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DE-102024132784-A1 - Fuel cell system and vehicle with fuel cell system

DE102024132784A1DE 102024132784 A1DE102024132784 A1DE 102024132784A1DE-102024132784-A1

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein relates to a fuel cell system (10) for a vehicle (100), comprising a fuel cell (11) with an anode (12) and a cathode (13), a cathode inlet path (14) for directing a cathode gas to the cathode (13), a cathode outlet path (15) for directing a cathode outlet fluid away from the cathode (13), a valve arrangement (20) for controlling a cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path (14) and/or for controlling a cathode outlet fluid flow in the cathode outlet path (15), wherein the valve arrangement (20) comprises an inlet roller valve (21) for controlling the cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path (14) and/or an outlet roller valve (31) for controlling the cathode outlet fluid flow in the cathode outlet path (15). exhibits. The technology also relates to a vehicle (100) with the fuel cell system (10).

Inventors

  • Florian Bauer

Assignees

  • BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (10)

  1. Fuel cell system (10) for a vehicle (100), comprising: - a fuel cell (11) with an anode (12) and a cathode (13), - a cathode inlet path (14) for directing a cathode gas to the cathode (13), - a cathode outlet path (15) for directing a cathode outlet fluid away from the cathode (13), - a valve arrangement (20) for controlling a cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path (14) and/or for controlling a cathode outlet fluid flow in the cathode outlet path (15), - wherein the valve arrangement (20) comprises an inlet roller valve (21) for controlling the cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path (14) and/or an outlet roller valve (31) for controlling the cathode outlet fluid flow in the cathode outlet path (15) exhibits.
  2. Fuel cell system (10) according to Claim 1 , wherein the inlet roller slide (21) is arranged directly upstream of the cathode (13) in the cathode inlet path (14).
  3. Fuel cell system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet roller slide (31) is arranged directly downstream of the cathode (13) in the cathode outlet path (15).
  4. Fuel cell system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: - an inlet valve housing (22) defining an inlet housing volume (23), and at least one inlet sliding ring (24), wherein the inlet roller valve (21) and the inlet sliding ring (24) are positioned in the inlet housing volume (23), the inlet sliding ring (24) being in sliding contact with a lateral surface of the inlet roller valve (21), and wherein the inlet roller valve (21) and the inlet sliding ring (24) form an inlet fluid channel (29) for guiding the cathode gas when the inlet roller valve (21) is in a release position (P1), and/or - an outlet valve housing (32) defining an outlet housing volume (33), and at least one Outlet sliding ring (34), wherein the outlet roller slide (31) and the outlet sliding ring (34) are positioned in the outlet housing volume (33), wherein the outlet sliding ring (34) is in sliding contact with a lateral surface of the outlet roller slide (31), and wherein an outlet fluid channel (39) for guiding the cathode outlet fluid is formed by the outlet roller slide (31) and the outlet sliding ring (34) when the outlet roller slide (31) is in a release position (P1).
  5. Fuel cell system (10) according to Claim 4 , wherein the inlet sliding ring (24) is arranged in the cathode inlet path (14) upstream of the inlet roller slide (21) and/or wherein the outlet sliding ring (34) is arranged in the cathode inlet path (15) upstream of the outlet roller slide (31).
  6. Fuel cell system (10) according to one of the Claims 4 until 5 , wherein an inlet sliding surface between the inlet sliding ring (24) and the inlet roller slide (21) and/or an outlet sliding surface between the outlet sliding ring (34) and the outlet roller slide (31) each has a width of at least 3 mm.
  7. Fuel cell system (10) according to one of the Claims 4 until 6 , comprising: - an inlet sealing ring (25), wherein the inlet sliding ring (24) has an inlet outer circumferential surface (26), wherein the inlet slide housing (22) has an inlet inner circumferential surface (27), and wherein the inlet sealing ring (25) is positioned between the inlet outer circumferential surface (26) and the inlet inner circumferential surface (27), and/or - an outlet sealing ring (35), wherein the outlet Sliding ring (34) has an outlet outer circumferential surface (36), wherein the outlet slide housing (32) has an outlet inner circumferential surface (37) and wherein the outlet sealing ring (35) is positioned between the outlet outer circumferential surface (36) and the outlet inner circumferential surface (37).
  8. Fuel cell system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet roller valve (21) has a diameter in a range between 1cm and 5cm and/or the outlet roller valve (31) has a diameter in a range between 1cm and 5cm.
  9. Fuel cell system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet roller valve (21), the outlet roller valve (31), the inlet sliding ring (24) and/or the outlet sliding ring (34) each comprise FKM, FFKM, HNBR, EPDM and/or an austenitic steel or consist of the respective material.
  10. Vehicle (100) with a fuel cell system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel cell system (10) is configured to generate electrical current in the vehicle (100).

