Device With A Turbocharger For Charging A Fuel Cell

Abstract

A device for air supply of a fuel cell operated with hydrogen, via a compressor of an exhaust gas turbocharger. The compressor is drive-effectively connected to a turbine of the turbocharger that can be driven by an exhaust gas flow of the fuel cell via a shaft and the turbocharger, is drive-effectively connected to a motor via the shaft. The mounting of the shaft of the turbocharger is formed by a gas or air-lubricated mounting.

Claims

1. A device for air supply of a fuel cell, comprising: a motor; a shaft; a turbine of a turbocharger configured to be driven by an exhaust gas flow of the fuel cell; a compressor of the turbocharger that is drive-effectively connected via the shaft to both the turbine and the motor; and a mounting of the shaft is formed by one of a gas-lubricated mounting and an air-lubricated mounting.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is an electric motor arranged between the compressor and the turbine.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein a stator of the motor with its stator windings is arranged around about the shaft of the turbocharger, wherein the shaft is formed as a part of a rotor of the motor.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting of the shaft on the compressor is formed by one of a gas-lubricated radial bearing and an air-lubricated radial bearing.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting of the shaft on the turbine is formed by one of a gas-lubricated radial bearing and an air-lubricated radial bearing.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is mounted on an axial thrust bearing by a thrust ring that is one of formed by the shaft and attached to the shaft.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the thrust ring of the axial thrust bearing has a diameter that is one of a same as a diameter of a compressor wheel of the compressor and slightly larger than the diameter of the compressor wheel of the compressor.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the axial thrust bearing is arranged on the shaft in an axial direction out of a center either on a compressor side or on a turbine side.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is formed in one piece in an axial direction.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to provide air for the fuel cell, which is part of a fuel cell system, via which electric drive power is provided for a consumer.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is operated with hydrogen.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the electric drive power is provided for the consumer in a power range of >100 kW.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Other advantageous further developments of the invention are marked in the subclaims or are shown in more detail by way of the figures together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0018] It shows:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention; and

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a detail of the exhaust gas turbocharger with an integrated electric motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In the following, aspects of the invention are described in more detail by way of a preferred exemplary embodiment making reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein same reference numbers in the figures point to same structural and/or functional features.

[0022] In the shown exemplary embodiment, a fuel cell 10 and the device 1 for the air supply of the fuel cell 10 operated with hydrogen are shown. The device 1 comprises a compressor 21 of a turbocharger 20. The compressor 21 is drive-effectively connected to a turbine 22 of the turbocharger 20 that can be driven by an exhaust gas flow A of the fuel cell 10. The exhaust gas flow generated by the fuel cell 10 flows through the turbine 22 and, via the shaft 23, drives the compressor wheel of the compressor 21. In the process, the supply air for the fuel cell 10 is compressed by the compressor 21 and fed to the fuel cell 10 via the air supply passage 24.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, an electric motor 40 is provided, which can drive the compressor 21 via a drive shaft 23. To this end, the compressor wheel of the compressor 21 together with the turbine 22 is arranged on the common shaft 23. Here, the electric motor 40 is arranged within the turbocharger 20 out of center, namely on the compressor side between the compressor 21 and the turbine 22. The stator 44 of the motor 40 is arranged with its stator windings 45 round about the shaft 23 of the turbocharger 20, wherein from FIG. 2 it is evident that the shaft 23 itself is formed as a part of the rotor of the motor 40.

[0024] In the detail view according to FIG. 2, a detail of the mounting is shown. The mounting of the shaft 23 of the turbocharger 20 is formed by a gas-lubricated mounting and specifically on the compressor 21 and also on the turbine 22 by a gas or air-lubricated radial bearing 25 and 26 each. The shaft 23 is mounted on an axial thrust bearing 30 by a thrust ring 31 formed by the shaft 23. The outer diameter of the axial thrust bearing 30 is larger than the outer diameter of the compressor 21. The axial thrust bearing 30 is formed on the one-piece shaft 23 out of center in the axial direction.

[0025] If hydrogen is used as lubricant, a tight shaft seal by sealing air, piston ring, labyrinth, or membrane seal is to be provided on the turbine side. On the compressor side, by contrast, a shaft seal can be omitted since the hydrogen is again fed to the fuel cell for the combustion as intended.

[0026] In its embodiment, the invention is not restricted to the preferred exemplary embodiments stated above. On the contrary, a number of versions is conceivable which makes use of the shown solution even with fundamentally different types of embodiments.

[0027] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.