type described in the preamble offering reduced size and / or improved performance, so as to facilitate its integration into the vehicle.
  • a reformer capable of producing a reformate from a primary fuel, air and water
  • feed circuits of said reformer in primary fuel, in air and in water,
  • a fuel cell capable of producing electrical energy from said reformate and air;
  • a compressor capable of compressing the air intended for said fuel cell and / or said reformer;
  • said water supply circuit of said reformer comprises a first heat exchanger able to put in heat exchange relation said water and said compressed air by said compressor.
  • the water flowing through the first exchanger cools the air intended for the fuel cell and / or the reformer.
  • the water thus recuperates heat energy during the crossing of the first heat exchanger. It thus arrives preheated in the exchanger arranged upstream of the reformer.
  • the additional heat energy necessary for the water temperature to be suitable for injection into the reformer conventionally provided by a catalytic burner, is reduced. This results in a gain in energy and an improvement of the energy balance of the generator.
  • the water passing through the first exchanger cools the compressed air, which advantageously relieves the cooling circuit of the vehicle.
  • the thermal power to be discharged to the outside by the latter is reduced. This advantageously results in a reduced dimensioning of the cooling circuit and an integration in the improved vehicle.
  • the generator according to the invention still has the following characteristics.
  • Said water supply circuit of said reformer comprises at least a second heat exchanger, inserted downstream of said first heat exchanger, adapted to put in heat exchange relationship said water and said reformate circulating in said reformate feed circuit of said fuel cell.
  • Said water supply circuit of said reformer comprises, downstream of said first heat exchanger, a plurality of said second heat exchangers connected in parallel and adapted to put in heat exchange relationship said water and said reformate flowing in said circuit of reformat feeding said fuel rod.
  • Said reformate feed circuit of said fuel cell comprises one or more purifiers and / or oxidation reactors of said reformate, at least one of said second exchangers being inserted between said reformer and any of said purifiers and / or reactors; oxidation, and / or between any two of said purifiers and / or oxidation reactors.
  • Said second exchanger is inserted into said water supply circuit of said reformer upstream of a vaporization exchanger of said water.
  • the invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an electricity generator according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 described in the introduction, schematically represents an electricity generator according to the prior art ;
  • the air supply circuits of the fuel cell, the burner, the preferred oxidation reactor and the reformer have been shown in broken lines.
  • the reformate feed circuit of the fuel cell has been shown in thick lines.
  • the water supply circuit of the reformer has been shown in dashed line.
  • the pipes in which the gases escaping from the fuel cell circulate have been shown in dotted lines.
  • FIG. 1 having been described in the introduction, reference is now made to FIG. 2.
  • the generator 10 shown in FIG. 2 comprises, in addition to that represented in FIG. 1, an additional LP RAS exchanger, referenced 130, inserted immediately. downstream of the compressor BP 36.
  • the RAS exchanger BP 130 is cooled by a circulation of water, entering the exchanger at about 20 0 C and about 8 bar.
  • the water is reheated by the hot air leaving the compressor BP 36 at about 190 ° C.
  • the water is passed through the exchanger 130 at the outlet of the exchanger 130. line 132, then parallel branches 134, 136 and 138, to the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 88 and pre-anodic 90, respectively.
  • Crossing of the HTS, LTS and pre-anodic exchangers causes the vaporization of water, which qualifies these exchangers exchangers vaporization.
  • the water vapor then passes through the exchanger 70 where it is heated to the inlet temperature of the reformer 60 thanks to the heat produced in the catalytic burner 72. It is then injected into the reformer 60. cooled by the water of the reformer 60, the air is cooled to a temperature adapted to the HP 38 compressor by the RAS BP 40 exchanger conventionally inserted into the cooling circuit of the vehicle.
  • the upstream cooling by the additional exchanger 130 makes it possible to limit the required cooling power of the cooling circuit of the vehicle.
  • the use of the cooling circuit to cool the air also makes it possible to ensure optimum control of the temperature of the air entering the HP compressor 38, which is particularly advantageous during the transient operating phases.
  • the cooling of the additional heat exchanger RAS BP 130 by the water intended for the reformer 60 makes it possible to recover 3 to 7 kW of heat and to reduce the load of the cooling circuit accordingly.
  • the temperature of this gas when it enters the turbine 44 is thus increased, which advantageously increases the mechanical energy recovery in the turbine from 1 to 2 kW.
  • This increase in the mechanical energy recovery at the turbine 44 increases the compression of the HP compressor 38 and reduce that of the BP compressor 36.
  • the power consumption of the compressors is slightly reduced and the amount of electricity available for the traction of the vehicle advantageously increased by about 1 to 2 kW.
  • the overall efficiency of the generator increases from 0.5 to 1%.
  • the hot water leaving the additional LP RAS exchanger 130 does not necessarily then pass through the three exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and pre-anodic 90. In FIG. 3, for example, it passes through only the only LTS exchanger 86, in which it is vaporized.
  • the additional LP RAS exchanger 130 is connected in the water supply circuit of the reformer 60 in parallel with the HTS 82, LTS 86 and pre-anode exchangers 90, all the water reheated in the exchangers 130, 82, 86 and 90 joining at the inlet of the exchanger 70.
  • the outgoing water reheated from the supplementary LP RAS exchanger 130 therefore does not cross any of the three exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and pre-anodic 90.
  • the cooling circuits of the air leaving the compressors BP 36 and HP 38 have been dissociated.
  • the RAS exchanger BP 40 is cooled by the cooling circuit of the vehicle, as in the prior art.
  • the RAS HP 50 exchanger is now cooled by liquid water, initially at about 20 ° C. and at about 8 bars, which, after passing through the HP 50 RAS exchanger, and having been reheated by the hot air leaving the compressor HP 38, is conducted, via the lines 132, 134, 136 and 138, to the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 84 and pre-anodic 90.
  • the crossing of the exchangers HTS, LTS and pre- anodic causes the vaporization of water.
  • the water vapor then passes through the exchanger 70 heated by the burner, then feeds the reformer 60.
  • the cooling of the RAS HP 50 exchanger by the water used in the reformer 60 makes it possible to add 3 to 7 kW of heat to the charge of the cooling circuit of the vehicle, and thus to lighten the heat load to be discharged to the outside. by the latter.
  • the recovery, thanks to the RAS HP 50 exchanger, of a portion of the thermal energy necessary for the vaporization and heating of the water makes it possible to take up less thermal energy at the level of the catalytic burner 72.
  • 5 kW contribution to the RAS heat exchanger HP 50 allows for example to reduce by 5 kW the heating power taken from the hot gases leaving the catalytic burner 72 and intended for heating the steam.
  • the temperature of these gases when they enter the turbine 44 is thus increased, which advantageously increases the mechanical energy recovery in the turbine from 1 to 2 kW.
  • This increase in the recovery of mechanical energy at the turbine 44 increases the compression of the HP compressor 38 and reduce that of the compressor BP 36.
  • the power consumption of the compressors is reduced and the amount of electricity available for traction of the vehicle advantageously increased by about 1 to 2 kW.
  • the overall efficiency of the generator increases from 0.5 to 1%.
  • Each of these exchangers 40 and 50 is cooled by crossing a flow of water, then joining, as in the configuration of Figure 5, the HTS exchangers
  • the water flowing through the RAS BP 40 or RAS HP 50 exchangers dissociated from the vehicle cooling circuit is preferably recycled water, from the anodic, cathodic and pre-condensers. - Anodic, then stored in a tank At the outlet of this tank, the temperature is typically about 20 0 C, but can, erv function of the conditions of rolling, reach 60 0 C.
