阅读说明：本技术 用于将至少一个液态组分从气态组分分离的气液分离器 (Gas-liquid separator for separating at least one liquid component from a gaseous component ) 是由 M·库尔茨 于 2018-10-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种气液分离器(2),用于将至少一个液态组分、尤其是H<Sub>2</Sub>O与气态组分、尤其是H<Sub>2</Sub>分离,所述气液分离器具有收集容器(12),向所述收集容器供应介质,其中,至少将介质的液态组分分离到所述收集容器(12)中,其中,介质的分离出的部分经由排出阀(46)从所述收集容器(12)被导出。根据本发明,所述气液分离器(2)在此集成到再循环泵(9)的壳体(11)中。(The invention relates to a gas-liquid separator (2) for separating at least one liquid component, in particular H 2 O and a gaseous component, especially H 2 A separation, which has a collection container (12), to which the medium is supplied, wherein at least the liquid component of the medium is separated into the collection container (12), wherein the separated part of the medium is conducted out of the collection container (12) via a discharge valve (46). According to the invention, the gas-liquid separator (2) is integrated into the housing (11) of the recirculation pump (9).)

1. A gas-liquid separator (2) for separating at least one liquid component, in particular H₂O and a gaseous component, especially H₂A separation, the gas-liquid separator having a collecting vessel (12) to which a medium is supplied, whichWherein at least the liquid component of the medium is separated into the collecting vessel (12), wherein the separated part of the medium is conducted out of the collecting vessel (12) via a discharge valve (46), characterized in that the gas-liquid separator (2) is integrated into the housing (11) of the recirculation pump (9).

2. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is located after a compressor chamber (26) of the recirculation pump (9) in flow direction II, in particular in the region of an outlet (18).

3. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is located before a compressor chamber (26) of the recirculation pump (9), in particular in the region of the inlet (16), in flow direction II.

4. Gas-liquid separator (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid-removing component H₂O, gaseous component N₂Is separated from the medium by the gas-liquid separator (2).

5. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that it has an outflow channel (20), a separation edge (8) and a collecting container (12), wherein the outflow channel (20) in flow direction II first has a first narrowing (15) and then in particular in the region of the separation edge (8) has a curvature (19) with a radius (17).

6. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that it has the inlet (16), a separation edge (8) and the collecting vessel (12), wherein the inlet (16) in flow direction II first has a second narrowing (21) and then in particular in the region of the separation edge (8) has a curvature (19) with a radius (17).

7. According to the claimsThe gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 4, wherein the component H₂O and N₂Separated from the medium by means of the centrifugal principle.

8. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the medium is accelerated in flow direction II when flowing through the first and/or second narrowing (15,21) and that the medium is subjected to such a deflection in flow direction II when flowing through the second bend (19) that component H₂O and N₂Undergoes a large deflection due to its mass, while the light fraction H₂Undergoes less deflection due to its mass.

9. Gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the medium impinges on the separation edge (8) when flowing through the bend (19), wherein the light fraction H₂Is deflected in the flow direction VII towards the outlet (18) and the component H₂O and N₂Is deflected in the flow direction VI into the collecting container (12), wherein a particularly small portion of the light fraction H₂Can be deflected together into the collecting container (12).

10. Gas-liquid separator (2) according to any of claims 2 and 9, characterized in that H₂From the collecting vessel (12) via a suction connection (29) back into the inflow channel (7) of the recirculation pump (9).

11. Gas-liquid separator (2) according to any of claims 3 and 9, characterized in that H₂From the collecting vessel (12) via a suction connection (29) back into the inflow channel (7) or the outflow channel (20) of the recirculation pump (9).

12. Gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the suction connection (29) has a throttling element (14).

13. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that in the region between the collection vessel (12) and the suction connection (29) there is a diaphragm chamber (23), wherein the diaphragm chamber (23) in particular has a diaphragm insert (25).

