CN110890556A

CN110890556A - Device and method for producing proton exchange membrane fuel cell CCM

Info

Publication number: CN110890556A
Application number: CN201911303499.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈丽丽; 赵玉彬
Original assignee: Foshan Cleanest Energy Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Foshan Cleanest Energy Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-17
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2020-03-17

Abstract

The invention provides a device and a method for producing a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (CCM). The method comprises the following steps: A. respectively coating catalyst solution on two continuous transfer printing films by using two coating machines to prepare an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer; B. transferring the catalyst layers on the two transfer printing films to two sides of a continuous proton exchange membrane simultaneously by using a press roller; C. and peeling the transfer printing film from the proton exchange membrane by using a peeling mechanism. The device comprises a first coating machine, a second coating machine, a rolling mechanism, a stripping mechanism and a guide roller group. The production device and the production method have high production efficiency and can reduce the reject ratio of products.

Description

Device and method for producing proton exchange membrane fuel cell CCM

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of fuel cell production, in particular to a device and a method for producing a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (CCM).

Background

A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is one of the fuel cells, and its main features include: the device has the advantages of cleanness, high efficiency, high energy density, self-regulation of output power according to requirements, wide application range and the like. The PEMFC fuel cell generally includes a proton exchange membrane, a catalyst, a seal, a bipolar plate, a collector plate, an end plate, etc., wherein the proton exchange membrane, the catalyst, and the seal structure constitute a membrane electrode, which is a component of a main site where electrochemical reactions occur in the fuel cell. The membrane electrode comprises structural components including: proton exchange membrane, anode catalyst, cathode catalyst, anode diffusion layer and cathode diffusion layer and seal structure.

The membrane electrode of the PEMFC fuel cell is mainly prepared based on ccm (catalyst Coated membrane) technology, in which a catalyst is Coated on a proton exchange membrane, and then the proton exchange membrane is laminated together by a certain temperature and pressure and a gas diffusion layer. The catalyst is generally coated by adopting a spraying or coating scraper mode, a large amount of time is needed for membrane uncovering, turning and ageing of the proton exchange membrane in the actual production process (the membrane uncovering, turning and ageing process easily causes warping and wrinkling of the membrane, so care must be taken), and it is difficult to ensure that the warping caused by swelling of the proton exchange membrane cannot occur after one surface is coated, and it is difficult to ensure that effective areas on two surfaces are accurately aligned when the other surface is coated, and defective products are easily generated in the process. Moreover, the traditional mode for preparing the CCM of the fuel cell mostly adopts single-chip preparation, and the method is only suitable for laboratory research and small-batch production and cannot meet the requirement of producing membrane electrodes in large batch.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the defects of the prior art, the invention aims to provide a device and a method for producing a CCM of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, aiming at solving the problems of low production efficiency and easy generation of defective products of the membrane electrode preparation method of the conventional PEMFC.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention adopts the following technical scheme:

a method for producing a CCM of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

A. respectively coating catalyst solution on two continuous transfer printing films by using two coating machines to prepare an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer;

B. transferring the catalyst layers on the two transfer films in the step A to two sides of a continuous proton exchange membrane simultaneously by using a press roller;

C. and peeling the transfer printing film from the proton exchange membrane by using a peeling mechanism.

In the step A, the catalyst, the membrane solution, the organic solvent and the deionized water are mixed and are uniformly dispersed by magnetic stirring, ultrasonic or shearing emulsification equipment to prepare the catalyst solution.

In the step A of the production method of the CCM, the transfer printing film is a polyester film PET, a polyethylene film PE or a polypropylene film OPP, and the surface of the transfer printing film is coated with a silica gel release agent.

In the step B of the production method of the CCM, two groups of press rollers are used for carrying out two times of rolling during transfer printing.

In the production method of the CCM, the rolling pressure is 0.5 Mpa-150 Mpa and the rolling speed is 5 mm/s-100 mm/s when in transfer printing.

A production device of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell CCM comprises a first coating machine, a second coating machine, a rolling mechanism, a stripping mechanism and a guide roller set; a first coater for coating a catalyst solution onto a continuous transfer film to prepare an anode catalyst layer; the second coater is used for coating a catalyst solution on another continuous transfer film so as to prepare a cathode catalyst layer; the rolling mechanism is used for rolling the two transfer printing films and a continuous proton exchange film together so as to respectively transfer the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer to two sides of the proton exchange film; the peeling mechanism is used for peeling the two transfer printing films after transfer printing from the proton exchange membrane; the guide roller group is used for guiding the two transfer printing films and the proton exchange membrane to the rolling mechanism.

In the production device of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell CCM, the first coating machine and the second coating machine are both ultrasonic coating machines, and each coating machine comprises a machine table and a plurality of spray heads arranged above the machine table; the nozzles are arranged in the width direction of the transfer film.

In the production device of the CCM, the rolling mechanism comprises a frame, a first compression roller set arranged on the frame and a motor; the first press roller group comprises a first driving press roller and a first driven press roller, and the first driving press roller is driven by a motor.

In the production device of the CCM, the rolling mechanism further comprises a second rolling roller group arranged at the downstream of the first rolling roller group, and the second rolling roller group comprises a second driving rolling roller and a second driven rolling roller.

In the production device of the CCM, the stripping mechanism comprises a first winding roller arranged above the proton exchange membrane and a second winding roller arranged below the proton exchange membrane.

Has the advantages that:

according to the device and the method for producing the CCM of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, in the preparation process, the catalyst solution is coated on the transfer printing film, so that adverse effects on subsequent processes caused by membrane deformation due to swelling and wrinkling when the proton exchange membrane is in direct contact with the catalyst solution are avoided, the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer can be simultaneously prepared and transferred, compared with the traditional process that only one catalyst layer is prepared firstly and then the other catalyst layer is prepared, the time required by CCM production is effectively saved, and compared with the method for preparing the catalyst layer piece by piece in the traditional process, the device and the method are better in production continuity, the continuous and large-scale production of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell is conveniently realized, and the production efficiency is greatly improved.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for producing CCM of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a CCM production apparatus provided in the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a first coater and a second coater in the apparatus for producing a CCM of a pem fuel cell according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a rolling mechanism in a CCM production apparatus provided in the present invention.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar function throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are illustrative only for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", and the like, indicate orientations and positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be considered as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the described features. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

The following disclosure provides embodiments or examples for implementing different configurations of the invention. To simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and arrangements of specific examples are described below. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples, such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. In addition, the present invention provides examples of various specific processes and materials, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize applications of other processes and/or uses of other materials.

Referring to fig. 1, the present invention provides a method for producing a CCM of a pem fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

A. catalyst solutions are respectively coated on the two continuous transfer printing films by using two coating machines to prepare an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer.

Firstly, a catalyst solution needs to be prepared in advance, and the specific method comprises the following steps: mixing a catalyst, a membrane solution, an organic solvent and deionized water, and uniformly dispersing by magnetic stirring, ultrasonic or shearing emulsification equipment to obtain the catalyst solution. Wherein, the organic solvent can be but not limited to ethanol, isopropanol, glycerol, etc.; the catalyst is typically a noble metal catalyst, including but not limited to Pt-based catalysts, non-Pt-based catalysts.

Then, the prepared catalyst solution was loaded into a coater for coating.

The coater may be a spray coater or a knife coater (which uses a coating knife to apply the coating); preferably, an ultrasonic sprayer is adopted for spraying, and the thickness of the obtained catalyst layer is uniform.

B. And C, simultaneously transferring the catalyst layers on the two transfer films in the step A to two sides of a continuous proton exchange membrane by using a press roll (the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer are respectively transferred to different surfaces).

The transfer film can be, but is not limited to, a polyester film PET, a polyethylene film PE or a polypropylene film OPP, the surface of the transfer film is coated with a silica gel release agent, and the thickness of the transfer film is 50-200 μm. The transfer printing film has extremely light and stable release force during stripping, no migration phenomenon and good thermal stability.

Preferably, two sets of press rollers are used for the transfer printing. The first rolling can attach the catalyst layer to the proton exchange membrane, and the second rolling can eliminate the stress generated in the rolling, so that the catalyst layer is more effectively rolled to the proton exchange membrane.

