EP2649663A1 - Device for generating electricity using a fuel cell - Google Patents

Device for generating electricity using a fuel cell

Info

Publication number
EP2649663A1
EP2649663A1 EP11802308.4A EP11802308A EP2649663A1 EP 2649663 A1 EP2649663 A1 EP 2649663A1 EP 11802308 A EP11802308 A EP 11802308A EP 2649663 A1 EP2649663 A1 EP 2649663A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
gas
generation device
fuel
storage
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Withdrawn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
EP11802308.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
David Olsommer
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.)
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France
Original Assignee
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France
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 Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland, Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France filed Critical Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
Publication of EP2649663A1 publication Critical patent/EP2649663A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • H01M8/04126—Humidifying
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/70—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by fuel cells
    • B60L50/72—Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B60L58/30—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
    • B60L58/32—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load
    • B60L58/33—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load by cooling
    • 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
    • H01M8/04029—Heat exchange using liquids
    • 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
    • H01M8/04171—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 using adsorbents, wicks or hydrophilic material
    • 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
    • H01M8/18—Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
    • H01M8/184—Regeneration by electrochemical means
    • H01M8/186—Regeneration by electrochemical means by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
    • 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
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • 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
    • H01M8/04126—Humidifying
    • H01M8/04141—Humidifying by water containing exhaust gases
    • 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
    • H01M8/04164—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 by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters
    • 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
    • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
    • 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
    • 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
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
    • 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
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P90/00—Enabling technologies with a potential contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
    • Y02P90/60—Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
    • 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
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for producing electricity by fuel cell.
  • the invention relates more particularly to a fuel cell type of electricity generation device "closed loop” or “integrated system”, that is to say in which the means for producing gas supplying the battery fuel, the means of packaging and storage of these gases, as well as the fuel cell itself are combined in the same device.
  • closed loop or “integrated system”
  • the invention is more particularly described, but not limited to, for applications in the automotive field, in which this technology is the subject of important research and looks promising.
  • the invention can also be used advantageously in the naval or aeronautical fields.
  • These applications may be mobile, in the case where the fuel cell electricity generation device is embedded in the vehicle, or stationary, in the case where the fuel cell electricity generation device is a means outside the vehicle and for supplying energy to a vehicle in a station.
  • the application can also be used in the stationary field for energy storage.
  • the fuel cell electricity generation device is generally associated with another source of energy which may be of an electrical nature, for example and in a nonlimiting manner, originating from photovoltaic panels.
  • a fuel cell electricity generating device thus makes it possible to produce and store energy, and to supply electrical energy on demand when the main source of energy is not available or insufficient.
  • fuel cells allow the direct production of electrical energy by an electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction from a fuel gas, such as hydrogen gas, and an oxidizing gas, such as gaseous oxygen or air, without going through a conversion to mechanical energy.
  • the fuel cells are called hydrogen-oxygen type when the gas respectively fuel and oxidant are hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, or hydrogen-air type when the gas respectively fuel and oxidant are hydrogen gas and the air.
  • a fuel cell generally comprises a series association of unitary elements, each unitary element consisting essentially of an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte.
  • a typical type of electrolyte used in automotive applications is a solid electrolyte consisting essentially of a polymer membrane, allowing the passage of ions from the anode to the cathode.
  • a particular type of these membranes is proposed for example by the company DuPont under the trade name "Nafion". These membranes must have good ionic conductivity because they are traversed by the hydrogen protons and they must be electrically insulating so that the electrons go through the electrical circuit outside the battery.
  • the first step in the case of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, consists in producing hydrogen gas and gaseous oxygen, using a means for producing gas by electrolysis of water or electrolyser, the water that can be recovered at the fuel cell outlet, as described in document WO 2010/024594.
  • the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen from the electrolyser are then saturated with water vapor.
  • the hydrogen and oxygen gases are packaged separately and the steps described below are described for a given gas.
  • the second step consists in desiccating each gas before storage under pressure, that is to say at least a partial drying or extraction of the water contained in the gas. Desiccation of the gas is necessary because the water condensates are detrimental both to the life of the compressors, possibly used to compress the gas before storage, and to that of the gas storage tanks.
  • the gas is dried either by cooling and condensing the gas, or by passing the gas through a desiccant means. Drying by cooling and condensing the gas requires an energy input. Drying by passing the gas through a desiccant means usually uses a desiccant means comprising a solid phase desiccant material.
  • the drying means may be a desiccation column, generally filled with desiccant granules, for example of the silica gel type, as mentioned in the document WO2007050447. Drying by passing the gas through a desiccant column requires maintenance of the desiccant granules. Indeed, desiccant granules, after a number of passages of the gas to be dried, become saturated with water and therefore inoperative in their desiccation function.
  • desiccant granules are then either renewed periodically, which requires a normal maintenance intervention, or regenerated, that is to say dried automatically, by purging a portion of the gas produced by electrolyser and passing through the desiccation column, resulting in a loss of gas volume produced by electrolyser of about 10%.
  • the third step is to compress the dried gas from the desiccant means, by means of a compressor and to store the dried compressed gas in a storage tank under pressure.
  • the storage pressure of the hydrogen gas, after desiccation is between 200 bars and 350 bars, whereas the storage pressure of the gaseous oxygen, after desiccation, is about 130 bars.
  • An alternative solution for the storage of hydrogen is the storage, in the form of metal hydrides, at low pressure, that is to say at a pressure of between 5 bars and 15 bars. This storage pressure corresponds substantially to the pressure of the hydrogen gas at the outlet of the desiccation means, which makes the use of a compressor superfluous.
  • the metal hydrides composed, for example, of nickel and lanthanum, and in the form of fine powder, have the particularity of absorbing hydrogen gas under a certain pressure, with a slight release of heat. To then release the hydrogen, a heat input is necessary: for example, by using the thermal losses of the fuel cell. Once released, the hydrogen is again in the form of pure gaseous hydrogen.
  • the fourth step is to destock the compressed dried gas and relax by means of a pressure reducer, optionally coupled to a safety valve.
  • this step consists in releasing hydrogen, absorbed by the metal hydrides, in gaseous form, as described above.
  • the fifth step is to humidify the dried gas expanded to supply the fuel cell with wet hydrogen fuel gas and wet oxygen oxidizing gas.
  • a wet gas is indeed necessary for the operation of the fuel cell, in particular to not reduce its life.
  • the sixth and last step is the supply of the battery with wet hydrogen and oxygen gas from their respective humidifying means.
  • the hydrogen gas follows the six process steps previously described.
  • gaseous oxygen produced simultaneously but not intended for For example, fueling the fuel cell can be released into the atmosphere.
  • the air usually from an air compressor, can be humidified, before entering the fuel cell, by the moist air coming out of the fuel cell, via a moisture exchanger.
  • the invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the desiccation means described above, in particular the periodic maintenance and / or non-optimized regeneration of the desiccant means, and the complexity and cost of the humidifying means.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a device for producing electricity by fuel cell, ensuring both an automatic maintenance and efficient drying means and the use of simplified humidification means.
  • a fuel cell power generation device comprising:
  • a fuel gas production means and an oxidizing gas production means the fuel and oxidant gases being intended to feed a fuel cell in which they chemically react with each other to produce electrical energy
  • At least one conditioning unit for one of the fuel or oxidant gases comprising at least one desiccating means, intended to extract at least part of the water contained in the gas passing through it before storage under pressure of the gas, at least two valves respectively upstream and downstream of the desiccant means, at least one means for storage under pressure of the gas and at least one humidification means after destocking and decompression of the gas,
  • valves in a first state, making it possible to configure the electricity generating device in the gas production-storage operating mode, by connecting in series the means for producing the gas, the drying means and the storage means under gas pressure,
  • valves in a second state, for configuring the power generation device in fuel cell operation mode, allowing passing one of the fuel or oxidant gases through the desiccant means for supplying the fuel cell,
  • drying means being configured such that, in the fuel cell operating mode, it operates at a temperature of at least 60 ° C and at least partly ensures the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in battery operation mode fuel, by at least partial return of the water extracted from the gas passing therethrough in the production-gas storage operation mode.
  • a fuel cell electricity production device comprises, firstly, a fuel gas production means and a combustion gas production means. These means of production are usually combined into a single means for producing gas, in the case of a hydrogen-oxygen cell.
  • This means of producing common gas is conventionally an electrolyzer, producing hydrogen and gaseous oxygen by electrolysis of water.
  • the water subjected to electrolysis is generally stored in a water tank, which may possibly be supplied at least partly with recycle water, from a condenser possibly disposed downstream of the electrolyser and / or from the fuel cell.
  • the gas production means are distinct: the gaseous hydrogen is usually derived from an electrolyser while the air generally comes from an air compressor.
  • a device for producing electricity by hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell further comprises a packaging unit for each of the hydrogen and oxygen gases.
  • This packaging assembly comprises at least one desiccation means before storage under pressure of the gas, at least one means for storage under pressure of the gas and at least one humidifying means after destocking the gas.
  • hydrogen gas has a priori a packaging assembly within the meaning of the invention.
  • a drying means is a means of drying the gas, that is to say at least partial extraction of the water contained in the gas, before its compression by a compressor and then its compressor.
  • storage in compressed form in a pressurized storage means such as a storage tank storage.
  • a compressor and a storage tank generally comprising metal parts, have a sensitivity to corrosion by water possibly present in the gas in contact, hence the need to dry the gas to ensure the durability of the parts metal compressor and storage tank.
  • the storage can be carried out in the form of hydrides at low pressure, that is to say between 5 bars and 15 bars, without resorting to a compressor. For hydrides, it is also necessary to first dry the gas, to ensure a long life of the storage means.
  • a gas, resulting from the electrolysis of water and saturated with water vapor, may optionally be partially dried by passage through a condenser intended to remove some of the water from the gas before passing through the medium. desiccation.
  • This condenser may have as a cold source ambient air, or more advantageously for naval application, seawater via a heat exchanger.
