CN113594488A

CN113594488A - Air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate and fuel cell thereof

Info

Publication number: CN113594488A
Application number: CN202110819986.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 任杰; 施忠贵; 鲍连福; 马冶; 徐小龙
Original assignee: Jiayu Hydrogen Energy Technology Liaoning Co ltd
Current assignee: Jiayu Hydrogen Energy Technology Liaoning Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-20
Filing date: 2021-07-20
Publication date: 2021-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2041-07-20
Also published as: CN113594488B

Abstract

The application relates to an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate and a fuel cell thereof, wherein the bipolar plate comprises a first metal plate and a second metal plate, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are respectively provided with a first metal frame, a gas inlet and an oxidant inlet which are arranged on one side of the first metal frame, and a gas outlet and an oxidant outlet which are arranged on the other side of the first metal frame, the gas inlet and the gas outlet on the first metal plate are communicated with the first metal frame, the oxidant inlet and the oxidant outlet on the second metal plate are communicated with the first metal frame, a gas flow channel is arranged in the first metal frame, the gas flow channel comprises a first buffer flow channel which is respectively arranged at the head end and the tail end of the gas flow channel, the first buffer flow channel comprises a plurality of flow distribution columns which are distributed at equal intervals, a shunt groove is arranged between two adjacent shunt columns, and one end of the shunt groove, which is far away from the shunt columns, inclines towards the direction far away from the first metal frame. The present application has the effect of increasing the reaction rate of the fuel cell.

Description

Air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate and fuel cell thereof

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of fuel cells, in particular to a metal bipolar plate of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell and a fuel cell thereof.

Background

A fuel cell is a chemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy. The main structural components of the fuel cell comprise a membrane electrode and a bipolar plate, wherein the bipolar plate is an important component of the cell and plays a role in collecting current, distributing gas, managing water and managing heat in the fuel cell. The fuel cell bipolar plate can adopt a metal bipolar plate, and the metal material has the advantages of good electric conductivity and thermal conductivity, high mechanical strength, easy flaking, easy processing and the like, and becomes one of the fuel cell bipolar plate materials.

The existing metal bipolar plate is manufactured by stamping groove structures on a titanium metal plate, the groove structures form flow fields of an anode plate and a cathode field, the flow fields are generally linear, and when fuel gas and oxidant gas enter an air flue inlet of the bipolar plate, the flow fields react with a catalyst on the bipolar plate.

In view of the above-mentioned related art, the inventors believe that the residence time of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas on the linear flow field is not long enough for the catalyst on the bipolar plates of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas to completely react, which may cause the reaction rate of the fuel gas and the oxidant to decrease, thereby decreasing the performance of the entire fuel cell.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to improve the reaction rate of the fuel cell, the application provides an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate and a fuel cell thereof.

In a first aspect, the application provides an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate, which adopts the following technical scheme:

an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate comprises a first metal plate and a second metal plate, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are respectively provided with a first metal frame, a fuel gas inlet and an oxidant inlet which are arranged on one side of the first metal frame, and a fuel gas outlet and an oxidant outlet which are arranged on the other side of the first metal frame, the fuel gas inlet and the fuel gas outlet on the first metal plate are communicated with the first metal frame, the oxidant inlet and the oxidant outlet on the second metal plate are communicated with the first metal frame, the first metal frame is internally provided with a gas flow channel, the gas flow channel comprises a first buffer flow channel respectively arranged at the head end and the tail end of the gas flow channel, the first buffer flow channel comprises a plurality of flow dividing columns which are distributed at equal intervals, a shunt groove is arranged between two adjacent shunt columns, and one end of the shunt groove, which is far away from the shunt columns, inclines towards the direction far away from the first metal frame.

