KR20210061885A - Water trap apparatus for fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a water trap device for a fuel cell. The water trap device for a fuel cell is provided in a recirculation line through which gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is recirculated to the fuel cell stack. The water trap device for a fuel cell includes: a water trap body including an inlet which is connected to the fuel cell stack and through which gas and condensed water are introduced, and an accommodation space in which the introduced condensed water is accommodated; and an opening and closing member that is provided between the inlet and the accommodation space inside the water trap body, is opened by elastic deformation by the condensed water introduced through the inlet or is increased in the degree of opening, and is restored after the condensed water is introduced to cover the upper part of the accommodation space.

Description

Water trap device for fuel cell {WATER TRAP APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL}

The present invention relates to a water trap device for a fuel cell, and more particularly, to a water trap device for a fuel cell that prevents backflow of condensed water collected in the water trap.

The fuel cell system is a system that generates electric energy by chemically reacting hydrogen supplied to a fuel cell stack with oxygen in the air, and is applied to the field of hydrogen vehicles (hydrogen fuel cell vehicles).

When hydrogen is supplied to the inlet of the anode (fuel electrode) of the fuel cell stack, unreacted unreacted hydrogen (H2+water) is discharged to the outlet of the anode, and the condensed water contained in the unreacted hydrogen passes through the water trap. During the process, the hydrogen falls by gravity and is collected, and the hydrogen from which the condensate is removed is recycled back to the inlet of the anode. Condensed water may be contained in unreacted hydrogen as moisture generated in the cathode passes to the anode due to the difference in pressure and concentration. When condensed water is collected in the water trap, the water level is sensed through a water level sensor provided in the water trap, and the collected condensed water is discharged when it reaches a certain level.

If the condensed water collected in the water trap is not discharged smoothly, the condensed water flows back to the fuel cell stack, causing a flooding phenomenon inside the stack. In addition, when a hydrogen vehicle using a fuel cell system passes an inclined road such as an uphill road, the water trap tilts and condensate water may flow back into the fuel cell stack. When a flooding phenomenon occurs inside the fuel cell stack, the performance and durability of the fuel cell are adversely affected.

However, in the case of a conventional water trap, a device for preventing the condensed water inside the water trap from flowing back into the fuel cell stack is not provided, which is a problem. In order to improve the performance and durability of the fuel cell stack, it is necessary to improve the structure of the water trap to minimize backflow to the fuel cell stack before the condensate collected in the water trap is discharged.

The present invention was devised to solve the above-described problem, and even when the water trap device is inclined or the water trap body is not discharged smoothly depending on the use environment of the fuel cell system, the condensed water inside the water trap body is fueled. An object of the present invention is to provide a water trap device for a fuel cell that prevents reverse flow to a cell stack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water trap device for a fuel cell that improves the performance and durability of a fuel cell system by minimizing deterioration of the performance of a fuel cell stack due to condensate flowing back.

In order to achieve the above object, the water trap device for a fuel cell according to the present invention is a water trap device for a fuel cell provided in a recirculation line through which gas discharged from the fuel cell stack is recirculated to the fuel cell stack, and is connected to the fuel cell stack. A water trap body including an inlet through which gas and condensed water are introduced, and an accommodation space in which the introduced condensate water is received, and is provided inside the water trap body, between the inlet and the accommodation space, and flows through the inlet. And an opening/closing member provided to be opened by elastic deformation due to the condensed water or to increase the degree of opening, and is restored after the condensed water is introduced to cover an upper portion of the receiving space.

According to the present invention, the water trap device is tilted or the water trap body is inclined according to the usage environment of the fuel cell system by including an opening and closing member provided to cover the accommodation space when the condensed water does not flow in and is provided with an elastic material to be deformable. Even when the discharge of the water is not performed smoothly, it is possible to prevent the condensed water inside the water trap body from flowing back to the fuel cell stack.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the deterioration of the performance of the fuel cell stack due to the reverse flow of condensate by preventing the reverse flow of the condensed water inside the water trap device, thereby providing an effect of improving the performance and durability of the fuel cell system. can do.