  • the pressure storage means of the dry gas is generally a storage tank, sized to withstand the pressure of the gas.
  • the dry gas - hydrogen gas or gaseous oxygen - is removed from its storage tank, decompressed through a pressure regulator before passing through a humidifying means, before feeding the Fuel cell.
  • a valve system comprising at least two valves positioned respectively upstream and downstream of the desiccation means, makes it possible to configure the power generation device according to two modes of operation: a mode of production operation - storage of gas and a fuel cell operating mode.
  • These valves are for example three-way valves.
  • valves configured in a first state, connect in series the gas production means, the drying means before storage under pressure of the gas, and the means of storage under pressure of the gas.
  • This connection makes it possible to store each of the gases produced by electrolysis, then dried and compressed to be stored in a storage tank.
  • hydrogen gas it may alternatively be stored in a tank, in the form of metal hydrides, without prior compression.
  • the valves configured in a second state, allow the passage of one of the fuel or oxidant gases through the desiccation means for the supply of the fuel cell.
  • the drying means is configured such that, in the fuel cell operating mode, it operates at a temperature at least equal to 60 ° C and at least partially ensures the humidification of the fuel cell. gas passing therethrough in fuel cell operation mode, by at least partial return of the water extracted from the gas flowing through it in the gas production-storage operating mode.
  • the desiccating means is used as a humidifying means.
  • the desiccation means has the advantage of providing both desiccation and humidification functions, which simplifies the device for producing electricity by a fuel cell.
  • the water stored by the desiccant means during the passage of the wet gas, gas production-storage mode of operation, is at least partly restored to the gas passing through the desiccant means in fuel cell operation mode. Consequently, the at least partial elimination of the water stored by the desiccation means allows automatic maintenance, that is to say without human intervention, of the desiccation means and the maintenance or regeneration of its capacity. desiccation.
  • a beneficial consequence is the increase in the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell electricity generating device, since the regeneration of the desiccant means is carried out using the free energy lost from the fuel cell.
  • the humidification mode operation of the desiccation means allows to desorb the same amount of water than that which is absorbed in operation in drying mode, at a temperature between 5 ° C and 25 ° C.
  • the temperature of the gas to be humidified must be higher than that of the gas to be dried.
  • a preferred embodiment of the invention is a device for generating electricity in which the desiccating means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in fuel cell operation mode, driven by a pump, is configured so that its operating temperature is between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C.
  • the preferred temperature range [60 ° C, 80 ° C] corresponds to the usual operating temperatures of a fuel cell.
  • the temperature range [80 ° C., 100 ° C.] corresponds to the operating temperatures at which the membranes of the fuel cells in development tend, as these higher temperatures advantageously make it possible, for example, to reduce the amount of platinum required for operation. of the fuel cell or to cool the fuel cell more easily.
  • An alternative embodiment of the previous preferred embodiment is an electricity generating device, comprising a cooling circuit of the fuel cell, driven by a pump, wherein the desiccating means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in the fuel cell operating mode, is configured such that its operating temperature is obtained at least in part by heat exchange with the cooling circuit of the fuel cell.
  • this alternative embodiment allows the use of an existing heat source, the cooling circuit of the fuel cell, resulting in an economic advantage. It also makes it possible to reach the operating temperature level, between 60 ° C. and 100 ° C., preferably between 60 ° C. and 80 ° C., necessary for the vaporization of the water stored in the desiccation means.
  • the power generation device is configured so that the temperature of the gas entering the desiccating means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in the operating mode. fuel, is between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C.
  • the dry and expanded gas entering the desiccation means is preheated to a temperature allowing the vaporization of the stored water.
  • the heating of the gas can be combined with the heating of the desiccation means described above.
  • the fuel cell electricity generating device comprises a fuel cell cooling circuit
  • the electricity generating device is advantageously configured so that the temperature of the gas entering the fuel cell is reduced.
  • drying means at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in the fuel cell operating mode, is obtained at least partly by heat exchange with the cooling circuit of the fuel cell.
  • This embodiment makes it possible to use an existing heat source, the cooling circuit of the fuel cell, and also makes it possible to reach the temperature level, between 60 ° C. and 100 ° C., preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C, necessary for the vaporization of water stored in the desiccant means.
  • the fuel cell electricity generation device comprises a conditioning unit for each of the fuel and combustion gas respectively. Two separate conditioning units thus make it possible to avoid any contact and therefore any chemical reaction between the gases respectively fuel and oxidant before feeding the fuel cell.
  • the fuel cell electricity generation device comprises a packaging assembly only for the fuel gas.
  • the desiccating means intended to extract at least part of the water contained in the gas passing through it, before the gas is stored under pressure, in the production-operating mode. gas storage, is configured such that it is crossed by the same gas in fuel cell operation mode.
  • the drying means ensuring the drying of the gas passing therethrough, in the gas production-storage mode of operation, before being stored under pressure, ensures the humidification of this same gas after its destocking and before feeding of the fuel cell, in fuel cell operation mode.
  • the desiccation means provides both desiccation and humidification functions for the same gas.
  • the drying means is therefore traversed by a gas of the same chemical nature, which avoids any risk of chemical reaction within the desiccation means.
  • the gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen circuits are thus perfectly separated.
  • the desiccating means intended to extract at least partly the water contained in a first gas passing through it, before storage under pressure of the gas, in operating mode production-storage of gas, is configured such that it is crossed by a second gas in fuel cell operation mode.
  • the drying means ensuring the drying of a first gas passing through it, in the gas production-storage operating mode, before being stored under pressure, ensures the humidification of a second gas after its destocking and before feeding the fuel cell, in fuel cell operation mode.
  • the desiccation means provides both desiccation and humidification functions but for different gases.
  • first gas is meant the gas passing through the desiccant means in gas production-storage mode of operation
  • the second gas means the gas passing through the desiccant means in fuel cell operation mode.
  • the means for desiccating the hydrogen gas can ensure the humidification of the compressed air, which in return ensures the drying of the medium. desiccation, which could make redundant the heating of the means of desiccation.
  • the hydrogen gas which is not wetted by its own drying means, it can then be humidified by recirculating the surplus of humid hydrogen gas leaving the fuel cell.
  • drying means consists of at least one drying column comprising desiccant granules, which is a known and mastered technology.
  • the desiccant granules of a desiccation column are silica gel type, which is a material usually used in this type of application. It is also advantageous for the hydrogen storage means to be in the form of metal hydrides, since this storage means makes superfluous the use of a compressor downstream of the desiccation means.
  • the invention also relates to the use of a device for generating electricity from a fuel cell electricity generation device according to the invention for a motor vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 shows the circuit of one of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in the gas production-storage operating mode, in the case where the fuel cell electricity generation device comprises a set each of the fuel and oxidant gases respectively
  • FIG. 2 shows the circuit of one of the two fuel cell feed gases, in the fuel cell operating mode, in the case where the device for producing fuel fuel cell electricity comprises a conditioning unit for each of the respective fuel and combustion gases
  • FIG. 3 shows the circuits of the two fuel cell feed gases, in the fuel cell operating mode, the fuel cell Fuel cell power generation includes a conditioning package only for the fuel gas.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show schematically the circuit of only one of the two gases respectively fuel and oxidant, this circuit being similar for each gas.
  • FIG. 1 shows the circuit of one of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in the gas production-storage operating mode, between the gas production means (1) and the storage means under pressure (5).
  • This circuit is described below with reference to the hydrogen gas supplying a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.
  • the circuit portion in operation, for a given operating mode is shown in phantom while the non-operating circuit portion is shown in dashed lines.
  • Hydrogen and gaseous oxygen are produced using the gas production means (1), by electrolysis of the water stored in the water tank (12).
  • the water tank (12) is fed at least in part by a recycle water from the condenser (2) disposed downstream of the electrolyser (1) and a recycle water from the fuel cell (8) .
  • the hydrogen gas, from the gas production means (1) and saturated with water vapor, is partially dried in a condenser (2).
  • the effective desiccation is carried out at room temperature, that is to say between 20 ° C and 25 ° C, in the desiccation means (3).
  • a compressor (4) typically between 200 bar and 350 bar for hydrogen gas
  • the use of the compressor (4) may be superfluous if the gas is stored in a tank (5) in the form of hydrides, at a pressure of between 5 bars and 15 bars.
  • Three-way valves (6) and (7), respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the drying means (3), are configured in production-storage operating mode, that is to say they connect in series the means for producing gas (1), the drying means before storage under pressure of the gas (3) and the pressurized storage means of the gas (5).
  • FIG. 2 shows the circuit of one of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in fuel cell operating mode, ranging from the pressurized storage means (5) to the fuel cell (8). .
  • this circuit is described below with reference to the hydrogen gas supplying a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.
  • the dry hydrogen gas is removed from its pressure storage means (5), decompressed through an expander (9), this expander being associated with a safety valve (10). disposed downstream of the expander (9).
  • the decompressed dry hydrogen gas is then humidified during its passage through the desiccant means (3) at a temperature of operating between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C.
  • This operating temperature is obtained by heat exchange between the desiccant means (3) and the cooling circuit (11) of the fuel cell (8).
  • the liquid of this cooling circuit is driven by the pump (14).
  • FIG. 3 shows the circuits of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in the fuel cell operating mode.
  • the dry hydrogen gas is removed from its pressure storage means (5), decompressed through an expander (9), this expander being associated with a safety valve (10) disposed downstream of the expander (9).
  • the decompressed dry hydrogen gas is then humidified by recirculation of excess wet hydrogen gas leaving the fuel cell (8).
  • the air coming from a compressor (13), enters the desiccant means (3) of the hydrogen gas, via the valve (7), to be humidified therein, before supplying the fuel cell (8). ).
  • This embodiment comprising a single packaging assembly only for hydrogen gas, in which the hydrogen gas is humidified by its own drying means and the air is moistened by the moist air leaving the battery fuel, via a moisture exchanger, is not shown.
