Fuel Cell System Having an Integral Turbine/Compressor Unit
AssigneeDaimler AG
InventorsPhilipp Hausmann, Andreas Knoop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell having an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line connecting an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in the region of the recirculation line, and a turbine for expanding the hydrogen that is under pressure before entry into the anode chamber. The recirculation conveyor is driven at least partially by the turbine. The turbine and the compressor wheel are formed in one component.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber;
- a hydrogen pressure reservoir;
- a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber;
- a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine,
- wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component.
A method for driving a recirculation conveying means in a fuel cell system at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component, the method comprising:
- cooling, using the hydrogen, electrical components, magnetic components, or bearings in a region of the recirculation conveyor.
A method for driving a recirculation conveying means in a fuel cell system at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component, wherein the hydrogen flows onto the turbine via a nozzle having a nozzle needle, the throughflow of hydrogen being adjustable by a relative movement of the nozzle relative to the nozzle needle, the method comprising:
- setting the throughflow of the hydrogen through the nozzle such that a speed of the hydrogen upon entry into the turbine in a range from 0.8-1.05 of a speed of sound (Mach 1) of the hydrogen occurs.
A method for driving a recirculation conveying means in a fuel cell system at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component, wherein the hydrogen flows onto the turbine via a nozzle having a nozzle needle, wherein the single component is configured to be driven by a pancake electric drive motor, the method comprising:
- operating the pancake electric drive motor at a constant operating point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.