  • the present invention n ' is not limited to the embodiment described and shown provided by way of illustrative and non-limiting example. The different variants could for example be combined.
  • the invention is not limited to the architecture shown, the number and positioning of the RAS, HTS, RTS and pre-cathodic exchangers, or condensers that may be different. It is not limited to one type of fuel cell or reformer.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)

Abstract

The invention concerns an electric generator for a motor vehicle, comprising: a reformer (60) for producing a reformate from a primary fuel, water and air; circuits supplying the reformer with primary fuel (64), air (36, 40, 38, 62) and water (82, 86, 90, 66), a fuel cell (20) for production electric power from the reformate and air, a compressor (36, 38) for compressing the air for the fuel cell (20) and/or the reformer (60), circuits for supplying the fuel cell with reformate (80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 22) and air (24), connecting the fuel cell to the reformer and the compressor (36, 38), respectively. The inventive generator is characterized in that the circuits (82, 86, 90, 66) supplying water to the reformer comprises a first heat exchanger (130; 40; 50) for establishing heat exchange relationship between said water and the air compressed by said compressor (35; 38).

Description

GÉNÉRATEUR D'ÉLECTRICITÉ POUR VÉHICULE AUTOMOBILE ELECTRICITY GENERATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE
L'invention concerne un générateur d'électricité destiné à un véhicule automobile, comportantThe invention relates to an electricity generator for a motor vehicle, comprising
- un reformeur apte à produire un reformât à partir d'un carburant primaire, d'air et d'eau, - des circuits d'alimentation dudit reformeur en carburant primaire, en air et en eau,a reformer capable of producing a reformate from a primary fuel, of air and of water, feed circuits of said reformer with primary fuel, with air and with water,
- une pile à combustible apte à produire de l'énergie électrique à partir dudit reformât et d'air,a fuel cell capable of producing electrical energy from said reformate and air,
- un compresseur apte à comprimer l'air destiné à ladite pile à combustible et/ou audit reformeur,a compressor capable of compressing the air intended for said fuel cell and / or said reformer,
- des circuits d'alimentation de ladite pile à combustible en reformât et en air, connectant Jadite pile à combustible audit reformeur et audit compresseur, respectivement.feed circuits of said reformate and air fuel cell, connecting said fuel cell to said reformer and said compressor, respectively.
Un tel générateur d'électricité, ou "module de puissance" (MdP)1 est notamment utilisé dans un véhicule automobile V pour alimenter les consommateurs électriques du véhicule, en particulier un moteur électrique de traction. Il permet Sa transformation d'un carburant embarqué dans te véhicule en puissance électrique.Such an electricity generator, or "power module" (MP) 1 is used in particular in a motor vehicle V to power the electrical consumers of the vehicle, in particular an electric traction motor. It allows its transformation of a fuel embedded in the vehicle into electric power.
Le carburant peut être de l'hydrogène, directement consommable par la pile à combustible. Pour une autonomie accrue, on utilise plus généralement un carburant primaire plus facile à stocker te! que de l'essence, du diesel, du naphta, de l'alcool, un ester, ou un hydrocarbure. Le générateur comporte alors des moyens de reformage, c'est-à-dire de transformation du carburant primaire en hydrogène.The fuel may be hydrogen, directly consumable by the fuel cell. For increased autonomy, it is more generally used a primary fuel easier to store you! only gasoline, diesel, naphtha, alcohol, an ester, or a hydrocarbon. The generator then comprises reforming means, that is to say of transformation of the primary fuel into hydrogen.
La figure 1 représente une architecture simplifiée type d'un générateur d'électricité 10 selon la technique antérieure. Le générateur représenté comporte une pile à combustible 20, par exemple de type PEMFC, alimentée en hydrogène et en oxygène, par S'intemnédiaire de canalisations 22 et 24, respectivement. La pile à combustible 20 comporte des compartiments anodique 26 et cathodique 28 refroidis au moyen d'un circuit de refroidissement de pile 30 comportant un radiateur 32 apte à évacuer vers l'extérieur l'énergie calorifique récupérée.Figure 1 shows a typical simplified architecture of an electricity generator 10 according to the prior art. The generator shown comprises a fuel cell 20, for example of the PEMFC type, supplied with hydrogen and oxygen, via pipes 22 and 24, respectively. The fuel cell 20 comprises anode compartments 26 and cathode 28 cooled by means of a cell cooling circuit 30 having a radiator 32 able to evacuate to the outside the recovered heat energy.
L'oxygène est fourni par de î'air extérieur, comprimé successivement par un compresseur basse pression (BP) 36 et un compresseur haute pression (HP) 38 séparés par un échangeur 40, appelé « Radiateur de l'Air de Suralimentation Basse Pression » ou échangeur RAS BP. Le compresseur BP 36, apte à comprimer l'air à une pression classiquement comprise entre 2 et 3 bars, est entraîné par un moteur 42.Oxygen is supplied from outside air, successively compressed by a low pressure (LP) compressor 36 and a high pressure (HP) compressor 38 separated by an exchanger 40, called "Low Pressure Induction Air Heater". or RAS BP exchanger. The compressor BP 36, able to compress the air at a pressure conventionally between 2 and 3 bar, is driven by a motor 42.
Le compresseur HP 38 est apte à comprimer l'air sortant de l'échangeurThe HP 38 compressor is able to compress the air coming out of the exchanger
RAS BP à une pression classiquement comprise entre 4 et 5 bars. Le compresseur HP 38 est couplé à une turbine 44 récupérant de l'énergie mécanique par détente du gaz d'échappement chaud en provenance de la pile à combustible 20, transporté par une canalisation 46.BP RAS at a pressure typically between 4 and 5 bar. The HP compressor 38 is coupled to a turbine 44 recovering mechanical energy by expansion of the hot exhaust gas from the fuel cell 20, transported by a pipe 46.
Un autre échangeur 50, dit « RAS HP », est prévu en aval du compresseurAnother exchanger 50, called "RAS HP", is provided downstream of the compressor
HP 38 pour refroidir l'air comprimé à la température de fonctionnement de la pile à combustible 20. Les échangeurs RAS HP 50 et RAS BP 40 sont intégrés dans un circuit de refroidissement d'air 52, comportant un radiateur 54 apte à évacuer vers l'extérieur l'énergie calorifique récupérée.HP 38 for cooling the compressed air to the operating temperature of the fuel cell 20. The RAS heat exchangers HP 50 and RAS BP 40 are integrated in an air cooling circuit 52, comprising a radiator 54 able to evacuate towards the fuel cell. outside the recovered heat energy.
Le générateur 10 comporte en outre des moyens de reformage, ou "FPS" (en anglais, "Fuel Processing System"), comprenant un réacteur autothermal, dit « ATR » ou "reformeur 60 » apte à transformer, en présence d'air et de vapeur d'eau, le carburant primaire en un reformât riche en hydrogène.The generator 10 further comprises reforming means, or "FPS" (English, "Fuel Processing System"), comprising an autothermal reactor, called "ATR" or "reformer 60" able to transform, in the presence of air and of water vapor, the primary fuel into a reformate rich in hydrogen.