By adopting the technical scheme, the fuel gas enters the gas flow channel in the first metal frame from the fuel gas inlet and then flows out from the fuel gas outlet, and the oxidant gas enters the gas flow channel in the first metal frame from the oxidant gas inlet and then flows out from the oxidant gas outlet; when firstly entering the first metal frame, the fuel gas and the oxidant gas sequentially pass through the flow dividing columns and the flow dividing grooves, so that the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are buffered, the gas flows into the bipolar plate more uniformly, and the flow speed of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is reduced.

Optionally, a second buffer flow channel is arranged in the center of the first metal frame, a first flow channel is arranged between one side of the second buffer flow channel and the first buffer flow channel at one end of the gas flow channel, and a second flow channel is arranged between the other side of the second buffer flow channel and the first buffer flow channel at the other end of the gas flow channel.

By adopting the technical scheme, when the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow in the gas flow channel, the second buffer flow channel further slows down the speed of the central part of the first metal frame, so that the flow time of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is prolonged.

Optionally, a connecting line between the fuel gas inlet and the fuel gas outlet and a connecting line between the oxidant inlet and the oxidant outlet are parallel, and the second buffer flow channel and the first buffer flow channel are diagonally arranged.

By adopting the technical scheme, the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are more tortuous when flowing in the gas flow channel, the flowing distance is increased, and the contact time of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is prolonged.

Optionally, a second runner is arranged between the second buffer runner and the first buffer runner located at one end, close to the fuel gas outlet and the oxidant outlet, of the first metal frame, the head end and the tail end of the second runner are diagonally arranged, the second runner includes a plurality of second slots, and the vertical section of the second runner is wavy.

By adopting the technical scheme, when the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow in the second flow channel, the walking path is tortuous, the flow distance of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is increased, and the contact time of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is prolonged.

Optionally, the first metal frame is provided with an air storage chamber at one end close to the fuel gas inlet and the oxidant inlet, the air storage chamber on the first metal plate is communicated with the fuel gas inlet, and the air storage chamber on the second metal plate is communicated with the oxidant inlet.

By adopting the technical scheme, when gas or oxidant gas respectively enters from the gas inlet and the oxidant inlet, the gas or the oxidant gas is temporarily stored in the gas storage chamber at first, so that the gas or the oxidant gas entering the gas channel is sufficient, and the normal reaction is kept.

Optionally, a guide plate is arranged in the gas storage chamber on the first metal plate, the guide plate is inclined towards the direction close to the inside of the gas storage chamber, and the first buffer flow channel and the gas inlet are respectively located on two sides of the guide plate.

Through adopting above-mentioned technical scheme, the gas that gets into from the gas entry is at first to the inside flow of gas receiver under the guide of guide plate, and sufficient gas keeps in the gas receiver, then flows into the gas flow in the runner gradually, reduces the gas direct possibility that flows into the gas flow.

Optionally, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are both provided with a coolant inlet located at one end of the first metal frame and a coolant outlet located at the other end of the first metal frame, the first metal plate and the second metal plate are provided with a second metal frame surrounding the outer side of the first metal frame, the second metal frame is communicated with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, and a coolant channel is arranged between the first metal frame and the second metal frame.

By adopting the technical scheme, the coolant enters the coolant channel from the coolant inlet, and the coolant surrounds the outer side of the first metal frame, namely surrounds the outer side of the position where the fuel gas and the oxidant gas react, and absorbs heat generated in the reaction process.

Optionally, the two surfaces of the first metal plate and the second metal plate are both provided with gas flow channels, the first metal frames are arranged in a staggered manner, and a dielectric layer is arranged between the two adjacent first metal plates and the second metal plates.

By adopting the technical scheme, the fuel gas and the oxidant gas respectively flow at two sides of the medium layer, so that the fuel gas and the oxidant gas react in the medium layer.

In a second aspect, the present application provides an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which adopts the following technical scheme:

an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprises the air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate in the first aspect, wherein a plurality of air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plates are stacked in sequence, and a dielectric layer is arranged between two adjacent air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plates; and the number of the first and second groups,

and the air blowing device comprises a fan, and the fan is arranged corresponding to the oxidant inlets and used for blowing air to each oxidant inlet.

