Heat exchanger, fuel cell assembly and method

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a fuel cell is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes at least two tube bodies that are arranged at a distance from one another and are in each case structured so that a fluid can flow through internally and so that air can flow around externally. A water channel, through which water can flow fluidically separated from the fluid, is arranged in or on at least one tube body. At least one opening, via which the water channel communicates fluidically with an external environment of the at least one tube body, is provided on the at least one tube body. The at least one opening is arranged in the at least one tube body so that at least one of the tube bodies can be wetter with water, which is guided through the water channel and escapes the water channel through the at least one opening.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, comprising: at least two tube bodies that are arranged at a distance from one another and are in each case structured so that a fluid can flow through internally, and so that air can flow around externally, a water channel, through which water can flow fluidically separated from the fluid, arranged in or on at least one tube body of the at least two tube bodies, at least one opening, via which the water channel communicates fluidically with an external environment of the at least one tube body, is provided in the at least one tube body, wherein the at least one opening is arranged in the at least one tube body so that at least one of the tube bodies can be wetted with water, which is guided through the water channel and escapes from the water channel through the at least one opening, and wherein the at least one opening is provided in a circumferential wall of the at least one tube body having the water channel.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: the circumferential wall encloses a fluid channel, through which the fluid can flow, the fluid channel is fluidically separated via the circumferential wall from the external environment of the at least one tube body, and the at least one tube body has a separating wall to define the water channel, the separating wall fluidically separates the water channel from the fluid channel.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: the at least two tube bodies extend along a direction of extension and are arranged at a distance from one another along a transverse direction running transversely to the direction of extension, the transverse direction corresponds essentially to a direction of gravity in an operating position, so that an exterior of another tube body that is adjacent to the at least one tube body comprising the water channel in the transverse direction, can be wetted with water from the water channel via the at least one opening as a result of the effect of gravity.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening extends transversely through the circumferential wall of the at least one tube body.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the water channel is fluidically open transversely to a direction of extension of the at least one tube body and along a transverse direction via the at least one opening of the at least one tube body having the water channel.

6. A fuel cell assembly, comprising: a fuel cell that releases waste water during operation as a product of cold combustion, and a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including: at least two tube bodies that are arranged at a distance from one another and are in each case structured so that a fluid can flow through internally and so that air can flow around externally; a water channel, through which water can flow fluidically separated from the fluid, arranged in or on at least one tube body of the at least two tube bodies; at least one opening, via which the water channel communicates fluidically with an external environment of the at least one tube body, is provided on the at least one tube body; wherein the at least one opening is arranged in the at least one tube body so that at least one of the tube bodies can be wetted with water, which is guided through the water channel and escapes the water channel through the at least one opening; wherein the water channel is supplied with the waste water released by the fuel cell.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one tube body having the water channel has several openings that are open transversely to a direction of extension of the at least one tube body, and wherein the several openings of the at least one tube body are arranged at a distance from one another.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the tube bodies comprises at least one fluid channel separating wall that runs internally along a direction of extension of the at least one of the tube bodies and divides the fluid channel into partial fluid channels that are fluidically separated from one another.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a case that internally limits a fluid chamber and a water chamber, the fluid chamber and the water chamber being fluidically separated from one another in a case interior of the case via a case separating wall, wherein the water chamber and the fluid chamber are covered via a tube bottom that has apertures for receiving a respective tube body of the at least two tube bodies, wherein the at least two tube bodies are in each case received in one of the apertures of the tube bottom provided along a direction of extension at one end in such a way that the water channel is connected to the water chamber, and the fluid channel is connected to the fluid chamber so as to fluidically communicate therewith.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein: the at least one tube body having the water channel has a recess that is recessed along the direction of extension, on a front side of the at least one tube body, which runs transversely to the direction of extension thereof, between the water channel and the fluid channel, wherein the recess is arranged between two appendages that are in each case molded on the front side of the at least one tube body in a region of the water channel and in a region of the fluid channel, wherein the tube bottom has a first aperture of the apertures, via which the water chamber is fluidically open to the outside, wherein the tube bottom has a second aperture of the apertures, via which the fluid chamber is fluidically open to the outside, wherein the appendage molded on the front side of the at least one tube body in the region of the water channel is received in the first aperture of the tube bottom, and the appendage molded on the front side of the at least one tube body in the region of the fluid channel is received in the second aperture, so that the water channel is connected to the water chamber, and the fluid channel is connected to the fluid chamber fluidically communicating therewith.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the apertures of the tube bottom is encased by a passage collar that is molded integrally on the tube bottom and protrudes from the tube bottom, facing the case interior.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a protective grid comprising bars for protecting the at least one tube body against falling rocks.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the water channel is arranged between the at least one tube body and the protective grid.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein: the protective grid partially limits the water channel; and the water channel, which is partially limited by the protective grid, is formed to be open.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube body comprising the water channel is connected via a substance-to-substance bond to the at least one other tube body, through which the fluid can flow.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the at least one tube body comprising the water channel consists of the water channel.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the at least one tube body comprising the water channel is connected to a water collector that is provided separately from a fluid collector, which is connected to the at least one tube body, through which the fluid can flow.

18. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one opening is structured and arranged so as to extend in an interruption-free manner over an entire length of the at least one tube body along a direction of extension of the at least one tube body, so that the water channel is structured as an open trough of the at least one tube body.

19. A heat exchanger, comprising: at least two tube bodies that are arranged at a distance from one another and are in each case structured so that a fluid can flow through internally, and so that air can flow around externally; a water channel, through which water can flow fluidically separated from the fluid, arranged in or on at least one tube body of the at least two tube bodies; at least one opening, via which the water channel communicates fluidically with an external environment of the at least one tube body, is provided in the at least one tube body, wherein the at least one opening is arranged in the at least one tube body so that at least one of the tube bodies can be wetted with water, which is guided through the water channel and escapes from the water channel through the at least one opening; a case that internally limits a fluid chamber and a water chamber, the fluid chamber and the water chamber being fluidically separated from one another in a case interior of the case via a case separating wall; wherein the water chamber and the fluid chamber are covered via a tube bottom that has apertures for receiving a respective tube body of the at least two tube bodies, wherein the at least two tube bodies are in each case received in one of the apertures of the tube bottom provided along a direction of extension at one end in such a way that the water channel is connected to the water chamber, and the fluid channel is connected to the fluid chamber so as to fluidically communicate therewith.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 19, wherein: the at least one tube body having the water channel has a recess that is recessed along the direction of extension, on a front side of the at least one tube body, which runs transversely to the direction of extension thereof, between the water channel and the fluid channel, wherein the recess is arranged between two appendages that are in each case molded on the front side of the at least one tube body in a region of the water channel and in a region of the fluid channel, the tube bottom has a first aperture of the apertures, via which the water chamber is fluidically open to the outside, the tube bottom has a second aperture of the apertures, via which the fluid chamber is fluidically open to the outside, the appendage molded on the front side of the at least one tube body in the region of the water channel is received in the first aperture of the tube bottom, and the appendage molded on the front side of the at least one tube body in the region of the fluid channel is received in the second aperture, so that the water channel is connected to the water chamber, and the fluid channel is connected to the fluid chamber fluidically communicating therewith.

21. The heat exchanger according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the apertures of the tube bottom is encased by a passage collar that is molded integrally on the tube bottom and protrudes from the tube bottom, facing the case interior.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In each case schematically

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a heat exchanger according to the invention in a section along a direction of extension of tube bodies of the heat exchanger,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further example of the heat exchanger according to the invention in a section along the direction of extension of the tube bodies of the heat exchanger,

(4) FIG. 3 shows, in an exemplary manner, a flow chart of a method according to the invention for producing a heat exchanger,

(5) FIGS. 4a to 4c show examples of tube bodies for the heat exchanger according to the invention, in each case in a section transversely to the direction of extension,

(6) FIGS. 5a to 5c show further examples of tube bodies for the heat exchanger according to the invention, in each case in a section transversely to the direction of extension,

(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b show further examples of tube bodies for the heat exchanger according to the invention, in each case in a section transversely to the direction of extension,

(8) FIGS. 7 to 10 show further examples of heat exchangers according to the invention, in each case in a section transversely to the direction of extension,