Le reformeur 60 est alimenté en air comprimé, depuis la sortie de du compresseur HP 38, par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 62, alimenté en carburant primaire, depuis un réservoir non représenté, par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 64, et alimenté en eau, sous forme de vapeur, par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisationThe reformer 60 is supplied with compressed air, from the outlet of the HP compressor 38, via a pipe 62, supplied with primary fuel, from a tank, not shown, via a pipe 64, and supplied with water, in the form of steam, via a pipe
66.66.
Préalablement à leur introduction dans le reformeur 60, les réactifs, c'est-à- dire le carburant primaire, l'eau et l'air, sont chauffés jusqu'à environ 7000C via un échangeur 70 au moyen d'un brûleur catalytique 72. Le brûleur catalytique 72 est alimenté en air comprimé par le compresseur HP 38 par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 74, et en hydrogène résiduel, c'est-à-dire non consommé par la pile à combustible 20, par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 76. Après avoir traversé l'échangeur 70, les gaz d'échappement du brûleur 72 sont envoyés, par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 78, vers l'entrée de la turbine 44, puis rejetés vers l'extérieur.Prior to their introduction into the reformer 60, the reactants, that is to say the primary fuel, water and air, are heated to about 700 0 C via a heat exchanger 70 by means of a burner catalytic converter 72. The catalytic burner 72 is supplied with compressed air by the compressor HP 38 via a pipe 74, and residual hydrogen, that is to say unused by the fuel cell 20, by the The intermediate of a pipe 76. After having passed through the exchanger 70, the exhaust gases of the burner 72 are sent, via a pipe 78, to the inlet of the turbine 44, and then discharged to the turbine. 'outside.
Le reformât produit par le reformeur 60, convoyé par une canalisation 80, traverse, successivement dans le sens du flux de reformât, un échangeur « HTS » 82, un purificateur « HTS » 84 (en anglais « High Température Shift »), un échangeur « LTS » 86 (en anglais « Low Température Shift »), un purificateur LTS 88, un échangeur PrOx 90 (en anglais « Preferential Oxydation »), un réacteur d'oxydation préférentielle PrOx 92, et un condenseur pré-anodique 94, avant de rejoindre le compartiment anodique 26 de la pile à combustible 20. Le réacteur d'oxydation préférentielle PrOx 92 est en outre alimenté en air comprimé sortant du compresseur HP 38 par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 95.The reformate produced by the reformer 60, conveyed by a pipe 80, passes, successively in the direction of the reformate flow, an exchanger "HTS" 82, a purifier "HTS" 84 (in English "High Temperature Shift"), a heat exchanger "LTS" 86 (in English "Low Temperature Shift"), an LTS 88 purifier, a PrOx 90 exchanger (in English "Preferential Oxidation"), a preferential oxidation reactor PrOx 92, and a pre-anodic condenser 94, before joining the anode compartment 26 of the fuel cell 20. The preferential oxidation reactor PrOx 92 is further supplied with compressed air leaving the compressor HP 38 via a pipe 95.
La purification et l'oxydation préférentielle permettent de convertir une grande partie du CO présent dans le reformât en CO2.The purification and the preferential oxidation make it possible to convert a large part of the CO present in the reformate to CO 2 .
Les échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 86 et PrOx 90 sont destinés à refroidir le réformât entre chaque étage de traitement. Ils sont refroidis par une circulation de l'eau destinée au reformeur 60, l'énergie calorifique récupérée par l'eau pouvant être utilisée dans l'échangeur 70 pour la vaporisation et le chauffage des réactifs du reformeur 60, comme représenté, ou être prise en charge par un circuit de refroidissement externe. Sur la figure 1 , les sorties d'eau des échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 88 et PrOx 90 se rejoignent ainsi en la canalisation commune 66 connectée à l'entrée de l'échangeur 70 du reformeur.The exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and PrOx 90 are intended to cool the reformate between each treatment stage. They are cooled by a circulation of the water intended for the reformer 60, the heat energy recovered by the water being able to be used in the exchanger 70 for the vaporization and the heating of the reagents of the reformer 60, as represented, or to be taken supported by an external cooling circuit. In FIG. 1, the water outlets of the HTS exchangers 82, LTS 88 and PrOx 90 thus meet in the common pipe 66 connected to the inlet of the exchanger 70 of the reformer.
Dans la pile à combustible 20, l'hydrogène contenu dans le reformât est partiellement converti par une réaction électrochimique afin de fournir de l'électricité. L'hydrogène non consommé par la pile à combustible 20, sortant du compartiment anodique 26 par une canalisation 96 traverse un condenseur anodique 100, avant d'alimenter, via la canalisation 76, le brûleur 72. L'air chaud sortant du compartiment cathodique 28 par une canalisation 102 traverse un condenseur cathodique 104, avant d'être envoyé, par la canalisation 46, à la turbine 44 et rejeté vers l'extérieur par la canalisation 106. Les condenseurs anodique 100, cathodique 104 et pré-anodique 94 sont refroidis au moyen d'un circuit de refroidissement de condenseurs, référencé 110, comportant un radiateur 112 apte à évacuer vers l'extérieur l'énergie calorifique récupérée. L'eau récupérée par ces condenseurs est envoyée, par l'intermédiaire de canalisations non représentées, vers un réservoir non représenté, puis, en cas de besoin, pompée vers les entrées 114, 116 et 118 des échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 86 et PrOx 90.In fuel cell 20, the hydrogen contained in the reformate is partially converted by an electrochemical reaction to provide electricity. The hydrogen not consumed by the fuel cell 20, leaving the anode compartment 26 via a pipe 96 passes through an anode condenser 100, before feeding, via the pipe 76, the burner 72. The hot air leaving the cathode compartment 28 by a pipe 102 passes through a cathode condenser 104, before being sent through the pipe 46 to the turbine 44 and discharged to the outside via the pipe 106. The anodic condensers 100, cathode 104 and pre-anodic 94 are cooled by means of a condenser cooling circuit, referenced 110, comprising a radiator 112 able to evacuate to the outside the recovered heat energy. The water recovered by these condensers is sent, via pipes not shown, to a tank not shown, then, if necessary, pumped to the entries 114, 116 and 118 of the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and PrOx 90.
Les circuits de refroidissement 30, 52 et 110 de la pile à combustible 20, de l'air comprimé par les compresseurs 36 et 38 et des condenseurs 94, 100 et 104, respectivement, ont été représentés séparés les uns des autres pour la clarté du dessin. En fait, ces trois circuits sont fusionnés en un unique circuit de refroidissement, après par la suite « circuit de refroidissement du véhicule ».The cooling circuits 30, 52 and 110 of the fuel cell 20, the compressed air by the compressors 36 and 38 and the condensers 94, 100 and 104, respectively, have been shown separated from each other for the sake of clarity. drawing. In fact, these three circuits are merged into a single cooling circuit, after the "vehicle cooling circuit".
Le fonctionnement du générateur 10 de la figure 1 est le suivant.The operation of the generator 10 of Figure 1 is as follows.
Les compresseurs BP 36 et HP 38, séparés par l'échangeur RAS BP 40, produisent de l'air comprimé à environ 1900C et à une pression d'environ 4,5 bars.The compressors BP 36 and HP 38, separated by the RAS exchanger BP 40, produce compressed air at about 190 ° C. and at a pressure of about 4.5 bars.
L'échangeur RAS BP 40 refroidit l'air chauffé par le compresseur BP 36, ce qui augmente le taux de compression et réduit le travail mécanique requis pour chaque compresseur.The BP 40 RAS exchanger cools the air heated by the BP 36 compressor, which increases the compression ratio and reduces the mechanical work required for each compressor.