1 is a view showing a state in which a water trap device for a fuel cell according to the present invention is installed in a fuel cell system.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part A of FIG. 1 to explain the water trap device for a fuel cell according to the present invention.
3 is a view as viewed from the top of FIG. 2.
4 is a view showing a state in which the opening and closing member is deformed according to the inflow of condensed water in order to explain the operation of the water trap device for a fuel cell according to the present invention.
5 is a view as viewed from the top of FIG. 4.
6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the opening and closing member in a state in which the water trap device for a fuel cell according to the present invention is inclined.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are examples suitable for understanding the technical characteristics of the water trap device for a fuel cell according to the present invention. However, the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the embodiments described or applied to the embodiments described below, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope of the present invention.

The water trap device 100 for a fuel cell according to the present invention may be used in a fuel cell system.

As an example, referring to FIG. 1, the fuel cell system 10 supplies hydrogen to the fuel cell stack 20, a compressor 30 that compresses air and supplies it to the fuel cell stack 20, and the fuel cell stack 20. It includes a hydrogen supply unit 50, and the air compressed by the compressor 30 can be supplied to the cathode 24 of the fuel cell stack 20 along the air supply line 32, and the hydrogen supply unit 50 The hydrogen stored in may be supplied to the anode 22 of the fuel cell stack 20 along the hydrogen supply line 52.

The fuel cell stack 20 may be formed in various structures capable of generating electricity through a redox reaction of fuel (eg, hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (eg, air). The present invention is not limited or limited by the structure.

For example, the fuel cell stack 20 includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (not shown) in which an electrochemical reaction occurs on both sides of the membrane with an electrolyte membrane in which hydrogen ions move, and a reactive body. A gas diffusion layer (GDL) (not shown) that evenly distributes the particles and transmits the generated electrical energy, a gasket and a fastener (not shown) for maintaining the airtightness and proper fastening pressure of the reactor bodies and cooling water. Si), and a bipolar plate (not shown) for moving the reactor bodies and cooling water.

More specifically, hydrogen as a fuel and air (oxygen) as an oxidizing agent are supplied from the fuel cell stack 20 to the anode 22 and the cathode 24 of the membrane electrode assembly through the flow path of the separator. However, hydrogen is supplied to the anode 22, and air is supplied to the cathode 24.

Hydrogen supplied to the anode 22 is decomposed into hydrogen ions and electrons by the catalyst of the electrode layers formed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, of which only hydrogen ions selectively pass through the electrolyte membrane, which is a cation exchange membrane, to pass through the cathode ( 24), and at the same time, electrons are transferred to the cathode 24 through the gas diffusion layer and the separating plate, which are conductors.

In the cathode 24, hydrogen ions supplied through the electrolyte membrane and electrons transferred through the separation plate meet with oxygen in the air supplied to the cathode 24 by the air supply device to generate water. At this time, due to the movement of hydrogen ions, an electron flows through an external conductor, and current is generated by the flow of electrons.

In addition, a humidifier 40 for selectively humidifying air may be provided in the air supply line 32 before the air that has passed through the compressor 30 flows into the fuel cell stack 20.

The degree of humidification of the air can be adjusted according to the internal humidity of the fuel cell stack 20, and when the internal humidity of the fuel cell stack 20 is sufficient, only part of the air supplied along the air supply line 32 is a humidifier. It is humidified by passing through 40, and the remaining air can be directly supplied to the fuel cell stack 20 without passing through the humidifier 40 through a bypass flow path (not shown).

1 to 5, the water trap device 100 for a fuel cell according to the present invention is provided on a recirculation line 102 for recirculating the gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 20 to the fuel cell stack 20. May be, and is based on removing condensed water contained in hydrogen, which is a gas recycled to the fuel cell stack 20.

The water trap device 100 for a fuel cell according to the present invention may include a water trap body 110 and an opening/closing member 130.

The water trap body 110 is connected to the fuel cell stack 20 and includes an inlet 111 through which gas and condensed water are introduced, and an accommodation space 115 in which the introduced condensed water is accommodated. In addition, the water trap body 110 may further include an outlet 113 through which gas is discharged for recirculation.