  • a fuel cell electricity production device comprising a desiccation means for a column comprising desiccant granules, other than silica gel type,
  • a fuel cell electricity generation device comprising a desiccation means comprising a solid phase desiccant material, other than desiccant granules, a fuel cell electricity production device comprising several desiccation and storage means as well as several fuel cells.
  • Such a fuel cell electricity production device is not limited to the supply of electrical energy for a motor vehicle but can be extended to any device requiring a supply of electrical energy.

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for generating electricity using a fuel cell, including a means (1) for generating fuel and comburent gases, and at least one unit (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) for packaging either the fuel or comburent gas. The packaging unit includes at least one means (3) for drying before the pressurized storage of the gas, at least one means (5) for the pressurized storage of the gas, and at least one means for humidifying the gas after removing same from storage. According to the invention, the drying means (3) is configured such that, in a fuel-cell operating mode, said means operates at a temperature at least equal to 60°C, and at least partially provides the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in the fuel-cell operating mode, by means of at least partially restoring the water extracted from the gas passing therethrough in a gas-production/storage operating mode.

Description

DISPOSITIF DE PRODUCTION D'ELECTRICITE PAR PILE A  DEVICE FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY BATTERY A
COMBUSTIBLE  COMBUSTIBLE
[0001] L'invention concerne un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible. The invention relates to a device for producing electricity by fuel cell.
[0002] L'invention concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible de type « boucle fermée » ou « système intégré », c'est-à-dire dans lequel les moyens de production des gaz alimentant la pile à combustible, les moyens de conditionnement et de stockage de ces gaz, ainsi que la pile à combustible elle-même sont réunis dans un même dispositif. Les documents US2004126641 et WO03041204 présentent de tels systèmes intégrés. The invention relates more particularly to a fuel cell type of electricity generation device "closed loop" or "integrated system", that is to say in which the means for producing gas supplying the battery fuel, the means of packaging and storage of these gases, as well as the fuel cell itself are combined in the same device. US2004126641 and WO03041204 disclose such integrated systems.
[0003] L'invention est plus particulièrement décrite, mais de manière non limitative, pour des applications dans le domaine de l'automobile, dans lequel cette technologie fait l'objet d'importantes recherches et semble prometteuse. L'invention peut aussi être utilisée avantageusement dans les domaines naval ou aéronautique. The invention is more particularly described, but not limited to, for applications in the automotive field, in which this technology is the subject of important research and looks promising. The invention can also be used advantageously in the naval or aeronautical fields.
[0004] Ces applications peuvent être mobiles, dans le cas où le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible est embarqué dans le véhicule, ou stationnaires, dans le cas où le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible est un moyen extérieur au véhicule et destiné à fournir de l'énergie à un véhicule dans une station. L'application peut également être utilisée dans le domaine stationnaire pour le stockage d'énergie. These applications may be mobile, in the case where the fuel cell electricity generation device is embedded in the vehicle, or stationary, in the case where the fuel cell electricity generation device is a means outside the vehicle and for supplying energy to a vehicle in a station. The application can also be used in the stationary field for energy storage.
[0005] Dans le cas d'une application mobile, le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible est généralement associé à une autre source d'énergie qui peut être de nature électrique, par exemple et de manière non limitative, provenant de panneaux photovoltaïques. Un tel dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible permet ainsi de produire et de stocker de l'énergie, et de fournir de l'énergie électrique à la demande lorsque la source principale d'énergie n'est pas disponible ou insuffisante. [0006] Il est connu que les piles à combustible permettent la production directe d'énergie électrique par une réaction électrochimique d'oxydoréduction à partir d'un gaz carburant, tel que l'hydrogène gazeux, et d'un gaz comburant, tels que l'oxygène gazeux ou l'air, sans passer par une conversion en énergie mécanique. [0007] Les piles à combustible sont dites de type hydrogène-oxygène lorsque les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant sont l'hydrogène gazeux et l'oxygène gazeux, ou de type hydrogène-air lorsque les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant sont l'hydrogène gazeux et l'air. In the case of a mobile application, the fuel cell electricity generation device is generally associated with another source of energy which may be of an electrical nature, for example and in a nonlimiting manner, originating from photovoltaic panels. Such a fuel cell electricity generating device thus makes it possible to produce and store energy, and to supply electrical energy on demand when the main source of energy is not available or insufficient. It is known that fuel cells allow the direct production of electrical energy by an electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction from a fuel gas, such as hydrogen gas, and an oxidizing gas, such as gaseous oxygen or air, without going through a conversion to mechanical energy. The fuel cells are called hydrogen-oxygen type when the gas respectively fuel and oxidant are hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, or hydrogen-air type when the gas respectively fuel and oxidant are hydrogen gas and the air.
[0008] Une pile à combustible comporte généralement une association en série d'éléments unitaires, chaque élément unitaire étant constitué essentiellement d'une anode et d'une cathode séparées par un électrolyte. Un type classique d' électrolyte, utilisé dans les applications du domaine de l'automobile est un électrolyte solide constitué essentiellement par une membrane polymère, permettant le passage d'ions de l'anode à la cathode. Un type particulier de ces membranes est proposé par exemple par la société DuPont sous l'appellation commerciale « Nafion ». Ces membranes doivent présenter une bonne conductivité ionique car elles sont traversées par les protons hydrogènes et elles doivent être électriquement isolantes afin que les électrons cheminent par le circuit électrique extérieur à la pile. On sait que, non seulement pour les membranes du type indiqué ci-dessus mais également pour d'autres membranes utilisées comme électrolyte solide dans des piles à combustible, la conductibilité des membranes est fonction de leur teneur en eau. C'est la raison pour laquelle les gaz d'alimentation de la pile doivent être suffisamment humides. Ainsi une pile à combustible doit être alimentée en gaz carburant et comburant avec une teneur en eau suffisante, mais pas excessive. [0009] A cette fin, les gaz carburant et comburant humides alimentant la pile à combustible peuvent résulter d'un procédé en plusieurs étapes, décrites ci après dans le cas d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène. [0008] A fuel cell generally comprises a series association of unitary elements, each unitary element consisting essentially of an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte. A typical type of electrolyte used in automotive applications is a solid electrolyte consisting essentially of a polymer membrane, allowing the passage of ions from the anode to the cathode. A particular type of these membranes is proposed for example by the company DuPont under the trade name "Nafion". These membranes must have good ionic conductivity because they are traversed by the hydrogen protons and they must be electrically insulating so that the electrons go through the electrical circuit outside the battery. It is known that, not only for membranes of the type indicated above but also for other membranes used as solid electrolyte in fuel cells, the conductivity of the membranes is a function of their water content. This is the reason why the feed gases of the battery must be sufficiently wet. Thus a fuel cell must be supplied with fuel and oxidant gas with a sufficient water content, but not excessive. To this end, the fuel and wet oxidant fueling the fuel cell may result from a multistage process, described below in the case of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.
[0010] La première étape, dans le cas d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène, consiste à produire de l'hydrogène gazeux et de l'oxygène gazeux, à l'aide d'un moyen de production de gaz par électrolyse d'eau ou électrolyseur, l'eau pouvant être récupérée en sortie de pile à combustible, tel que décrit dans le document WO 2010/024594. L'hydrogène gazeux et l'oxygène gazeux issus de électrolyseur sont alors saturés en vapeur d'eau. A l'issue de cette première étape, les gaz hydrogène et oxygène sont conditionnés séparément et les étapes décrites ci- après sont décrites pour un gaz donné. The first step, in the case of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, consists in producing hydrogen gas and gaseous oxygen, using a means for producing gas by electrolysis of water or electrolyser, the water that can be recovered at the fuel cell outlet, as described in document WO 2010/024594. The gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen from the electrolyser are then saturated with water vapor. At the end of this first step, the hydrogen and oxygen gases are packaged separately and the steps described below are described for a given gas.
[0011] La deuxième étape consiste en une dessiccation de chaque gaz avant son stockage sous pression, c'est-à-dire un séchage ou une extraction au moins partielle de l'eau contenue dans le gaz. La dessiccation du gaz est nécessaire, car les condensais d'eau sont préjudiciables à la fois à la durée de vie des compresseurs, éventuellement utilisés pour comprimer le gaz avant stockage, et à celle des réservoirs de stockage du gaz. Habituellement, le gaz est séché soit par refroidissement et condensation du gaz, soit par passage du gaz dans un moyen de dessiccation. Le séchage par refroidissement et condensation du gaz nécessite un apport en énergie. Le séchage par passage du gaz dans un moyen de dessiccation utilise, usuellement, un moyen de dessiccation comprenant un matériau dessiccatif en phase solide. En particulier, le moyen de dessiccation peut être une colonne de dessiccation, généralement remplie de granulés dessiccatifs, par exemple, de type silicagel, tels que mentionnés dans le document WO2007050447. Le séchage par passage du gaz dans une colonne de dessiccation nécessite un entretien des granulés dessiccatifs. En effet, les granulés dessiccatifs, après un certain nombre de passages du gaz à sécher, deviennent saturés en eau et donc inopérants dans leur fonction de dessiccation. Ces granulés dessiccatifs sont alors soit renouvelés périodiquement, ce qui nécessite une intervention normale d'entretien, soit régénérés, c'est-à-dire séchés de manière automatique, en purgeant une partie du gaz produit par électrolyseur et traversant la colonne de dessiccation, ce qui entraîne une perte en volume de gaz produit par électrolyseur d'environ 10%. The second step consists in desiccating each gas before storage under pressure, that is to say at least a partial drying or extraction of the water contained in the gas. Desiccation of the gas is necessary because the water condensates are detrimental both to the life of the compressors, possibly used to compress the gas before storage, and to that of the gas storage tanks. Usually, the gas is dried either by cooling and condensing the gas, or by passing the gas through a desiccant means. Drying by cooling and condensing the gas requires an energy input. Drying by passing the gas through a desiccant means usually uses a desiccant means comprising a solid phase desiccant material. In particular, the drying means may be a desiccation column, generally filled with desiccant granules, for example of the silica gel type, as mentioned in the document WO2007050447. Drying by passing the gas through a desiccant column requires maintenance of the desiccant granules. Indeed, desiccant granules, after a number of passages of the gas to be dried, become saturated with water and therefore inoperative in their desiccation function. These desiccant granules are then either renewed periodically, which requires a normal maintenance intervention, or regenerated, that is to say dried automatically, by purging a portion of the gas produced by electrolyser and passing through the desiccation column, resulting in a loss of gas volume produced by electrolyser of about 10%.