L'air comprimé alimente le brûleur 72, le reformeur 60 par l'intermédiaire de l'échangeur 70, et le compartiment cathodique 28 de la pile à combustible 20 par l'intermédiaire de l'échangeur RAS HP 50. En aval de l'échangeur RAS HP 50, la température de l'air comprimé est d'environ 1100C.The compressed air feeds the burner 72, the reformer 60 through the exchanger 70, and the cathode compartment 28 of the fuel cell 20 via the HP RAS exchanger 50. Downstream of the heat exchanger HP 50, the temperature of the compressed air is about 110 0 C.
L'échangeur 70 du reformeur 60, chauffé par les gaz d'échappement du brûleur 72, réchauffe tous les réactifs destinés au reformeur 60 jusqu'à une température adaptée au reformage du carburant, la température du reformeur 60 étant typiquement de l'ordre de 7000C. Le reformât sortant du reformeur 60 est ensuite refroidi à environ 400°C par l'échangeur HTS 82, puis à environ 200 °C par l'échangeur LTS 86, puis enfin à environ 120°C par l'échangeur PrOx 90. Le reformât peut ainsi être purifié efficacement dans les purificateurs HTS 84 et LTS 88, puis oxydé préférentiellement dans le réacteur d'oxydation PrOx 92. Il traverse ensuite le condenseur pré-anodique 94 qui le refroidit à une température d'environ 80 à 1100C adaptée à son injection dans le compartiment anodique 26 de la pile à combustible 20. Le condenseur pré-anodique 94 a également pour fonction de récupérer une partie de la vapeur d'eau contenue dans le reformât purifié. Dans la pile à combustible 20, l'hydrogène du reformât injecté est partiellement converti par une réaction électrochimique afin de fournir de l'électricité. L'hydrogène résiduel sortant du compartiment anodique à une pression d'environ 3 bars est utilisé par le brûleur 72, après récupération de la vapeur d'eau dans le condenseur anodique 100. Les gaz d'échappement du compartiment cathodique 28, à une pression d'environ 3 bars, après récupération de la vapeur d'eau dans le condenseur cathodique 104, sont utilisés par la turbine 44, puis rejetés vers l'extérieur. Dans un véhicule automobile, il est nécessaire d'assurer l'autonomie en eau du régénérateur 10. L'eau récupérée dans les condenseurs anodique 100, cathodique 104 et pré-anodique 94, à environ 600C, est donc réutilisée pour alimenter le reformeur en eau. En fonctionnement, la pile à combustible 20 dégage une puissance calorifique d'environ 60 à 70 kW. Les condenseurs 94, 100 et 104 dégagent environ 30 à 40 kW et les échangeurs thermiques 40, 50, 82, 86 et 118 dégagent au total environ 10 kW. Le circuit de refroidissement du véhicule doit donc échanger avec le milieu ambiant une puissance calorifique de l'ordre de 100 à 120 kW, pour une puissance électrique brute de pile à combustible 20 de 70 kWe.The exchanger 70 of the reformer 60, heated by the exhaust gas of the burner 72, heats all the reagents for the reformer 60 to a temperature suitable for reforming the fuel, the temperature of the reformer 60 being typically of the order of 700 ° C. The reformate leaving the reformer 60 is then cooled to about 400 ° C. by the HTS exchanger 82, then to about 200 ° C. by the LTS exchanger 86, then finally to about 120 ° C. by the PrOx exchanger. 90. The reformate can thus be purified efficiently in the HTS 84 and LTS 88 purifiers, then preferentially oxidized in the PrOx oxidation reactor 92. It then passes through the pre-anodic condenser 94 which cools it to a temperature of about 80.degree. 110 0 C adapted to its injection into the anode compartment 26 of the fuel cell 20. The pre-anode condenser 94 also has the function of recovering a portion of the water vapor contained in the purified reformate. In fuel cell 20, the hydrogen of the injected reformate is partially converted by an electrochemical reaction to provide electricity. The residual hydrogen leaving the anode compartment at a pressure of about 3 bars is used by the burner 72, after recovery of the water vapor in the anode condenser 100. The exhaust gases of the cathode compartment 28, at a pressure about 3 bar, after recovery of water vapor in the cathode condenser 104, are used by the turbine 44, and then discharged to the outside. In a motor vehicle, it is necessary to ensure the water autonomy of the regenerator 10. The water recovered in the anodic condensers 100, cathodic 104 and pre-anodic 94, at about 60 0 C, is reused to feed the reformer in water. In operation, the fuel cell 20 has a heat output of about 60 to 70 kW. The condensers 94, 100 and 104 give off about 30 to 40 kW and the heat exchangers 40, 50, 82, 86 and 118 release a total of about 10 kW. The cooling circuit of the vehicle must therefore exchange with the ambient a heat output of the order of 100 to 120 kW, for a raw fuel cell power of 70 kWe.
L'évacuation d'une telle puissance implique des contraintes de dimensionnement, en particulier des radiateurs 54, 112 et 32, qui rendent difficile l'intégration du générateur 10 dans un véhicule automobile.The evacuation of such power involves design constraints, in particular radiators 54, 112 and 32, which make it difficult to integrate the generator 10 into a motor vehicle.
Le but de la présente invention est de fournir un générateur du type décrit en préambule offrant un encombrement réduit et/ou un rendement amélioré, de manière à faciliter son intégration dans le véhicule.The object of the present invention is to provide a generator of the type described in the preamble offering reduced size and / or improved performance, so as to facilitate its integration into the vehicle.
Selon l'invention, on atteint ce but au moyen d'un générateur d'électricité destiné à un véhicule automobile, comportantAccording to the invention, this object is achieved by means of an electricity generator intended for a motor vehicle, comprising
- un reformeur apte à produire un reformât à partir d'un carburant primaire, d'air et d'eau,a reformer capable of producing a reformate from a primary fuel, air and water,
- des circuits d'alimentation dudit reformeur en carburant primaire, en air et en eau,feed circuits of said reformer in primary fuel, in air and in water,
- une pile à combustible apte à produire de l'énergie électrique à partir dudit reformât et d'air, - un compresseur apte à comprimer l'air destiné à ladite pile à combustible et/ou audit reformeur,a fuel cell capable of producing electrical energy from said reformate and air; a compressor capable of compressing the air intended for said fuel cell and / or said reformer;
- des circuits d'alimentation de ladite pile à combustible en reformât et en air, connectant ladite pile à combustible audit reformeur et audit compresseur, respectivement. Le générateur selon l'invention est remarquable en ce que ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau dudit reformeur comporte un premier échangeur thermique apte à mettre en relation d'échange thermique ladite eau et ledit air comprimé par ledit compresseur. L'eau traversant le premier échangeur refroidit l'air destiné à la pile à combustible et/ou au reformeur. L'eau récupère ainsi de l'énergie calorifique lors de la traversée du premier échangeur. Elle arrive ainsi préchauffée dans l'échangeur disposé en amont du reformeur. Avantageusement, l'énergie calorifique supplémentaire nécessaire pour que la température de l'eau convienne à son injection dans le reformeur, classiquement apportée par un brûleur catalytique, est donc réduite. Il en résulte un gain d'énergie et une amélioration du bilan énergétique du générateur.- Supply circuits of said reformate and air fuel cell, connecting said fuel cell to said reformer and said compressor, respectively. The generator according to the invention is remarkable in that said water supply circuit of said reformer comprises a first heat exchanger able to put in heat exchange relation said water and said compressed air by said compressor. The water flowing through the first exchanger cools the air intended for the fuel cell and / or the reformer. The water thus recuperates heat energy during the crossing of the first heat exchanger. It thus arrives preheated in the exchanger arranged upstream of the reformer. Advantageously, the additional heat energy necessary for the water temperature to be suitable for injection into the reformer, conventionally provided by a catalytic burner, is reduced. This results in a gain in energy and an improvement of the energy balance of the generator.
