KR100860115B1 - a humidifier for a fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a humidifier of a gas supplied to a humidifier of a fuel cell, the apparatus comprising: a heater installed by heating means by installing a water supply pipe connected to a water supply device and a gas supply pipe connected to a gas supply device; The steam generated by heating the water in the heating device is injected into the steam inlet, the heated gas is injected into the gas inlet from the heating device and steam is mixed with the gas to the fuel cell body through the humidified gas discharge pipe. An evaporator to supply; And a control device for controlling the temperature of the heating device and the evaporator so that the amount of gas humidification in the evaporator is set to a predetermined amount of humidification. Accordingly, the gas and water are preheated in advance to supply steam and gas to the evaporator to humidify the gas. Since the humidification amount can be stably adjusted, the fuel cell efficiency can be increased.

Fuel cell, gas, temperature, humidification, heating, preheating, evaporator, humidity sensor

Description

Humidifier for fuel cell {a humidifier for a fuel cell}

1 is a block diagram of a fuel cell humidifier according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a humidifier for fuel cells according to the present invention.

3 is a configuration diagram of a humidifier of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: water supply device 10a: water supply valve

10b: connecting valve 11: water supply pipe

20: gas supply device 20a: gas supply valve

21: gas supply pipe 30: heating device

31, 32: first and second heating means 33: heat insulating material

34: outer cylinder 35: lid

35a: thermal insulation material 40: evaporator

40a: gas inlet 40b: steam inlet

41: inner case 42: band heater

43: heat insulating material 44: outer case

45: bulkhead 46: humidity sensor

47: condensate drain pipe 48: humidification gas discharge pipe

48a: gas discharge pipe 48b: line heater

48c: insulation 48d: case

50: control unit 61, 71: gas connector

62, 72: steam connector 70: double pipe

The present invention relates to a humidifier for a fuel cell, and more particularly, to pre-heat gas and water, and then mix and humidify the gas and steam to stably maintain the desired amount of humidification so that the humidified fuel cell can be supplied to the fuel cell. Relates to a device.

In general, a fuel cell is a power generation device that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell uses a high character membrane for transporting hydrogen cations as an electrolyte. In order to maintain ion conductivity, the electrolyte membrane contains appropriate moisture. Should be When the electrolyte membrane is dried, the ion conductivity is lowered, and thus the operation of the fuel cell is impossible. Therefore, a humidification process may be essential in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

The gas supply device of the fuel cell is configured to control the flow rate of the gas supplied from the gas supply source by the flow rate controller to humidify the humidifier, and supply the humidified gas to the main body of the fuel cell.

An example of a conventional humidifier is as shown in FIG. 1.

The humidifier includes a humidifier gas supply pipe 13 receiving a reaction gas from a gas supply source, and a gas disperser 21 and a humidification bottle 20 dispersing the humidifier gas 20 into a humidification bottle 20 containing water for humidifying the supplied reaction gas. Humidification bottle heater 22 to heat, the water level indicator 23 for indicating the amount of water in the humidification bottle 20, the fuel cell gas supply pipe for supplying the reaction gas humidified in the humidification bottle 20 to the fuel cell 16 15 and the fuel cell gas supply pipe heat insulating material 24.

However, the humidifier of the fuel cell as described above is to maintain the humidifier tank, that is, water to maintain the set temperature in the humidifier, but the conditions for humidification not only affects the temperature of the water but also the temperature of the gas itself. . Due to the change in the temperature of the gas supplied to the humidifier, even if the humidification temperature of the humidifier is precisely adjusted, the degree of humidification is changed. As a result, it was difficult to maintain a constant performance.

That is, even if the temperature is adjusted in the gas discharge tube through the humidifier as described above, when the flow rate of the supplied gas is above a certain flow rate, it is very difficult to keep the temperature of the gas used uniformly, and thus it is impossible to maintain a constant humidity. .

The present invention is to improve the problem of the humidifier as described above, by preheating the gas and water in advance, and by boiling the preheated gas and water to supply the generated vapor to the evaporator to humidify to accurately control the amount of humidification It is to provide a humidifier for a fuel cell.