[0012] La troisième étape consiste à comprimer le gaz séché, issu du moyen de dessiccation, au moyen d'un compresseur et à stocker le gaz séché comprimé dans un réservoir de stockage sous pression. Typiquement, la pression de stockage de l'hydrogène gazeux, après dessiccation, est comprise entre 200 bars et 350 bars, alors que la pression de stockage de l'oxygène gazeux, après dessiccation, est d'environ 130 bars. Une solution alternative pour le stockage de l'hydrogène est le stockage, sous forme d'hydrures métalliques, à basse pression, c'est-à-dire à une pression comprise entre 5 bars et 15 bars. Cette pression de stockage correspond sensiblement à la pression de l'hydrogène gazeux en sortie du moyen de dessiccation, ce qui rend superflu l'usage d'un compresseur. Les hydrures métalliques, composés, à titre d'exemple, de nickel et de lanthane, et sous forme de fine poudre, ont la particularité d'absorber l'hydrogène gazeux sous une certaine pression, avec un léger dégagement de chaleur. Pour libérer ensuite l'hydrogène, un apport de chaleur est nécessaire : par exemple, par utilisation des pertes thermiques de la pile à combustible. Une fois libéré, l'hydrogène est donc à nouveau sous forme d'hydrogène gazeux pur. The third step is to compress the dried gas from the desiccant means, by means of a compressor and to store the dried compressed gas in a storage tank under pressure. Typically, the storage pressure of the hydrogen gas, after desiccation, is between 200 bars and 350 bars, whereas the storage pressure of the gaseous oxygen, after desiccation, is about 130 bars. An alternative solution for the storage of hydrogen is the storage, in the form of metal hydrides, at low pressure, that is to say at a pressure of between 5 bars and 15 bars. This storage pressure corresponds substantially to the pressure of the hydrogen gas at the outlet of the desiccation means, which makes the use of a compressor superfluous. The metal hydrides, composed, for example, of nickel and lanthanum, and in the form of fine powder, have the particularity of absorbing hydrogen gas under a certain pressure, with a slight release of heat. To then release the hydrogen, a heat input is necessary: for example, by using the thermal losses of the fuel cell. Once released, the hydrogen is again in the form of pure gaseous hydrogen.
[0013] La quatrième étape consiste à déstocker le gaz séché comprimé et à le détendre au moyen d'un détendeur, éventuellement couplé à une vanne de sécurité. Dans le cas particulier du déstockage d'hydrogène, stocké sous forme d'hydrures métalliques, cette étape consiste à libérer l'hydrogène, absorbé par les hydrures métalliques, sous forme gazeuse, tel que décrit précédemment. The fourth step is to destock the compressed dried gas and relax by means of a pressure reducer, optionally coupled to a safety valve. In the particular case of the destocking of hydrogen, stored in the form of metal hydrides, this step consists in releasing hydrogen, absorbed by the metal hydrides, in gaseous form, as described above.
[0014] La cinquième étape consiste à humidifier le gaz séché détendu en vue de l'alimentation de la pile à combustible en gaz carburant hydrogène humide et en gaz comburant oxygène humide. Un gaz humide est en effet nécessaire au fonctionnement de la pile à combustible, en particulier pour ne pas réduire sa durée de vie. Il existe plusieurs techniques d'humidification qui peuvent être complexes, lourdes et coûteuses. On peut citer notamment, et de manière non exhaustive, la recirculation sur le circuit hydrogène, tel que décrite dans le document US2003031906, l'échangeur d'humidité à microtubes de Nafion, la roue enthalpique, l'injection de brouillard d'eau. [0015] La sixième et dernière étape est l'alimentation de la pile en hydrogène et oxygène gazeux humides issus de leurs moyens d'humidification respectifs. The fifth step is to humidify the dried gas expanded to supply the fuel cell with wet hydrogen fuel gas and wet oxygen oxidizing gas. A wet gas is indeed necessary for the operation of the fuel cell, in particular to not reduce its life. There are several humidification techniques that can be complex, cumbersome and expensive. Notably, and not exclusively, recirculation on the hydrogen circuit, as described in US2003031906, the Nafion microtube moisture exchanger, the enthalpy wheel, the water mist injection. The sixth and last step is the supply of the battery with wet hydrogen and oxygen gas from their respective humidifying means.
[0016] Dans le cas d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-air, seul l'hydrogène gazeux suit les six étapes de procédé précédemment décrites. Concernant la première étape relative à la production d'hydrogène gazeux par électrolyse de l'eau, l'oxygène gazeux, produit simultanément mais non destiné à alimenter la pile à combustible, peut, par exemple, être rejeté dans l'atmosphère. En ce qui concerne le gaz comburant, l'air, généralement issu d'un compresseur d'air, il peut être humidifié, avant d'entrer dans la pile à combustible, par l'air humide sortant de la pile à combustible, via un échangeur d'humidité. [0017] L'invention a pour objet de remédier aux désavantages des moyens de dessiccation décrits ci-dessus, en particulier à l'entretien périodique et/ou à la régénération non optimisée du moyen de dessiccation, ainsi qu'à la complexité et au coût du moyen d'humidification. In the case of a hydrogen-air fuel cell, only the hydrogen gas follows the six process steps previously described. With regard to the first step relating to the production of gaseous hydrogen by electrolysis of water, gaseous oxygen, produced simultaneously but not intended for For example, fueling the fuel cell can be released into the atmosphere. As regards the combustion gas, the air, usually from an air compressor, can be humidified, before entering the fuel cell, by the moist air coming out of the fuel cell, via a moisture exchanger. The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the desiccation means described above, in particular the periodic maintenance and / or non-optimized regeneration of the desiccant means, and the complexity and cost of the humidifying means.
[0018] Le but de l'invention est de proposer un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible, garantissant à la fois un entretien automatique et performant des moyens de dessiccation et l'utilisation de moyens d'humidification simplifiés. The object of the invention is to provide a device for producing electricity by fuel cell, ensuring both an automatic maintenance and efficient drying means and the use of simplified humidification means.
[0019] Ce but est atteint grâce à un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible, comprenant : This object is achieved by means of a fuel cell power generation device, comprising:
-un moyen de production de gaz carburant et un moyen de production de gaz comburant, les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant étant destinés à alimenter une pile à combustible dans laquelle ils réagissent chimiquement entre eux pour produire de l'énergie électrique, a fuel gas production means and an oxidizing gas production means, the fuel and oxidant gases being intended to feed a fuel cell in which they chemically react with each other to produce electrical energy,
-au moins un ensemble de conditionnement pour l'un des gaz carburant ou comburant, comprenant au moins un moyen de dessiccation, destiné à extraire au moins en partie l'eau contenue dans le gaz le traversant avant un stockage sous pression du gaz, au moins deux vannes respectivement en amont et en aval du moyen de dessiccation, au moins un moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz et au moins un moyen d'humidification après déstockage et décompression du gaz,  at least one conditioning unit for one of the fuel or oxidant gases, comprising at least one desiccating means, intended to extract at least part of the water contained in the gas passing through it before storage under pressure of the gas, at least two valves respectively upstream and downstream of the desiccant means, at least one means for storage under pressure of the gas and at least one humidification means after destocking and decompression of the gas,
-les vannes, dans un premier état, permettant de configurer le dispositif de production d'électricité en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage du gaz, en connectant en série le moyen de production du gaz, le moyen de dessiccation et le moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz, the valves, in a first state, making it possible to configure the electricity generating device in the gas production-storage operating mode, by connecting in series the means for producing the gas, the drying means and the storage means under gas pressure,
-les vannes, dans un deuxième état, permettant de configurer le dispositif de production d'électricité en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, en autorisant le passage de l'un des gaz carburant ou comburant à travers le moyen de dessiccation en vue de l'alimentation de la pile à combustible, the valves, in a second state, for configuring the power generation device in fuel cell operation mode, allowing passing one of the fuel or oxidant gases through the desiccant means for supplying the fuel cell,
et le moyen de dessiccation étant configuré de telle sorte que, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, il fonctionne à une température au moins égale à 60°C et assure au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, par restitution au moins partielle de l'eau extraite du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement production- stockage de gaz. and the drying means being configured such that, in the fuel cell operating mode, it operates at a temperature of at least 60 ° C and at least partly ensures the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in battery operation mode fuel, by at least partial return of the water extracted from the gas passing therethrough in the production-gas storage operation mode.