En outre, l'eau traversant le premier échangeur refroidit l'air comprimé, ce qui, avantageusement, soulage le circuit de refroidissement du véhicule. La puissance thermique à évacuer vers l'extérieur par ce dernier est donc réduite. Il en résulte avantageusement un dimensionnement réduit du circuit de refroidissement et une intégration dans le véhicule améliorée.In addition, the water passing through the first exchanger cools the compressed air, which advantageously relieves the cooling circuit of the vehicle. The thermal power to be discharged to the outside by the latter is reduced. This advantageously results in a reduced dimensioning of the cooling circuit and an integration in the improved vehicle.
De préférence, le générateur selon l'invention présente encore les caractéristiques suivantes.Preferably, the generator according to the invention still has the following characteristics.
- Ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau dudit reformeur comporte au moins un deuxième échangeur thermique, inséré en aval dudit premier échangeur thermique, apte à mettre en relation d'échange thermique ladite eau et ledit reformât circulant dans ledit circuit d'alimentation en reformât de ladite pile à combustible. Comme on le verra plus en détail dans la suite de la description, cette configuration améliore encore le rendement énergétique global du générateur et permet de limiter l'encombrement du circuit de refroidissement.- Said water supply circuit of said reformer comprises at least a second heat exchanger, inserted downstream of said first heat exchanger, adapted to put in heat exchange relationship said water and said reformate circulating in said reformate feed circuit of said fuel cell. As will be seen in more detail in the remainder of the description, this configuration further improves the overall energy efficiency of the generator and makes it possible to limit the size of the cooling circuit.
- Ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau dudit reformeur comporte, en aval dudit premier échangeur thermique, une pluralité de dits deuxièmes échangeurs thermiques branchés en parallèle et aptes à mettre en relation d'échange thermique ladite eau et ledit reformât circulant dans ledit circuit d'alimentation en reformât de ladite pife à combustible.- Said water supply circuit of said reformer comprises, downstream of said first heat exchanger, a plurality of said second heat exchangers connected in parallel and adapted to put in heat exchange relationship said water and said reformate flowing in said circuit of reformat feeding said fuel rod.
- Ledit circuit d'alimentation en reformât de ladite pile à combustible comporte un ou plusieurs purificateurs et/ou réacteurs d'oxydation dudit reformât, au moins un desdits deuxièmes échangeurs étant inséré entre ledit reformeur et l'un quelconque desdits purificateurs et/ou réacteurs d'oxydation, et/ou entre deux quelconques desdits purificateurs et/ou réacteurs d'oxydation. - Ledit deuxième échangeur est inséré dans ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau dudit reformeur en amont d'un échangeur de vaporisation de ladite eau.Said reformate feed circuit of said fuel cell comprises one or more purifiers and / or oxidation reactors of said reformate, at least one of said second exchangers being inserted between said reformer and any of said purifiers and / or reactors; oxidation, and / or between any two of said purifiers and / or oxidation reactors. - Said second exchanger is inserted into said water supply circuit of said reformer upstream of a vaporization exchanger of said water.
- Ledit air comprimé est également destiné à un brûleur de chauffage dudit carburant primaire et/ou de l'air et/ou de l'eau destinés audit reformeur. L'invention concerne également un véhicule automobile comportant un générateur d'électricité selon l'invention.- Said compressed air is also intended for a burner for heating said primary fuel and / or air and / or water for said reformer. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an electricity generator according to the invention.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description qui va suivre et à l'examen du dessin annexé dans lequel : - la figure 1, décrit en introduction représente schématiquement un générateur d'électricité selon la technique antérieure ;Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description and on examining the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1, described in the introduction, schematically represents an electricity generator according to the prior art ;
- les figures 2 à 6 représentent schématiquement différentes variantes du générateur selon l'invention.- Figures 2 to 6 show schematically different variants of the generator according to the invention.
Dans les différentes figures, des références identiques ont été utilisées pour décrire des organes identiques ou analogues.In the various figures, identical references have been used to describe identical or similar members.
Dans toutes les figures, les circuits d'alimentation en air de la pile à combustible, du brûleur, du réacteur d'oxydation préférentielle et du reformeur ont été représentés en trait interrompu. Le circuit d'alimentation en reformât de la pile à combustible a été représenté en trait épais. Le circuit d'alimentation en eau du reformeur a été représenté en trait pointillé. Les canalisations dans lesquelles circulent les gaz s'échappant de la pile à combustible ont été représentées en trait mixte.In all the figures, the air supply circuits of the fuel cell, the burner, the preferred oxidation reactor and the reformer have been shown in broken lines. The reformate feed circuit of the fuel cell has been shown in thick lines. The water supply circuit of the reformer has been shown in dashed line. The pipes in which the gases escaping from the fuel cell circulate have been shown in dotted lines.
La figure 1 ayant été décrite en introduction, on se reporte à présent à la figure 2. Le générateur 10 représenté sur la figure 2 comporte, en plus de celui représenté sur la figure 1, un échangeur RAS BP supplémentaire, référencé 130, inséré immédiatement en aval du compresseur BP 36. L'échangeur RAS BP 130 est refroidi par une circulation d'eau, entrant dans l'échangeur à environ 200C et à environ 8 bars. A travers l'échangeur 130, l'eau est réchauffée par l'air chaud sortant, à environ 19O0C, du compresseur BP 36. En sortie de l'échangeur 130, l'eau est conduite par l'intermédiaire d'une canalisation 132, puis de dérivations parallèles 134, 136 et 138, jusqu'aux échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 88 et pré-anodique 90, respectivement. La traversée des échangeurs HTS, LTS et pré-anodique provoque la vaporisation de l'eau, ce qui permet de qualifier ces échangeurs d'échangeurs de vaporisation. La vapeur d'eau traverse ensuite l'échangeur 70 où elle est chauffée jusqu'à la température d'entrée du reformeur 60 grâce à la chaleur produite dans le brûleur catalytique 72. Elle est ensuite injectée dans le reformeur 60. Après avoir été partiellement refroidi par l'eau du reformeur 60, l'air est refroidi à une température adaptée au compresseur HP 38 par l'échangeur RAS BP 40 classiquement inséré dans le circuit de refroidissement du véhicule. Avantageusement, le refroidissement amont par l'échangeur supplémentaire 130 permet de limiter la puissance de refroidissement requise du circuit de refroidissement du véhicule. L'utilisation du circuit de refroidissement pour refroidir l'air permet également d'assurer un contrôle optimal de la température de l'air entrant dans le compresseur HP 38, ce qui est particulièrement avantageux lors des phases de fonctionnement transitoire. Le refroidissement de l'échangeur supplémentaire RAS BP 130 par l'eau destinée au reformeur 60 permet de valoriser 3 à 7kW thermiques et de réduire d'autant la charge du circuit de refroidissement.FIG. 1 having been described in the introduction, reference is now made to FIG. 2. The generator 10 shown in FIG. 2 comprises, in addition to that represented in FIG. 1, an additional LP RAS exchanger, referenced 130, inserted immediately. downstream of the compressor BP 36. The RAS exchanger BP 130 is cooled by a circulation of water, entering the exchanger at about 20 0 C and about 8 bar. Through the exchanger 130, the water is reheated by the hot air leaving the compressor BP 36 at about 190 ° C. The water is passed through the exchanger 130 at the outlet of the exchanger 130. line 132, then parallel branches 134, 136 and 138, to the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 88 and pre-anodic 90, respectively. Crossing of the HTS, LTS and pre-anodic exchangers causes the vaporization of water, which qualifies these exchangers exchangers vaporization. The water vapor then passes through the exchanger 70 where it is heated to the inlet temperature of the reformer 60 thanks to the heat produced in the catalytic burner 72. It is then injected into the reformer 60. cooled by the water of the reformer 60, the air is cooled to a temperature adapted to the HP 38 compressor by the RAS BP 40 exchanger conventionally inserted into the cooling circuit of the vehicle. Advantageously, the upstream cooling by the additional exchanger 130 makes it possible to limit the required cooling power of the cooling circuit of the vehicle. The use of the cooling circuit to cool the air also makes it possible to ensure optimum control of the temperature of the air entering the HP compressor 38, which is particularly advantageous during the transient operating phases. The cooling of the additional heat exchanger RAS BP 130 by the water intended for the reformer 60 makes it possible to recover 3 to 7 kW of heat and to reduce the load of the cooling circuit accordingly.
