Background
The proton exchange membrane fuel cell is a device for directly converting chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen in air into electric energy, has the advantages of high energy conversion efficiency, no pollution, low noise, safety, reliability and the like, and is widely focused by people and widely applied in a plurality of fields. The existing fuel cell structure is mainly divided into two types, namely a cathode open type fuel cell and a cathode closed type fuel cell. The cathode closed fuel cell has special cooling flow channels, a water pump, a radiator, a cooling water tank and the like, and the environmental adaptability and the stability of the system are better, but the cooling system greatly increases the complexity of a pile structure and a control system, and is generally applied to a relatively large fuel cell system, such as a vehicle, a standby power supply and the like. The cathode open type fuel cell, namely the air-cooled fuel cell, is characterized in that air is sucked through a fan through a special structural design, so that the cathode open type fuel cell is not only used as reaction gas of the fuel cell, but also can take away heat generated by reaction, the cell is cooled, air supply and system heat dissipation are integrated, the system is simplified, and the cathode open type fuel cell is particularly suitable for applications of portable fuel cells, unmanned aerial vehicles and the like which are sensitive to weight. However, the metering ratio of the air flow on the cathode side of the battery is generally higher, and the air flow with the stoichiometric ratio which is ten times or more and hundreds times higher is led to pass through the battery, so that the fuel battery is greatly influenced by the temperature of the use environment, especially in a low-temperature environment, and the heat dissipation of the fuel battery system is too much due to the fact that a large amount of air with lower temperature is inhaled, so that the fuel battery cannot maintain the proper working temperature. When the operation temperature of the fuel cell stack is too low, moisture generated by air measurement of the fuel cell cannot be timely discharged out of the cathode to cause cathode flooding, so that performance is reduced, even the cathode is reversed, even the cathode side is frozen, and the fuel cell cannot be operated for a long time at low temperature. The use environment temperature of the air-cooled fuel cell products reported at present is mostly 0-40 ℃, and the air-cooled fuel cell products cannot meet the use requirement in a low-temperature environment. In addition, even above zero degrees celsius, if the room temperature is low, for example, below 10 ℃, the air-cooled fuel cell stack can cause non-uniform temperature of the air inlet side and the air outlet side of the stack due to low air inlet temperature, so that the non-uniform temperature of the stack can not only influence the performance output of the fuel cell, but also damage the service life of the fuel cell. The patent WO2014/184549A1 filed by the smart energy company mentions that the stack is preheated by changing the exhaust gas of the open cathode of the stack a plurality of times by using a plasma discharge fan, and CN104662722a mentions that the stack can be preheated by changing the inlet gas and the outlet gas of the cathode of the stack by using a plurality of sets of fans and circulating a plurality of times. However, the cathode cooling air ducts of the stacks mentioned in the two patents are used for simultaneously inputting fresh air and returning preheated circulating air, which easily causes uneven air flow on the cathode side, and the concentration difference of the cathode side in the stacks is relatively large, so that the performance and the service life of the stacks are affected. In order to realize the function, a plurality of groups of fans are matched, the structure is complex, and the portable fuel cell system is not suitable for a portable fuel cell system with smaller power and only 1-2 small fans.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a device for improving the low-temperature environment adaptability of an air-cooled fuel cell stack, which aims to solve the technical problem that an air-cooled fuel cell cannot operate for a long time in a low-temperature environment in the prior art.
The invention relates to a device for improving low-temperature environment adaptability of an air-cooled fuel cell stack, which comprises a shell, wherein one end of the shell is provided with an opening, a baffle plate is arranged in the shell along the axial direction of the opening, the middle part of an inner cavity of the shell is divided into an air inlet channel and an air exhaust channel by the baffle plate, one side of the baffle plate and the inlet of the air exhaust channel are provided with the stack, an air inlet of the stack is opposite to the closed end of the shell and is communicated with the air inlet channel, a fan is arranged in the air exhaust channel, a baffle plate is arranged in the shell and is positioned between the baffle plate and the opening of the shell, a rotating shaft is fixedly connected onto the baffle plate and is perpendicular to the axial direction of the opening of the shell, the rotating shaft is connected with the shell, and a rotating shaft rotating driving mechanism is arranged between the rotating shaft and the shell.
Further, the rotating shaft rotary driving mechanism comprises a controller and a motor, the motor and the shell are relatively and fixedly arranged, the rotating shaft is connected with an output shaft of the motor through a transmission mechanism, a control end of the motor is connected with a signal output end of the controller, a temperature sensor is arranged outside the shell, and a signal output end of the temperature sensor is connected with a signal input end of the controller.
Further, the baffle include first baffle and second baffle, first baffle and second baffle set up respectively in exhaust passageway and air inlet passageway, the pivot includes first pivot and second pivot, first baffle and second baffle respectively with first pivot and second pivot fixed connection.
