Fuel cell system and condensate water storage device
View Patent ↗A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, a storage container having a storage space to store condensate water produced from the fuel cell stack, and a discharge hole through which the condensate water is discharged to the outside, and a valve unit to selectively open and close the discharge hole, thereby selectively discharging the condensate water, which is produced from the fuel cell stack.
1. A condensate water storage device comprising:
a storage container defining a storage space configured to store condensate water, and comprising a discharge hole through which the condensate water is discharged to the outside; and
a valve unit configured to selectively open and close the discharge hole,
wherein the valve unit comprises:
a valve member configured to be movable from a first position at which the valve member closes the discharge hole to a second position at which the valve member opens the discharge hole; and
a driving part configured to selectively move the valve member between the first position and the second position,
wherein the valve member comprises:
a body portion configured to rotate and disposed on the storage container; and
an opening/closing portion extending from a first end of the body portion and configured to open and close the discharge hole,
wherein the driving part comprises:
a driving source configured to provide driving power; and
an operating rod configured to be rectilinearly moved by the driving power along a through-hole disposed in the storage container, the operating rod being configured to selectively move the opening/closing portion relative to the discharge hole,
the condensate water storage device comprising:
an operating protrusion disposed on the opening/closing portion and configured to come into contact with the operating rod,
wherein the operating protrusion is accommodated in the through-hole at the first position.
2. The condensate water storage device of claim 1 , comprising:
a shaft part connected to the body portion; and
a support rib disposed on the storage container and comprising a support hole configured to accommodate the shaft part so that the shaft part is rotatable.
3. The condensate water storage device of claim 2 , comprising:
a stopper part disposed on the shaft part, having a larger cross-sectional area than the shaft part, and configured to lock the body portion to the support rib.
4. The condensate water storage device of claim 1 , comprising:
an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to allow the valve member to move to the first position.
5. The condensate water storage device of claim 4 , comprising:
a support portion extending from a second end of the body portion,
wherein the elastic member elastically supports the support portion on the storage container.
6. The condensate water storage device of claim 1 , comprising:
a first sealing member configured to seal a gap between the operating rod and the through-hole; and
a second sealing member configured to seal a gap between the operating protrusion and the through-hole.
7. The condensate water storage device of claim 1 , comprising:
a valve sealing member interposed between the opening/closing portion and the discharge hole.
8. The condensate water storage device of claim 1 ,
wherein the storage container comprises:
a container main body defining the storage space; and
a container cover configured to cover the storage space.
9. The condensate water storage device of claim 8 , comprising:
an overflow hole disposed in the container main body,
wherein the condensate water is discharged to the outside through the overflow hole when a water level of the condensate water exceeds a reference water level.
10. The condensate water storage device of claim 8 , comprising:
a locking groove disposed in the container main body; and
a locking protrusion provided on the container cover and configured to be locked to the locking groove.
11. The condensate water storage device of claim 10 , comprising:
a cut-out slit disposed in the container cover adjacent to the locking protrusion.
12. The condensate water storage device of claim 1 , comprising:
a level sensor disposed in the storage container and configured to measure a water level of the condensate water.
13. The condensate water storage device of claim 12 , comprising:
an alarm generation unit configured to generate an alarm signal when the detection result of the level sensor indicates that the water level of the condensate water exceeds a reference water level.
14. A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell stack;
a storage container defining a storage space configured to store condensate water produced from the fuel cell stack, and comprising a discharge hole through which the condensate water is discharged to the outside; and
a valve unit configured to selectively open and close the discharge hole,
wherein the valve unit comprises:
a valve member configured to be movable from a first position at which the valve member closes the discharge hole to a second position at which the valve member opens the discharge hole; and
a driving part configured to selectively move the valve member between the first position and the second position,
wherein the valve member comprises:
a body portion configured to rotate and disposed on the storage container; and
an opening/closing portion extending from a first end of the body portion and configured to open and close the discharge hole,
wherein the driving part comprises:
a driving source configured to provide driving power; and
an operating rod configured to be rectilinearly moved by the driving power along a through-hole disposed in the storage container, the operating rod being configured to selectively move the opening/closing portion relative to the discharge hole,
the condensate water storage device comprising:
an operating protrusion disposed on the opening/closing portion and configured to come into contact with the operating rod,
wherein the operating protrusion is accommodated in the through-hole at the first position.