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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018102558-A1
Application number	US-201615365732-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	Oct 10, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2018
Grant date	—

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, the injection member retaining water generated in the stack and injecting water at high pressure to prevent moisture from being frozen; and a compressor supplying high-temperature air to the injection member.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the injection member includes:
a pump part that retains water generated in the stack and injects water at high pressure; a cooler part connected to the pump part and allowing injected water particles and high-temperature air supplied through the compressor to be mixed to evaporate water particles; and a controller that controls the pump part and the cooler part.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the pump part includes:
a water tank that retains water discharged or collected from the stack; and a high pressure pump provided within the water tank and supplying high-pressure 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 includes:
a first pipe that connects the high pressure pump and the cooler part and allows air to be supplied through the compressor; a heater connected to the high pressure pump and generating heat; and a second pipe connecting the high pressure 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 cooler part includes a valve that controls supply or cutoff of water from the high pressure pump, and allows air from the compressor to be supplied to the first pipe when the high pressure 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 high pressure 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 high pressure pump provided in the water tank and supplying water at high pressure; a valve connected to the high pressure pump and controlling supply and cutoff of water; a nozzle that injects water supplied from the high pressure pump; a compressor that supplies high-temperature air 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.

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 high pressure 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 high pressure pump provided in a pump part when a fuel cell vehicle is stopped; reversely rotating the high pressure 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

• B60L11/1883

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• H01M8/04738

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner · CPC title

• H01M8/04291 Primary

  Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems (H01M8/04119 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/04679

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• B60L11/1898

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic