MEA encapsulated sealing structure and manufacturing method and using method thereof
Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and more particularly to an MEA encapsulated seal structure and method of making and using such seal structure.
Background
Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen (usually oxygen in air) directly into electrical energy with high efficiency, and the reaction by-product is pure water. Therefore, the method has the advantages of energy conservation, environmental protection and the like.
The traditional fuel cell stack seals all materials in a dispensing mode, a semi-manual and semi-mechanical dispensing process is adopted, the complete curing time of a colloid is longer than 24 hours, and the defects of long time consumption, poor consistency and low efficiency exist. This drawback also restricts mass production of fuel cells.
Therefore, there is an urgent need in the art to develop a new sealing structure with good sealing effect and high efficiency.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a sealing structure which is good in sealing effect and fast in forming.
In a first aspect of the invention, the invention provides a seal for an MEA encapsulation. The sealing structure comprises a fuel cell monomer and a sealing rubber strip, wherein the fuel cell monomer comprises a graphite plate, a diffusion layer on one side, a proton exchange membrane, a catalyst layer and a diffusion layer on the other side;
the sealing rubber strip is coated outside the diffusion layer at one side, the proton exchange membrane, the catalyst layer and the diffusion layer at the other side;
the area of the diffusion layer on one side is smaller than that of the proton exchange membrane and the diffusion layer on the other side;
the diffusion layer on one side is an oxygen diffusion layer, and the diffusion layer on the other side is a hydrogen diffusion layer; or
The diffusion layer on one side is a hydrogen diffusion layer, and the diffusion layer on the other side is an oxygen diffusion layer;
the edges of the diffusion layer at one side and the proton exchange membrane expose a continuous and closed proton exchange membrane area which is not covered by the diffusion layer at the other side;
the area of the proton exchange membrane and the other side diffusion layer is smaller than that of the graphite plate;
the inner side of the sealing colloid is in a step shape matched with the diffusion layer at one side, the proton exchange membrane, the catalyst layer and the diffusion layer at the other side.
Preferably, catalyst layers are arranged on two sides of the proton exchange membrane.
Preferably, a plurality of raised sealing ribs are arranged on the edge of the sealing rubber strip.
Preferably, grooves are formed around the diffusion layer on one side, the proton exchange membrane, the catalyst layer and the diffusion layer on the other side, and are used for a passage for the circulation of the colloid of the sealing rubber strip.
Preferably, the sealing strip is made of a compressible material.
The thickness of the sealing rubber strip is h, and h satisfies the following conditions: h is more than or equal to 1.5mm and less than or equal to 4 mm.
The hydrogen diffusion layer is wrapped by the sealant strip, and the transverse length of the hydrogen diffusion layer is L1, and L1 satisfies the following conditions: l1 is more than or equal to 2mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
The proton exchange membrane is wrapped by the sealing rubber strip, and the transverse length of the proton exchange membrane is L2, and L2 satisfies that: l2 is more than or equal to 2mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
The transverse length of the oxygen diffusion layer wrapped by the sealant strip is L3, and L3 satisfies: l3 is more than or equal to 2mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
In a second aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a sealing structure of the first aspect of the invention. The method comprises the following steps:
(a) providing a hydrogen diffusion layer, a proton exchange membrane and an oxygen diffusion layer, and stacking them together; wherein the proton exchange membrane is sandwiched between the hydrogen diffusion layer and the oxygen diffusion layer; the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer are in a step type;
(b) putting the stacked hydrogen diffusion layer, proton exchange membrane and oxygen diffusion layer into a mold, and covering and fixing the mold;
(c) and injecting a sealing colloid into the mold, and coating the peripheries of the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer, wherein the sealing colloid is solidified into a whole to form a sealing rubber strip.
Preferably, a catalyst layer is further arranged between the hydrogen diffusion layer and the proton exchange membrane.
Preferably, a catalyst layer is further arranged between the oxygen diffusion layer and the proton exchange membrane.
Preferably, the mold is provided with a glue inlet for injecting a sealing glue into the mold.
Preferably, the sealing compound is injected into the mold with high pressure.
Preferably, the mould is provided with a groove for forming the sealing rib.
Preferably, the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane, and the oxygen diffusion layer are stacked while being fixed with silicone at four corners.
Preferably, the mold is further provided with a glue outlet.
In a third aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method of using the sealing structure of the first aspect of the invention. The method is to assemble a plurality of sealing structures according to the first aspect of the invention in a stacked manner to seal the fuel cell.
It is to be understood that within the scope of the present invention, the above-described features of the present invention and those specifically described below (e.g., in the examples) may be combined with each other to form new or preferred embodiments. Not to be reiterated herein, but to the extent of space.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary seal configuration of the present invention;
fig. 2 is a top view of the seal structure shown in fig. 1.
The drawings are numbered as follows: 2-a metal sheet; 3-graphite plates; 4-an oxygen diffusion layer; 5-a proton exchange membrane; 6-hydrogen diffusion layer; 10-sealing adhesive tape; 11-sealing ribs.
Detailed Description
The present inventors have made extensive and intensive studies and, for the first time, have developed a sealing structure encapsulated with a proton exchange membrane and a method for using the same. The invention provides a mold, which is characterized in that a proton exchange membrane, a hydrogen side diffusion layer and an oxygen side diffusion layer are stacked together, four corners of the proton exchange membrane can be fixed by silica gel light points, then the proton exchange membrane is placed into the mold, the mold is covered and fixed from top to bottom, the mold is provided with a glue inlet and a glue outlet, and a circle of groove is arranged around the proton exchange membrane, the hydrogen side diffusion layer and the oxygen side diffusion layer in the mold and is a channel for glue circulation. Then injecting the colloid into the glue inlet with high pressure, coating the proton exchange membrane with the peripheries of the hydrogen side diffusion layer and the oxygen side diffusion layer in a glue casting mode, and directly bonding the colloid to form a whole after the colloid is cured. And then stacked with other materials of the fuel cell stack to effect sealing by compressing the bead area.