(9) FIGS. 11a, 11b show an alternative of the example of FIG. 1, in which the tube body limiting the water channel is connected by means of a substance-to-substance bond to the tube body limiting two fluid channels as part of the production of the heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) In FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a heat exchanger 1 according to the invention is in each case shown in a roughly schematic manner in a section along a direction of extension E, along which tube bodies 2 of the heat exchanger 1 extend. The heat exchanger 1 is configured for a use in a fuel cell assembly according to the invention. The heat exchanger 1 comprises several tube bodies 2, which are in each case arranged at a distance from one another. The tube bodies 2 are in each case formed so that a fluid F can flow through internally, and so that air L can flow around externally. A water channel 5, through which water W can flowfluidically separated from the fluid Fis arranged in or on at least one of the tube bodies 2. An opening 6 is formed in this at least one tube body 2 comprising the water channel 5. The water channel 5 communicates fluidically with the external environment of the respective tube body 2 via the opening 6. The opening 6 is thereby arranged in the tube body 2 so that at least one of the tube bodies 2 of the heat exchanger 1 can be wetted with the water W, which is guided through the water channel 5 and which escapes through the opening 6. For example, at least one of the tube bodies 2 can be sprinkled with this water W, which escapes from the water channel 5 through the opening 6.

(11) In FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c, examples are in each case illustrated in a cut manner on tube bodies 2 for the heat exchanger 1 according to the invention transversely to their direction of extension E. The tube bodies 2 according to these examples are thereby in each case formed as folding tube.

(12) FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, as well as 6a and 6b in each case show examples on tube bodies 2 for the heat exchanger 1 according to the invention, cut transversely to their direction of extension E. The tube bodies 2 according to these examples are thereby in each case formed as extrusion tube or welding tube.

(13) It can be gathered from FIGS. 1, 2, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c, as well as 6a and 6b that the tube body 2 comprises a circumferential wall 21, by means of which a fluid channel 4 of the tube body 2, through which the fluid F can flow, is fluidically separated from the external environment of the tube body 2. To form the water channel 5, the at least one tube body 2 comprising the water channel 5 has a separating wall 22. The separating wall 22 fluidically separates the water channel 5 from the fluid channel 4. According to the shown examples, circumferential wall 21 and the separating wall 22 are thereby molded integrally on one another.

(14) In the examples of the heat exchanger 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube bodies 2 are arranged at a distance from one another along a transverse direction Q, which runs transversely to the direction of extension E. The transverse direction Q corresponds essentially to a direction of gravity G, for example in an operating position of the heat exchanger 1, so that an exterior 3 of a tube body 2, which is adjacent to the tube body 2 comprising the water channel 5 in the transverse direction Q, can be wetted or sprinkled, respectively, with water W from the water channel 5 via the opening 6 as a result of the effect of gravity on the water W.

(15) In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, a water channel 5 comprising a corresponding opening 6 of the respective tube body 2 is in each case formed in several tube bodies 2. A water channel 5 comprising a corresponding opening 6 of the respective tube body 2 can be formed in each tube body 2 of the heat exchanger 1. According to the shown examples, the at least one opening 6 is thereby formed in the circumferential wall 21 of the tube body 2 having the water channel 5.

(16) According to the examples of FIGS. 5b and 5c, the water channel 5 is fluidically open transversely to the direction of extension E and along the transverse direction Q via the opening 6 of the tube body 2 having the water channel 5.

(17) FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate that in these examples of the tube body 2 for the heat exchanger 1, the opening 6 is formed to extend in an interruption-free manner along the direction of extension E of the tube body 2 having the water channel 5 over the entire length of said tube body. According to these examples, the water channel 5 is thus formed in the manner of an open trough 7 of the respective tube body 2.

(18) FIG. 2 shows that the tube body of the heat exchanger 1 having the water channel 5 has, for example, several openings 6, which are open transversely to the direction of extension E. The several openings 6 of this tube body are thereby arranged at a distance from one another. With respect to the direction of extension E, and, in the alternative or in addition, with respect to the transverse direction Q, the several openings 6 of the tube body 2 can be arranged at a distance from one another. The several openings 6 can thereby be arranged so as to be distributed regularly or irregularly.

