Compression device for a fuel cell stack

Abstract

A compression device for compression of an oxidant for a fuel cell stack includes an oxidant compressor for compressing the oxidant, and an oxidant cooler for cooling the compressed oxidant. The oxidant compressor and the oxidant cooling device are connected to a common coolant circuit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The single FIGURE is a view of an embodiment of a compression device according to the invention in a coolant circuit, illustrating the flow.

Claims

1. An oxidant compression device for compressing an oxidant for a fuel cell stack, said oxidant compression device comprising: an oxidant compressor for the compressing of the oxidant; andan oxidant cooler for cooling compressed oxidant;a common coolant circuit for said oxidant compressor and said oxidant cooler, said common coolant circuit having a coolant that flows through and cools both said oxidant compressor and said oxidant cooler.

2. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the oxidant compressor and the oxidant cooler are fluidically connected parallel to one another in the coolant circuit.

3. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell stack is arranged fluidically parallel to the oxidant cooler.

4. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell stack is arranged fluidically parallel to at least one of the oxidant cooler, the oxidant compressor and additional components.

5. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the oxidant compressor has a water injection cooling.

6. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the oxidant compressor is constructed as a dry-operation compressor.

7. The compression device according to claim 1, which the oxidant compressor operates according to a displacement principle.

8. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the oxidant compressor is constructed as a rotary screw compressor.

9. The compression device according to claim 6, wherein at least one rotor in the rotary screw compressor is cooled.

10. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the oxidant cooler is constructed as a heat exchanger.

11. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the coolant inlet for the compression device and the coolant inlet for the fuel cell stack is constructed without junctions.

12. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein a flow through at least one of the oxidant compressor and the oxidant cooler is adjustable by throttle devices.

13. The compression device according to claim 1, wherein the compression device has a valve device which, for shutting-off the coolant flow through the compression device, is independent of or uncoupled from the coolant flow through the fuel cell stack.

14. A method for compressing an oxidant gas that is supplied as a reactant of a fuel cell system, said method comprising: an oxidant compressor compresses said oxidant gas;an oxidant cooler cooling compressed oxidant gas from said compressor; andcooling both said oxidant compressor and said oxidant cooler by a flow of coolant in a common coolant circuit.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein coolant of said common coolant circuit flows in parallel through said oxidant compressor and said oxidant cooler.

16. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack which receives an input flow of an oxidant; andan oxidant compression device; wherein:said oxidant compression device, includes an oxidant compressor for compressing the oxidant, an oxidant cooler for cooling compressed oxidant and a common coolant circuit for said compressor and said oxidant cooler; andsaid common coolant circuit receives a coolant that flows through and cools both said compressor and said oxidant cooler.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein coolant of said common coolant circuit flows in parallel through said compressor and said oxidant cooler.