14. The gas-liquid separator (2) according to claim 13, wherein said membrane insert (25) is configured as a semi-permeable membrane (34), wherein said medium light fraction H₂Is movable through the membrane (34) and component H₂O and N₂Cannot move through the membrane (34), in particular due to molecular dimensions.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a gas-liquid separator for separating at least one liquid component from a gaseous component, wherein the gas-liquid separator is integrated into a housing of a recirculation pump and wherein a separation of at least one liquid component of a medium takes place, said gas-liquid separator being used in particular in fuel cell systems of vehicles having fuel cell drives.

Background

In addition to liquid fuels, gaseous fuels are also becoming increasingly important in the vehicle sector in the future. Hydrogen gas flow must be controlled especially in vehicles with fuel cell drivers. In this case, the gas flow is no longer controlled discontinuously, as is the case when injecting liquid fuel, but rather gas is taken from at least one high-pressure tank and conducted via the inflow line of the medium-pressure line system to the injector unit. The ejector unit directs the gas to the fuel cell via a connecting line of the low-pressure line system. The exhaust gas, which in particular consists of unconsumed hydrogen and inactive components, in particular water and nitrogen, is recirculated from the fuel cell via a recirculation path.

DE 102014220891 a1 discloses a gas-liquid separator for separating liquid components, in particular water, from gaseous components, in particular from exhaust gases discharged from a fuel cell. Here, the gas-liquid separator constitutes a housing, into which the off-gas is supplied through an introduction pipe. In the housing, water contained in the exhaust gas is separated from the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas containing substances, such as hydrogen, is then led back to the fuel cell via an exhaust pipe, wherein the hydrogen is referred to as H in the following₂. Furthermore, the housing has a discharge connection via which the separated and stored water is discharged from the housing to the outside.

The gas-liquid separator known from DE 102014220891 a1 may have certain disadvantages.

The known gas-liquid separator must be connected as an additional component, in particular fluidically, in a peripheral device of the fuel cell system. The gas-liquid separator therefore requires its own housing and its own pipe attachment, since the gas-liquid separator is present as an additional component.

Since the exhaust gas of the fuel cell, which is introduced into the housing via the inlet line, contains, in addition to the component water, also other heavy components, in particular gaseous nitrogen, the water being referred to as H in the following₂O, gaseous nitrogen, hereinafter referred to as N₂Therefore remove H₂The nitrogen is supplied from the housing, e.g. via a discharge pipeIn a fuel cell. Thus, the gas-liquid separator has the following disadvantages: not only will almost pure H₂But also other heavy components, e.g. N₂Is fed back into the fuel cell. Thereby reducing the efficiency of the fuel cell and thus the efficiency of the fuel cell system.

Disclosure of Invention

According to claim 1, a gas-liquid separator is provided which is integrated into the housing of a recirculation pump. In this way the following advantages can be achieved: the gas-liquid separator does not require an additional housing, since it is integrated into the housing of the recirculation pump. Thereby, cost savings can be achieved, since material costs and/or manufacturing costs for the separate gas-liquid separator housing can be saved. Furthermore, the integration of the gas-liquid separator into the housing of the recirculation pump provides the following advantages: the component recirculation pump and/or the gas-liquid separator and/or the entire fuel cell system require little installation space, in particular in a vehicle, since, on the one hand, especially when the gas-liquid separator is placed directly on the internal throughflow line of the recirculation pump, the space requirement of a separate gas-liquid separator housing is no longer required and/or the feed and discharge lines for the fluid attachment of the gas-liquid separator are superfluous. Thereby, the flow resistance within the recirculation pump and/or the gas-liquid separator and/or the entire fuel cell system is reduced, whereby the efficiency can be increased and/or the operating costs can be reduced. Furthermore, assembly and material costs for the feed and discharge lines which are no longer required can be saved.

Furthermore, the following advantages can be achieved by integrating the gas-liquid separator into the housing of the recirculation pump: the cold start characteristics of the gas-liquid separator and/or the recirculation pump and/or the entire fuel cell system can be improved. Since the gas-liquid separator is now integrated into the housing of the recirculation pump, it is better protected against low temperatures, in which there is liquid H that collects in the gas-liquid separator₂The risk of O freezing and thereby damaging the gas-liquid separator, and/or during cold start-up of the fuel cell and/or vehicle, the ice pieces transported together as a result of starting to flow in the fuel cell system may damage the fuelOther components of the battery system and/or the fuel cell itself. The probability of failure of the recirculation pump and/or the gas-liquid separator and/or the entire fuel cell system can be reduced.

