Integrated gas management device for a fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9947946-B2
Application number	US-201414314853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jun 27, 2013
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

An integrated gas management device (GMD) for a fuel cell comprises a gas-to-gas humidifier for transferring water from a second gas to a first gas; a heat exchanger attached to a first end of the humidifier core for cooling the first gas; and/or a water separator attached to a second end of the humidifier core for removing liquid water from the second gas. The GMD may optionally comprise a thermal isolation plate between the heat exchanger and the first end of the humidifier core. The GMD further comprises a bypass line to allow the first gas to bypass the humidifier. The first gas may comprise cathode charge air and the second gas may comprise cathode exhaust.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated gas management device (GMD), comprising:
(a) a gas-to-gas humidifier core comprising:
one or more first gas flow passages;
one or more second gas flow passages;
a first end and a second end;
a first gas inlet manifold and a first gas outlet manifold in flow communication with the first gas flow passages; and
a second gas inlet manifold and a second gas outlet manifold in flow communication with the second gas flow passages;
wherein the manifolds extend through the humidifier core from the first end to the second end;
(b) a heat exchanger attached to the first end of the humidifier core, the heat exchanger comprising at least one first gas flow passage and at least one coolant flow passage,
the heat exchanger further comprising a first gas outlet opening through which the at least one first gas flow passage is in flow communication with the first gas inlet manifold of the humidifier core; and
(c) a water separator attached to the second end of the humidifier core, wherein the water separator has an internal water separation chamber in flow communication with a second gas inlet opening and a second gas outlet opening, and wherein the second gas inlet opening of the water separator is in flow communication with the second gas outlet manifold of the humidifier core;
wherein the water separator has a flat bottom surface through which it is mechanically attached to the second end of the humidifier core;
wherein the bottom surface of the water separator has four openings, each of which is aligned with one of the manifolds of the humidifier, and one of the four openings comprising the second gas inlet opening of the water separator;
wherein the water separator further comprises a side wall surrounding the water separation chamber, wherein the second gas outlet opening of the water separator is provided in the side wall, and wherein the side wall is also provided with a drain opening for drainage of liquid water from the water separation chamber, wherein the drain opening communicates with the water separation chamber; and
wherein, with the water separator oriented as it would be when installed in a vehicle, the drain opening is located in a lowermost side wall portion of the side wall.

2. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the first gas outlet opening of the heat exchanger is aligned and in flow communication with the first gas inlet manifold of the humidifier.

3. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the second gas inlet opening of the water separator is aligned and in flow communication with the second gas outlet manifold of the humidifier.

4. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , further comprising a thermal isolation plate between the humidifier core and the heat exchanger, wherein the thermal isolation plate is comprised of a plastic material.

5. The integrated GMD according to claim 4 , wherein the thermal isolation plate includes a first gas opening through which flow communication is provided between the first gas outlet opening of the heat exchanger and the first gas inlet manifold of the humidifier; and
wherein the thermal isolation plate closes the first gas outlet manifold, the second gas inlet manifold and the second gas outlet manifold at the first end the humidifier core.

6. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , further comprising a bypass line having a first end in flow communication with the first gas inlet manifold of the humidifier core and a second end in flow communication with the first gas outlet manifold of the humidifier core; and wherein the bypass line is located at the second end of the humidifier core.

7. The integrated GMD according to claim 6 , further comprising a thermal isolation plate between the humidifier core and the heat exchanger.

8. The integrated GMD according to claim 6 , further comprising a bypass valve provided in said bypass line.

9. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , further comprising a bypass line having a first end in flow communication with the first gas inlet manifold of the humidifier core and a second end in flow communication with the first gas outlet manifold of the humidifier core;
wherein the bypass line is located at the second end of the humidifier core; and
wherein the bypass line is in flow communication with the first gas inlet and outlet manifolds of the humidifier core through passages provided in the water separator, said passages through the water separator being isolated from flow communication with the water separation chamber of the water separator.

10. The integrated GMD according to claim 9 , wherein the bypass line is integrated with the water separator.

11. The integrated GMD according to claim 10 , wherein the bypass line is integrated with a lid of the water separator.

12. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the drain opening is located in a lowermost point of the lowermost side wall portion;
wherein an interior surface of the side wall portion is shaped to slope upwardly away from the opening; and
wherein said slope has an angle relative to a horizontal axis which is greater than a maximum angle of inclination which would be experienced by the vehicle during normal use.

13. The integrated GMD according to claim 12 , wherein the drain opening is located between two of said openings located at opposite corners of the water separator, and wherein the drain opening is located in close proximity to one of said openings.

14. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the drain opening is provided with a valve for selectively opening and closing the drain opening.

15. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the side wall further comprises a second gas inlet opening in flow communication with the second gas inlet manifold and a first gas outlet opening in flow communication with the first gas outlet manifold.

16. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the water separator comprises a coolant flow passage which is in flow communication with the at least one coolant flow passage of the heat exchanger.

17. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier core is compressed between the heat exchanger and the water separator.

18. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier core is a humidifier stack comprising a stack of humidifier plates separated by moisture-permeable membranes.

19. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier core comprises a bundle of tubes, each of the tubes having a tube wall comprising a water permeable membrane.

20. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , further comprising an anode gas heater for heating a hydrogen-containing reductant gas stream;
wherein the anode gas heater is integrated with the heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanger is a three-fluid heat exchanger which further comprises at least one reductant gas flow passage.

21. The integrated GMD according to claim 1 , further comprising a cathode gas cooler for cooling an oxygen-containing oxidant gas stream with a cathode exhaust gas;
wherein the cathode gas cooler is integrated with the heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanger is a three-fluid heat exchanger which further comprises at least one gas flow passage for the cathode exhaust gas.

22. An integrated gas management device (GMD), comprising:
(a) a gas-to-gas humidifier core comprising:
one or more first gas flow passages;
one or more second gas flow passages;
a

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp
• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Vanderwees Doug
• Bardeleben Michael
• Stroebel Raimund
• Scherer Joachim
• Glueck Rainer

Classifications

• H01M8/04164

  by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters · CPC title

• H01M8/04291

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

• H01M8/04141

  by water containing exhaust gases · CPC title

• B01D53/265

  by refrigeration (condensation) · CPC title

• H01M8/04074 Primary

  Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell · CPC title