Another object of the present invention is to preheat the gas and water by installing the water supply pipe inside the gas supply pipe in the coil form on the outside and by heating means and insulation to configure the heating device to increase the thermal efficiency, to be stable to the desired temperature By preheating and supplying water and gas, the amount of humidification is precisely controlled.

In addition, the present invention can be installed in the upper and lower partitions to humidify the steam and gas supply from the evaporator to improve the humidification efficiency and to install the humidity sensor behind the partitions so that the amount of humidity can be accurately detected by direct steam inlet It is to ensure that.

The object of the present invention as described above,

A heater for installing a water supply pipe connected to the water supply device and a gas supply pipe connected to the gas supply device and heating the same by heating means;

The steam generated by heating the water in the heating device is injected into the steam inlet, the heated gas is injected into the gas inlet from the heating device and steam is mixed with the gas to the fuel cell body through the humidified gas discharge pipe. An evaporator to supply;

Consists of a control device 50 for controlling the heating temperature of the heating device and the evaporator so that the amount of gas humidification in the evaporator is set,

The evaporator,

A band heater is installed outside the inner case, a heat insulating material and an outer case are installed outside the band heater, and the vapor inlet, the gas inlet and the humidifying gas discharge pipe are installed to form a sealed container;

A plurality of partition walls alternately installed on upper and lower walls of the inner case, spaced apart from the other wall facing each other, and formed on a bottom surface of the partition wall formed with a condensate passage;

A condensate drain pipe configured to exhaust the water condensed on the partition wall and the inner case to the outside of the evaporator and return it to the water supply pipe side of the heating apparatus;

And a humidity sensor installed inside the at least one partition wall for the vapor inlet and the gas inlet.

The heating device,

A water supply pipe connected to receive water from the water supply device, and the pipe wound in a coil form;

A first heating means installed to surround the outside of the water supply pipe and heating;

A gas supply pipe connected to receive gas from the gas supply device and wound in a coil shape and installed outside the first heating means;

A second heating means installed to surround the outside of the gas supply pipe and heating the gas supply pipe;

An insulating material surrounding the outer surface and the lower surface of the second heating means;

An outer passage installed outside the insulation to protect the entire heating apparatus;

Coupled to the upper portion of the outer cylinder and a heat insulating material is installed, characterized in that it comprises a lid portion which is connected through the outlet of the gas supply pipe and the water supply pipe.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a humidifier of a fuel cell according to the present invention.

As shown therein, a heating device 30 for installing a water supply pipe connected to the water supply device 10 and a gas supply pipe connected to the gas supply device 20 and heating the same by heating means; The steam generated by heating the water in the heating device 30 is injected into the steam inlet 40b, and the gas heated in the heating device 30 is injected into the gas inlet 40a, and the steam is mixed with the gas to humidify. Evaporator 40 for supplying the supplied gas to the fuel cell body through the humidifying gas discharge pipe 48, and the temperature of the heating device 30 and the evaporator 40 so that the humidification amount of the gas in the evaporator 40 is set It is configured to include a control device 50 for controlling.

The evaporator 40, the band heater 42 is provided on the outside of the inner case 41, the heat insulating member 43 and the outer case 44 is provided on the outside of the band heater 42, the steam inlet An evaporator body (40b), a gas inlet (40a) and a humidifying gas discharge pipe (48) installed to form a sealed container; A plurality of partition walls 45 alternately installed on upper and lower walls of the inner case 41 and spaced apart from the other wall facing each other by a predetermined interval, and a condensate passing part formed on a partition wall disposed on the bottom surface; A condensate drain pipe 47 for exhausting the water condensed on the partition wall 45 and the inner case 41 to the outside of the evaporator 40 and returning the water to the water supply pipe side of the heating device 30; And a humidity sensor 46 installed inside the at least one partition wall with respect to the steam inlet 40b and the gas inlet 40a.

The heating device 30 includes: a water supply pipe 11 connected to receive water from the water supply device 10 and the pipe wound in a coil form; First heating means (31) installed to surround the outside of the water supply pipe (11) and for heating; A gas supply pipe 21 connected to receive gas from the gas supply device 20 and wound in a coil shape and installed outside the first heating means 31; A second heating means (32) installed to surround the outside of the gas supply pipe (21) and heating; An insulating material 34 surrounding the outer and lower surfaces of the second heating means 32; An outer cylinder 34 installed outside the insulating material 34 to protect the entire heating apparatus; Coupled to the upper portion of the outer cylinder 34 and the heat insulating material (35a) is installed, the gas supply pipe 21 and the outlet of the water supply pipe 11 is configured to include a lid portion 35 connected through. Here, the first and second heating means 31 and 32 use a band heater.