The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the gas-liquid separator is located downstream of the compressor chamber of the recirculation pump in the flow direction, in particular in the region of the outlet. In this way the following advantages can be achieved: no additional energy is required for the gas-liquid separator to achieve component H₂O and a mediator, especially H₂Separation of (4). For this purpose, the acceleration and/or compression of the medium by the recirculation pump is sufficient to set the medium to a corresponding velocity and/or a corresponding pressure, so that the component H can be achieved by means of the gas-liquid separator₂And separating O from the medium. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the gas-liquid separator is located after the recirculation pump. Thus, no additional components, such as a pump, are required in the region of the gas-liquid separator. The efficiency of the gas-liquid separator and/or the recirculation pump and/or the entire fuel cell system can thereby be increased and the operating costs can be reduced. Furthermore, there is no additional component cost for other components, such as a pump, in the region of the gas-liquid separator, whereby the cost of the entire fuel cell system can be reduced.

According to one advantageous development, the gas-liquid separator is located in the flow direction before the compressor chamber of the recirculation pump, in particular in the region of the inlet. In this way the following disadvantages can be avoided: h₂The O must be conveyed together with the medium to be conveyed through a recirculation pump, in particular through a compressor chamber. This enables the following advantages to be achieved: it is possible to improve the efficiency of the recirculation pump and to increase the H required in the fuel cell for generating energy₂Thereby enabling the efficiency and/or power of the fuel cell to be increased. On the other hand, H can be prevented or at least reduced₂The O penetrates into the compressor chamber of the recirculation pump and/or into the recirculation pump. H penetrating into the recirculation pump₂O may cause damage to movable and/or non-corrosion resistant and/or electronic components of the recirculation pump. In the components of the recirculation pumpPermeated H₂When damaged by O (where an electrical short occurs) may in turn damage the entire fuel cell system. Therefore, in the configuration of the gas-liquid separator according to the invention, the service life of the recirculation pump and/or the entire fuel cell system is increased. Further, the possibility of failure of the entire fuel cell system can be reduced.

According to one advantageous configuration, the liquid component H is separated off by means of a gas-liquid separator₂O, gaseous component N₂Is also separated from the medium by a gas-liquid separator. In this way the following advantages can be achieved: several undesirable components, in particular waste material from the recycling medium of the fuel cell, are separated simultaneously by means of a gas-liquid separator. The proportion of the gaseous components of the medium for generating energy in the fuel cell, in particular on the anode side, is thereby increased. Component H is separated by means of a gas-liquid separator₂O and N₂And H₂Separated and led from the outflow channel of the recirculation pump into a collection vessel. This provides the following advantages: the efficiency of the fuel cell and/or the fuel cell system is increased, while undesired components as by-products and/or waste in the operation of the fuel cell are separated by means of the gas-liquid separator, and therefore a higher proportion of the components for generating energy in the fuel cell can be fed back into the fuel cell. Furthermore, the configuration of the gas-liquid separator according to the invention eliminates the need for a gas-liquid separator for discharging gaseous N in a fuel cell system₂For example in the form of a discharge valve, since this task is taken over by the gas-liquid separator. Thus, the gas-liquid separator separates H in one process step₂O and N₂Separated from the medium. In this way the following advantages are achieved: cost savings can be achieved because no additional component discharge valve is required for discharging N₂. In addition, the pair H can be reduced while the fuel cell system is operating₂This in turn results in cost savings in terms of operating costs.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the gas-liquid separator has an outflow channel, a separation edge and a collecting container, wherein the outflow channel first has a first narrowing in the flow direction and then has a curvature, in particular in the region of the separation edgeThe curved portion has a radius. In this way, the medium and the different components of the medium are decelerated less strongly during the separation process by the separation edge than if the medium were decelerated more strongly without the presence of the separation edge. Thus, the heavy fraction H of the edge auxiliary medium is separated₂O and N₂With a light component H₂The separation process of (1). Thereby enabling H₂O and N₂Flows efficiently and with low flow losses to a collection vessel, and H₂To the outlet. In addition, has a high H₂From there, the proportional medium can be moved further in the flow direction through the outflow line without additional fluid-conveying components, such as pumps or fans, in the region of the at least one container, in order to be able to convey the medium further with a high H₂A medium of a ratio. In this way, the energy required for operating further components for conveying the fluid, in particular electrically driven pumps or fans, in the region of or at the at least one container can be reduced. Thereby, the efficiency of the fuel cell system can be improved and the operation cost can be reduced.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the gas-liquid separator has an inlet, a separation edge and a collecting container, wherein the inlet first has a second narrowing in the flow direction and then, in particular in the region of the separation edge, has a curvature with a radius. In this way it is possible to cause the formation of a catalyst from component H₂、H₂O and N₂The formed medium is first accelerated when flowing through the inlet and the second tapering and then deflected in the flow direction by means of the bend. In this case, the medium impinges on the separating edge in the outer region, in particular in the outer region, where the centrifugal forces acting on the medium are greatest.