By adopting the technical scheme, the finished chemical reaction group is formed by the metal bipolar plates and the dielectric layers of the air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell, so that the reaction can be normally carried out, and the air blowing device provides enough oxygen for the fuel cell, thereby improving the reaction effect.

In summary, the present application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

1. when the fuel gas and the oxidant gas firstly enter the first metal frame, the fuel gas and the oxidant gas sequentially pass through the flow-dividing columns and the flow-dividing grooves, so that the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are buffered, the gas flows into the bipolar plate more uniformly, and the flow speed of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is reduced;

2. when the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow in the second flow channel, the walking path is tortuous, the flowing distance of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is increased, and the contact time of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is prolonged;

3. when gas or oxidant gas respectively enters from the gas inlet and the oxidant inlet, the gas or oxidant gas is temporarily stored in the gas storage chamber at first, so that the gas or oxidant gas entering the gas channel is sufficient, and the normal reaction is kept.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first metal plate of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a second metal plate of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of the assembly of the first metal plate and the second metal plate in the present application.

Description of reference numerals: 1. a first metal plate; 2. a second metal plate; 3. a gas inlet; 4. an oxidant inlet; 5. a coolant inlet; 6. a gas outlet; 7. an oxidant outlet; 8. a coolant outlet; 9. a first metal frame; 10. a gas flow channel; 101. a first buffer runner; 1011. a flow-dividing column; 1012. a shunt trench; 102. a first flow passage; 1021. a first slot; 103. a second buffer runner; 1031. a second split column; 104. a second flow passage; 1041. a second slot; 11. an air storage chamber; 111. a baffle; 12. a second metal frame; 13. a coolant flow passage; 14. a dielectric layer; 141. a gas diffusion layer; 142. a catalyst layer; 143. and (3) an exchange membrane.

Detailed Description

The present application is described in further detail below with reference to figures 1-3.

The embodiment of the application discloses a metal bipolar plate of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the metallic bipolar plate includes first and second metal plates 1 and 2, a gas inlet 3, an oxidant inlet 4, and a coolant inlet 5 are provided at upper sides of the first and second metal plates 1 and 2, and a gas outlet 6, an oxidant outlet 7, and a coolant outlet 8 are provided at lower sides of the first and second metal plates 1 and 2. The connecting line between the fuel gas inlet 3 and the fuel gas outlet 6, the connecting line between the oxidant inlet 4 and the oxidant outlet 7, and the connecting line between the coolant inlet 5 and the coolant outlet 8 are parallel.

First metal frames 9 are respectively arranged on the front and back surfaces of the first metal plate 1 and the second metal plate 2, and gas flow channels 10 are respectively arranged in the first metal frames 9 of the first metal plate 1 and the second metal plate 2. Referring to fig. 3, the first metal plate 1 and the second metal plate 2 are alternately stacked, the dielectric layer 14 is disposed between the first metal plate 1 and the second metal plate 2, the dielectric layer 14 includes a gas diffusion layer 141, a catalyst layer 142 and an exchange membrane 143 are sequentially disposed on both sides of the gas diffusion layer 141, and the fuel gas and the oxidant gas respectively flow on both sides of the dielectric layer 14 and have the same flow path, thereby facilitating the fuel gas and the oxidant gas to fully react.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a fuel gas flows through gas flow channels 10 of a first metal frame 9, an oxidant gas flows through gas flow channels 10 of a second metal frame 12, and the oxidant gas and a fuel gas react on a medium layer 14 under catalysis of a catalyst to generate water.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the gas flow channel 10 includes a first buffer flow channel 101 disposed on one side of the top end of the first metal frame 9, the first buffer flow channel 101 includes equally spaced distribution of the shunt columns 1011, and further includes a shunt groove 1012 interposed between two adjacent shunt columns 1011, and one end of the shunt groove 1012 away from the shunt columns 1011 is inclined toward a direction away from the first metal frame 9.