The condensate drain pipe 67 of the evaporator 40 is connected to the inlet side of the water supply pipe 11 connected to the water supply device 10 to return water. Reference numeral 10a denotes a water supply valve, and 10b denotes a connection valve for condensate return.

In the gas discharge pipe 48 through which the humidified gas is discharged from the evaporator 40 and supplied to the fuel cell body, a line heater 48b is provided around the gas pipe 48a. The heat insulating material 48c and the protective case 48d are provided outside.

In addition, a line heater and a heat insulating material are installed in the gas connecting pipe 61 and the steam connecting pipe 62 connecting the gas and the steam from the heating device 30 to the evaporator 40, similarly to the humidifying gas discharge pipe 48. It is configured to maintain the temperature.

The control device 50 detects the humidity contained in the gas from the humidity sensor 46 installed in the evaporator 40, and the band heater 42 of the evaporator 40 and the heating device (a) so as to set the humidification amount. The temperature is controlled by controlling the first and second heating means 31 and 32 of 30, and the line heater 48b of the gas discharge pipe 48 is also controlled to a set temperature. And a display unit for displaying humidity, a driving state display unit, and the like of each heater.

The humidification device of the fuel cell according to the present invention configured as described above is capable of maintaining a stable amount of humidification by preheating water and gas to supply the evaporator.

The water supplied from the water supply device 10 is supplied to the water supply pipe 11, the gas supplied from the gas supply device 20 is supplied to the gas supply pipe 21, and the first and second heating means 31 ( 32) to start heating. The first and second heating means use band heat, and although not shown in the drawing, respectively, a temperature sensor is installed to control the heating temperature. Here, the water supply pipe (11) and the gas supply pipe (21) is to increase the heating effect by increasing the area heated by the heating means by winding in a coil form, the water supply pipe (11) is provided inside and the gas supply pipe (21) By installing the outside of the water temperature changes while increasing the thermal efficiency is supplied to the evaporator 40 as a steam side.

As such, when water and gas are supplied to the water supply pipe 11 and the gas supply pipe 21 of the heating device 30 and the heating is started and the temperature is higher than the appropriate temperature, the gas inlet 40a of the evaporator 40 and the steam inlet 40b is supplied with gas and steam. In addition, by wrapping the whole with a heat insulating material 33 on the outside to maintain the heat retention, while increasing the thermal efficiency, reducing the temperature change of gas and water (steam), it is maintained at a stable temperature.

In addition, a line heater and a heat insulating material are also installed in the gas connection pipe 61 and the steam connection pipe 62 connecting the gas and the steam to the evaporator 40 in the heating device 30 to maintain the temperature.

Subsequently, when the heated gas and steam are supplied to the evaporator 40, the humidified gas is supplied to the fuel cell body through the humidifying gas discharge pipe 48 of the evaporator while the gas and steam are mixed.

At this time, the band heater 42 is also installed and heated in the evaporator 40, and although not shown in the drawing, the temperature is controlled by the thermal insulation material 43 to maintain the temperature by external insulation while the heating temperature is controlled by the temperature sensor.

The partition walls 45 installed in the evaporator 40 are alternately installed on the upper and lower surfaces, and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Therefore, the steam and the gas hits the partition wall 45 and passes through the partition wall, and the gas and the vapor path flows up and down, and the steam hits the wall surface of the partition wall 45 and the inner case 41 of the evaporator to condense. The condensate is drained to the condensate drain pipe 47 and flows back into the water supply pipe 11.

The partition wall 45 of the evaporator 40 may be configured in a clogged plate shape, but may also be configured in a mesh structure through which gas and vapor collide with each other.

In addition, the humidity sensor 46 is installed at a position past the at least one partition wall 45 so as not to be directly exposed to the steam at the steam inlet 40b, so that the humidity sensor 46 can be detected more accurately.