[0020] Un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend, en premier lieu, un moyen de production de gaz carburant et un moyen de production de gaz comburant. Ces moyens de production sont usuellement réunis en un seul moyen de production de gaz, dans le cas d'une pile à hydrogène-oxygène. Ce moyen de production de gaz commun est classiquement un électrolyseur, produisant l'hydrogène et l'oxygène gazeux par électrolyse de l'eau. L'eau soumise à électrolyse est généralement stockée dans un réservoir d'eau, pouvant être éventuellement alimenté au moins en partie par une eau de recyclage, issue d'un condenseur éventuellement disposé en aval de électrolyseur et/ou issue de la pile à combustible. Dans le cas d'une pile à combustible hydrogène-air, les moyens de production de gaz sont distincts : l'hydrogène gazeux est usuellement issu d'un électrolyseur alors que l'air provient généralement d'un compresseur d'air. [0021] Un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène comprend de plus un ensemble de conditionnement, pour chacun des gaz hydrogène et oxygène. Cet ensemble de conditionnement comprend au moins un moyen de dessiccation avant stockage sous pression du gaz, au moins un moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz et au moins un moyen d'humidification après déstockage du gaz. Dans le cas d'une pile à combustible hydrogène-air, seul l'hydrogène gazeux dispose a priori d'un ensemble de conditionnement au sens de l'invention.  A fuel cell electricity production device comprises, firstly, a fuel gas production means and a combustion gas production means. These means of production are usually combined into a single means for producing gas, in the case of a hydrogen-oxygen cell. This means of producing common gas is conventionally an electrolyzer, producing hydrogen and gaseous oxygen by electrolysis of water. The water subjected to electrolysis is generally stored in a water tank, which may possibly be supplied at least partly with recycle water, from a condenser possibly disposed downstream of the electrolyser and / or from the fuel cell. . In the case of a hydrogen-air fuel cell, the gas production means are distinct: the gaseous hydrogen is usually derived from an electrolyser while the air generally comes from an air compressor. A device for producing electricity by hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell further comprises a packaging unit for each of the hydrogen and oxygen gases. This packaging assembly comprises at least one desiccation means before storage under pressure of the gas, at least one means for storage under pressure of the gas and at least one humidifying means after destocking the gas. In the case of a hydrogen-air fuel cell, only hydrogen gas has a priori a packaging assembly within the meaning of the invention.
[0022] Comme décrit précédemment, un moyen de dessiccation est un moyen de séchage du gaz, c'est-à-dire d'extraction au moins partielle de l'eau contenue dans le gaz, avant sa compression éventuelle par un compresseur puis son stockage sous forme comprimé dans un moyen de stockage sous pression tel qu'un réservoir de stockage. En effet, un compresseur et un réservoir de stockage, comprenant généralement des parties métalliques, présentent une sensibilité à la corrosion par l'eau éventuellement présente dans le gaz en contact, d'où la nécessité de sécher le gaz pour garantir la pérennité des parties métalliques du compresseur et du réservoir de stockage. En alternative pour l'hydrogène, le stockage peut être réalisé sous forme d'hydrures à basse pression, c'est-à-dire entre 5 bars et 15 bars, sans avoir recours à un compresseur. Pour les hydrures, il est également nécessaire de sécher au préalable le gaz, pour garantir une durée de vie élevée du moyen de stockage. As described above, a drying means is a means of drying the gas, that is to say at least partial extraction of the water contained in the gas, before its compression by a compressor and then its compressor. storage in compressed form in a pressurized storage means such as a storage tank storage. Indeed, a compressor and a storage tank, generally comprising metal parts, have a sensitivity to corrosion by water possibly present in the gas in contact, hence the need to dry the gas to ensure the durability of the parts metal compressor and storage tank. As an alternative for hydrogen, the storage can be carried out in the form of hydrides at low pressure, that is to say between 5 bars and 15 bars, without resorting to a compressor. For hydrides, it is also necessary to first dry the gas, to ensure a long life of the storage means.
[0023] Un gaz, issu de l'électrolyse de l'eau et saturé en vapeur d'eau, peut éventuellement être partiellement séché par un passage dans un condenseur destiné à enlever une partie de l'eau du gaz avant passage dans le moyen de dessiccation. Ce condenseur peut avoir comme source froide l'air ambiant, ou alors plus avantageusement pour une application navale, l'eau de mer par l'intermédiaire d'un échangeur de chaleur. [0024] Le moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz sec est généralement un réservoir de stockage, dimensionné pour résister à la pression du gaz. A gas, resulting from the electrolysis of water and saturated with water vapor, may optionally be partially dried by passage through a condenser intended to remove some of the water from the gas before passing through the medium. desiccation. This condenser may have as a cold source ambient air, or more advantageously for naval application, seawater via a heat exchanger. The pressure storage means of the dry gas is generally a storage tank, sized to withstand the pressure of the gas.
[0025] Pour alimenter ensuite la pile à combustible, le gaz sec - hydrogène gazeux ou oxygène gazeux - est déstocké de son réservoir de stockage, décomprimé à travers un détendeur avant de passer à travers un moyen d'humidification, avant d'alimenter la pile à combustible. To then feed the fuel cell, the dry gas - hydrogen gas or gaseous oxygen - is removed from its storage tank, decompressed through a pressure regulator before passing through a humidifying means, before feeding the Fuel cell.
[0026] Selon l'invention, un système de vannes, comprenant au moins deux vannes, positionnées respectivement en amont et en aval du moyen de dessiccation, permet de configurer le dispositif de production d'électricité selon deux modes de fonctionnement : un mode de fonctionnement production -stockage de gaz et un mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. Ces vannes sont par exemple des vannes à trois voies. According to the invention, a valve system, comprising at least two valves positioned respectively upstream and downstream of the desiccation means, makes it possible to configure the power generation device according to two modes of operation: a mode of production operation - storage of gas and a fuel cell operating mode. These valves are for example three-way valves.
[0027] Dans le mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, les vannes, configurées dans un premier état, connectent en série le moyen de production de gaz, le moyen de dessiccation avant stockage sous pression du gaz, et le moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz. Cette connexion permet de stocker chacun des gaz produits par électrolyse, puis séché et comprimé d'être stocké dans un réservoir de stockage. Dans le cas de l'hydrogène gazeux, celui-ci peut être stocké, de façon alternative, dans un réservoir, sous formes d'hydrures métalliques, sans compression préalable. In the gas production-storage operating mode, the valves, configured in a first state, connect in series the gas production means, the drying means before storage under pressure of the gas, and the means of storage under pressure of the gas. This connection makes it possible to store each of the gases produced by electrolysis, then dried and compressed to be stored in a storage tank. In the case of hydrogen gas, it may alternatively be stored in a tank, in the form of metal hydrides, without prior compression.
[0028] Dans le mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, les vannes, configurées dans un deuxième état, autorisent le passage de l'un des gaz carburant ou comburant à travers le moyen de dessiccation en vue de l'alimentation de la pile à combustible. [0029] Selon l'invention également, le moyen de dessiccation est configuré de telle sorte que, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, il fonctionne à une température au moins égale à 60°C et assure au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, par restitution au moins partielle de l'eau extraite du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz. En d'autres termes, le moyen de dessiccation est utilisé comme moyen d'humidification. Ainsi le moyen de dessiccation présente l'avantage d'assurer les deux fonctions de dessiccation et d'humidification, ce qui simplifie le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible. Corrélativement l'eau stockée par le moyen de dessiccation, lors du passage du gaz humide, en mode de fonctionnement production- stockage de gaz, est au moins en partie restituée au gaz traversant le moyen de dessiccation, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. Par conséquent, l'élimination au moins partielle de l'eau stockée par le moyen de dessiccation permet l'entretien automatique, c'est-à-dire sans intervention humaine, du moyen de dessiccation et au maintien ou à la régénération de sa capacité de dessiccation. Une conséquence bénéfique est l'augmentation du rendement énergétique global du dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible, car la régénération du moyen de dessiccation est réalisée en utilisant l'énergie gratuite perdue de la pile à combustible. In the fuel cell mode of operation, the valves, configured in a second state, allow the passage of one of the fuel or oxidant gases through the desiccation means for the supply of the fuel cell. . According to the invention also, the drying means is configured such that, in the fuel cell operating mode, it operates at a temperature at least equal to 60 ° C and at least partially ensures the humidification of the fuel cell. gas passing therethrough in fuel cell operation mode, by at least partial return of the water extracted from the gas flowing through it in the gas production-storage operating mode. In other words, the desiccating means is used as a humidifying means. Thus, the desiccation means has the advantage of providing both desiccation and humidification functions, which simplifies the device for producing electricity by a fuel cell. Correspondingly, the water stored by the desiccant means, during the passage of the wet gas, gas production-storage mode of operation, is at least partly restored to the gas passing through the desiccant means in fuel cell operation mode. Consequently, the at least partial elimination of the water stored by the desiccation means allows automatic maintenance, that is to say without human intervention, of the desiccation means and the maintenance or regeneration of its capacity. desiccation. A beneficial consequence is the increase in the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell electricity generating device, since the regeneration of the desiccant means is carried out using the free energy lost from the fuel cell.
[0030] Le fonctionnement en mode humidification du moyen de dessiccation, à une température au moins égale à 60°C, permet de désorber la même quantité d'eau que celle qui est absorbée en fonctionnement en mode séchage, à une température comprise entre 5°C et 25°C. Ainsi, pour pouvoir désorber la même quantité d'eau que celle absorbée durant la phase de stockage, la température du gaz a humidifier doit être supérieure a celle du gaz à sécher. [0031] Un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention est un dispositif de production d'électricité dans lequel le moyen de dessiccation, assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, entraîné par une pompe, est configuré de telle sorte que sa température de fonctionnement est comprise entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C. En effet, cette température de fonctionnement permet de transformer en vapeur d'eau, l'eau récupérée par le moyen de dessiccation, au cours de l'étape de dessiccation. L'intervalle de températures préférentiel [60°C, 80°C] correspond aux températures de fonctionnement usuelles d'une pile à combustible. L'intervalle de températures [80°C, 100°C] correspond aux températures de fonctionnement vers lesquelles tendent les membranes des piles à combustible en développement, ces températures plus élevées permettant avantageusement, par exemple, de réduire la quantité de platine nécessaire au fonctionnement de la pile à combustible ou de refroidir plus facilement la pile à combustible. The humidification mode operation of the desiccation means, at a temperature of at least 60 ° C, allows to desorb the same amount of water than that which is absorbed in operation in drying mode, at a temperature between 5 ° C and 25 ° C. Thus, to be able to desorb the same amount of water absorbed during the storage phase, the temperature of the gas to be humidified must be higher than that of the gas to be dried. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a device for generating electricity in which the desiccating means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in fuel cell operation mode, driven by a pump, is configured so that its operating temperature is between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C. Indeed, this operating temperature makes it possible to transform the water recovered by the desiccation means into water vapor during the drying step. The preferred temperature range [60 ° C, 80 ° C] corresponds to the usual operating temperatures of a fuel cell. The temperature range [80 ° C., 100 ° C.] corresponds to the operating temperatures at which the membranes of the fuel cells in development tend, as these higher temperatures advantageously make it possible, for example, to reduce the amount of platinum required for operation. of the fuel cell or to cool the fuel cell more easily.
