Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
  • B01D45/04—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by utilising inertia
  • B01D45/08—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by utilising inertia by impingement against baffle separators
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
  • B01D45/12—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
  • B01D45/16—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces generated by the winding course of the gas stream, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• • 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
• • 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
  • H01M8/04059—Evaporative processes for the cooling of a fuel cell
• • 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
  • H01M8/04097—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with recycling of the reactants
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

• the invention relates to fuel cells, and in particular to phase separators for reactant recovery circuits for fuel cells.
• the reagents In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the reagents must be conducted to the reactive zone, the products, non-reactive species and the heat produced must be removed from the reactive zone.
• this air is led to the reactive zone after having generally passed through a series of components, such as a filter, a heat exchanger, or a humidifier).
• a series of components such as a filter, a heat exchanger, or a humidifier.
• the residual air is generally dewatered to recover water, and then generally discharged through a discharger, to maintain a pressure in the cathodic reactive zone.
• fuel such as dihydrogen is brought under pressure to the reactive zone.
• the stream recovered at the anode outlet can be mixed with the feed supplied by the feed, prior to introduce the mixture at the anode inlet.
• the proton exchange membrane passes a small amount of nitrogen and water produced at the cathode to the anode.
• Recirculation is both tolerant of nitrogen pollution at the outlet of the anode, and also allows to benefit from moisture at the outlet of the anode, to moisten the fuel at the entrance of the anode . If it is desired to maintain moisture in the hydrogen, however, it is desired to avoid the formation of drops of water, which may block pipes in the reactive zone. Therefore, it is advantageous to avoid cooling the anode outlet, otherwise the moisture will condense in the form of droplets.
• phase separator at the anode outlet. It is also known to introduce a phase separator at a non-pure oxidizer feed mixed with the cathode outlet. It is important to guarantee an important anodic flow, in order to avoid a concentration of nitrogen coming from the formation. The permeation of nitrogen causes its progressive accumulation in the fuel recirculation circuit. Although the nitrogen is inert, its too high concentration can lead to the stopping of the fuel cell. To avoid such a stop, a periodic or continuous purge is performed.
• phase separation in a fuel cell, it is known to perform either a gravity separation, a separation by centrifugal force, or a separation by inertia.
• Gravity separation as described in JP2007087718, includes an increase in the flow section, which slows the flow of fluid, and promotes droplet drop.
• a separation device is then particularly bulky.
• Centrifugal force separation as described in US 8034142 is also particularly bulky.
• phase separator makes it possible both to achieve effective phase separation and in a sufficiently reduced volume.
• the invention aims to solve one or more of these disadvantages.
• the invention thus relates to a phase separator as defined in the appended claims.
• the invention also relates to a power generation system as defined in the appended claims.
• FIG 1 is a schematic top view of the interior of a fuel cell phase separator according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view by transparency of the phase separator of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged representation of part of the phase separator of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator for a fuel cell according to a variant of a second embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator for a fuel cell according to another variant of a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator for a fuel cell according to a variant of a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator for a fuel cell according to another variant of the third embodiment of the invention.
• FIG 8 is a perspective view in section of a fuel cell phase separator according to another variant of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator for a fuel cell according to another variant of the second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view by transparency of a phase separator for a fuel cell according to another variant of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 11 is a view from above of the inside of the phase separator of FIG. 10;
• FIGS. 12 to 15 are diagrammatic representations of different system configurations each including a fuel cell and a phase separator according to the invention.
• the invention proposes a phase separator provided with parallel pipes connected by a pin-shaped junction configured to reverse the direction of fluid flow between its pipes.
• the junction comprises successive sections in the continuity of one another.
• a first section has a lower average flow section than one of the pipes, a second section having a mean flow section greater than that of the first section.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the interior of a phase separator 1 for fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view by transparency of the phase separator of FIG. 1.
• the phase separator 1 is in the form of a housing having an input 1 1 intended to receive a flow of reagent derived at least in part from a reagent exhaust from a fuel cell, an outlet 12 for supplying a gas stream to a reagent inlet of the fuel cell, and an exhaust outlet 13 of liquid.
• the evacuation outlet 13 is here positioned near the outlet 12.
• the housing is here delimited by a bottom wall 10, a cover 15, side walls 14 and end walls (not referenced).
• the case here has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.
• the inlet 1 1 and the outlet 12 are formed as orifices in respective end walls.
• the outlet 13 is formed in the form of an orifice in the bottom wall 10.
• the inlet 1 1 and the outlet 12 are elevated here relative to the bottom wall 10.
• the flow entering the separator 1 at the level of the 1 1 inlet is intended to be separated between a gas stream discharged through the outlet 12, and a liquid flow discharged through the outlet 13.
