Fuel cell unit having stacked auxiliary devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020161681-A1
Application number	US-201816605007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 13, 2017
Publication date	May 21, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell unit (100a; 100b; 100c; 100d; 100e; 100f; 100g; 100h) for a fuel cell system (1100), comprising at least a first fuel cell stack (3.1, 3.2), at least a second fuel cell stack (4.1, 4.2), an anode gas supply line (6), an anode exhaust line (7), a cathode gas supply line (8), a cathode exhaust line (9), and at least one BOP device (1, 2) for ensuring the operability of the fuel cell system (1100), the anode gas supply line (6), the anode exhaust line (7), the cathode gas supply line (8) and/or the cathode exhaust line (9) in at least one stack section (A, B) in between at least one first fuel cell stack (3.1, 3.2) and at least one second fuel cell stack (4.1, 4.2), wherein the at least one BOP device (1, 2) in the at least one stack section (A, B) within the anode gas supply line (6), the anode exhaust line (7), the cathode gas supply line (8) and/or the cathode exhaust line (9) are arranged. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle (1000) comprising a fuel cell unit (100a; 100b; 100c; 100d; 100e; 100f; 100g; 100h) according to the invention.

First claim

1 . A fuel cell unit for a fuel cell system, comprising at least one first fuel cell stack, at least one second fuel cell stack, an anode gas supply line for supplying anode gas to the at least one first fuel cell stack and the at least one second fuel cell stack, an anode exhaust line for supplying anode gas to at least one first fuel cell stack, and at least one second fuel cell stack, a cathode gas supply line for supplying cathode gas to at least one first fuel cell stack and to at least one second fuel cell stack, a cathode exhaust line for removing cathode exhaust gas from at least one first fuel cell stack and from at least one second fuel cell stack, and at least one BOP device for ensuring the operability of the fuel cell system, wherein
at least the anode gas supply line, the anode exhaust line, the cathode gas supply line or the cathode exhaust line are at least sectionally sandwiched in at least one stack section between the at least one first fuel cell stack and the at least one second fuel cell stack, wherein the at least one BOP device being arranged in the at least one stack section (A, B) inside at least the anode gas supply line, the anode exhaust line, the cathode gas supply line or the cathode exhaust line.

2 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one BOP device comprises a reformer arranged in the stack section within the anode gas supply line, where in preferably the reformer comprised a reforming catalyst or being at least substantially configured as such.

3 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein an exhaust line for discharging a gas mixture, which comprises the anode exhaust gas and the cathode exhaust gas, from the anode exhaust line and the cathode exhaust line into the vicinity of the fuel cell unit, wherein the exhaust line is arranged in regions in the at least one stack section sandwiched between the at least one first fuel cell stack and the at least one second fuel cell stack, and the at least one BOP device having an exhaust gas burner which is arranged in the stack section inside the exhaust gas line.

4 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein the exhaust gas burner comprises or is at least substantially configured as an oxidation catalyst.

5 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 3 , wherein
the reformer and the exhaust gas burner are sandwiched, at least in a cross-section.

6 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein the exhaust gas burner is at least partially annularly arranged around the reformer at least in sections or that the reformer is at least partially annularly arranged around the exhaust gas burner.

7 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein the cathode gas supply line has a tempering fluid line section which adjoins the exhaust gas burner at least partially in the stacking section.

8 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein the at least one BOP device comprises a starting burner for heating the exhaust gas burner.

9 . The fuel cell unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein in the at least one stack section a heat transport section for heat transport at least from at least one BOP device to the at least one first fuel cell stack or the at least one second fuel cell stack is arranged.

10 . A motor vehicle with a fuel cell system for supplying energy to at least one drive unit of the motor vehicle, the fuel cell system having a fuel cell unit for a fuel cell system, comprising at least one first fuel cell stack, at least one second fuel cell stack, an anode gas supply line for supplying anode gas to the at least one first fuel cell stack and the at least one second fuel cell stack, an anode exhaust line for supplying anode gas to at least one first fuel cell stack, and at least one second fuel cell stack, a cathode gas supply line for supplying cathode gas to at least one first fuel cell stack and to at least one second fuel cell stack, a cathode exhaust line for removing cathode exhaust gas from at least one first fuel cell stack and from at least one second fuel cell stack, and at least one BOP device for ensuring the operability of the fuel cell system, wherein
at least the anode gas supply line, the anode exhaust line, the cathode gas supply line or the cathode exhaust line are at least sectionally sandwiched in at least one stack section between the at least one first fuel cell stack and the at least one second fuel cell stack, wherein the at least one BOP device being arranged in the at least one stack section (A, B) inside at least the anode gas supply line, the anode exhaust line, the cathode gas supply line or the cathode exhaust line.

Assignees

• Avl List Gmbh

Inventors

• Lawlor Vincent
• Reissig Michael
• Rechberger Rgen
• Makinson Julian

Classifications

• H01M8/04007 Primary

  related to heat exchange · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/0625

  in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0618

  Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming · CPC title