[0032] Une variante du mode de réalisation préféré précédent est un dispositif de production d'électricité, comprenant un circuit de refroidissement de la pile à combustible, entraîné par une pompe, dans lequel le moyen de dessiccation, assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est configuré de telle sorte que sa température de fonctionnement est obtenue au moins en partie par échange thermique avec le circuit de refroidissement de la pile à combustible. En effet, cette variante de mode de réalisation permet d'utiliser une source de chaleur existante, le circuit de refroidissement de la pile à combustible, d'où un avantage économique. Il permet par ailleurs d'atteindre le niveau de température de fonctionnement, entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C, nécessaire à la vaporisation de l'eau stockée dans le moyen de dessiccation. [0033] Il est encore avantageux que le dispositif de production d'électricité soit configuré de telle sorte que la température du gaz entrant dans le moyen de dessiccation, assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est comprise entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C. En d'autres termes, le gaz sec et détendu entrant dans le moyen de dessiccation est préalablement chauffé jusqu'à une température permettant la vaporisation de l'eau stockée. Le chauffage du gaz peut être combiné au chauffage du moyen de dessiccation précédemment décrit. An alternative embodiment of the previous preferred embodiment is an electricity generating device, comprising a cooling circuit of the fuel cell, driven by a pump, wherein the desiccating means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in the fuel cell operating mode, is configured such that its operating temperature is obtained at least in part by heat exchange with the cooling circuit of the fuel cell. Indeed, this alternative embodiment allows the use of an existing heat source, the cooling circuit of the fuel cell, resulting in an economic advantage. It also makes it possible to reach the operating temperature level, between 60 ° C. and 100 ° C., preferably between 60 ° C. and 80 ° C., necessary for the vaporization of the water stored in the desiccation means. It is further advantageous that the power generation device is configured so that the temperature of the gas entering the desiccating means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in the operating mode. fuel, is between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C. In other words, the dry and expanded gas entering the desiccation means is preheated to a temperature allowing the vaporization of the stored water. The heating of the gas can be combined with the heating of the desiccation means described above.
[0034] Dans le cas où le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un circuit de refroidissement de la pile à combustible, le dispositif de production d'électricité est avantageusement configuré de telle sorte que la température du gaz entrant dans le moyen de dessiccation, assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est obtenue au moins en partie par échange thermique avec le circuit de refroidissement de la pile à combustible. Ce mode de réalisation permet d'utiliser une source de chaleur existante, le circuit de refroidissement de la pile à combustible, et permet, par ailleurs, d'atteindre le niveau de température, entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C, nécessaire à la vaporisation de l'eau stockée dans le moyen de dessiccation. [0035] Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement pour chacun des gaz respectivement carburant et comburant. Deux ensembles de conditionnement distincts permettent ainsi d'éviter tout contact et donc toute réaction chimique entre les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant avant l'alimentation de la pile à combustible. In the case where the fuel cell electricity generating device comprises a fuel cell cooling circuit, the electricity generating device is advantageously configured so that the temperature of the gas entering the fuel cell is reduced. drying means, at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in the fuel cell operating mode, is obtained at least partly by heat exchange with the cooling circuit of the fuel cell. This embodiment makes it possible to use an existing heat source, the cooling circuit of the fuel cell, and also makes it possible to reach the temperature level, between 60 ° C. and 100 ° C., preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C, necessary for the vaporization of water stored in the desiccant means. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fuel cell electricity generation device comprises a conditioning unit for each of the fuel and combustion gas respectively. Two separate conditioning units thus make it possible to avoid any contact and therefore any chemical reaction between the gases respectively fuel and oxidant before feeding the fuel cell.
[0036] C'est le cas en particulier d'un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène, dans lequel le gaz carburant - hydrogène gazeux- et le gaz comburant -oxygène gazeux- sont conditionnés par leurs ensembles de conditionnement respectifs. [0037] Dans le cas d'un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène, les moyens de production de l'hydrogène gazeux et de l'oxygène gazeux sont confondus en un seul moyen de production par électrolyse de l'eau provenant d'un réservoir de stockage d'eau connecté à la pile à combustible. Ce moyen de production par électrolyse de l'eau est le moyen usuel et économique de production simultanée de l'hydrogène gazeux et de l'oxygène gazeux. This is the case in particular of a device for producing electricity by hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, in which the fuel gas - gaseous hydrogen - and the oxidizing gas - gaseous oxygen - are conditioned by their respective packaging sets. In the case of a device for producing electricity by hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, the means for producing hydrogen gas and gaseous oxygen are combined into a single means of production by electrolysis. water from a water storage tank connected to the fuel cell. This means of production by electrolysis of water is the usual and economical means of simultaneous production of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.
[0038] Selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement seulement pour le gaz carburant. According to another embodiment of the invention, the fuel cell electricity generation device comprises a packaging assembly only for the fuel gas.
[0039] C'est le cas notamment d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-air, dans laquelle seul l'hydrogène gazeux, produit par électrolyse de l'eau, a un ensemble de conditionnement au sens de l'invention. L'air, issu généralement d'un compresseur, donc d'un moyen de production distinct de celui de l'hydrogène gazeux, n'a pas besoin d'un tel ensemble de conditionnement. This is particularly the case of a hydrogen-air fuel cell, in which only hydrogen gas, produced by electrolysis of water, has a packaging assembly within the meaning of the invention. The air, generally from a compressor, and therefore from a means of production distinct from that of gaseous hydrogen, does not need such a packaging unit.
[0040] Selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, le moyen de dessiccation, destiné à extraire au moins en partie l'eau contenue dans le gaz le traversant, avant le stockage sous pression du gaz, en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, est configuré de telle sorte qu'il est traversé par le même gaz en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. En d'autres termes, le moyen de dessiccation assurant le séchage du gaz le traversant, en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, avant son stockage sous pression, assure l'humidification de ce même gaz après son déstockage et avant l'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. Ainsi, le moyen de dessiccation assure les deux fonctions de dessiccation et d'humidification pour le même gaz. Avantageusement, le moyen de dessiccation est donc traversé par un gaz de même nature chimique, ce qui évite tout risque de réaction chimique au sein du moyen de dessiccation. Dans le cas d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène- oxygène, les circuits d'hydrogène gazeux et d'oxygène gazeux sont ainsi parfaitement séparés. [0041] Selon un autre mode de réalisation avantageux de l'invention, le moyen de dessiccation, destiné à extraire au moins en partie l'eau contenue dans un premier gaz le traversant, avant le stockage sous pression du gaz, en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, est configuré de telle sorte qu'il est traversé par un deuxième gaz en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. En d'autres termes, le moyen de dessiccation assurant le séchage d'un premier gaz le traversant, en mode de fonctionnement production- stockage de gaz, avant son stockage sous pression, assure l'humidification d'un deuxième gaz après son déstockage et avant l'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. Ainsi, le moyen de dessiccation assure les deux fonctions de dessiccation et d'humidification mais pour des gaz différents. Par premier gaz, on entend le gaz traversant le moyen de dessiccation en en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, et, par deuxième gaz, on entend le gaz traversant le moyen de dessiccation en en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. A titre d'exemple, dans le cas d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-air, le moyen de dessiccation de l'hydrogène gazeux peut assurer l'humidification de l'air comprimé, qui assure en contrepartie le séchage du moyen de dessiccation, ce qui pourrait rendre superflu le chauffage du moyen de dessiccation. Concernant l'hydrogène gazeux, qui n'est pas humidifié par son propre moyen de dessiccation, il peut alors être humidifié par recirculation du surplus d'hydrogène gazeux humide sortant de la pile à combustible. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the desiccating means, intended to extract at least part of the water contained in the gas passing through it, before the gas is stored under pressure, in the production-operating mode. gas storage, is configured such that it is crossed by the same gas in fuel cell operation mode. In other words, the drying means ensuring the drying of the gas passing therethrough, in the gas production-storage mode of operation, before being stored under pressure, ensures the humidification of this same gas after its destocking and before feeding of the fuel cell, in fuel cell operation mode. Thus, the desiccation means provides both desiccation and humidification functions for the same gas. Advantageously, the drying means is therefore traversed by a gas of the same chemical nature, which avoids any risk of chemical reaction within the desiccation means. In the case of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, the gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen circuits are thus perfectly separated. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the desiccating means, intended to extract at least partly the water contained in a first gas passing through it, before storage under pressure of the gas, in operating mode production-storage of gas, is configured such that it is crossed by a second gas in fuel cell operation mode. In other words, the drying means ensuring the drying of a first gas passing through it, in the gas production-storage operating mode, before being stored under pressure, ensures the humidification of a second gas after its destocking and before feeding the fuel cell, in fuel cell operation mode. Thus, the desiccation means provides both desiccation and humidification functions but for different gases. By first gas is meant the gas passing through the desiccant means in gas production-storage mode of operation, and the second gas means the gas passing through the desiccant means in fuel cell operation mode. For example, in the case of a fuel cell of the hydrogen-air type, the means for desiccating the hydrogen gas can ensure the humidification of the compressed air, which in return ensures the drying of the medium. desiccation, which could make redundant the heating of the means of desiccation. As for the hydrogen gas, which is not wetted by its own drying means, it can then be humidified by recirculating the surplus of humid hydrogen gas leaving the fuel cell.
