System and device for water evaporation of fuel cell and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10818941-B2
Application number	US-201615365732-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	Oct 10, 2016
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A system and device for water evaporation of a fuel cell, and a control method thereof, are disclosed. The system includes a stack provided in a fuel cell vehicle to produce electric power. The system includes an injection member connected to the stack. The injection member retains water generated in the stack, and injects water at high pressure and evaporates injected water particles. The system includes a compressor that supplies high-temperature air to the injection member. Even when the fuel cell vehicle is cold-started, evaporation is enabled through water injection to directly cool air supplied to the stack. Water is evaporated even without a humidifier so that performance of the fuel cell system may be enhanced, while reducing cost.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for water evaporation of a fuel cell, the system comprising:
a stack provided in a fuel cell vehicle to produce electric power;
an injection member connected to the stack, wherein the injection member includes
a cooler part configured to allow water particles and heated air to be mixed in order to evaporate the water particles, and
a pump part configured to supply pressurized water for generating the water particles to the cooler part; and

a compressor configured to supply air heated by compression to the cooler part,
wherein the injection member further includes a valve configured to control supply or cutoff of the water from the pump part and to allow the air from the compressor to be supplied to the pump part when a pump of the pump part is reversely rotated.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the injection member further includes
a controller that controls the pump part and the cooler part and the pump part,
wherein the cooler part is connected to the pump part, and
wherein the pump part is configured to retain water generated in the stack.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump part includes
a water tank that is configured to retain water discharged or collected from the stack and
wherein pump is provided within the water tank and configured to supply the pressurized water to the cooler part.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the water tank has a drain valve that drains water to adjust a water level of the water tank.

5. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the pump part further includes:
a first pipe that connects the pump and the cooler part and allows air to be supplied through the compressor;
a heater connected to the pump and generating heat; and
a second pipe connecting the pump and the heater.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the second pipe has an outlet that is perpendicular to the ground to prevent introduction of water retained in the water tank.

7. The system according to claim 5 , wherein an additional water tank, which includes the heater, is provided within the water tank, the additional water tank having a water hole allowing water to be introduced from the water tank.

8. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the valve is configured to control supply or cutoff of water from the pump and to allow air from the compressor to be supplied to the first pipe when the pump is reversely rotated.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the cooler part further includes:
a nozzle that injects water supplied from the pump; and
an evaporator that evaporates water particles injected from the nozzle.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the cooler part has a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of an outlet of the compressor and a temperature of an outlet of the evaporator.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the cooler part has a pressure sensor that senses pressure of water supplied from the pump part.

12. A device for water evaporation of a fuel cell, the device comprising:
a water tank provided in a fuel cell vehicle, the water tank connected to a stack that produces electric power, and that retains water generated in the stack;
a pump provided in the water tank and supplying pressurized water,
a valve connected to the pump and controlling supply and cutoff of water;
a nozzle that injects water supplied from the pump;
a compressor that supplies air heated by compression toward water particles injected from the nozzle; and
an evaporator provided at one end of the nozzle and allowing injected water particles and air from the compressor to be mixed to evaporate water,
wherein the valve is configured to allow the air from the compressor to be supplied to the pump.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the nozzle determines a water injection angle and water particle size.

14. The device according to claim 12 , further comprising
a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of the compressor and a temperature of the evaporator; and
a pressure sensor that senses water pressure of the pump.

15. A control method for water evaporation of a fuel cell, the control method comprising the steps of:
stopping water injection from a nozzle provided in a cooler part and stopping an operation of a pump provided in a pump part when a fuel cell vehicle is stopped;
reversely rotating the pump and maintaining air pressure of a compressor;
opening a valve provided in the cooler part and supplying air from the compressor to the inside of a water tank provided in the pump part; and
closing the valve and stopping an operation of the compressor.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Noh Yong Gyu
• Kwon Hyuck Roul

Classifications

• H01M8/04373

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners · CPC title

• H01M8/04253 Primary

  Means for solving freezing problems · CPC title

• H01M8/04425

  at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04225

  during start-up · CPC title