La récupération, grâce à l'échangeur supplémentaire RAS BP 130, d'une partie de l'énergie thermique nécessaire à la vaporisation et au chauffage de l'eau permet de prélever moins d'énergie thermique au niveau du brûleur catalytique 72. Ainsi, l'apport de 5 kW au niveau de l'échangeur supplémentaire RAS BP 130 permet-il de diminuer de 5 kW la puissance calorifique prélevée au gaz chaud sortant du brûleur catalytique 70 destiné au chauffage des réactifs du reformeur 60 dans l'échangeur 70. La température de ce gaz lorsqu'il entre dans la turbine 44 est donc accrue, ce qui, avantageusement, augmente la récupération d'énergie mécanique dans la turbine de 1 à 2 kW. Cette augmentation de la récupération d'énergie mécanique au niveau de la turbine 44 permet d'augmenter la compression du compresseur HP 38 et de réduire celle du compresseur BP 36. La consommation électrique des compresseurs en est légèrement réduite et la quantité d'électricité disponible pour la traction du véhicule avantageusement augmentée d'environ de 1 à 2 kW. Le rendement global du générateur augmente de 0,5 à 1 %.The recovery, thanks to the supplementary exchanger RAS BP 130, of a part of the thermal energy necessary for the vaporization and heating of the water makes it possible to take less thermal energy from the catalytic burner 72. Thus, does the contribution of 5 kW at the additional heat exchanger RAS BP 130 enable the heat output taken from the hot gas leaving the catalytic burner 70 for heating the reagents of the reformer 60 in the exchanger 70 to be reduced by 5 kW. The temperature of this gas when it enters the turbine 44 is thus increased, which advantageously increases the mechanical energy recovery in the turbine from 1 to 2 kW. This increase in the mechanical energy recovery at the turbine 44 increases the compression of the HP compressor 38 and reduce that of the BP compressor 36. The power consumption of the compressors is slightly reduced and the amount of electricity available for the traction of the vehicle advantageously increased by about 1 to 2 kW. The overall efficiency of the generator increases from 0.5 to 1%.
Comme représenté sur la figure 3, l'eau chaude sortant de l'échangeur RAS BP supplémentaire 130 ne traverse pas nécessairement ensuite les trois échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 86 et pré-anodique 90. Sur la figure 3, elle ne traverse par exemple que le seul échangeur LTS 86, dans lequel elle est vaporisée. Dans la variante de l'invention représentée sur la figure 4, l'échangeur RAS BP supplémentaire 130 est branché dans le circuit d'alimentation en eau du reformeur 60 en parallèle avec les échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 86 et pré-anodique 90, toutes les eaux réchauffées dans les échangeurs 130, 82, 86 et 90 se rejoignant en entrée de Péchangeur 70. L'eau sortant réchauffée de l'échangeur RAS BP supplémentaire 130 ne traverse donc aucun des trois échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 86 et pré-anodique 90.As shown in FIG. 3, the hot water leaving the additional LP RAS exchanger 130 does not necessarily then pass through the three exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and pre-anodic 90. In FIG. 3, for example, it passes through only the only LTS exchanger 86, in which it is vaporized. In the variant of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the additional LP RAS exchanger 130 is connected in the water supply circuit of the reformer 60 in parallel with the HTS 82, LTS 86 and pre-anode exchangers 90, all the water reheated in the exchangers 130, 82, 86 and 90 joining at the inlet of the exchanger 70. The outgoing water reheated from the supplementary LP RAS exchanger 130 therefore does not cross any of the three exchangers HTS 82, LTS 86 and pre-anodic 90.
Dans la variante de l'invention représentée sur la figure 5, proche de celle de la figure 2, les circuits de refroidissement de l'air sortant des compresseurs BP 36 et HP 38 ont été dissociés. L'échangeur RAS BP 40 est refroidi par le circuit de refroidissement du véhicule, comme selon la technique antérieure. En revanche, l'échangeur RAS HP 50 est désormais refroidi par de l'eau liquide, initialement à environ 20 °C et à environ 8 bars, qui, après avoir traversé l'échangeur RAS HP 50 et avoir été réchauffée par de l'air chaud sortant du compresseur HP 38, est conduite, par l'intermédiaire des canalisations 132, 134, 136 et 138, jusqu'aux échangeurs HTS 82, LTS 84 et pré-anodique 90. La traversée des échangeurs HTS, LTS et pré-anodique provoque la vaporisation de l'eau. La vapeur d'eau traverse ensuite l'échangeur 70 chauffé par le brûleur, puis alimente le reformeur 60.In the variant of the invention shown in FIG. 5, close to that of FIG. 2, the cooling circuits of the air leaving the compressors BP 36 and HP 38 have been dissociated. The RAS exchanger BP 40 is cooled by the cooling circuit of the vehicle, as in the prior art. On the other hand, the RAS HP 50 exchanger is now cooled by liquid water, initially at about 20 ° C. and at about 8 bars, which, after passing through the HP 50 RAS exchanger, and having been reheated by the hot air leaving the compressor HP 38, is conducted, via the lines 132, 134, 136 and 138, to the exchangers HTS 82, LTS 84 and pre-anodic 90. The crossing of the exchangers HTS, LTS and pre- anodic causes the vaporization of water. The water vapor then passes through the exchanger 70 heated by the burner, then feeds the reformer 60.
Le refroidissement de l'échangeur RAS HP 50 par l'eau utilisée dans le reformeur 60 permet de valoriser 3 à 7 kW thermiques de la charge du circuit de refroidissement du véhicule, et ainsi d'alléger la charge thermique à évacuer vers l'extérieur par ce dernier.The cooling of the RAS HP 50 exchanger by the water used in the reformer 60 makes it possible to add 3 to 7 kW of heat to the charge of the cooling circuit of the vehicle, and thus to lighten the heat load to be discharged to the outside. by the latter.