The following advantages are thereby obtained: in particular ratio of H₂Component H having a greater mass₂O and N₂In the flow direction, the component H is deflected to the outer region of the bend and thus to the separation edge and the collection container₂Due to its low mass, it is less strongly deflected to the outer region of the bend and therefore adopts the shortest path through the bend in the region inside the curve. The following advantages are thereby obtained: can be accessed fromHigher proportion of H is obtained₂O and N₂And thus the efficiency of the separation process of the gas-liquid separator can be increased in such a way that the medium flowing out of the recirculation pump via the outlet is almost completely free of component H₂O and N₂. Whereby the efficiency of the entire fuel cell system can be improved.

According to an advantageous embodiment, component H₂O and N₂Separated from the medium by a gas-liquid separator by means of the centrifugal principle. Furthermore, the medium is accelerated when flowing through the first and/or second tapering section in the flow direction. Furthermore, the medium, when flowing through the bend in the flow direction, undergoes such a deflection that component H₂O and N₂Undergoes a large deflection due to its mass, while the light fraction H₂Undergoes less deflection due to its mass. In this way the following advantages can be achieved: the separation process is improved by means of a gas-liquid separator in such a way that the component H₂O and N₂Almost exclusively from media, especially H₂And (5) separating. This ensures that the highest possible proportion of H₂Back to the fuel cell, whereby the efficiency and/or power of the fuel cell can be increased. Furthermore, the following advantages can be achieved: to introduce component H₂O and N₂With component H₂The separation, in particular from the fuel cell system and/or from the superordinate system vehicle, does not have to provide additional energy and/or only a small amount of energy, since the medium flowing through the first or through the second tapering has an increased flow rate, in particular due to the tapering acting like a Venturi nozzle (Venturi-D ü se), which has a favorable effect in separating the components by means of the centrifugal principle.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the medium impacts the separating edge when flowing through the bend, wherein the light fraction H₂Deflected in the flow direction towards the outlet, while component H₂O and N₂Deflecting in the direction of flowInto a collecting vessel, wherein a particularly small fraction of the light fraction H₂Can be deflected together into a collection container. In this way, the medium and the different components of the medium are decelerated less strongly during the separation process by the separation edge than if the medium were decelerated more strongly in the absence of the separation edge. The separation edge thus assists the heavy fraction H of the medium, in particular by means of the centrifugal principle₂O and N₂From the light fraction H₂The separation process of (1). Thereby enabling H₂O and N₂Flows efficiently and with low flow losses to a collection vessel, and H₂To the outlet. Furthermore, has a high H₂From there, the proportional medium can be moved further through the outlet in the flow direction without additional fluid-conveying components, such as pumps or fans, being required in the region of the at least one container in order to be able to convey the medium further with a high H₂A medium of a ratio. In the region of or at the at least one container, the energy for operating further fluid-conveying components, in particular electrically driven pumps or fans, can thus be reduced. The efficiency of the fuel cell system can thereby be improved and the operating costs can be reduced.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, H₂From the collecting vessel via the suction connection back into the inflow channel of the recirculation pump. Furthermore, H₂Can be led from the collecting container via the suction connection back into the inflow channel or the outflow channel of the recirculation pump. In this way the following advantages can be achieved: component H₂In an unfavorable and undesirable manner with H in the course of the separation₂O and N₂Flows together into the collection container and does not react with component H when the collection container is vented by means of the vent valve₂O and N₂Are led out together. But instead of the component H₂Can be introduced back into the recirculation process and thus into the fuel cell system, where H₂Available in the fuel cell for recapturing energy. Thus, only a small amount of H has to be supplied from outside the fuel cell system, for example from a high-pressure tank₂For harvesting energy. This can reduce the operating costs of the fuel cell system and ultimately the operating costs of the entire vehicleThe method is as follows. In addition, this prevents the necessity of using more H₂Leading out into an area outside the fuel cell system, which may be due to H in certain situations, for example, in a vehicle parked in an underground parking garage₂Can lead to safety hazards. Furthermore, the following advantages can be achieved: the efficiency and/or power of the fuel cell may be increased.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the suction connection has a throttle element. Due to the suction connection which establishes the further connection of the collecting container to the recirculation pump and to the flow channel of the fuel cell system, the efficiency of the recirculation pump may deteriorate under certain preconditions, since the recirculation pump is assisted by a compressor wheel which has to generate additional energy in the compressor chamber, since a continuous pressure exchange and thus a pressure loss occurs between the low-pressure side, in particular in the inflow channel region, and the high-pressure side, in particular in the outflow channel region, due to the suction connection. The efficiency losses of the recirculation pump can now be kept small by using a throttle element which causes the greatest possible throttling between the region of the collecting container and the flow channel of the recirculation pump. The pressure loss is thus reduced by the throttle element, for example, because of the small cross section of the flow diameter. As a result, the pressure loss between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side can be kept small, as a result of which the efficiency of the recirculation pump is increased and the operating costs can be reduced.

According to one advantageous embodiment, a diaphragm chamber is provided in the region between the collection container and the suction connection piece, wherein the diaphragm chamber has, in particular, a diaphragm insert. Furthermore, the membrane insert is designed as a semi-permeable membrane, wherein the light fraction H of the medium₂Can move through the membrane, while the component H₂O and N₂Especially due to the inability of molecular size to move through the membrane. In this way, the following advantages can be achieved: because the diaphragm causes a pressure reduction, a small pressure loss occurs between the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side via the suction connection. Furthermore, the following advantages can be achieved: by means of a diaphragm, component H₂O and N₂Can flow back into the recirculation pump and the fuel cell system via the suction connection, since the moleculesToo large to pass through the membrane. However, in an unfavorable and undesirable manner during the separation process with H₂O and N₂Component H flowing together into a collection vessel₂Can diffuse through the membrane and thus pass through the membrane, since H₂Has a molecular size of less than H₂O and N₂The molecular size of (a). In addition, when H₂The diaphragm also prevents H when O is in the liquid state due to surface tension₂O is passed via the suction connection. Whereby the efficiency of the recirculation pump and the entire fuel cell system can be improved.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell system having a gas-liquid separator according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a gas-liquid separator according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a gas-liquid separator according to a third embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a gas-liquid separator according to a fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description

The diagram according to fig. 1 shows a fuel cell system 1 with a first exemplary embodiment of a gas-liquid separator 2 according to the invention, wherein the gas-liquid separator 2 removes a liquid component H in an exemplary embodiment₂O, a gaseous component N₂Separation from the medium, in which, inter alia, the gaseous component N₂Having a specific component H₂Greater mass.

