Fuel cell arrangement having differential pressure control for an H2/O2 fuel cell
AssigneeVitesco Technologies GmbH
InventorsMatthias Bleeck, Christoph Aumueller, Florian Braun, Stefan Kulzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell arrangement has an anode connected to an H2 inflow and a cathode connected to an O2 inflow. A differential pressure control device is arranged between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow for controlling a differential pressure between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow. The differential pressure control device has a fluid connection between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow, in which a deflectable diaphragm is arranged, to which a pin is coupled, which, when the diaphragm is deflected, opens a valve arranged in the H2 inflow.
Claims20
A fuel cell arrangement for an H2/O2 fuel cell, wherein said fuel cell arrangement comprises
- an anode, at which H2 is oxidized during operation, and which is connected to an H2 inflow for supplying H2 to the anode, wherein a valve having a valve seat and a valve element is arranged in the H2 inflow, wherein the valve seat and the valve element interact with one another in a closed position thereof to interrupt a flow of H2 from the H2 inflow to the anode,
- a cathode, at which O2 is reduced during operation, and which is connected to an O2 inflow for supplying O2 to the cathode,
- a differential pressure control device arranged between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow for controlling a pressure difference between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow,
- wherein the differential pressure control device comprises an enclosed fluid connection between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow, a deflectable diaphragm arranged in the enclosed fluid connection to provide a seal between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow in the enclosed fluid connection, wherein the deflectable diaphragm can be deflected by a deflection force acting due to the pressure difference between the H2 inflow and the O2 inflow, and a pin coupled to the deflectable diaphragm and the valve element such that the pin can move the valve element away from the valve seat in an opening direction when the deflectable diaphragm becomes deflected by the deflection force.
A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell and a differential pressure control device, wherein:
- the fuel cell has a cathode with a cathode gas inlet, and an anode with an anode gas inlet;
- the differential pressure control device comprises a device body, a fluid chamber within the device body, at least one deflectable diaphragm, a valve, a first port configured to be connected to a supply of a cathode gas, a second port connected to the cathode gas inlet of the fuel cell, a third port configured to be connected to a supply of an anode gas, and a fourth port connected to the anode gas inlet of the fuel cell;
- the valve is fluidically interposed between the third port and the fluid chamber;
- the fluid chamber is fluidically connected only to the first port, to the second port, to the fourth port, and via the valve to the third port, and is otherwise enclosed within the device body;
- the at least one deflectable diaphragm includes a first diaphragm arranged within the fluid chamber fluidically between, and providing a fluid seal between, the fourth port and the first and second ports;
- and
- the valve comprises a valve seat defining a valve passage between the third port and the fluid chamber, a valve element movably arranged relative to the valve seat so as to selectively open and close the valve passage, and a valve pin mechanically connected to the first diaphragm and to the valve element so that the valve element and the first diaphragm are movable only in concert with one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.