(19) FIGS. 4c, 5c, as well as 6a and 6b in each case show that at least one of the tube bodies 2 comprises, for example, a fluid channel separating wall 8, which runs internally along the direction of extension E. The fluid channel separating wall 8 thereby divides the fluid channel 4 into partial fluid channels 9, which are fluidically separated from one another. The partial fluid channels 9 can be connected fluidically in parallel in the heat exchanger 1.

(20) FIGS. 1 and 2 further illustrate that the heat exchanger 1 comprises a case 10, which is formed in a housing-like manner. Internally, the case 10 limits a fluid chamber 11 and a water chamber 12. The fluid chamber 11 and the water chamber 12 are fluidically separated from one another in a case interior 10 of the case 11 by means of a case separating wall 14 of the case 11. The water chamber 12 and the fluid chamber 11 are thereby covered by means of a tube bottom 15 of the heat exchanger 1. The tube bottom 15 has apertures 16 for receiving a respective tube body 2. The apertures 16 can be formed, for example, as passages. The tube bodies 2 are in each case received in one of the apertures 16 of the tube bottom 15 provided for this purpose along the direction of extension E at one end. The tube bodies 2 are thereby received in the apertures 16 in such a way that the water channel 5 of the at least one tube body 2 having the water channel 5 is connected to the water chamber 12, and the fluid channel 4 of the tube bodies 2 is connected to the fluid chamber so as to fluidically communicate therewith.

(21) According to the example of FIG. 2, the tube body 2 comprising the water channel 5 has a recess 18, which is recessed along the direction of extension E, on a front side 17 of the tube body 2, which runs transversely to the direction of extension E thereof. This recess 18 is arranged on the front side 17 of the tube body 2 between the water channel 5 and the fluid channel 4. The recess 18 is arranged between two appendages 19, which are in each case molded on the front side 17 of the tube body 2 in a region of the water channel 5 and in a region of the fluid channel 4. According to the shown example, the tube bottom 15 thereby has a first aperture 16, 16a, via which the water chamber 12 is fluidically open to the outside. The tube bottom additionally has a second aperture 16, 16b, via which the fluid chamber 15 is fluidically open to the outside. In the shown example, the first and the second aperture 16, 16a, 16b are arranged at a distance from one another transversely to the direction of extension E and transversely to the transverse direction Q. It can further be seen that the appendage 19 molded on the front side 17 of the tube body 2 in the region of the water channel 5 is received in the first aperture 16, 16a of the tube bottom 15. The appendage 19 molded on the front side 17 of the tube body 2 in the region of the fluid channel 4 is received in the second aperture 16, 16b of the tube bottom 15. The appendages 19 are thereby received in the first or the second aperture 16, 16a, 16b, respectively, in such a way that the water channel 5 is connected to the water chamber 12, and the fluid channel 4 is connected to the fluid chamber 11 fluidically communicating therewith.

(22) At least one of the apertures 16, 16a, 16b of the tube bottom 15, for example each of these apertures 16, 16a, 16b, is encased by a passage collar, which is molded integrally on the tube bottom 15, but which is not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity. The passage collar can protrude, for example, from the tube bottom 15, facing the case interior 13.

(23) The heat exchanger 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be encased by a fuel cell assembly according to the invention. This fuel cell assembly has a fuel cell, which releases waste water WA during the operation as a product of cold combustion. The water channel 5 of the heat exchanger 1 can or is thereby supplied, respectively, with the waste water WA, which is released by the fuel cell.

(24) In FIG. 3, a method 20 according to the invention for producing a heat exchanger 1 according to the invention, for example the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1 or 2, is illustrated by means of a flow chart. It can be seen that the method 20 comprises four measures a), b), c), and d). According to measure a), tube bodies 2 are thereby provided, which are formed so that a fluid F can flow through internally and so that air L can flow around externally. In at least one of these tube bodies 2, a water channel 4 is additionally formed, through which water W, for example waste water WA of a fuel cell, can flowfluidically separated from the fluid F. Measure b) provides that the tube bodies 2 are arranged on a tube bottom 15 of the heat exchanger 1 to be produced, so that the tube bodies 2 are received in apertures, of the tube bottom 15, which are provided for this purpose. According to measure c), a substance-to-substance joining, for example soldering or adhesion, of the tube bodies 2 with the tube bottom 15 takes please, so that a fluid-tight joint is created between the tube bodies 2 and an aperture 16 of the tube bottom 15, which receives the respective tube body 2. A creation of at least one opening of the at least one tube body 2 having the water channel 5 additionally takes place according to measure d).