Fig. 1 shows a fuel cell system 1 in which a recirculation pump 9 with a gas-liquid separator 2 is shown, wherein the gas-liquid separator 2 is integrated into a housing 11 of the recirculation pump 9. Furthermore, the fuel cell system 1 is shown with a fuel cell 30 and an integrated jet pump 10. The components here, including the recirculation pump 9 of the gas-liquid separator 2, the integrated ejector pump 10 and the fuel cell 30, are fluidically connected to one another by means of lines. The fuel cell 30 has an anode region 31 and a cathode region 32 and is used, in particular, in a vehicle with the aid of hydrogen, i.e., H₂And oxygen, i.e. O₂The reaction of (2) produces energy. In this case, energy can be generated in the form of electrical energy.

Here, the gas-liquid separator 2 and/or the recirculation pump 9 according to the invention are in fluid connection with the anode region 31 via the connecting line 4. In this case, the medium, in particular the recirculating medium from the anode region 31 of the fuel cell 30, is guided for recirculation to the recirculation pump 9. Here, the recirculating medium is almost completely composed of unconsumed H₂And a byproduct H from the process used to harvest energy within the fuel cell 30₂O and N₂Composition of said unconsumed H₂And does not chemically or electrically react with oxygen within the fuel cell 30. The medium flows in the flow direction II on the anode side through the connecting line 4 into the inlet 16 of the recirculation pump 9. Component H₂O and N₂Alternatively, these components may also be referred to as inactive gas components, wherein the use of these components for energy recovery in the anode region 31 of the fuel cell 30 cannot be taken into account. Therefore, the efficiency for the overall operation of the fuel cell system 1 is due to the component H in the recirculation path₂O and N₂But is reduced because if these components are not separated by means of the gas-liquid separator 2, they have to be conveyed together through the entire anode path, in particular through the connecting line 4, the outflow line 5, the recirculation pump 9, the optionally present integrated jet pump 10 and through the inflow line 3. Thus, component H may also be used here₂Less mass and/or volume transport and/or recycling of the component H₂Is required for obtaining energy in the fuel cell 30.

Fig. 1 also shows that the medium flows via the inlet 16 in the flow direction II through the second tapering 21 into the inflow channel 7 of the recirculation pump 9. Here, the medium is accelerated by the reduction in diameter of the second tapering section 21 before it flows through the inflow channel 7 into the compressor chamber 26 of the recirculation pump 9. The recirculation pump 9 has a compressor wheel 13 in the housing 11, wherein the compressor wheel 13 is located in the compressor chamber 26, and wherein the compressor wheel 13 executes a rotation in the direction of rotation 35. Due to the rotation of the compressor wheel 13, at the outer circumference of the compressor wheelOn which vanes 37 are arranged, thus accelerating and/or compressing the gaseous medium in the direction of rotation 35 from the region of the inflow channel 7 to the region of the outflow channel 20 in the compressor chamber 26 of the recirculation pump 9. After the acceleration and/or compression of the gaseous medium by the compressor wheel 37, the gaseous medium flows from the outflow channel 20 through the first taper 15 into the region of the bend 19, wherein the bend 19 has a radius 17, wherein a deflection and/or diversion of the gaseous medium takes place in the region of the bend 19. In this case, component H flows through bend 19 in flow direction II₂O and N₂Separated from the medium by means of the centrifugal principle. In this case, the medium is accelerated in the flow direction II when flowing through the first tapering 15, wherein the medium then undergoes such a deflection when flowing through the bend 19 in the flow direction II that the component H₂O and N₂Undergoes a large deflection due to its mass, while the light fraction H₂Undergoes less deflection due to its mass. Here, the heavy fraction H₂O and N₂Flows in the flow direction VI into the collection container 12 and is thus separated off from the medium, wherein almost all of the H₂Is further directed in the flow direction VII towards the outlet 18 of the recirculation pump 9. The collecting container 12 is arranged here at the outer radius 17 of the bend 19. However, it may be that component H₂In a disadvantageous manner with H in the course of the separation₂O and N₂Together into the collection container 12. In order not to lose these H₂For a further energy harvesting process in the fuel cell system 1, setting H₂From the collecting vessel 12 via the suction connection 9 back into the inflow channel 7 of the recirculation pump 9.

