KR20230104687A - A fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a first transport path F1 for fuel having a first transport device FE1; a second transport path F2 for fuel having a second transport device FE2; a passage area MB in which the first transport path F1 and the second transport path F2 are connected to each other; and a common outlet opening (AO) for fuel connected to the passage area (MB) and allowing fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell. will be.

Description

A fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system

The present invention relates to a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system.

Generally, in fuel cell systems fuel, for example hydrogen, may be provided for the anode circuit of the fuel cell. In this case, the anode circuit is configured to supply a first gas to the anode side of the fuel cell or fuel cell stack, and then a reaction can be carried out in the fuel cell via this first gas.

In this case, it is possible to receive fresh fuel (hydrogen) from the tank and feed this fuel to the system via the metering valve. On the other hand, hydrogen can also be delivered via an ejector pump and/or recirculation fan in the circuit. In this case, the ejector pump can handle the upper load area and the recirculation fan can handle the lower load area. It may be possible to combine circuit circulation with fresh supply, but these two transfer methods also influence each other because they are usually operated in series (connected) to each other.

DE 112006003013 B4 describes a tank with fittings and valves, these valves being fixed in the fittings.

The present invention provides a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system according to claim 1, a fuel cell system according to claim 10, and a fuel transfer device for a fuel cell system according to claim 11. A method of operating a fuel delivery device is provided.

Advantageous refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

The idea underlying the present invention is to propose a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system, Parallel operation of circulating transfer and fuel transfer from the tank is operable, and mutual influences of direct transfer and circulatory transfer can be reduced through this parallel operation.

According to the present invention, a fuel conveying device for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system includes a first conveying path for fuel having a first conveying device; a second conveying path for fuel having a second conveying device; a passage area where the first transport path and the second transport path are connected to each other; and a common outlet opening for fuel connected to the passage area and allowing fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell.

The fuel can be gaseous, for example, but it is also possible to deliver liquid fuel. Each or both of the first conveying path and/or the second conveying path may include a tube or hose that may lead to an end piece that may include a passage area and an outlet opening.

In this case, “fuel” herein may refer to a component of a material or a means for driving a fuel cell, for example, for an anode side of a fuel cell. However, in this case it is also possible to adapt the same system to the cathode side of the fuel cell. In this case, the fuel cells may be individual fuel cells or fuel cell stacks.

In this case, the act of conveying may involve different methods, for example pumping or ejecting conveying. In this case, the two conveying paths guided in parallel operate via the respective conveying devices and in different modes of operation depending on the specification, for example depending on the power of the fuel cell and the need for conveying fresh and/or recycled fuel. can be, preferably controlled in parallel and merged only within the passage area. In this case, the passage area may be located just upstream of the outlet opening. Through arrangement in this way, mutual influence of the two conveying devices and conveying paths can be reduced or even prevented, since fuel can be demanded more flexibly from the now preferred conveying route and fuel from the conveying routes. Since it can be selected more target-oriented among them, it can improve the flexibility and efficiency of the fuel delivery device and, ultimately, also the fuel cell.

The first conveying path and/or the second conveying path and their components may each be formed as modules.

For example, the fuel delivery device can be used for all fuel cell systems with a hydrogen metering valve and recirculation, or can be used for other fuel types for fuel cell systems as well.

According to one preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the first delivery device comprises a metering valve and/or an ejector pump.

Fuel, preferably hydrogen, can be supplied to the first transfer path from an external tank and/or from the recirculation part of the fuel cell via a metering valve, for example a hydrogen metering valve. Via the metering valve and the ejector pump, fuel can be supplied to these fuel cells in the high load region and/or high power region of the fuel cell, in which case a sufficiently high volumetric flow of fuel can be achieved through the first conveying path with the ejector pump. because it can

According to one preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the first delivery path is connectable with an external fuel tank.

As such, the first transfer path can transfer fuel from the external fuel tank to the fuel cell and thus to the fuel cell system.

According to one preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the second delivery device comprises a recirculation pump.

For in-circuit transfer, the second transfer path can circulate the fuel from the fuel cell and back to the fuel cell, preferably either alone or in support of the first transfer path in the high load region and/or the high power region. .