• the housing is arranged so that the fluid flow is carried out generally parallel to the wall bottom 10 or in normal planes to the side walls 14.
• phase separator 1 Inside the housing formed by the phase separator 1, vertical walls 3 are formed between the bottom wall 10 and the lid 15. Parallel flow pipes 2 are formed between the successive vertical walls 3, perpendicular to the bottom wall 10.
• the walls 3 are here flat and parallel to each other.
• the phase separator 1 here comprises an alternation of walls 3 connected to a first wall 14 and providing a passage with a second wall 14, and walls 3 connected to the second wall 14 and providing a passage with the first wall 14.
• pin joints 4 are formed between the pipes 2 successive.
• the successive pipes 2 here have the same flow section.
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged representation of a portion of the phase separator of FIG.
• the dashed line illustrates the geometric center of the flow channel formed through the phase separator 1.
• Dashed lines mark a boundary between flow channels and junctions.
• the dotted lines mark a delimitation between successive sections of a junction.
• a pipe 21 is delimited between a wall 30 and a wall 31.
• a pipe 22 is parallel to the pipe 21, and delimited between the wall 31 and a wall 32.
• a pipe 23 is parallel to the pipe 22.
• the pipes 21 and 22 are connected by a hairpin junction 41.
• the pipes 22 and 23 are connected by a pin junction 42.
• the flow between the inlet 1 1 and the outlet 12 is thus carried out here in series between the pipes 21 to 23 in particular.
• the bottom wall 10 extends between the various pipes and joints, to the outlet 13.
• the height in the housing being here constant at all points, the local passage section in the pipes and junctions here will be defined by the width of the passage at the geometric center of the flow channel.
• the junction 41 comprises successive sections 410, 41 1, 412 and 413 and in continuity with each other.
• the sections 410 to 413 connect the pipes 21 and 22.
• the junction 42 comprises successive sections 420, 421, 422 and 423 and in continuity with each other.
• the sections 420 to 423 connect the pipes 22 and 23.
• the section 41 1 has a lower average flow section than the pipe 21, thereby forming a narrowing.
• the section 41 1 thus makes it possible to accelerate the speed of the flow locally.
• the section 412 has a greater average flow section than the section 41 1, thus forming an enlargement.
• the section 412 thus makes it possible to locally slow down the flow velocity, favoring the drop of the droplets that have been accelerated in the section 41 1.
• the accelerated droplets in the section 41 1 tend to continue their course to the wall 14, due to the change of orientation along the hairpin junction 41. This configuration thus promotes a separation between the water and the gas in the flow.
• the droplets reaching the wall 14 or another wall tend to then run off to the bottom wall 10.
• Such a phase separation is furthermore obtained here with a minimum of obstacles to the flow, which makes it possible to limit the pressure drops in the separator 1.
• the section 410 advantageously has an average flow section greater than that of the pipe 21, and greater than that of the section 41 1, which makes it possible to slow down the droplets present in the stream, before accelerating them in the section 41 1 with the change of orientation.
• the section 413 advantageously has a lower average flow section than that of the section 412, in order to accelerate the flow.
• phase separator 1 Due to the presence of several parallel pipes connected by junctions, the flow of fluid through the phase separator 1 can not flow in a straight line from the inlet 1 1 to the outlet 12, and is obliged to to meander. Due to the inversion of the flow direction between the parallel pipes, the phase separator 1 makes it possible to accommodate a large length of fluid flow in a small space.
• the reversal of direction by the junctions between the pipes is furthermore used to form an alternation of narrowing and section widening, favoring a separation between the gas and the liquid of the flow through the separator 1.
• the junction 42 has the same geometry as the junction 41, and thus provides the same phase separation effects, forming more meanders to increase the compactness of the phase separator 1.
• the flow section varies continuously in the junctions 41 and 42.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator 1 for a fuel cell according to a variant of a second embodiment of the invention.
• a phase separator 1 is intended to increase the efficiency of the phase separation in a given volume.
• the partition walls 31 and 32 delimiting the pipes 21, 22 and 23, extend in the junctions 41 and 42 respectively.
• the extensions of the walls 31 and 32 have protruding portions 415.
• Each of these projecting portions 415 is oriented in a direction opposite to the direction of the desired flow.
• Such a configuration makes it possible to retain the droplets and to avoid their re-entrainment by the flow of fluid.
• the junction 41 starts here with a narrowing at a projecting portion 415, then with a widening, then a narrowing at one end of the wall 31, then by an enlargement, then by a new narrowing connected to the pipe 22.
• the junction 42 has the same geometry as the junction 41.