La récupération, grâce à l'échangeur RAS HP 50, d'une partie de l'énergie thermique nécessaire à la vaporisation et au chauffage de l'eau permet de prélever moins d'énergie thermique au niveau du brûleur catalytique 72. Ainsi, l'apport de 5 kW au niveau de l'échangeur RAS HP 50 permet-il par exemple de diminuer de 5 kW la puissance calorifique prélevée aux gaz chauds sortant du brûleur catalytique 72 et destinée au chauffage de la vapeur. La température de ces gaz lorsqu'ils entrent dans la turbine 44 est donc accrue, ce qui, avantageusement, augmente la récupération d'énergie mécanique dans la turbine de 1 à 2 kW. Cette augmentation de la récupération d'énergie mécanique au niveau de la turbine 44 permet d'augmenter la compression du compresseur HP 38 et de réduire celle du compresseur BP 36. La consommation électrique des compresseurs en est réduite et la quantité d'électricité disponible pour la traction du véhicule avantageusement augmentée d'environ de 1 à 2 kW.The recovery, thanks to the RAS HP 50 exchanger, of a portion of the thermal energy necessary for the vaporization and heating of the water makes it possible to take up less thermal energy at the level of the catalytic burner 72. 5 kW contribution to the RAS heat exchanger HP 50 allows for example to reduce by 5 kW the heating power taken from the hot gases leaving the catalytic burner 72 and intended for heating the steam. The temperature of these gases when they enter the turbine 44 is thus increased, which advantageously increases the mechanical energy recovery in the turbine from 1 to 2 kW. This increase in the recovery of mechanical energy at the turbine 44 increases the compression of the HP compressor 38 and reduce that of the compressor BP 36. The power consumption of the compressors is reduced and the amount of electricity available for traction of the vehicle advantageously increased by about 1 to 2 kW.
Le rendement global du générateur augmente de 0,5 à 1%.The overall efficiency of the generator increases from 0.5 to 1%.
Dans la variante représentée sur la figure 6, aucun des échangeurs RAS BP 40 et RAS HP 50 n'est plus refroidi par le circuit de refroidissement du véhicule.In the variant shown in Figure 6, none of the RAS BP 40 and RAS HP 50 exchangers is no longer cooled by the cooling circuit of the vehicle.
Chacun de ces échangeurs 40 et 50 est refroidi par la traversée d'un flux d'eau, rejoignant ensuite, comme dans la configuration de la figure 5, les échangeurs HTSEach of these exchangers 40 and 50 is cooled by crossing a flow of water, then joining, as in the configuration of Figure 5, the HTS exchangers
82, LTS 86 et pré-anodique 90, puis le reformeur 60.82, LTS 86 and pre-anodic 90, then the reformer 60.
Dans tous les modes de réalisation décrits ci-dessus, l'eau traversant (es échangeurs RAS BP 40 ou RAS HP 50 dissociés du circuit de refroidissement du véhicule est de préférence de l'eau recyclée, en provenance des condenseurs anodique, cathodique et pré-anodique, puis stockée dans un réservoir. A la sortie de ce réservoir, la température est typiquement d'environ 200C, mais peut, erv fonction des conditions de roulage, atteindre 600C. Bien entendu, la présente invention n'est pas limitée au mode de réalisation décrit et représenté fourni à titre d'exemple illustratif et non limitatif. Les différentes variantes pourraient par exemple être combinées.In all the embodiments described above, the water flowing through the RAS BP 40 or RAS HP 50 exchangers dissociated from the vehicle cooling circuit is preferably recycled water, from the anodic, cathodic and pre-condensers. - Anodic, then stored in a tank At the outlet of this tank, the temperature is typically about 20 0 C, but can, erv function of the conditions of rolling, reach 60 0 C. Of course, the present invention n ' is not limited to the embodiment described and shown provided by way of illustrative and non-limiting example.The different variants could for example be combined.
En particulier, l'invention n'est pas limitée à l'architecture représentée, le nombre et le positionnement des échangeurs RAS, HTS, RTS et pré-cathodique, ou des condenseurs pouvant être différents. Elle n'est pas limitée à un type de pile à combustible ou de reformeur.In particular, the invention is not limited to the architecture shown, the number and positioning of the RAS, HTS, RTS and pre-cathodic exchangers, or condensers that may be different. It is not limited to one type of fuel cell or reformer.
Le choix d'une architecture dépend en particulier de la quantité de puissance développée dans les échangeurs RAS et de la puissance nécessaire au préchauffage de l'eau destinée au reformeur. The choice of an architecture depends in particular on the amount of power developed in the RAS exchangers and the power required to preheat the water intended for the reformer.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Générateur d'électricité destiné à un véhicule automobile (V), comportant1. Electricity generator for a motor vehicle (V), comprising
- un reformeur (60) apte à produire un reformât à partir d'un carburant primaire, d'air et d'eau,a reformer (60) able to produce a reformate from a primary fuel, air and water,
- des circuits d'alimentation dudit reformeur (60) en carburant primaire (64), en air (36,40,38,62) et en eau (82,86,90,66),- feed circuits of said reformer (60) in primary fuel (64), air (36,40,38,62) and water (82,86,90,66),
- une pile à combustible (20) apte à produire de l'énergie électrique à partir dudit reformât et d'air, - un compresseur (36 ;38) apte à comprimer l'air destiné à ladite pile à combustible (20) et/ou audit reformeur (60),- a fuel cell (20) adapted to produce electrical energy from said reformate and air, - a compressor (36; 38) adapted to compress the air for said fuel cell (20) and / or to said reformer (60),
- des circuits d'alimentation de ladite pile à combustible (20) en reformât (80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94,22) et en air (24), connectant ladite pile à combustible (20) audit reformeur (60) et audit compresseur (36 ;38), respectivement caractérisé en ce que ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau (82,86,90,66) dudit reformeur (60) comporte un premier échangeur thermique (130;40;50) apte à mettre en relation d'échange thermique ladite eau et de l'air comprimé par ledit compresseur (36 ;38).- supply circuits of said reformate (80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94,22) and air (24) fuel cell (20) connecting said fuel cell (20) said reformer (60) and said compressor (36; 38), respectively characterized in that said water supply circuit (82,86,90,66) of said reformer (60) comprises a first heat exchanger (130; 40; 50) adapted to thermally exchange said water and compressed air by said compressor (36; 38).
2. Générateur d'électricité selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau (82,86,90,66) dudit reformeur (60) comporte au moins un deuxième échangeur thermique (82,86,90), inséré en aval dudit premier échangeur thermique (130), apte à mettre en relation d'échange thermique ladite eau et ledit reformât circulant dans ledit circuit d'alimentation en reformât (80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94,22) de ladite pile à combustible (20).2. Electricity generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said water supply circuit (82,86,90,66) of said reformer (60) comprises at least one second heat exchanger (82,86,90) inserted downstream of said first heat exchanger (130), able to put said water and said reformate circulating in said reformate supply circuit in heat exchange relation (80,82,84,86,88,90,92, 94,22) of said fuel cell (20).
3. Générateur d'électricité selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau (82,86,90,66) dudit reformeur (60) comporte en aval dudit premier échangeur (130;40;50), une pluralité de dits deuxièmes échangeurs thermiques (82,86,90) branchés en parallèle et aptes à mettre en relation d'échange thermique ladite eau et ledit reformât circulant dans ledit circuit d'alimentation en reformât (80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94,22) de ladite pile à combustible (20). 3. Electricity generator according to claim 2, characterized in that said water supply circuit (82,86,90,66) of said reformer (60) comprises downstream of said first exchanger (130; 40; 50), a plurality of said second heat exchangers (82,86,90) connected in parallel and adapted to put in heat exchange relation said water and said reformate circulating in said reformate supply circuit (80,82,84,86, 88,90,92,94,22) of said fuel cell (20).