[0042] Un autre mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention est un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible, dans lequel le moyen de dessiccation est constitué d'au moins une colonne de dessiccation comprenant des granulés dessiccatifs, qui est une technologie connue et maîtrisée. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is a fuel cell electricity generating device, in which the drying means consists of at least one drying column comprising desiccant granules, which is a known and mastered technology.
[0043] Selon une variante du mode de réalisation préféré précédent, les granulés dessiccatifs d'une colonne de dessiccation sont de type silicagel, qui est un matériau usuellement utilisé dans ce type d'application. [0044] Il est encore avantageux que le moyen de stockage de l'hydrogène soit réalisé sous forme d'hydrures métalliques, car ce moyen de stockage rend superflu l'utilisation d'un compresseur, en aval du moyen de dessiccation. According to a variant of the previous preferred embodiment, the desiccant granules of a desiccation column are silica gel type, which is a material usually used in this type of application. It is also advantageous for the hydrogen storage means to be in the form of metal hydrides, since this storage means makes superfluous the use of a compressor downstream of the desiccation means.
[0045] L'invention a également pour objet l'utilisation d'un dispositif de production d'électricité d'un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'invention pour un véhicule automobile. The invention also relates to the use of a device for generating electricity from a fuel cell electricity generation device according to the invention for a motor vehicle.
[0046] Les caractéristiques et autres avantages de l'invention seront mieux compris à l'aide des figures annexées 1 à 3 : The characteristics and other advantages of the invention will be better understood with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3:
-la figure 1 présente le circuit d'un des deux gaz d'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, dans le cas où le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement pour chacun des gaz respectivement carburant et comburant, -la figure 2 présente le circuit d'un des deux gaz d'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, dans le cas où le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement pour chacun des gaz respectivement carburant et comburant, -la figure 3 présente les circuits des deux gaz d'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement seulement pour le gaz carburant.  FIG. 1 shows the circuit of one of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in the gas production-storage operating mode, in the case where the fuel cell electricity generation device comprises a set each of the fuel and oxidant gases respectively, FIG. 2 shows the circuit of one of the two fuel cell feed gases, in the fuel cell operating mode, in the case where the device for producing fuel fuel cell electricity comprises a conditioning unit for each of the respective fuel and combustion gases, FIG. 3 shows the circuits of the two fuel cell feed gases, in the fuel cell operating mode, the fuel cell Fuel cell power generation includes a conditioning package only for the fuel gas.
[0047] Les figures 1 et 2 présentent schématiquement le circuit d'un seul des deux gaz respectivement carburant et comburant, ce circuit étant similaire pour chacun des gaz.  Figures 1 and 2 show schematically the circuit of only one of the two gases respectively fuel and oxidant, this circuit being similar for each gas.
[0048] La figure 1 présente le circuit d'un des deux gaz d'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, entre le moyen de production de gaz (1) et le moyen de stockage sous pression (5). Ce circuit est décrit ci-dessous en référence à l'hydrogène gazeux alimentant une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène. En outre, la partie de circuit en fonctionnement, pour un mode de fonctionnement donné, est représentée en traits pleins alors que la partie de circuit non en fonctionnement est représentée en traits pointillés. FIG. 1 shows the circuit of one of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in the gas production-storage operating mode, between the gas production means (1) and the storage means under pressure (5). This circuit is described below with reference to the hydrogen gas supplying a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. In addition, the circuit portion in operation, for a given operating mode, is shown in phantom while the non-operating circuit portion is shown in dashed lines.
[0049] L'hydrogène et l'oxygène gazeux sont produits à l'aide du moyen de production de gaz (1), par électrolyse de l'eau stockée dans le réservoir d'eau (12). Le réservoir d'eau (12) est alimenté au moins en partie par une eau de recyclage issue du condenseur (2) disposé en aval de l'électrolyseur (1) et par une eau de recyclage issue de la pile à combustible (8). L'hydrogène gazeux, issu du moyen de production de gaz (1) et saturé de vapeur d'eau, est partiellement séché dans un condenseur (2). Puis, la dessiccation effective est réalisée à température ambiante, c'est-à-dire entre 20°C et 25°C, dans le moyen de dessiccation (3). Le gaz ainsi séché, issu du moyen de dessiccation (3), est comprimé dans un compresseur (4), typiquement entre 200 bars et 350 bars pour l'hydrogène gazeux, puis stocké dans un moyen de stockage sous pression ou réservoir (5). En alternative pour l'hydrogène, l'utilisation du compresseur (4) peut être superflue si le gaz est stocké dans un réservoir (5) sous forme d'hydrures, à une pression comprise entre 5 bars et 15 bars. Des vannes trois voies (6) et (7), respectivement disposées en amont et en aval du moyen de dessiccation (3), sont configurées en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage, c'est-à-dire qu'elles connectent en série le moyen de production de gaz (1), le moyen de dessiccation avant stockage sous pression du gaz (3) et le moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz (5). Hydrogen and gaseous oxygen are produced using the gas production means (1), by electrolysis of the water stored in the water tank (12). The water tank (12) is fed at least in part by a recycle water from the condenser (2) disposed downstream of the electrolyser (1) and a recycle water from the fuel cell (8) . The hydrogen gas, from the gas production means (1) and saturated with water vapor, is partially dried in a condenser (2). Then, the effective desiccation is carried out at room temperature, that is to say between 20 ° C and 25 ° C, in the desiccation means (3). The gas thus dried, originating from the drying means (3), is compressed in a compressor (4), typically between 200 bar and 350 bar for hydrogen gas, and then stored in a pressurized storage means or tank (5) . As an alternative for hydrogen, the use of the compressor (4) may be superfluous if the gas is stored in a tank (5) in the form of hydrides, at a pressure of between 5 bars and 15 bars. Three-way valves (6) and (7), respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the drying means (3), are configured in production-storage operating mode, that is to say they connect in series the means for producing gas (1), the drying means before storage under pressure of the gas (3) and the pressurized storage means of the gas (5).
[0050] La figure 2 présente le circuit d'un des deux gaz d'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, allant du moyen de stockage sous pression (5) à la pile à combustible (8). Comme pour la figure 1, ce circuit est décrit ci-dessous en référence à l'hydrogène gazeux alimentant une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-oxygène. FIG. 2 shows the circuit of one of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in fuel cell operating mode, ranging from the pressurized storage means (5) to the fuel cell (8). . As for FIG. 1, this circuit is described below with reference to the hydrogen gas supplying a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.
[0051] En mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, l'hydrogène gazeux sec est déstocké de son moyen de stockage sous pression (5), décomprimé à travers un détendeur (9), ce détendeur étant associé à une vanne de sécurité (10) disposée en aval du détendeur (9). L'hydrogène gazeux sec décomprimé est alors humidifié lors de son passage dans le moyen de dessiccation (3) à une température de fonctionnement comprise entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C. Cette température de fonctionnement est obtenue par échange thermique entre le moyen de dessiccation (3) et le circuit de refroidissement (11) de la pile à combustible (8). Le liquide de ce circuit de refroidissement est entraîné par la pompe (14). In the fuel cell operating mode, the dry hydrogen gas is removed from its pressure storage means (5), decompressed through an expander (9), this expander being associated with a safety valve (10). disposed downstream of the expander (9). The decompressed dry hydrogen gas is then humidified during its passage through the desiccant means (3) at a temperature of operating between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C. This operating temperature is obtained by heat exchange between the desiccant means (3) and the cooling circuit (11) of the fuel cell (8). The liquid of this cooling circuit is driven by the pump (14).
[0052] La figure 3 présente les circuits des deux gaz d'alimentation de la pile à combustible, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. C'est par exemple le cas d'une pile à combustible de type hydrogène-air. Selon ce mode de réalisation, l'hydrogène gazeux sec est déstocké de son moyen de stockage sous pression (5), décomprimé à travers un détendeur (9), ce détendeur étant associé à une vanne de sécurité (10) disposée en aval du détendeur (9). L'hydrogène gazeux sec décomprimé est alors humidifié par recirculation du surplus d'hydrogène gazeux humide sortant de la pile à combustible (8). L'air, issu d'un compresseur (13), entre dans le moyen de dessiccation (3) de l'hydrogène gazeux, via la vanne (7), pour y être humidifié, avant d'alimenter la pile à combustible (8). FIG. 3 shows the circuits of the two feed gases of the fuel cell, in the fuel cell operating mode. This is for example the case of a hydrogen-air fuel cell. According to this embodiment, the dry hydrogen gas is removed from its pressure storage means (5), decompressed through an expander (9), this expander being associated with a safety valve (10) disposed downstream of the expander (9). The decompressed dry hydrogen gas is then humidified by recirculation of excess wet hydrogen gas leaving the fuel cell (8). The air, coming from a compressor (13), enters the desiccant means (3) of the hydrogen gas, via the valve (7), to be humidified therein, before supplying the fuel cell (8). ).
[0053] Cette variante de réalisation, comprenant un seul ensemble de conditionnement uniquement pour l'hydrogène gazeux, dans laquelle l'hydrogène gazeux est humidifié par son propre moyen de dessiccation et l'air est humidifié par l'air humide sortant de la pile à combustible, via un échangeur d'humidité, n'est pas représentée. This embodiment, comprising a single packaging assembly only for hydrogen gas, in which the hydrogen gas is humidified by its own drying means and the air is moistened by the moist air leaving the battery fuel, via a moisture exchanger, is not shown.