For example, the inlet 111 may be connected to the anode, and the outlet 113 may be connected to the hydrogen supply line. The inlet 111 and the outlet 113 may be provided at a higher position than the receiving space 115, which is a space in which condensed water is accommodated. The condensed water introduced through the inlet 111 may be collected in the receiving space 115 and discharged to the outside of the water trap body 110 when it reaches a predetermined level.

The opening/closing member 130 is provided between the inlet 111 and the receiving space 115 inside the water trap body 110, and is opened or opened by elastic deformation due to condensed water flowing through the inlet 111 It is provided to increase the degree and is restored after the condensed water is introduced to cover the upper portion of the receiving space 115.

Specifically, the opening/closing member 130 may be provided above the receiving space 115 and installed to cover the space in which condensed water is accommodated (see FIG. 1 ). The opening/closing member 130 may be provided to cover all or most of the upper portion of the receiving space 115 in a state before being elastically deformed. That is, the opening and closing member 130 may be provided to close between the receiving space 115 and the inlet 111 before elastic deformation, or a small inlet hole 132 is provided so that most of the upper portion of the receiving space 115 It can also cover an area. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the condensed water contained in the receiving space 115 from flowing backward through the inlet 111.

Thereafter, when the condensed water discharged from the fuel cell stack 20 flows through the inlet 111, the condensed water pressurizes the opening/closing member 130, as shown in FIG. 3, and the opening/closing member 130 Due to the difference, it may be elastically deformed and open. At this time, condensed water may be collected in the receiving space 115. When the opening/closing member 130 is partially opened through the inlet hole 132 or the like, the degree of opening by the condensed water may increase.

Thereafter, when the inflow of condensed water is completed, the opening/closing member 130 may be restored to its original state by the elastic restoring force to cover the upper portion of the receiving space 115 (see FIG. 2 ).

As such, the opening/closing member 130 may be formed of an elastic material and provided to be deformable, and may be provided to cover the accommodation space 115 when condensed water does not flow. Accordingly, even when the water trap device 100 is inclined according to the use environment of the fuel cell system 10 or the water trap body 110 is not discharged smoothly, the condensed water inside the water trap body 110 is fueled. It is possible to prevent re-inflow into the battery stack 20.

Accordingly, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a reverse flow of condensed water inside the water trap device 100 and minimize deterioration of the performance of the fuel cell stack 20 due to the reverse flow of condensed water. In addition, due to this, it is possible to provide an effect of improving the performance and durability of the fuel cell system 10.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the opening/closing member 130 may include a deformable part 131. In addition, the opening and closing member 130 may further include a cover plate 133 and a connection part 150.

The deformable part 131 is directly or indirectly connected to the inner surface of the water trap body 110 and is made of an elastic material, and may include an inlet hole 132 through which condensed water is introduced. In addition, the deformable part 131 is elastically deformed while moving in the direction toward the receiving space 115 when the condensate flows in, thereby changing the size of the inlet hole 132, and after the condensate flows in, the original shape is made by elastic force. Can be restored to

Specifically, the deformable part 131 may include a material having an elastic force and may be deformed by an external force. And the inlet hole 132 may pass through the center. As an example, the deformable part 131 may be formed in a circular ring shape as in the illustrated embodiment, but is not limited thereto, and may be deformed into various shapes such as polygons.

When the condensed water flows in, the deformable part 131 may move downward while being connected to the water trap body 110 by the weight of the condensed water, and as a result, the size of the inlet hole 132 may increase as it is deformed. Condensed water may be introduced through the inlet hole 132 whose size is increased. Thereafter, when the inflow of the condensed water is completed, the deformation portion 131 may be restored to its original state by an elastic restoring force, and the size of the inlet hole 132 may be reduced. Accordingly, the opening/closing member 130 covers the accommodation space 115, so that the condensed water collected in the accommodation space 115 can be prevented from moving to the top of the opening/closing member 130.