3 is a configuration diagram of a humidifier of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The gas connecting pipe 71 and the steam connecting pipe 72 connected between the heating device 30 and the evaporator 40 are configured to be supplied while maintaining heat retention by forming a double pipe 70.

Here, although not shown in the drawing, the gas connection pipe 71, the steam connection pipe 72 and the double pipe 70, the line heater and the heat insulating material is also installed to the outside to be configured to further include.

The supply of gas and steam to the evaporator 40 side by configuring the double pipe 70 as described above can maintain the gas and vapor temperature in the heating device 30 and the gas and vapor temperature in the evaporator 40 stably. To maintain the temperature on the travel path.

As described in detail above, the fuel cell humidifier according to the present invention uses a heating device to boil water with steam, heat and supply gas to an appropriate temperature, and supply steam and gas to an evaporator to adjust the amount of humidification. As a result, there is an effect that the appropriate amount of humidification can be maintained to be recognized. In addition, the present invention, by installing alternately on the upper and lower partitions in the structure of the evaporator to prevent the steam from going out to the discharge pipe as it is, to be properly mixed with the gas to be humidified, and to install a humidity sensor at the back of the partition to the steam inlet By not directly exposing, there is an effect that the amount of humidity can be detected relatively accurately.

Claims (6)

In the humidifier of a fuel cell, A heating device (30) for installing a water supply pipe connected to the water supply device (10) and a gas supply pipe connected to the gas supply device (20) to be heated by heating means; The steam generated by heating the water in the heating device 30 is injected into the steam inlet 40b, and the gas heated in the heating device 30 is injected into the gas inlet 40a, and the steam is mixed with the gas to humidify. An evaporator 40 for supplying the gas to the fuel cell body through the humidifying gas discharge pipe 48; And a controller (50) for controlling the temperature of the heating device (30) and the evaporator (40) such that the gas humidification amount in the evaporator (40) is a set humidification amount. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaporator 40, A band heater 42 is installed outside the inner case 41, and a heat insulating material 43 and an outer case 44 are installed outside the band heater 42. The steam inlet 40b and the gas inlet are provided. An evaporator body (40a) and a humidifying gas discharge pipe (48) installed to form a closed container; A plurality of partition walls 45 alternately installed on upper and lower walls of the inner case 41 and spaced apart from the other wall facing each other by a predetermined interval, and a condensate passing part formed on a partition wall disposed on the bottom surface; A condensate drain pipe 47 for exhausting the water condensed on the partition wall 45 and the inner case 41 to the outside of the evaporator 40 and returning the water to the water supply pipe side of the heating device 30; And a humidity sensor (46) installed inside the at least one partition wall with respect to the steam inlet (40b) and the gas inlet (40a). The method of claim 2, The condensate drain pipe 67 of the evaporator 40 is connected to the inlet side of the water supply pipe 11 connected to the water supply device 10 via a connecting valve 10b, characterized in that configured to return the water to the fuel cell Humidifier. The gas discharge pipe 48 of claim 2, wherein the gas humidified by the evaporator 40 is discharged and supplied to the fuel cell body. A line heater (48b) is provided around the gas pipe (48a), and a heat insulating material (48c) and a protective case (48d) is provided outside the line heater (48b), characterized in that the humidifier of the fuel cell. According to claim 2, The gas connection pipe 61 and the steam connection pipe 62 for connecting the gas and steam from the heating device 30 to the evaporator 40, Humidifier of the fuel cell, characterized in that the line heater and the insulation is further installed on the outside of the connection pipe. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating device 30, A water supply pipe 11 connected to receive water from the water supply device 10 and the pipe wound in a coil form; First heating means (31) installed to surround the outside of the water supply pipe (11) and for heating; A gas supply pipe 21 connected to receive gas from the gas supply device 20 and wound in a coil shape and installed outside the first heating means 31; A second heating means (32) installed to surround the outside of the gas supply pipe (21) and heating; An insulating material 34 surrounding the outer and lower surfaces of the second heating means 32; An outer cylinder 34 installed outside the insulating material 34 to protect the entire heating apparatus; Coupled to the upper portion of the outer cylinder 34 and the heat insulating material (35a) is installed, characterized in that it comprises a lid portion 35 is connected through the outlet of the gas supply pipe 21 and the water supply pipe (11). Humidifier of fuel cell.

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