Air supply system

Abstract

An air supply system is provided that can reduce noise of a compressor and over a wider frequency band, along with the space and cost. The air supply system includes a compressor that draws in gas to discharge the drawn in gas at an increased pressure, an intake flow path 43 in which the gas drawn in by the compressor flows, a discharge flow path 44 in which the gas discharged from the compressor 41 flows, and rectification apparatuses 45A and 45B that are disposed in the vicinity of the compressor 41 in the intake flow path 43 and the discharge flow path 44, respectively, and that rectify gas flowing therein.

Description

[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-108339 Filed on Apr. 11, 2006, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-102458, filed on Apr. 10, 2007 the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an air supply system. [0004] 2. Related Art [0005] Recently, fuel cell systems have attracted attentions as a new power source for automobiles. A fuel cell system includes, for example, a fuel cell for generating power by a chemical reaction of the reaction gas, a reaction gas supply apparatus for supplying reaction gas to the fuel cell via a reaction gas flow path, and a control apparatus for controlling the reaction gas supply apparatus. [0006] A fuel cell has a stacked structure in which, for example, a few dozen or several hundred cells are layered. In this structure, each cell is composed of a pair of separato...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] When the above-described silencer is used to reduce noise, a larger sized case is needed to enclose the silencer. In this case, the installation space and weight of the silencer increases, and also causes an air pressure drop due to the silencer.

[0013] Furthermore, although changing the shape of the discharge port or the intake port can reduce noise in a specific narrow frequency band, reducing noise in a wide frequency band is difficult.

[0014] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an air supply system of smaller size and lower cost which can reduce compressor noise in a wider frequency band.

[0017] According to the present invention, the discharge flow path includes the rectification apparatus for rectifying gas. Thus, even when a turbulence associated with a shock wave is caused by gas discharge, this turbulence can be rectified and a rapid change in the gas flow can be suppressed, thereby reducing the noise during gas discharge over a wide frequency band.

[0018] Consequently, as a result of the rectification apparatus being only provided at the discharge outlet of the compressor, the noise of the compressor can be reduced, along with a reduction in space and with a lower cost.

[0019] According to the present invention, even when gas is discharged causing turbulence associated with a shock wave, the turbulence can be rectified and a rapid change in the gas flow can be suppressed to reduce noise in a wide frequency band when gas is discharged. Thus, the present invention only requires a rectification apparatus to be provided at a discharge outlet of a compressor. Thus, the noise of the compressor can be reduced, along with reduced space and cost.

Problems solved by technology

In this case, the installation space and weight of the silencer increases, and also causes an air pressure drop due to the silencer.

Furthermore, although changing the shape of the discharge port or the intake port can reduce noise in a specific narrow frequency band, reducing noise in a wide frequency band is difficult.

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