One end of the cover plate 133 may be connected to the deformable part 131, and the connection part 150 includes the other end of the cover plate 133 on the inner surface of the water trap body 110 so that the cover plate 133 can rotate. I can connect. Here, the cover plate 133 may be provided to rotate in a direction toward the receiving space 115 centering on the other end when the condensed water is introduced.

In addition, the plurality of cover plates 133 may be provided in plurality along the circumferential direction of the deformable portion 131.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the deformable part 131 may be disposed at the center of the opening/closing member 130, and the cover plate 133 may be disposed around the deformable part 131. One end of the cover plate 133 may be connected to the deformable part 131 and the other end may be fixed to the inner surface of the water trap body 110. For example, the cover plate 133 may be made of a material that is not deformed by an external force, and thus, the opening/closing member 130 may include two or more materials, but is not limited thereto.

When condensed water is introduced and the deformable part 131 descends in the direction toward the receiving space 115, the cover plate 133 rotates around the other end connected to the water trap body 110 and is connected to the deformable part 131. One side may descend together with the deformable part 131 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ). At this time, the plurality of cover plates 133 may be separated from each other, and thus condensed water may more smoothly flow into the receiving space 115.

In addition, the deformable part 131 is disposed in the center, and the cover plate 133 is installed in a plurality of surroundings, so that condensed water flowing in from various directions may be collected. For example, when the deformable part 131 is biased to one side of the opening/closing member 130, only one area of the opening/closing member 130 is elastically deformed and provided to have a restoring force, so that the hydrogen vehicle is inclined or three-dimensionally When placed in an inclined driving environment, the weight of the condensed water may not induce deformation of the opening/closing member 130 and thus may not be opened smoothly. For this reason, the discharge of condensed water from the fuel cell stack 20 may not be smooth.

Accordingly, the opening/closing member 130 of the present invention arranges the deformable part 131 in the center and provides a plurality of cover plates 133 around the deformable part 131, so that even when condensate flows in from any direction, the opening/closing member ( 130) is provided so that the elastic deformation can be made smoothly.

The plurality of cover plates 133 may be provided to be in close contact with each other by being restored to an original state after the condensed water is introduced. Specifically, when one side of the plurality of cover plates 133 descends, a gap between the plurality of cover plates 133 may be widened while one side of the plurality of cover plates 133 descends together (see FIG. 5 ). Thereafter, when restored to its original state, one side of the cover plate 133 which has been opened rises, and the gap between the plurality of cover plates 133 is narrowed, thereby being in close contact to cover the upper portion of the receiving space 115.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the condensed water from flowing backward in the accommodation space 115 (see FIGS. 3 and 6).

Meanwhile, the connection part 150 may connect the other end of the cover plate 133 to the inner surface of the water trap body 110 so that the cover plate 133 can rotate.

For example, the connection part 150 may be installed at a portion under the cover plate 133 where the cover plate 133 and the inner wall of the water trap body 110 contact each other, and the cover plate 133 is attached to the water trap body ( The cover plate 133 can be pivoted while being fixed to the inner wall of 110). That is, the cover plate 133 may pivot around the connection part 150. The connection unit 150 may be provided on each of the plurality of cover plates 133, and various methods may be applied as long as the cover plate 133 can be installed on the inner wall of the water trap body 110 so as to be pivotable.

The connection part 150 may provide a restoring force for restoring the cover plate 133 after the condensed water is introduced. For example, the connection part 150 is provided with an elastic member and is compressed when the cover plate 133 rotates due to the external force acting due to the weight of the condensed water, and when the external force is removed, the cover plate 133 is in its original state by the restoring force. Can be rotated with In this way, the cover plate 133 may be restored to its original state by the elastic restoring force of the deformable part 131 itself and the restoring force of the connection part 150.

In addition, the connection part 150 may be provided to limit the rotation of the cover plate 133 in a direction opposite to the direction toward the receiving space 115.

