Fluid pumping device, fuel cell device and fuel gas recirculation method using the same

Abstract

Provided is a fluid pumping device, and more particularly, a fluid pumping device capable of being used in fuel cell systems and the like and spatially separating a fluid temporary storage unit through which a fluid at high temperature passes from a pump, thereby maintaining the durability of the pump, facilitating replacement and management, and achieving a reduction in weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid pumping device comprising:
 a fluid temporary storage unit which temporarily stores and discharges a flow of a fluid;   a pump which is positioned to be separated from the fluid temporary storage unit and repeats suction and discharge of a fluid pressure;   a connection tube which connects the fluid temporary storage unit and the pump to each other to transmit the fluid pressure by the pump; and   first and second check valves which are respectively positioned at a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the fluid temporary storage unit and are repeatedly opened and closed in response to the suction and the discharge of the fluid pressure by the pump,   wherein, when the first check valve is closed, the second check valve is opened, and when the first check valve is opened, the second check valve is closed.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid temporary storage unit is positioned inside a high-temperature unit, and the pump is positioned outside the high-temperature unit.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the high-temperature unit includes a heat insulation material on a wall surface.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the connection tube is a flexible tube.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the connection tube further includes a cooling device on the outer surface of the connection tube.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump including:   a motor;   a connecting rod which performs a reciprocating motion according to a rotating motion of the motor;   a diaphragm which performs a vertical motion according to the reciprocating motion of the connecting rod; and   a compartment which repeats contraction and expansion according to the vertical motion of the diaphragm, and   wherein the discharge and the suction of the fluid pressure are achieved by the contraction and the expansion of the compartment.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid temporary storage unit further includes a thin partition at a connection portion connected to the connection tube.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a plurality of the fluid temporary storage units are arranged, and the plurality of the fluid temporary storage units are connected to the pump by a plurality of the connection tubes.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein at least one of the fluid temporary storage units among the plurality of the fluid temporary storage units is positioned inside the high-temperature unit, and at least one of the fluid temporary storage units among the plurality of the fluid temporary storage units is positioned outside the high-temperature unit.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the connection tube further includes a control valve which controls an amount of the fluid pumped to the fluid temporary storage unit by controlling the fluid pressure transmitted to the fluid temporary storage unit.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the check valves are ball type check valves or plate type check valves.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid is a high-temperature outlet gas at higher than or equal to 100° C. discharged from an anode of a fuel cell.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the fluid pumping device includes first and second fluid temporary storage units and first and second connection tubes,   wherein a diaphragm pump includes:   first and second connecting rods connected to a motor;   a first diaphragm which is attached to one side of the first connecting rod and performs a vertical motion according to a reciprocating motion of the connecting rod;   a second diaphragm which is attached to one side of the second connecting rod and performs a vertical motion according to a reciprocating motion of the connecting rod;   a first compartment which repeats contraction and expansion according to the vertical motion of the first diaphragm; and   a second compartment which repeats contraction and expansion according to the vertical motion of the second diaphragm,   wherein, when the first compartment contracts, the second compartment expands, and when the first compartment expands, the second compartment contracts,   wherein the first compartment is connected to the first fluid temporary storage unit by the first connection tube, and   wherein the second compartment is connected to the second fluid temporary storage unit by the second connection tube.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the first and second fluid temporary storage units further include thin partitions at connection portions connected to the first and second connection tubes, respectively.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid pumping device includes a first fluid temporary storage unit and a second fluid temporary storage unit,   wherein the first fluid temporary storage unit is positioned outside a high-temperature unit, and the second fluid temporary storage unit is positioned inside the high-temperature unit, and   wherein the connection tube connects the pump to the first fluid temporary storage unit and is drawn therefrom to be connected to the second fluid temporary storage unit.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the connection tube between the first fluid temporary storage unit and the second fluid temporary storage unit further includes a control valve which controls the fluid pressure supplied from the first fluid temporary storage unit to the second fluid temporary storage unit.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the fluid pumping device includes a first fluid temporary storage unit and second to fourth fluid temporary storage units,   wherein the first fluid temporary storage unit is positioned outside a high-temperature unit, and the second to fourth fluid temporary storage units are positioned inside the high-temperature unit, and   wherein the connection tube connects the pump to the first fluid temporary storage unit and is drawn therefrom to branch off to three tubes so as to be connected to the second to fourth fluid temporary storage units.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid pumping device according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein each of the connection tubes between the first fluid temporary storage unit and the second to fourth fluid temporary storage units further includes a control valve which controls the fluid pressure supplied from the first fluid temporary storage unit to the second to fourth fluid temporary storage units.   
     
     
         19 . A fuel cell device comprising:
 a fuel cell; and   the fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 ,   wherein an outlet gas discharged from an anode of the fuel cell is supplied to the fluid temporary storage unit.   
     
     
         20 . A fuel gas recirculation method comprising:
 supplying an outlet gas discharged from an anode of a fuel cell to the fluid temporary storage unit of the fluid pumping device according to  claim 1 .