[0054] L'invention ne doit pas être interprétée comme étant limitée aux modes de réalisation, présentés précédemment et illustrés sur les figures 1 à 3, mais peut être étendue à d'autres modes de réalisation, tels qu'à titre d'exemple et de manière non exhaustive: The invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments, presented above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, but may be extended to other embodiments, such as by way of example. and in a non-exhaustive way:
-un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprenant un moyen de dessiccation d'une colonne comprenant des granulés dessiccatifs, autres que de type silicagel, a fuel cell electricity production device comprising a desiccation means for a column comprising desiccant granules, other than silica gel type,
-un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprenant un moyen de dessiccation comprenant un matériau dessiccatif en phase solide, autre que des granulés dessiccatifs, -un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprenant plusieurs moyens de dessiccation, de stockage ainsi que plusieurs piles à combustible. a fuel cell electricity generation device comprising a desiccation means comprising a solid phase desiccant material, other than desiccant granules, a fuel cell electricity production device comprising several desiccation and storage means as well as several fuel cells.
[0055] Enfin, un tel dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible n'est pas limité à la fourniture d'énergie électrique pour un véhicule automobile mais peut être étendu à tout dispositif requérant une alimentation en énergie électrique.  Finally, such a fuel cell electricity production device is not limited to the supply of electrical energy for a motor vehicle but can be extended to any device requiring a supply of electrical energy.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible, comprenant: A fuel cell power generation device, comprising:
-un moyen de production (1) de gaz carburant et un moyen de production (1, 13) de gaz comburant, les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant étant destinés à alimenter une pile à combustible (8) dans laquelle ils réagissent chimiquement entre eux pour produire de l'énergie électrique,  a means (1) for producing fuel gas and means for producing (1, 13) oxidizing gas, the fuel and combustion gases respectively being intended to feed a fuel cell (8) in which they react chemically with each other for produce electrical energy,
-au moins un ensemble de conditionnement (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) pour l'un des gaz carburant ou comburant, comprenant au moins un moyen de dessiccation (3), destiné à extraire au moins en partie l'eau contenue dans le gaz le traversant avant un stockage sous pression du gaz, au moins deux vannes (6, 7) respectivement en amont et en aval du moyen de dessiccation (3), au moins un moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz (5) et au moins un moyen d'humidification après déstockage et décompression du gaz, -les vannes (6, 7), dans un premier état, permettant de configurer le dispositif de production d'électricité en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage du gaz, en connectant en série le moyen de production (1) du gaz, le moyen de dessiccation (3) et le moyen de stockage sous pression du gaz (5),  at least one conditioning unit (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) for one of the fuel or oxidant gases, comprising at least one desiccation means (3) intended to extract at least one partly the water contained in the gas passing through it before storage under pressure of the gas, at least two valves (6, 7) respectively upstream and downstream of the drying means (3), at least one pressure storage means gas (5) and at least one humidifying means after destocking and decompressing the gas, -the valves (6, 7), in a first state, for configuring the power generation device in production-operation mode. storing the gas, connecting in series the means for producing (1) the gas, the drying means (3) and the pressurized storage means of the gas (5),
caractérisé en ce que les vannes (6, 7), dans un deuxième état, permettent de configurer le dispositif de production d'électricité en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, en autorisant le passage de l'un des gaz carburant ou comburant à travers le moyen de dessiccation (3) en vue de l'alimentation de la pile à combustible (8), et en ce que le moyen de dessiccation (3) est configuré de telle sorte que, en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, il fonctionne à une température au moins égale à 60°C et assure au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant, par restitution au moins partielle de l'eau extraite du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz. characterized in that the valves (6, 7), in a second state, make it possible to configure the power generation device in fuel cell operation mode, by allowing the passage of one of the fuel or oxidant gases through the desiccant means (3) for feeding the fuel cell (8), and in that the desiccant means (3) is configured such that, in the fuel cell operating mode, it operates at a temperature at least equal to 60 ° C and at least partially ensures the humidification of the gas passing therethrough, by at least partial return of the water extracted from the gas flowing through it in the gas production-storage operating mode.
2— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de dessiccation (3), assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est configuré de telle sorte que sa température de fonctionnement, est comprise entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C. 3— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, comprenant un circuit de refroidissement (11) de la pile à combustible (8), entraîné par une pompe (14), caractérisé en ce que le moyen de dessiccation (3), assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est configuré de telle sorte que sa température de fonctionnement est obtenue au moins en partie par échange thermique avec le circuit de refroidissement (11) de la pile à combustible (8). 4— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de production d'électricité est configuré de telle sorte que la température du gaz entrant dans le moyen de dessiccation (3), assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est comprise entre 60°C et 100°C, de préférence entre 60°C et 80°C. 2- fuel cell electricity generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the desiccant means (3), at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing through it in the fuel cell operating mode, is configured so that its operating temperature is between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C. 3- fuel cell electricity generation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, comprising a cooling circuit (11) of the fuel cell (8), driven by a pump (14), characterized in that that the drying means (3), at least partly ensuring the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in the fuel cell operating mode, is configured such that its operating temperature is obtained at least in part by heat exchange with the cooling circuit (11) of the fuel cell (8). 4- fuel cell electricity generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the power generation device is configured such that the temperature of the gas entering the desiccation means (3), at least partially ensuring the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in the fuel cell operating mode, is between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, preferably between 60 ° C and 80 ° C.
5— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4 , comprenant un circuit de refroidissement (11) de la pile à combustible (8), entraîné par une pompe (14), caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de production d'électricité est configuré de telle sorte que la température du gaz entrant dans le moyen de dessiccation (3), assurant au moins en partie l'humidification du gaz le traversant en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible, est obtenue au moins en partie par échange thermique avec le circuit de refroidissement (11) de la pile à combustible (8). A fuel cell electricity generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a cooling circuit (11) of the fuel cell (8) driven by a pump (14), characterized in that the electricity generating device is configured such that the temperature of the gas entering the desiccant means (3), at least partly ensuring the humidification of the gas passing therethrough in the fuel cell operating mode, is obtained at least in part by heat exchange with the cooling circuit (11) of the fuel cell (8).
6— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) pour chacun des gaz respectivement carburant et comburant. 7— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon la revendicationThe fuel cell power generation device of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fuel cell power generation device comprises a conditioning assembly (2, 3, 4, 5). , 6, 7, 9, 10) for each of the respective fuel and oxidant gases. 7- Fuel cell electricity generation device according to the claim
6, caractérisé en ce que les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant sont l'hydrogène gazeux et l'oxygène gazeux. 8— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon la revendication6, characterized in that the respectively fuel and oxidant gases are hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. 8- Fuel cell electricity generation device according to the claim
7, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de production de l'hydrogène gazeux et de l'oxygène gazeux sont confondus en un moyen de production (1) par électrolyse de l'eau provenant d'un réservoir de stockage d'eau (12) connecté à la pile à combustible (8)· 7, characterized in that the means for producing the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen are combined into a production means (1) by electrolysis of the water coming from a water storage tank (12) connected to the fuel cell (8) ·
9— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible comprend un ensemble de conditionnement (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) seulement pour le gaz carburant. 9. A fuel cell electricity generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fuel cell electricity generating device comprises a conditioning unit (2, 3, 4, 5). , 6, 7, 9, 10) only for the fuel gas.
10— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon la revendication10- Fuel cell electricity generation device according to the claim
9, caractérisé en ce que les gaz respectivement carburant et comburant sont l'hydrogène gazeux et l'air. 11— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon la revendication9, characterized in that the respectively fuel and oxidant gases are hydrogen gas and air. 11- Fuel cell electricity generation device according to the claim
10, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de production de l'hydrogène gazeux est un moyen de production (1) par électrolyse de l'eau provenant d'un réservoir de stockage d'eau (12) connecté à la pile à combustible (8), et en ce que le moyen de production de l'air est un compresseur d'air (13). 10, characterized in that the means for producing gaseous hydrogen is a means for producing (1) electrolysis of water from a water storage tank (12) connected to the fuel cell (8). ), and in that the means for producing air is an air compressor (13).
12— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de dessiccation (3), destiné à extraire au moins en partie l'eau contenue dans le gaz le traversant, avant le stockage sous pression du gaz, en mode de fonctionnement production- stockage de gaz, est configuré de telle sorte qu'il est traversé par le même gaz en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. 13— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 1 1, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de dessiccation (3), destiné à extraire au moins en partie l'eau contenue dans un premier gaz le traversant, avant le stockage sous pression du gaz, en mode de fonctionnement production-stockage de gaz, est configuré de telle sorte qu'il est traversé par un deuxième gaz en mode de fonctionnement pile à combustible. 12- fuel cell power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the desiccating means (3) for extracting at least partly the water contained in the gas the passing through, before the storage under pressure of the gas, in the gas production-storage operating mode, is configured such that it is traversed by the same gas in fuel cell operation mode. 13- fuel cell power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the desiccating means (3) for extracting at least partly the water contained in a first gas passing therethrough, prior to the gas pressure storage, in the gas production-storage operating mode, is configured such that a second gas is passed therethrough in the fuel cell operating mode.
14— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de dessiccation (3) est constitué d'au moins une colonne de dessiccation comprenant des granulés dessiccatifs. 14. A fuel cell electricity generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the drying means (3) consists of at least one desiccation column comprising desiccant granules.
15— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que les granulés dessiccatifs d'une colonne de dessiccation (3) sont de type silicagel. 15- fuel cell electricity generation device according to claim 14, characterized in that the desiccant granules of a desiccant column (3) are of silica gel type.
16— Dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 15, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de stockage de l'hydrogène est réalisé sous forme d'hydrures métalliques. 16. A fuel cell electricity generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the means for storing hydrogen is in the form of metal hydrides.
17— Utilisation d'un dispositif de production d'électricité par pile à combustible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16 pour un véhicule automobile. 17- Use of a fuel cell electricity generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 16 for a motor vehicle.
EP11802308.4A 2010-12-06 2011-12-05 Device for generating electricity using a fuel cell Withdrawn EP2649663A1 (en)

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CN103250292B (en) 2016-03-02
US20130302706A1 (en) 2013-11-14
JP6022474B2 (en) 2016-11-09
FR2968462B1 (en) 2013-06-07

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