Furthermore, the rolling pressure is 0.5 MPa-150 MPa, and the rolling speed (namely the moving speed of the transfer printing film and the proton exchange membrane) is 5 mm/s-100 mm/s. The transfer effect obtained by using the pressure and speed is good for the catalyst solution and the transfer film.

Specifically, peeling means includes two wind-up rolls, winds two rendition membranes on these two wind-up rolls respectively, can peel off the rendition membrane from proton exchange membrane when the wind-up roll rotates.

Step C can also be followed by step D: and cutting the transferred proton exchange membrane at the required position to obtain a finished product.

Referring to fig. 2-4, the present invention further provides a device for producing a CCM of a pem fuel cell, which implements the above production method, and the device comprises a first coating machine 1, a second coating machine 2, a rolling mechanism 3, a peeling mechanism 4, and a guide roller set 5; the first coater 1 is for coating a catalyst solution onto one continuous transfer film 90 to prepare an anode catalyst layer; the second coater 2 is for coating a catalyst solution to another continuous transfer film 91 to prepare a cathode catalyst layer; the rolling mechanism 3 is used for rolling the two transfer printing films (90, 91) and a continuous proton exchange membrane 92 together, so as to respectively transfer the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer to two sides of the proton exchange membrane 92; the peeling mechanism 4 is used for peeling the two transfer printing films after transfer printing from the proton exchange membrane; the guide roller group 5 is used for guiding the two transfer printing films and the sub-exchange film to the rolling mechanism 3.

When the production device works, one continuous transfer film 90 passes through the first coating machine 1, the other continuous transfer film 91 passes through the second coating machine 2, the two transfer films are respectively guided to the upper surface and the lower surface of one continuous proton exchange membrane 92 by the guide roller group 5 after coming out of the respective coating machines, then are guided into the rolling mechanism 3 together, the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer are respectively transferred to the two surfaces of the proton exchange membrane 92 by the rolling mechanism 3, and finally the transfer films are peeled by the peeling mechanism 4.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the first coating machine 1 and the second coating machine 2 are both ultrasonic coating machines, and the catalyst layers sprayed by the ultrasonic coating machines have uniform thickness, and specifically include a machine table 1.1 (2.1) and a plurality of spray heads 1.2 (2.2) arranged above the machine table; these heads are arranged in the width direction of the transfer film 90 (91). The quantity of shower nozzle sets up according to the actual width of rendition membrane, and the big quantity of width is more to guarantee to cover whole rendition membrane.

Further, the first coater 1 and the second coater 2 may further include a storage tank (not shown) for storing the catalyst solution.

Wherein, the machine 1.1 (2.1) can be but not limited to aluminum alloy, polytetrafluoroethylene board, etc., and the flatness of the upper surface is within 25 filaments.

Further, the first coater 1 and the second coater 2 further include a coating rack 1.3 (2.3), and the spray head and the machine are both disposed on the coating rack.

In some embodiments, the first coater 1 and the second coater 2 further include rollers 1.4 (2.4) disposed on the upper and lower sides of the machine, and the rollers are at a height level with the machine to support the transfer film and prevent the transfer film from scraping against the edge of the machine.

Preferably, the spraying speeds of the first coater 1 and the second coater 2 are adjustable, and the spraying speeds can be adjusted according to the actual moving speed of the transfer film to obtain the required thickness of the catalyst layer.

Specifically, referring to fig. 4, the rolling mechanism 3 includes a frame 3.1, a first rolling set 3.2 disposed on the frame 3.1, and a motor (not shown in the figure); the first press roll group 3.2 comprises a first driving press roll 3.2a and a first driven press roll 3.2b, the first driving press roll 3.2a being driven by a motor. When the two transfer films and the proton exchange membrane pass between the first driving pressing roller 3.2a and the first driven pressing roller 3.2b, the two transfer films and the proton exchange membrane are pressed to transfer the catalyst layers onto the proton exchange membrane, and meanwhile, the first pressing roller group 3.2 generates traction force on the two transfer films and the proton exchange membrane to enable the two transfer films and the proton exchange membrane to move.