The recirculation pump may include a recirculation fan.

According to a preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the second delivery path is connectable to the fuel cell as a circuit for fuel.

According to one preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the fuel delivery device is configured to deliver either liquid hydrogen or gaseous hydrogen as fuel.

Correspondingly, pumps, lines, seals and valves can be configured in the transfer paths.

According to a preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the passage area comprises a flutter valve, by means of which the first conveyance path and/or the second conveyance path are in the passage area correspondingly within the other conveyance paths. It is possible to at least partially close it through the pressure to do.

The flutter valve may comprise a flap capable of at least partially or completely closing the outlet of the first conveying path and/or the second conveying path into the passage area and blocking the discharge of fuel from such conveying path. can

According to a preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the flutter valve comprises a spring enabling the flutter valve to be pre-stressed in a rest position, in which position either the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path is closed.

In this case, the rest position is such that, in the rest position, no opposing force acts on the flutter valve, and the flutter valve can be held through the spring in such a way that the flutter valve completely or only partially closes one of the conveying paths. can be selected so that

According to one preferred embodiment of the fuel delivery device, the first transport path is configured to operate within an upper load region of the fuel cell system, and the second transport path is configured to operate within a lower load region of the fuel cell system, The load area and the upper load area are completely different or include overlapping value areas, and the first conveying path and/or the second conveying path are operable in parallel with each other.

The first transfer path may operate within an upper load area, and the second transfer path may operate within a lower load area.

These load areas can be separated from 50% of the load (output operation) in the fuel cell, ie less than 50% can mean a lower load area and more than 50% can mean an upper load area. In conventional fuel delivery devices, two delivery units can be connected in series, in which case switching of load regions (operation under each load region) can be flexible.

An overlapping value region may exist when the fuel cell and the fuel delivery device are operated at partial load.

According to the present invention, a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a fuel delivery device according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, in a method of operating a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system, providing a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel according to the present invention, and connecting the fuel cell and the fuel transfer device ; recognizing the need to transfer fuel from the fuel tank and/or from the fuel cell and thereafter transferring the fuel to the fuel cell by a first transfer path having a first transfer device; and/or recognizing a need to transfer fuel from a fuel cell in the circuit, thereafter transferring the fuel in the circuit by a second transfer path having a second transfer device; and delivering the fuel through a common outlet opening for the fuel connected to the passage area and allowing the fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell.

Recognition of this need can be implemented from information about the operating mode of the fuel cell or from inference about the currently operated output area/load area of the fuel cell, for example, through sensors. As such, the first transport path can transport fuel externally from the tank and/or from the supply of the recirculation portion of the fuel cell itself.

This method can preferably also feature the previously mentioned features of the fuel delivery device and/or fuel cell system and vice versa.

Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention are obtained from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention is explained in more detail below by means of an embodiment presented in schematic drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic diagram of a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic diagram of a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block circuit diagram of method steps of a method of operating a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals in the drawings indicate elements that are the same or have the same function.

1 shows a schematic diagram of a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A fuel conveying device 10 for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system includes a first conveying path F1 for fuel having a first conveying device FE1; a second transport path F2 for fuel having a second transport device FE2; a passage area MB in which the first transport path F1 and the second transport path F2 are connected to each other; and a common exit opening (AO) for fuel connected to the passage area (MB) and allowing fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell. In this case, the first transfer device FE1 may include a metering valve DV and/or an ejector pump SP. The first transfer path F1 may be connectable to an external fuel tank. The second transfer device FE2 may include a recirculation pump RP, and the second transfer path F2 may be connected to a fuel cell as a circuit for fuel.

In general, a fuel delivery device 10 having components may be configured to deliver either liquid hydrogen or gaseous hydrogen as fuel.