Furthermore, fig. 1 shows that the collection container 12 has a drain valve 46 in its lower region, the drain valve 46 being connected to the sensor device 22. Here, the sensor device 22 continuously senses H₂O and N₂Composition and sensing of H in the collection vessel 12 if necessary₂Composition and/or pressure, and once exceeded with respect to component H₂O and N₂The determined value and/or pressure of the concentration of the component, the discharge valve 46 is actuated and the heavy fraction H is discharged₂O and N₂From the collecting vessel by means of a discharge valve 4612. In particular from the lower region. In one possible exemplary configuration of the fuel cell system 1, the component H₂O and N₂Via an optional return line into the intake line of the fuel cell system 1 by means of a discharge valve 46. From there, component H₂O and N₂Through the inlet duct further into the cathode region 32 of the fuel cell 30. In an exemplary embodiment, a suction connection 29 is provided, by means of which H can be connected₂From the collecting container 12 back into the inflow channel 7, so that H₂Is not drawn from the fuel cell circuit.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the gas-liquid separator 2 according to the first embodiment is located in the flow direction II after the compressor chamber 26 of the recirculation pump 9, wherein the gas-liquid separator 2 is located in particular in the region of the outlet 18.

After the medium has flowed through the recirculation pump 9 and exited through the outlet 18, it is in particular almost entirely H₂Further in the flow direction II via the outflow line 5 into the integrated ejector pump 10. A so-called jet pump effect occurs in the jet pump 10. For this purpose, a gaseous propellant medium, in particular H₂From the tank 27, in particular the high-pressure tank 27, the feed flows via a tank line 33 into the ejector pump 10. Furthermore, the recirculating medium is conveyed by the recirculating pump 9 into the suction region of the ejector pump 10. The propellant medium is now brought under high pressure into the suction region. The gaseous propellant medium flows in the direction of flow direction II. H flows from the high-pressure tank 27 into the suction region of the ejector pump 10 and serves as a propellant medium₂The pressure difference with respect to the recirculating medium flowing into the suction region is present, wherein the propellant medium has in particular a higher pressure of at least 10 bar. In order to achieve the ejector pump effect, the recirculating medium is fed into the suction region of the ejector pump 10 at a low pressure and a low mass flow. The propellant medium flows into the suction region at the specified pressure difference and particularly at a high speed close to the speed of sound. Here, the propellant medium impinges on the recirculating medium already located in the suction region. Internal friction and turbulence between the media are created due to the high velocity and/or the pressure differential between the propelling and recirculating media. In this case, the medium is rapidly propelled and is clearly conveyedShear stresses are created in the boundary layer between the slower recirculating media. This stress causes momentum transfer, wherein the recirculating medium is accelerated and carried along. Mixing is carried out according to the principle of conservation of momentum. In this case, the recirculating medium is accelerated in the flow direction II and a pressure drop is also formed for the recirculating medium, as a result of which the suction effect is started and thus additional recirculating medium is replenished from the region of the recirculating pump 9.

After the recirculating medium in the ejector pump 10 has been accelerated by the propelling medium and the two media have mixed, it is almost entirely H₂Through the inflow conduit 3 to the fuel cell 30, in particular to the anode region 31.

In the illustration of the gas-liquid separator 2 according to the second exemplary embodiment of fig. 2, it is shown that the outflow channel 20 has a separating edge 8 in the region of the bend 19. In this case, the medium impacts on the separating edge 8 when flowing through the bend 19, the light fraction H2 being deflected in the flow direction VII toward the outlet 18, while the fraction H₂O and N₂Deflected in the flow direction VI into a collection container 12, wherein a particularly small portion of the light fraction H₂May deflect into the collection container 12 altogether. The separation edge 8 has a favorable effect on the separation process, since the division of the medium favors the heavy fraction H₂O and N₂Flows in the direction of flow VII in the direction of the collection container 12 and, on the other hand, favors the light fraction H₂In the flow direction VII towards the outlet 18. In this case, the medium, when flowing through the bend 19, impinges on a separating edge 8, which is arranged in the outer region of the bend 19, in particular in the region outside the curve. Furthermore, the separation edge 8 has a pointed and/or wedge-shaped region which assists the component H, in particular by means of the centrifugal principle₂O and N₂From component H₂And (5) separating. In this case, centrifugal forces act on the components of the medium when flowing through the bend 19, which in turn facilitates the separation of the component H, in particular by means of the centrifugal principle₂O and N₂From the lighter fraction H₂And (5) separating.