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a fuel cell system for a vehicle, comprising a fuel cell with an anode and a cathode, a cathode inlet path for directing a cathode gas to the cathode, a cathode outlet path for directing a cathode outlet fluid away from the cathode, and a valve arrangement for controlling a cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path and/or for controlling a cathode outlet fluid flow in the cathode outlet path. The technology further relates to a vehicle with such a fuel cell system. Various fuel cell systems for mobile applications are known in the prior art. In a vehicle, fuel cell systems are typically configured to generate electricity for the vehicle's drive motor. Typical fuel cell systems comprise a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack includes several fuel cell elements, each with two electrodes and a membrane arrangement between the two electrodes. Within the fuel cell stack, fuel reacts with an oxidizer via reverse electrolysis, thereby generating electricity. The fuel can be supplied to the fuel cell stack from at least one fuel tank in the vehicle. The oxidizer can be drawn from the ambient air. In the cathode system of the fuel cell system, it is important that the air supply to the cathode and/or the air exhaust from the cathode are hermetically sealed or at least as tightly sealable as possible to prevent fuel from escaping the fuel cell on the cathode side. Various valve systems are known in the prior art for this purpose. The purpose of the present technology is to create an improved system for preventing fuel leakage from the fuel cell via the cathode system. The aforementioned problem is solved by the patent claims. In particular, the aforementioned problem is solved by the fuel cell system according to claim 1 and the vehicle according to the dependent claim. Further advantages of the disclosed technology will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures. Features described in connection with the fuel cell system also apply in connection with the vehicle, and vice versa, so that the disclosure always refers to and/or can refer to the individual aspects in a reciprocal manner. According to a first aspect of the present technology, a fuel cell system for a vehicle is proposed. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell with an anode and a cathode, a cathode inlet path for directing cathode gas to the cathode, a cathode outlet path for directing cathode fluid away from the cathode, and a valve assembly for controlling the cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path and/or the cathode fluid flow in the cathode outlet path. The valve assembly further comprises an inlet roller valve for controlling the cathode gas flow in the cathode inlet path and/or an outlet roller valve for controlling the cathode fluid flow in the cathode outlet path. Within the framework of the technology proposed here, it was found that rotary valves can be sufficiently fluid-tight not only against any air currents, but also against fuel such as hydrogen, which can flow from the cathode into the cathode inlet path and/or the cathode outlet path via air. Furthermore, it was found that sealing a rotary valve for the proposed application is simpler and more reliable than with a conventional throttle valve. In addition, rotary valves can have a longer service life compared to conventional throttle valves, while being comparatively easy to manufacture. Moreover, it has been found that rotary valves can be installed surprisingly easily and reliably in the fuel cell system. A conventional throttle valve, as used here, can be understood as a disc-shaped throttle valve that is rotatable and/or adjustable about a central axis. The roller valve can have a radial through-opening. The roller valve can have a single through-opening. The through-opening can have a circular cross-section. The roller valve can be set to a closed position, a released position, and various partial-release or partial-lock positions between the closed and released positions. In the released position, passage of cathode gas to the cathode and/or passage of cathode outlet fluid away from the cathode is permitted. In the closed position, passage of cathode gas to the cathode and/or passage of cathode outlet fluid away from the cathode is prevented. By a 90° rotation of the The roller valve can be switched between the release and locking states. Various partial release states or corresponding partial locking states can be set by a rotation of less than 90°. The roller valve can have a cylindrical and/or roller-shaped element that rotates around its axis, thereby releasing or closing openings of different sizes. The fuel cell system is preferably configured for mobile applications such as vehicles. The fuel cell system can be configured to provide electrical power to at least one of the vehicle's drive units. The drive unit can be a machine, such as an electric motor, used to propel the vehicle. The term "fu