The passage area MB may include a flutter valve FV, which causes the first transfer path F1 and/or the second transfer path F2 within the passage area MB to It may be at least partially closable through the pressure present in the otherwise conveying path. To this end, the flutter valve (FV) may include a spring (F) that allows the flutter valve (FV) to receive an initial stress in the rest position, and under this rest position, the first transfer path (F1) or the second The transport path F2 may be closed. In this case, the first transport path F1 may be configured to operate within an upper load range of the fuel cell system, and the second transport path F2 may be configured to operate within a lower load range of the fuel cell system, , the lower load region and the upper load region may be completely different or may include overlapping value regions, and the first conveyance path F1 and/or the second conveyance path F2 may be operable in parallel with each other. The fuel delivery device 10 may be included in a fuel cell system having a fuel cell, and may be formed as an anode module of the fuel cell system, for example.

Figure 1 shows the case where only the second conveyance path F2 is active and the fuel (indicated by the arrow) is conveyed again towards the fuel cell (anode) by means of the recirculation pump RP, in particular as a circuit circuit. In this case, the flutter valve FV is flipped up in the passage area MB in such a way that the second conveying path F2 is completely open and the first conveying path F1 is completely closed. In this case, the first conveying device FE1 can be switched off and cannot convey fuel from the tank.

If fuel (hydrogen) is not metered from the first conveyance path F1 towards the recirculation part of the second conveyance path, and if the recirculation pump RP is operated, the flutter valve may be located at the upper stop and the first The transfer path F1 can be closed, and thus a pneumatic short circuit [transferred anode gas flows through the fuel cell (stack) and conversely flows through the ejector pump (or through the first transfer path) not] can be prevented or at least reduced. That is, in this case the lowest load may be present/run on the fuel cell. To this end, the flutter valve may or may not be pre-stressed, and the pre-stress may exert a force lower than the pressure from the second conveyance path, so that the flutter valve may be pressed into the opening of the first conveyance path. Alternatively, an initial stress may be applied in such a way that this position is reached when the pressure from the first conveying path disappears.

2 shows a schematic diagram of a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the fuel delivery device 10 from FIG. 1 , however, the first delivery path F1 may also be activated, and the fuel delivery device 10 and fuel cell may be under partial load, ie less than full load. and thus partially operated under a load that can also be operated by the first conveying path. In this case, the metering valve DV can introduce a specific amount of fuel per unit time into the first conveying path F1, and the ejector pump SP can create this volumetric flow of fuel, and the inflow of fuel It can run externally from the fuel tank and/or from the recirculation path of the fuel cell, ie from the gas already present in the system. Feeding through the circulation path can be effected through a hole facing the first conveying path. Figure 2 shows the feed of the fuel cell, which feed leads to a second conveying path F2, which can also lead to a first conveying path F1 via a hole in the area of the metering valve DV and/or the ejector pump. there is. Figure 1 can be formed likewise, but there the hole can be closed, for example via an actuator.

At lower load points (eg less than 50% load) very little fresh hydrogen is required.

Even in the solution of figure 2 described here, the two paths can be operated in parallel, i.e. the transition area between the upper load area and the lower load area is flexible. Ultimately, it depends on the configuration of the components (modular system) and the operating strategy on which the boundaries are set.

In this way, the fuel cell can be operated at a lower load than at partial load, ie full load. In this case, the flutter valve (FV) is determined, for example, through which of the volume flows from the first conveyance path and the volume flows from the second conveyance path are dominant and through what relationship they have to each other. It can take an intermediate position between the first conveying path and the second conveying path. Thus, for example, when these two flows are the same, the flutter valve FV can be positioned exactly midway between the outlet of the first conveying path F1 and the outlet of the second conveying path F2, For example, it may be located at the bisector of the angle of the moving space of the flutter valve (FV). In this intermediate position the flutter valve may be prestressed.

A recirculation pump (RP) may be connected in parallel to the ejector pump (SP). The pressure-side merging can be performed through the flutter valve (FV) in the passage area (MB). The flutter valve can be spring-loaded to define a distinct rest position. Under partial load, the flutter valve (FV) flutters into the resulting position due to different mass flows. At part load, ie when two conveying paths can be used, the flutter valve thus seeks a position corresponding to the ratio of the two mass flows. This position and fluttering behavior can be matched through springs.