4. Générateur d'électricité selon l'une des revendications 2 et 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit circuit d'alimentation en reformât (80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94,22) de ladite pile à combustible (20) comporte un ou plusieurs purificateurs (84,88) et/ou réacteurs d'oxydation (92) dudit reformât au moins un desdits deuxièmes échangeurs (82,86,90) étant inséré entre ledit reformeur (60) et l'un quelconque desdits purificateurs (84,88) et/ou réacteurs d'oxydation (92), et/ou entre deux quelconques desdits purificateurs (84,88) et/ou réacteurs d'oxydation (92).4. Electricity generator according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said reformate supply circuit (80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94,22) of said battery to fuel (20) comprises one or more purifiers (84,88) and / or oxidation reactors (92) of said reformate at least one of said second exchangers (82,86,90) being inserted between said reformer (60) and the any of said purifiers (84,88) and / or oxidation reactors (92), and / or between any two of said purifiers (84,88) and / or oxidation reactors (92).
5. Générateur d'électricité selon l'une des revendications 2 à 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit deuxième échangeur (82,86,90) est inséré dans ledit circuit d'alimentation en eau (82,86,90,66) dudit reformeur (60) en amont d'un échangeur de vaporisation (82,86,90) de ladite eau.5. Electricity generator according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said second heat exchanger (82,86,90) is inserted into said water supply circuit (82,86,90,66) of said reformer (60) upstream of a vaporization exchanger (82,86,90) of said water.
6. Générateur d'électricité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit air comprimé est également destiné à un brûleur de chauffage (72) dudit carburant primaire et/ou de l'air et/ou de l'eau destinés audit reformeur (60).Electricity generator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compressed air is also intended for a heating burner (72) of said primary fuel and / or air and / or water. intended for said reformer (60).
7. Véhicule automobile comportant un générateur d'électricité (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes. 7. Motor vehicle comprising an electricity generator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.
EP05810742A 2004-10-08 2005-10-06 Electric generator for motor vehicle Withdrawn EP1799614A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0410652A FR2876500B1 (en) 2004-10-08 2004-10-08 ELECTRICITY GENERATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE
PCT/FR2005/050823 WO2006040490A1 (en) 2004-10-08 2005-10-06 Electric generator for motor vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1799614A1 true EP1799614A1 (en) 2007-06-27

Family

ID=34950370

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05810742A Withdrawn EP1799614A1 (en) 2004-10-08 2005-10-06 Electric generator for motor vehicle

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US7722971B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1799614A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2008516385A (en)
FR (1) FR2876500B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2006040490A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5103236B2 (en) * 2008-03-24 2012-12-19 三洋電機株式会社 Reformer
US9300168B2 (en) * 2008-11-18 2016-03-29 Derek S. Elleman Hybrid power system for a vehicle

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19707814C1 (en) * 1997-02-27 1998-08-20 Dbb Fuel Cell Engines Gmbh Fuel cell power plant
US5968680A (en) * 1997-09-10 1999-10-19 Alliedsignal, Inc. Hybrid electrical power system
CA2316375C (en) * 1998-10-26 2006-03-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Polymer electrolyte fuel cell system
WO2000039875A1 (en) * 1998-12-23 2000-07-06 International Fuel Cells, Llc A hydrocarbon fueled power plant employing a proton exchange membrane (pem) fuel cell
US6521204B1 (en) * 2000-07-27 2003-02-18 General Motors Corporation Method for operating a combination partial oxidation and steam reforming fuel processor
US6805721B2 (en) * 2002-01-10 2004-10-19 Steven D. Burch Fuel processor thermal management system
JP3561706B2 (en) * 2002-01-18 2004-09-02 三洋電機株式会社 Polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator
US6818336B2 (en) * 2002-08-20 2004-11-16 Utc Fuel Cells, Llc Fuel control for fuel-processor steam generation in low temperature fuel cell power plant
JP4457559B2 (en) * 2003-01-09 2010-04-28 日産自動車株式会社 Fuel evaporator

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2006040490A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US7722971B2 (en) 2010-05-25
US20080050624A1 (en) 2008-02-28
JP2008516385A (en) 2008-05-15
WO2006040490A1 (en) 2006-04-20
FR2876500A1 (en) 2006-04-14
FR2876500B1 (en) 2007-08-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5616064B2 (en) Fuel cell heat exchange system and method
EP1495473B1 (en) Method and device for the production of electricity from the heat produced in the core of at least one high-temperature nuclear reactor
FR3056230A1 (en) HIGH-TEMPERATURE REVERSIBLE WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM COMPRISING A HYDRIDE RESERVOIR COUPLED TO THE ELECTROLYSER
EP3732743B1 (en) Energy production assembly coupling a fuel cell and a reversible thermodynamic system
JP5085847B2 (en) High-efficiency fuel cell power generation system with an expander for power generation
EP3499626B1 (en) Reversible system for storing and extracting electrical power comprising an electrochemical converter (sofc/soec) connected to a system for compressed air extraction/storage (caes)
BRPI0721785B1 (en) method for operating a fuel cell and fuel cell arrangement.
US20060292410A1 (en) Fuel cell system for a vehicle
JP2003203659A (en) Fuel supply unit for supplying hydrogen-contained fuel and its method
FR3063181A1 (en) METHOD FOR STARTING A FUEL CELL ARRAY, AND CORRESPONDING ASSEMBLY
EP1799614A1 (en) Electric generator for motor vehicle
EP1733447A1 (en) Device and method for cooling a electricity generating unit comprising a fuel cell
FR2805805A1 (en) HYDROGEN-RICH GAS GENERATION DEVICE FOR FUEL CELLS
JP2008523552A (en) System and associated method for generating electric power mounted on a powered vehicle equipped with a fuel cell
FR2886765A1 (en) Fuel cell system for motor vehicle, has condenser condensing water vapor resulting from combustion reaction of hydrogen and oxygen which are separated by separation membranes of separation enclosure, and pump circulating condensed water
EP1733446B1 (en) Device and method for cooling the power module of a fuel cell
FR2863778A1 (en) Fuel cell power generator for motor vehicle, has low and high pressure charge air radiators inserted in evacuation circuits, in downstream of condensers such that exit air of compressors is cooled by respective evacuation circuits
JP4049526B2 (en) Method for starting reformer for fuel cell
FR2904476A1 (en) Power module for motor vehicle, has anodic evacuation circuit mounted in downstream of fuel cell and connecting outlet of anodic compartment and burner, and phase-splitter circuits mounted in upstream of burner and downstream of fuel cell
WO2005107001A2 (en) Fuel cell arrangement
FR2868605A1 (en) Cooling device for power module, has auxiliary coolant circuit assembled on main coolant circuit, and having duct that traverses lower temperature part of heater to cool coolant to temperature lower than that of main circuit`s coolant
JP2005041709A (en) Hydrogen supply system
FR2865854A1 (en) Electric generator for motor vehicle, has reformer linked with catalytic burner and supplied with water from tank, and exchanger to exchange heat with water and/or fuel cell and compressed air and/or combustion gas of burner
EP1735868A1 (en) Device and method for cooling the power module of a fuel cell
EP1730806B1 (en) Method for controlling the exhaust gas pressure of a combustion cell in order to control the condensation capacity of said gas

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20070508

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Effective date: 20120117