Further, the rotating shaft rotary driving mechanism comprises a controller, a first motor and a second motor, the first rotating shaft is connected with an output shaft of the first motor through a first transmission mechanism, the second rotating shaft is connected with an output shaft of the second motor through a second transmission mechanism, a control end of the motor is connected with a signal output end of the controller, a temperature sensor is arranged outside the shell, and a signal output end of the temperature sensor is connected with a signal input end of the controller.
Or the baffle plate is composed of a large-diameter baffle plate, and the diameter of the large-diameter baffle plate is larger than the diameter of the exhaust channel and the diameter of the air inlet channel.
Further, the inner wall of the closed end of the shell is a concave cambered surface.
Compared with the prior art, the invention has positive and obvious effects. The device for improving the low-temperature environment adaptability of the air-cooled fuel cell stack provided by the invention can recycle the heat released by the fuel cell in the operation without additional heating, so that the fuel cell can maintain higher operation temperature in the low-temperature environment, the operation is stable, and the limit of the low-temperature environment to the air-cooled fuel cell is broken. The temperature of the air inlet is higher, so that the temperature of the front side and the rear side of the fuel cell stack is more uniform, and the service life of the fuel cell stack can be prolonged.
Detailed Description
The present invention is further described below with reference to the drawings and examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples, and all the similar structures and similar variations using the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
Example 1
As shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3, the device for improving the low-temperature environment adaptability of the air-cooled fuel cell stack comprises a shell 6, wherein an opening is formed at one end of the shell 6, a baffle plate 8 is arranged in the shell 6 along the axial direction of the opening, the middle part of an inner cavity of the shell 6 is divided into an air inlet channel 7 and an air exhaust channel 2 by the baffle plate 8, the stack 4 is arranged at one side of the baffle plate 8 and at the inlet of the air exhaust channel 2, an air inlet of the stack 4 is opposite to the closed end of the shell 6 and is communicated with the air inlet channel 7, a fan 3 is arranged in the air exhaust channel 2, a baffle plate is arranged in the shell 6 and is positioned between the baffle plate 8 and the opening of the shell 6, a rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the baffle plate and is perpendicular to the axial direction of the opening of the shell 6, the rotating shaft is connected with the shell 6, and a rotating shaft rotating driving mechanism is arranged between the rotating shaft and the shell 6.
Further, the rotary driving mechanism of the rotating shaft comprises a controller and a motor, the motor and the shell 6 are relatively and fixedly arranged, the rotating shaft is connected with an output shaft of the motor through a transmission mechanism, a control end of the motor is connected with a signal output end of the controller, a temperature sensor is arranged outside the shell 6, and a signal output end of the temperature sensor is connected with a signal input end of the controller.
Further, the baffle include first baffle 1 and second baffle 9, first baffle 1 and second baffle 9 set up respectively in exhaust passageway 2 and air inlet passageway 7, the pivot includes first pivot and second pivot, first baffle 1 and second baffle 9 respectively with first pivot and second pivot fixed connection.
Further, the rotating shaft rotary driving mechanism comprises a controller, a first motor and a second motor, the first rotating shaft is connected with an output shaft of the first motor through a first transmission mechanism, the second rotating shaft is connected with an output shaft of the second motor through a second transmission mechanism, a control end of the motor is connected with a signal output end of the controller, a temperature sensor is arranged outside the shell 6, and a signal output end of the temperature sensor is connected with a signal input end of the controller.
Or the baffle plate is formed by a large-diameter baffle plate 10, and the diameter of the large-diameter baffle plate 10 is larger than the diameter of the exhaust channel 2 and the diameter of the air inlet channel 7.
Further, the inner wall of the closed end of the shell 6 is a concave cambered surface 5.
Specifically, the fan 3, the stack 4, the controller, the motor, the transmission mechanism, the temperature sensor, etc. in this embodiment all adopt a well-known scheme in the prior art, and those skilled in the art will understand the scheme and will not be described herein.
The working principle of the embodiment is as follows:
As shown in fig. 1, the air inlet channel 7 and the air outlet channel 2 of the device are isolated, when the ambient temperature is very high or the air inlet temperature does not need to be regulated, the first baffle plate 1 and the second baffle plate 9 are flattened, then air enters from the air inlet channel 7 and enters the electric pile 4 through the concave cambered surface 5, a small part of air and oxygen enters the electric pile 4 to be consumed by the electric pile 4, and enters the cathode of the fuel cell as reactants through the gas diffusion layer to generate electrochemical reaction, water is generated, and in addition, most of air is subjected to heat exchange, so that waste heat generated in the electric pile 4 of the fuel cell is brought out, heat of the electric pile 4 can be taken away, and then the air is discharged from the air outlet channel 2 through the fan 3.