The present invention has been completed based on this finding.
The shape of a sealing area formed by the traditional dispensing mode is not limited, the flowability is strong, and after solidification, the redundant colloid needs to be cut off by manpower to finish the appearance. The innovative glue casting mode presses the proton exchange membrane, the hydrogen side diffusion layer and the oxygen side diffusion layer through a die, limits the colloid flow range, is formed at one time, realizes the purposes of no cutting and no finishing by the sealing mode, has high consistency, and can assemble the proton exchange membrane and the two side diffusion layers as a whole after forming. Meanwhile, through mould pressing, sealing ribs can be added in a formed sealing area, and the sealing performance is improved.
The curing time of the traditional glue dispensing mode exceeds 24 hours, the glue curing has certain humidity requirement, and the curing time is prolonged under the condition of dry weather due to the influence of weather, so that uncontrollable factors exist. The innovative glue casting method adopts a mode of mould pressing, the glue body is immediately molded when reaching the required temperature, and almost no curing time exists. Greatly shortens the time for curing and is more suitable for batch production.
In the traditional dispensing mode, certain labor is required to be consumed to finish trimming and monitoring after the glue and the glue are solidified in the dispensing process. The innovative glue casting mode can realize full mechanization, greatly reduces the labor cost and improves the production efficiency.
The sealing structure of the invention solves the limitation of the traditional fuel cell sealing process, greatly improves the production efficiency and can realize the aim of batch production. The sealing structure has good sealing effect and quick forming.
Term(s) for
As used herein, the term "MEA" refers to a Membrane Electrode assembly (Membrane Electrode Assemblies), which is a combination of proton exchange membranes, catalysts, and electrodes of a fuel cell. Herein, the catalyst is a catalyst layer, and the electrodes are a hydrogen diffusion layer and an oxygen diffusion layer, respectively.
The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the following specific examples. It should be understood that these examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
It is to be noted that in the claims and the description of the present patent, relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, the use of the verb "comprise a" to define an element does not exclude the presence of another, same element in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Example 1
As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a typical proton exchange membrane encapsulated seal structure of the present invention. The structure comprises a fuel cell monomer and a sealing rubber strip 10, wherein the fuel cell monomer comprises a graphite plate 3, an oxygen diffusion layer 4, a proton exchange membrane 5 and a hydrogen diffusion layer 6; the sealing rubber strip 10 is coated outside the oxygen diffusion layer 4, the proton exchange membrane 5 and the hydrogen diffusion layer 6; the sectional area of the hydrogen diffusion layer 6 is smaller than that of the proton exchange membrane 5 and the oxygen diffusion layer 4; the cross sections of the proton exchange membrane 5 and the oxygen diffusion layer 4 are smaller than that of the graphite plate 3; the inner side of the sealing colloid 10 is in a step shape matched with the oxygen diffusion layer 4, the proton exchange membrane 5 and the hydrogen diffusion layer 6. The edge of the sealing rubber strip is provided with a plurality of raised sealing ribs 11. Grooves are formed around the oxygen diffusion layer 4, the proton exchange membrane 5 and the hydrogen diffusion layer 6 and used for sealing a colloid circulation channel of the adhesive tape. The joint strip 10 is made of a compressible material. The thickness h of the sealing rubber strip is 3 mm. The hydrogen diffusion layer was 5mm in transverse length wrapped by the sealant strip, L1. The proton exchange membrane 5 is wrapped by the sealing rubber strip 10, and the transverse length L2 is 6 mm. The oxygen gas diffusion layer 4 was wrapped by the sealing rubber strip 10 to have a transverse length L3 of 4 mm. This battery monomer still includes sheetmetal 2, and bellied sealed muscle 11 of sealed region edge contacts with sheetmetal 2, with the cladding of graphite cake 3 between joint strip 10 and sheetmetal 2 to realize sealed.
Example 2
The present invention is a method of making an MEA encapsulated seal structure comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrogen diffusion layer, a proton exchange membrane and an oxygen diffusion layer, stacking the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer together, and fixing the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer at four corners by silica gel when stacking the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer; wherein, the proton exchange membrane is clamped between the hydrogen diffusion layer and the oxygen diffusion layer; the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer are in a step type; a catalyst layer is arranged between the hydrogen diffusion layer and the proton exchange membrane, and a catalyst layer is also arranged between the oxygen diffusion layer and the proton exchange membrane; (b) putting the stacked hydrogen diffusion layer, proton exchange membrane and oxygen diffusion layer into a mold, and covering and fixing the mold; the mould is provided with a groove for forming a sealing rib; (c) and injecting sealing colloid into the mold from a glue inlet of the mold by high pressure, coating the peripheries of the hydrogen diffusion layer, the proton exchange membrane and the oxygen diffusion layer, and curing the sealing colloid into a whole to form a sealing rubber strip, namely forming the sealing structure of the invention.
Example 3
A method of using the seal of the MEA encapsulation of the present invention is to assemble a plurality of the seal of the present invention in a stack and seal by compressing the bead area. The plurality of structures of the seal assembly are fastened to form a fuel cell stack.
All documents referred to herein are incorporated by reference into this application as if each were individually incorporated by reference. Furthermore, it should be understood that various changes and modifications of the present invention can be made by those skilled in the art after reading the above teachings of the present invention, and these equivalents also fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.