• phase separator 1 In order to increase the compactness of the phase separator 1, it advantageously has an input 11 1 positioned near the outlet 121. In order to bring the inlet 1 1 1 close to the outlet 121, the flow lines of a phase separation part open onto a return duct 20 to the outlet 121.
• the phase separator comprises another inlet 1 12 and another outlet 122, as well as another phase separation part, provided with a set of pipes. flow and junctions.
• the pipes and junctions of this other phase separation part have an arrangement symmetrical to that of the phase separation part described above.
• This other part of phase separation also opens on the return conduit 20, in order to pool it.
• the output 13 is here disposed near the outputs 121 and 122.
• the partition walls between the flow pipes are here non-planar.
• phase separator 1 is also particularly suitable for being shared for two different fuel cells.
• a first fuel cell may for example have a reagent exhaust connected to the input 1 1 1
• a second fuel cell may have a reagent exhaust connected to the input 1 12.
• Simulations were carried out with such a phase separator 1, with a moisture saturated hydrogen flow at 80 ° C and including droplets of 1 ⁇ m in diameter. With the simulations carried out, 90% of the droplets present in the stream were retained in the separator 1 with a pressure drop of 2.3 mbar.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view from above of a phase separator 1 according to another variant of the second embodiment of the invention.
• the phase separator 1 here has substantially the same configuration as that detailed with reference to FIG. 4.
• This phase separator 1 differs from that of FIG. 4 only in the presence in each junction of an outgrowth 416 arranged in a part external of this junction.
• Such protuberances 416 disposed in the orientation change formed by each junction further promote phase separation.
• Such growths are advantageously formed in the junctions downstream of a narrowing in the direction of flow, in order to recover droplets that could have been accelerated in a narrowing.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a phase separator 1 according to a variant of a third embodiment of the invention.
• the partition walls between the flow conduits extend into the junctions.
• the partition walls are formed by the association of several vertical planar parts.
• the partition walls here comprise a first portion 417 projecting in each junction, to form a narrowing at the entrance of this junction. Once this projection is crossed, the junction includes an enlargement.
• a protrusion 419 is formed in the junction at the walls 14, to form a narrowing. Such an outgrowth 419 promotes the recovery of droplets.
• the protuberances 419 are disposed in an outer portion of their respective junction.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a phase separator 1 according to another variant of the third embodiment of the invention.
• the partition walls between the flow pipes extend into the junctions.
• the partition walls are formed by the association of several planar parts.
• the partition walls here comprise a first portion 417 projecting in each junction, to form a narrowing at the entrance of this junction.
• a protrusion 419 is formed in the junction at the walls 14, to form a narrowing. Such an outgrowth 419 promotes the recovery of droplets.
• the protuberances 419 are disposed in an outer portion of their respective junction.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view in section of a phase separator 1 according to another variant of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 8 differs from that illustrated in FIG.
• each partition wall perpendicularly to this partition wall.
• Each projecting portion 417 forms a narrowing at the entrance of a junction
• each partition wall perpendicularly to this partition wall.
• Each projecting portion 418 forms a narrowing at the exit of a junction
• protuberances 416 are disposed in an outer portion of each junction. Such protuberances 416 are disposed in the orientation change formed by each junction, promoting phase separation.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a phase separator according to another variant of the second embodiment of the invention.
• the phase separator 1 here has substantially the same configuration as those detailed with reference to FIG. 4. This phase separator 1 differs from that of FIG. 4 only in the presence of a purge orifice 16, at the connection level. between the phase separation parts and the return duct 20.
• the purge port 16 is intended to selectively discharge the contents of the phase separator 1.
• the outputs 121 and 122 are here intended to be connected to a recirculation circuit, for a reintroduction into the reactive zone of a fuel cell.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view by transparency of a phase separator 1 according to another variant of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view by transparency of a phase separator 1 according to another variant of the first embodiment of the invention.
• a return duct 20 is arranged so as to allow the outlet 12 to be brought closer to the inlet 11.
• the inlet 11 is connected to a phase separation part, the phase separation part being connected by an output end to the return conduit 20.
• the output 13 is isolated from the input 11 via of a wall 17, to avoid a short circuit of the flow flow from the inlet 11 to the outlet 13.
• the outlet 13 is here formed under the wall 17.
• a system 9 including a fuel cell 5 and a phase separator 1 as described above.
• FIG 12 is a schematic representation of a first configuration of a system 9 including a fuel cell 5 and a phase separator 1 according to the invention.
• the phase separator 1 has an input 11 connected to an anode exhaust collector of the fuel cell 5.
• the output 12 of the separator 1 is connected to an ejector 7, connected to a junction between a power supply 6 (for example a reservoir under pressure) in fuel (typically hydrogen) and an anode inlet manifold of the fuel cell 5.