(25) According to the example of FIG. 3, measures a) to d) of the method 20 are performed chronologically in the order a)-b)-c)-d). Measure d) is thus performed, for example, chronologically after measures b) and c). In the alternative, measure d) of the method 20 can be performed chronologically prior to measures b) and c) or chronologically between measures b) and c). In measure d), the at least one opening 6 is created mechanically. Such a mechanical creation of the opening 6 can take place by means of machining, punching, or crimpingor a combination thereof. In the alternative or in addition, the creation of the at least one opening 6 according to measure d) can take place thermally, for example by means of a laser.

(26) Various further examples of the heat exchanger 1 according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, in each case cut transversely to the direction of extension E. According to this, the heat exchanger 1 can have a protective grid 24, which has bars 24a. This protective grid 24 can serve to protect the tube body or the tube bodies 2, respectively, against falling rocks. Together with one of the tube bodies 2, one of the bars 24a can in each case limit the water channel 5. The water channel 5 can thus be arranged between the respective tube body 2 and the respective bar 24a, viewed transversely to the direction of extension E and to the transverse direction Q.

(27) According to FIGS. 7 to 10, the respective bar 24a can extend along the direction of extension E. Facing the tube body 2, a bar depression 25 extending along the direction of extension E can thereby be present on the respective bar 24a. It can further be seen that a web 23, which can act as flow guide element, can be present on both sides of the tube body 2 with respect to the transverse direction Q. Several such webs 23 can thereby be arranged at a distance from one another along the direction of extension E on both sides of the tube body 2.

(28) FIG. 7 shows that the tube bodies 2 and the webs 23 can be flush with one another transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the direction of extension E. The respective bar 24a of the protective grid 24 can thereby be arranged at a distance from the respective tube body 2 and the webs 23 transversely to the direction of extension E and transversely to the transverse direction Q.

(29) In contrast, it can be gathered from FIG. 8 that the separating wall 22 of the tube body 2 cannot be flush with the webs 23, viewed transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the direction of extension E. On the contrary, the separating wall 22 can be recessed transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the direction of extension E. The respective bar 24a of the protective grid 24 can thereby rest against the webs 23 transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the direction of extension E.

(30) According to the example of FIG. 9 and as also in the example of FIG. 8, the separating wall 22 of the tube body 2 can be recessed inwards, transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the direction of extension E. According to FIG. 9, the respective bar 24a of the protective grid 24 can thereby be arranged between the webs 23, viewed along the transverse direction Q.

(31) It can additionally be gathered from the example of FIG. 10 that the respective bar 24a of the protective grid 24 can rest against the webs 23 on the outside, transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the direction of extension E.

(32) In a sectional illustration, FIG. 11a shows a further alternative, in particular of the example of FIG. 1, in which the tube body 2 comprising the water channel 5 for water W to flow throughthis tube body 2 is additionally identified with reference numeral 27 in FIG. 11is connected by means of a substance-to-substance bond 26for example by means of an adhesive connection or solder connection or weld connectionto the tube body 2, which limits two fluid channels 4 for the fluid F to flow through in the example scenario. This makes it possible to separately produce the tube body 27 or the water channel 5, respectively, and to fasten it to the tube body 2 or to the fluid channels 4, respectively, only after the production.

(33) FIG. 11b is a top view onto the alternative of FIG. 11a. It can be seen that in the case of the alternative of FIGS. 11a, 11b, two separate cases 10, which are in each case formed in a housing-like manner, are provided for the two fluid channels 4 as well as for the water channel 5in contrast to the example of FIG. 1. One of the two cases 10, which acts as fluid collector 29 for the fluid F, which flows through the two fluid channels 4, limits the fluid chamber 11 internally. The other one of the two cases 10 limits the water chamber 12 as water collector 28. Individual technical embodiments can thus be used for both cases 10, in particular for the case 10 acting as fluid collector 29. A protective grid 24 can be provided on the water collector 28.