In addition, it is advantageous here for the outflow channel 20 to be tapered by means of the first taper 15 in the flow direction II. Thereby increasing the flow of the mediumAt such a rate that at this point in time all components H are still present₂O、N₂And H₂Thereby increasing the centrifugal force effect and thus being able to facilitate separation. In this case, it is additionally advantageous if the separation edge 8 is arranged in the region of the bend 19 in the outflow channel 20 in such a way that the separation edge 8 is located at the lowest point of the outflow channel 20 and/or the bend 19 and thus on the side facing the direction of action of gravity. The separation of the heavier components from the lighter components is thereby assisted by the centrifugal principle, additionally by the action of gravity, and thus a more efficient separation is achieved.

Here, according to the second embodiment, the gas-liquid separator 2 does not configure the suction connection 29 between the collection vessel 12 and, for example, the inflow passage 7 of the recirculation pump 9. Thereby, a pressure drop between the outflow channel 20 and the inflow channel 7 can be prevented.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a gas-liquid separator 2 according to a third embodiment. Here, the suction connection 29 is shown with a throttle element 14. In addition, a diaphragm chamber 23 is shown in the region between the collection container 12 and the suction connection 29, wherein the diaphragm chamber 23 has, in particular, a diaphragm insert 25. The membrane insert 25 is designed here as a semi-permeable membrane 34, the light fraction H of the medium being present₂Can move through the diaphragm 34 and component H₂O and N₂Especially not moving through the diaphragm 34 due to molecular size. The suction connection 29 is located here at least close to the highest point of the collecting container 12 and therefore on the side of the collecting container 12 facing away from the direction of action of gravity, while the outlet valve 46 is located at the lowest point of the collecting container 12 and therefore on the side of the collecting container 12 facing the direction of action of gravity. The following advantages can thereby be achieved: heavier component H₂O and N₂Due to its large mass, it flows more easily in the collecting container 12 in the direction of the outlet valve 46 and thus fills the lower volume of the collecting container 12 facing the direction of the action of gravity. In contrast, the lighter component H₂Due to its small mass, it flows more easily in the collecting container 12 in the direction of the outlet valve 46 and thus fills the upper volume of the collecting container 12 facing away from the direction of action of gravity. The following advantages can thereby be achieved: by the components inThe majority of component H is caused in the collecting vessel 12 by stratification by gravity₂O and N₂Can be discharged through the discharge valve 46 while almost completely preventing H₂And out through the discharge valve 46. Furthermore, the majority of the component H is caused by the stratification of the component in the collecting container 12 by means of gravity₂Can be led back into the recirculation pump via the suction connection 29.

Here, component H₂The suction region 29 is guided in a targeted manner into the region of the inlet 16 and/or the inflow channel 7, which is located downstream of the region of the second tapering 21, wherein in particular a jet pump effect is formed in this region.

Fig. 4 shows that the gas-liquid separator 2 is located in the flow direction II before the compressor chamber 26 of the recirculation pump 9, in particular in the region of the inlet 16. The recirculation pump 9 has an inlet 16, a separating edge 8 and a collecting container 12, wherein the inlet 16 in the flow direction II has first a second taper 21 and then, in particular in the region of the separating edge 8, a curvature 19 with a radius 17. The medium is accelerated as it flows through the second tapering section 21 in the flow direction II. Furthermore, the medium, when flowing through the bend 19 in the flow direction II, undergoes such a deflection that the component H₂O and N₂The component undergoes a greater deflection due to its mass, while the light component H₂Undergoes less deflection due to its mass. Here, component H₂O and N₂And in part also has H₂Is deflected by the separating edge 8 into the collecting container 12. Here, H₂From the collecting vessel 12 via the suction connection 29 back into the outflow channel 20 of the recirculation pump 9.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and the aspects highlighted therein. Rather, many variations are possible within the scope specified by the claims.