• a power supply 6 for example a reservoir under pressure
• fuel typically hydrogen
• the phase separator 1 is here attached as close as possible to the exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5, in order to effect phase separation at a temperature close to the temperature of the reactive zone of the fuel cell 5. .
• Fig. 13 is a representation of a second configuration of a system including a fuel cell 5 and a phase separator 1 according to the invention.
• the phase separator 1 has an output 12 connected to an anode input collector of the fuel cell 5.
• the anode exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5 is connected to an ejector 7.
• the ejector 7 is connected to a junction between a feed 6 (for example a pressurized tank) with fuel (typically dihydrogen) and the entering the phase separator 1.
• the phase separator 1 thus makes it possible to recover the water after mixing between the gases coming from the exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5 and the fuel coming from the feed 6.
• the gases coming from the feed 6 can induce condensation of the moisture present in the gases coming from exhaust manifold.
• the phase separator 1 according to this configuration makes it possible to remove the condensed water after such mixing.
• FIGS. 12 and 13 may also be applied by replacing the feed 6 with a supply of pure oxygen used as an oxidizer.
• FIG 14 is a schematic representation of a third configuration of a system 9 including a fuel cell 5 and a phase separator 1 according to the invention.
• the phase separator 1 has an input 1 1 connected to a cathode exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5.
• the output 12 of the separator 1 is connected to an input of a pump 8.
• the output of the pump 8 is connected at a T-junction 73.
• the T-junction 73 is also connected to an oxidizer inlet 71 (e.g., an air inlet).
• the outlet of the T-junction is connected to a cathode inlet collector of the fuel cell 5, to introduce the oxidant mixture under pressure into the reactive zone.
• the phase separator 1 is here pressed closer to the exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5, in order to achieve phase separation at a temperature close to the temperature of the reactive zone of the fuel cell 5.
• Fig. 15 is a representation of a fourth configuration of a system including a fuel cell 5 and a phase separator 1 according to the invention.
• the phase separator 1 has an input 1 1 connected to an output of a compressor 8.
• the output 12 of the phase separator 1 is connected to a cathode input collector of the fuel cell 5, in order to introduce the mixture oxidizer under pressure in the reactive zone.
• An inlet of a pressure reducer 74 is connected to the cathode exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5.
• An output of the expander 74 is connected to a T-junction 73.
• An oxidizer inlet 71 (for example an air inlet, or a tank of pure oxygen under pressure) is also connected to the T-junction 73.
• the T-junction 73 is moreover connected to the inlet of the compressor 8. It is thus possible to humidify the oxidant coming from the inlet 71 to gas from the exhaust manifold of the fuel cell 5.
• the phase separator 1 thus makes it possible to recover the water after mixing between the gases coming from the exhaust manifold of the fuel cell. fuel 5 and the oxidant from the air inlet 71. Indeed, the gases coming from the air inlet 71 can induce condensation of the moisture present in the gases coming from the exhaust manifold.
• the phase separator 1 according to this configuration makes it possible to remove the condensed water after such mixing.
• the air can be brought from the air inlet 71 already pressurized to the pressure required by the battery;
• the compressor 8 may be a booster compressor intended primarily to overcome the pressure drops of the circuit.
• a continuous outlet of exhaust gas is advantageously provided downstream of the fuel cell 5 or downstream of the phase separator 1.
• phase separator 1 is attached to the fuel cell, for example to an end plate of a battery or to a cylinder head connecting several batteries.
• one of the walls of the phase separator 1 forms an exchanger with a coolant flow of a fuel cell.
• Such an exchanger makes it possible to maintain a temperature in the phase separator 1 greater than the ambient temperature. It is thus possible to promote the maintenance of water in the vapor phase in the flow.
• the bottom wall 10 is positioned parallel to the flow of fluid in the phase separator 1, for example parallel to a plane passing on the one hand by the inlet 1 1 and on the other hand It is advantageous to form a bottom wall 10 that is not parallel to the fluid flow plane.
• the bottom wall 10 may be inclined so that the outlet 13 is positioned on a low point of this bottom wall 10.
• the inclination of the bottom wall 10 and the position of the outlet 13 may take account of the inclinations can take the phase separator 1 for embedded applications.
• the outlet 13 is here formed in the bottom wall 10 but can also be made in the lower part of vertical walls 14.

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• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
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• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Fuel Cell (AREA)

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• 2017
  • 2017-12-15 FR FR1762258A patent/FR3075066B1/fr active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-12-12 EP EP18833690.3A patent/EP3723888A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2018-12-12 WO PCT/FR2018/053231 patent/WO2019115941A1/fr active Search and Examination

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