As shown in fig. 2, in a low temperature environment, after the fuel cell is successfully started at a low temperature, the angle of the first baffle plate 1 is adjusted, the opening proportion of the exhaust channel 2 can be adjusted, the angle of the second baffle plate 9 can be adjusted, the opening proportion of the air inlet channel 7 can be adjusted, part or all of hot air discharged by the electric pile 4 is changed in direction by the first baffle plate 1, enters the air inlet channel 7 of the fuel cell, merges with the entering fresh air in the air inlet channel 7, realizes oxygen supply, and is then sucked into the electric pile 4. Through adjusting the positions of the first baffle plate 1 and the second baffle plate 9, the mixing proportion of fresh air inlet and hot air discharged by the electric pile 4 can be realized, so that the temperature of the air inlet of the electric pile 4 is controlled, the normal operation of the electric pile 4 in a low-temperature environment is realized, and the fresh air is continuously supplemented into the air inlet of the electric pile 4 all the time, so that the condition that the oxygen concentration is too low due to the repeated circulation of a small amount of air in the fuel cell can be avoided, and different power outputs can be met. Of course, different stacks 4, different power outputs, and different ambient temperatures, different mixing ratio requirements of hot air and cold air, different rotation angles of the first baffle 1 and the second baffle 9, different opening ratios of the air inlet channel 7 or the air outlet channel 2, and adjustment according to actual conditions are required. The operating temperature of the air-cooled fuel cell stack 4 is generally 40 oC-65o C, and the suitable operating temperature of the fuel cell stack 4 is slightly different under different power current outputs, but the overall operating temperature is in the range of 40-75 o C.
In addition, as shown in fig. 3, only the large-diameter baffle plate 10 is arranged, and the mixture of the inlet air and the outlet air in the air inlet channel 7 can be realized by adjusting the angle of the large-diameter baffle plate 10, and the invention also falls within the protection content.
The invention can also monitor the temperature of the running environment through the temperature sensor, and the controller can intelligently adjust the angles of the first baffle plate 1, the second baffle plate 9 and the large-diameter baffle plate 10 respectively through the first motor, the second motor and the third motor according to the temperature provided by the temperature sensor. The stack exhaust control valve and the exhaust pipe can be arranged in the air inlet channel 7, so that icing and blockage during use in a low-temperature environment are avoided.
The operation results of the invention in different parameters and environments are as follows:
In the environment of-40 o C, the position of the second baffle plate 9 is regulated to ensure that the opening area of the air exhaust channel 2 accounts for 20 percent of the whole area of the air exhaust channel 2, the rest hot air is blocked by the second baffle plate 9 to enter the air inlet channel 7, the opening area of the air inlet channel 7 accounts for 20 percent, the temperature of the electric pile 4 is about 65 o C when the electric pile 4 operates, the output of 100W of the electric pile 4 is realized, the air inlet temperature of the electric pile 4 can be kept at about 40 o C, the electric pile 4 continuously operates for 20 hours, the internal temperature of the electric pile 4 is uniform, the output is stable, and the performance is not reduced.
And when the temperature is in a-20 o C environment, the position of the second baffle plate 9 is regulated, so that the opening area of the exhaust channel 2 accounts for 30% of the whole area of the exhaust channel 2, the rest hot air enters the air inlet channel 7 through blocking, the opening area of the air inlet channel 7 accounts for 30%, the temperature of the electric pile 4 is about 55 o C during operation, the electric pile 4 outputs 80W, the air inlet temperature of the electric pile 4 can be kept about 35 o C, the electric pile 4 continuously operates for 24 hours, the internal temperature of the electric pile 4 is uniform, the output is stable, and the performance is not reduced.
When the room temperature is 5 o C, the position of the second baffle plate 9 is regulated to ensure that the opening area of the exhaust channel 2 accounts for 50%, the rest hot air enters the air inlet channel 7 through blocking, the opening area of the air inlet channel 7 accounts for 30%, the temperature of the electric pile 4 is about 55 o C when the electric pile 4 operates, the electric pile 4 outputs 80W, the air inlet temperature of the electric pile 4 can be kept about 30 o C, the electric pile 4 continuously operates for 10 hours, the internal temperature of the electric pile 4 is uniform, the output is stable, and the performance is improved by 20% when compared with the performance of the second baffle plate 9 and the air inlet channel 7 which are both flat.
In the environment of-20 o C, the position of the second baffle plate 9 is regulated, so that the opening area of the exhaust channel 2 accounts for 30% of the whole area of the exhaust channel 2, the opening area of the air inlet channel 7 accounts for 30% as well, the temperature of the electric pile 4 is about 65 o C when the electric pile 4 operates, the electric pile 4 outputs 100W, the air inlet temperature of the electric pile 4 can be kept about 35 o C, the electric pile 4 continuously operates for 24 hours, the internal temperature of the electric pile 4 is uniform, the output is stable, and the performance is not reduced.
It should be understood that the invention is not only applicable in low temperature environments, but any application modified according to the above description for changing the intake temperature of the stack 4 or for smoothing the internal temperature of the stack 4 falls within the scope of protection of the appended claims. Furthermore, the application of the mixing of the hot gas discharged from the stack 4 with the incoming air to change the intake air temperature should fall within the scope of the appended claims of the present invention even if the mixing position and the mixing manner are different.