3 shows a schematic diagram of a fuel delivery device for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the fuel delivery device 10 from FIG. 1 or 2 , only the first delivery path F1 can be activated, the fuel cell and, therefore, the fuel delivery device 10 operating under full load. , i.e. it can be operated only by fuel from the tank. Alternatively, the first transfer path can also use fuel from the circulation (in addition to fresh fuel from the tank, in this case the supply line from the fuel cell can be connected to the metering valve DV, It can be metered into the first conveying path through (DV) and driven into the first conveying path F1 by the ejector pump (SP)].

That is, fresh fuel (hydrogen) can be supplied to the system from the tank externally via the metering valve DV (module of the first conveying path). Under full load, the recirculation pump (RP) can be turned off and only the ejector pump (SP) can operate. In this case, the flutter valve (FV) can be held (pressurized) in the lower closed position for the second conveyance path (F2) through the flow force.

4 shows a block circuit diagram of method steps of a method of operating a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A method of operating a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel transfer device according to the present invention, and connecting the fuel cell and the fuel transfer device (S1); recognizing the need to transfer fuel from the fuel tank (S2), and thereafter transferring the fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell by a first transfer path having a first transfer device (S3); and/or recognizing the need to transfer fuel from the fuel cell in the circuit (S4), and thereafter transferring the fuel in the circuit by a second transfer path having a second transfer device (S5); and delivering the fuel through a common outlet opening for the fuel connected to the passage area and allowing the fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell (S6).

Although the present invention has been fully described above in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto and can be modified in a variety of ways and manners.

Claims (11)

As a fuel conveying device 10 for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system,

a first transport path F1 for fuel having a first transport device FE1;

a second transport path F2 for fuel having a second transport device FE2;

a passage area MB in which the first transport path F1 and the second transport path F2 are connected to each other; and

a common outlet opening (AO) for fuel connected to the passage area (MB) and allowing fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell;
A fuel transfer device 10 for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system, including a. The fuel conveying device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying device (FE1) comprises a metering valve (DV) and/or an ejector pump (SP). The fuel conveying device (10) for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first conveying path (F1) is connectable with an external fuel tank. The fuel delivery device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second delivery device (FE2) comprises a recirculation pump (RP). The fuel conveying device (10) for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second conveying path (F2) is connectable with a fuel cell as a circuit for fuel. 6. A fuel conveying device (10) for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, configured to convey liquid hydrogen or gaseous hydrogen as fuel. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the passage area (MB) comprises a flutter valve (FV), by which flutter valve, within the passage area (MB) the first transfer path (F1) and /or a fuel conveying device (10) for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system, wherein the second conveying path (F2) is at least partially closable via a pressure present in a correspondingly different conveying path. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the flutter valve (FV) includes a spring (F) allowing the flutter valve (FV) to receive an initial stress in the rest position, and under this rest position, the first conveying path (F1) or the first transfer path (F1) The fuel conveying device (10) for conveying fuel for a fuel cell system, wherein the two conveying paths (F2) are closed. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first transport path (F1) is configured to operate within an upper load region of the fuel cell system, and the second transport path (F2) is configured to operate within a lower load region of the fuel cell system. configured to operate within a region, wherein the lower load region and the upper load region are completely different or include overlapping value regions, and the first conveying path F1 and/or the second conveying path F2 are operable in parallel with each other. , A fuel transfer device 10 for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system. a fuel cell; A fuel cell system including a fuel transfer device (10) for transferring fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 9. As a method of operating a fuel delivery device 10 for transporting fuel for a fuel cell system,

Providing a fuel transfer device 10 for transferring fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and connecting the fuel cell and the fuel transfer device 10 (S1);

Recognizing the need to transport fuel from the fuel tank and/or from the fuel cell (S2), and thereafter supplying the fuel to the fuel cell by means of a first transport path (F1) with a first transport device (FE1). Transferring step (S3); and/or

Recognizing the need to transport fuel from the fuel cell in the circuit (S4), and then transporting the fuel in the circuit by the second transport path (F2) having the second transport device (FE2) (S5). ); and

delivering the fuel through a common outlet opening (AO) for fuel, which is connected to the passage area (MB) and allows the fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell (S6);
A method of operating a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel for a fuel cell system, comprising:

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