In some embodiments, the roll press mechanism 3 further comprises a second roll stack 3.3 arranged downstream of the first roll stack 3.2, which second roll stack 3.3 comprises a second driving roll 3.3a and a second driven roll 3.3 b. The first rolling can attach the catalyst layer to the proton exchange membrane, and the second rolling can eliminate the stress generated in the rolling, so that the catalyst layer is more effectively rolled to the proton exchange membrane. The second driving pressing roller 3.3a can be driven by a motor alone or by the same motor as the first driving pressing roller 3.2 a.

Preferably, the first driven press roll 3.2b and the second driven press roll 3.3b are adjustable in height, and the rolling pressure can be adjusted by adjusting the heights thereof. The mode of realizing the up-and-down movement of the driven pressing roller is not limited, and a corresponding up-and-down adjusting mechanism can be arranged according to the requirement, for example, two air cylinders can be arranged and respectively connected with two ends of the driven pressing roller so as to drive the driven pressing roller to move up and down.

Specifically, referring to fig. 2, the peeling mechanism 4 includes a first wind-up roll 4.1 disposed above the proton exchange membrane 92, and a second wind-up roll 4.2 disposed below the proton exchange membrane 92. The transfer printing film is wound on the winding roller, and when the winding roller rotates, the transfer printing film can be peeled off from the peeling mechanism, and the recovery of the transfer printing film is realized. The first winding roller 4.1 and the second winding roller 4.2 are driven by servo motors, and the rotating speed can be adjusted along with the increase of the winding length so as to ensure that the winding speed is matched with the rolling speed.

Specifically, referring to fig. 2, the guide roller set 5 includes a plurality of guide rollers 5.1, including a guide roller 5.1a disposed at the outlet of the first coater 1 and the second coater 2 for deflecting the transfer film, and a guide roller 5.1b for attaching the transfer film to the proton exchange membrane 92.

The production method of the CCM is simple and easy to realize, adopts the transfer printing film as a medium for transferring the catalyst layer, can simultaneously prepare the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer on the transfer printing film, rolls the transfer printing film loaded with the anode catalyst layer, the proton exchange film and the transfer printing film loaded with the cathode catalyst layer, transfers the catalyst layer onto the proton exchange film after pressing, and strips the transfer printing film to obtain the CCM.

In the preparation process, the catalyst solution is coated on the transfer printing film in an ultrasonic spraying or coating scraper mode, so that adverse effects on subsequent processes caused by membrane deformation due to swelling and wrinkling when the proton membrane is in direct contact with the catalyst solution are avoided, the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer can be simultaneously prepared and transferred, compared with the traditional process that only one catalyst layer is prepared firstly and then the other catalyst layer is prepared, the time required by CCM production is effectively saved, and compared with a method for preparing the catalyst layer piece by piece in the traditional process, the method has better production continuity, can realize continuous and large-scale production of the membrane electrode of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell when being applied to a production line, and greatly improves the production efficiency.

The following is further illustrated by the specific examples:

example one

The present embodiment provides an apparatus and a method for producing a CCM for a fuel cell, which are less likely to damage a proton membrane, have high stability, and are easy to produce.

The preparation method comprises the steps of mixing a Pt/C catalyst and a membrane solution according to a certain proportion, adding a mixture of one or more organic solvents (including but not limited to ethanol, isopropanol, glycerol and the like), mixing with certain deionized water, magnetically stirring for 0.5h, and dispersing for 1h by using ultrasonic or shear emulsification equipment to obtain a uniformly dispersed catalyst solution. Then, the anode and cathode catalyst solutions are respectively loaded into the first coater 1 and the second coater 2.

Selecting a transfer printing film, wherein the substrate is a polyethylene film PE release film coated with silicone oil, other materials can be selected from polyester film PET, polypropylene film OPP and the like, the thickness of the PE release film is 75 micrometers, and the required catalyst solution has low viscosity and solid content due to ultrasonic spraying, so that the release force is selected to be light, and the range of the release force is 3-5 g.