That is, the connection part 150 may be provided so that the cover plate 133 can rotate when the condensed water is introduced and an external force acts in the direction toward the receiving space 115. On the other hand, in a state restored to its original state, when an external force acts in the opposite direction of the receiving space 115 by condensate water or other external force accommodated in the receiving space 115, the rotation of the cover plate 133 is restricted, and the deformation part (131) can be prevented from rising and deforming. Accordingly, the opening/closing member 130 is opened by the elevation of the deformable part 131 to prevent the condensed water from flowing backward.

In addition, the present invention may further include a stopper 170. The stopper 170 may be provided on the inner surface of the water trap body 110 to limit rotation of the cover plate 133 in a direction opposite to the direction toward the receiving space 115.

For example, the stopper 170 may be installed on the inner surface of the water trap body 110, but may be installed on the upper portion of the cover plate 133, that is, on a surface opposite to the direction toward the receiving space 115. Accordingly, the stopper 170 may limit the rotation of the cover plate 133 in the opposite direction of the receiving space 115, that is, upward. Accordingly, the stopper 170 may effectively prevent the condensed water from flowing backward due to the opening and closing member 130 being opened due to the rise of the deformable part 131 together with the connection part 150.

According to the present invention configured as described above, the water trap device is tilted according to the use environment of the fuel cell system by including an opening and closing member that is provided with an elastic material so as to be deformable, and is provided to cover the accommodation space when condensed water does not flow in. Even when the water trap body is not discharged smoothly, condensed water inside the water trap body can be prevented from flowing back to the fuel cell stack.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the deterioration of the performance of the fuel cell stack due to the reverse flow of condensate by preventing the reverse flow of the condensed water inside the water trap device, thereby providing an effect of improving the performance and durability of the fuel cell system. can do.

As described above, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to these specific embodiments, and are described in the claims by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Various modifications and variations can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

10: fuel cell system
20: fuel cell stack
22: anode
24: cathode
30: compressor
32: air supply line
40: humidifier
50: hydrogen supply unit
52: hydrogen supply line
100: water trap device
110: water trap body
111: entrance
113: exit
115: accommodation space
130: opening and closing member
131: deformation portion
132: inlet hole
133: cover plate
150: connection
170: stopper

Claims (8)

A water trap device for a fuel cell provided in a recirculation line for recirculating gas discharged from the fuel cell stack to the fuel cell stack,
A water trap body connected to the fuel cell stack and including an inlet through which gas and condensed water are introduced, and an accommodation space in which the introduced condensed water is accommodated; And
It is provided inside the water trap body, between the inlet and the receiving space, and is provided to be opened or to increase the degree of opening by elastic deformation by the condensed water flowing through the inlet, and after the condensed water is introduced A water trap device for a fuel cell comprising an opening and closing member that is restored and provided to cover an upper portion of the accommodation space. The method of claim 1,
The opening/closing member includes a deformable part directly or indirectly connected to the inner surface of the water trap body, provided with an elastic material, and having an inlet hole through which the condensed water flows,
The deformable part is elastically deformed while moving in a direction toward the receiving space when the condensed water is introduced to change the size of the inlet hole, and the water for a fuel cell is restored to its original shape by an elastic force after the condensed water is introduced. Trap device. The method of claim 2,
The opening and closing member,
A cover plate having one end connected to the deformable part; And
And a connection portion connecting the other end of the cover plate to the inner surface of the water trap body so that the cover plate is rotatable,
The cover plate is provided to rotate in a direction toward the receiving space around the other end when the condensed water is introduced. The method of claim 3,
A water trap device for a fuel cell, wherein a plurality of the cover plates are provided in a plurality along the circumferential direction of the deformable part. The method of claim 3,
The connecting portion provides a restoring force for restoring the cover plate after the condensed water is introduced into the water trap device for a fuel cell. The method of claim 3,
The connection part is a water trap device for a fuel cell provided to limit the rotation of the cover plate in a direction opposite to the direction toward the receiving space. The method of claim 3,
A water trap device for a fuel cell, wherein the plurality of cover plates are restored to their original state after the condensed water is introduced to be in close contact with each other. The method of claim 3,
A water trap device for a fuel cell, further comprising a stopper provided on an inner surface of the water trap body to limit rotation of the cover plate in a direction opposite to the direction toward the accommodation space.

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