In the first coater 1, the silicone oil-coated surface of the transfer film 90 is a release surface facing upward, and a uniform catalyst solution is sprayed and dispersed onto the release surface of the transfer film 90 through a spray head 1.2, where three spray heads arranged in parallel are selected to work simultaneously according to the size of the CCM to be prepared.

Similarly, the spraying of the transfer film 91 is completed in the second coater 2; the difference is that after the spraying, the transfer film 90 needs to be turned downward by the guide roller while the side of the transfer film 91 coated with the catalyst layer is kept upward.

The proton exchange membrane 92, the transfer film 90 carrying the anode catalyst layer, and the transfer film 91 carrying the cathode catalyst layer enter the rolling mechanism 3. The catalyst layer on the transfer film is adhered to the proton exchange membrane 92 by rolling through the first press roller group 3.2, and then the second press roller group 3.3 is used for rolling to eliminate stress generated in rolling, so that the catalyst layer is finally rolled to the proton exchange membrane 92.

And respectively stripping and recovering the rolled anode transfer film and cathode transfer film by a first winding roller 4.1 and a second winding roller 4.2 in a stripping mechanism 4 to obtain a proton exchange membrane loaded with an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer, namely a CCM of a 3-layer.

The advantage of this embodiment lies in utilizing the characteristic of rendition membrane material, demonstrate the extremely light and stable from the type force when peeling off, and do not have the migration phenomenon, and thermal stability is good, be used for producing fuel cell membrane electrode assembly CCM, because of the swelling fold of membrane when having avoided catalyst solution direct action on proton membrane surface, cause harmful effects to follow-up preparation membrane electrode, and effectively saved the required time of CCM production, be convenient for realize proton exchange membrane fuel cell continuous and the production of scale, very big improvement production efficiency.

In summary, although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the above-described preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are substantially the same as the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for producing a CCM of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

2. The CCM production method for a pem fuel cell of claim 1 wherein in step a, the catalyst, the membrane solution, the organic solvent and the deionized water are mixed and dispersed uniformly by magnetic stirring, ultrasonic or shear emulsification equipment to obtain the catalyst solution.

3. The CCM production method for a pem fuel cell of claim 1 wherein, in step a, the transfer film is a PET film, a PE film or an OPP film, and the surface of the transfer film is coated with a silica gel release agent.

4. The CCM production method for a pem fuel cell according to claim 1 wherein in step B, the transfer is performed by two sets of rollers for two roller presses.

5. The CCM production method for PEMFC according to claim 4, wherein the roll pressure is 0.5 MPa-150 MPa and the roll speed is 5 mm/s-100 mm/s during the transfer.

6. The production device of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell CCM is characterized by comprising a first coating machine, a second coating machine, a rolling mechanism, a stripping mechanism and a guide roller set; a first coater for coating a catalyst solution onto a continuous transfer film to prepare an anode catalyst layer; the second coater is used for coating a catalyst solution on another continuous transfer film so as to prepare a cathode catalyst layer; the rolling mechanism is used for rolling the two transfer printing films and a continuous proton exchange film together so as to respectively transfer the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer to two sides of the proton exchange film; the peeling mechanism is used for peeling the two transfer printing films after transfer printing from the proton exchange membrane; the guide roller group is used for guiding the two transfer printing films and the proton exchange membrane to the rolling mechanism.

7. The apparatus for producing CCM of PEM fuel cells according to claim 6, wherein said first coater and said second coater are ultrasonic sprayers, each comprising a platform and a plurality of spray heads disposed above said platform; the nozzles are arranged in the width direction of the transfer film.

8. The apparatus for producing CCM of PEM fuel cells according to claim 6 wherein said roll-down mechanism comprises a frame, a first roll-down set disposed on said frame, and a motor; the first press roller group comprises a first driving press roller and a first driven press roller, and the first driving press roller is driven by a motor.

9. The apparatus for producing CCM for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell according to claim 8 wherein the roll-pressing mechanism further comprises a second roll-pressing group disposed downstream of the first roll-pressing group, the second roll-pressing group including a second driving roll and a second driven roll.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stripping mechanism comprises a first wind-up roll disposed above the PEM and a second wind-up roll disposed below the PEM.