A first flow channel 102 is provided below the first buffer flow channel 101, the first flow channel 102 is formed by a plurality of first open grooves 1021 provided in the first metal frame 9, and the first open grooves 1021 are connected to and communicate with the flow dividing grooves 1012. One end of the first flow channel 102 is close to the first buffer flow channel 101, and the other end extends in a direction away from the first buffer flow channel 101, so that the head end and the tail end of the first flow channel 102 are disposed diagonally. When the fuel gas or the oxidant gas passes through the first flow channel 102, the flow path is lengthened, and the reaction time is lengthened.

A second buffer flow passage 103 is further provided at a lower side of the first flow passage 102, the second buffer flow passage 103 includes a plurality of second distribution posts 1031 arranged at equal intervals, and the second distribution posts 1031 are arranged at the center of the first slit 1021, so that the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is re-dispersed to slow down the flow velocity when passing through the second buffer flow passage 103.

A second runner 104 is further arranged on the lower side of the second buffer runner 103, the second runner 104 is formed by a plurality of second slots 1041 arranged in the first metal frame 9, one end of each second slot 1041 is close to the bottom end of the second buffer runner 103, the other end of each second slot 1041 extends to the bottom end of the first metal frame 9, the head end and the tail end of each second runner 104 are arranged diagonally, and the vertical section of each second slot 1041 is wavy. When the fuel gas and the oxidant gas pass through the second flow passage 104, the flow path is lengthened, and the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are sufficiently contacted.

The bottom end of the second flow channel 104 is provided with another group of first buffer flow channels 101 connected with the tail end of the second flow channel 104, and the remaining unreacted fuel gas or oxidant gas flows out of the gas flow channel 10 under the diversion of the first buffer flow channels 101.

An air storage chamber 11 is arranged at the top end of the first metal frame 9 and close to the gas inlet 3, the oxidant inlet 4 and the coolant inlet 5, and the air storage chamber 11 is communicated with a first buffer flow channel 101 at the top of the first metal frame 9.

Referring to fig. 1, a guide plate 111 is further disposed in the gas storage chamber 11 on the first metal plate 1, the guide plate 111 is inclined toward the direction close to the inside of the gas storage chamber 11, and the first buffer flow channel 101 and the gas inlet 3 are respectively disposed at two sides of the guide plate 111, so that the gas entering from the gas inlet 3 flows into the gas storage chamber 11 first under the guidance of the guide plate 111, and the gas temporarily stores a sufficient amount of gas in the gas storage chamber 11 and then flows into the gas flow channel 10 gradually, thereby reducing the possibility that the gas directly flows into the gas flow channel 10. Therefore, the gas pressure is stabilized, and the gas can be continuously supplied to the gas flow path 10.

Referring to fig. 2, the gas reserving chamber 11 formed in the second metal plate 2 is communicated with the oxidant inlet 4, and the bottom end of the first metal frame 9 is communicated with the oxidant outlet 7, so that the oxidant gas is introduced into the gas reserving chamber 11 from the opening of the oxidant inlet 4, is temporarily stored, is introduced into the first metal frame 9, and finally passes through the fuel gas flow passage 10 and flows out from the oxidant outlet 7.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a second metal frame 12 is provided on each of the first and second metal plates 1 and 2, the second metal frame 12 is provided outside the first metal frame 9 and communicates with the coolant inlet 5 and the coolant outlet 8, a recessed coolant flow channel 13 is formed between the first and

second metal frames

9 and 12, the coolant enters into the coolant flow channel 13 from the coolant inlet 5, and the coolant is surrounded outside the gas flow channel 10 to absorb heat generated during the reaction and reduce the temperature of the first and second metal plates 1 and 2.

The implementation principle of the air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate in the embodiment of the application is as follows: the first metal plate 1 and the second metal plate 2 are sequentially stacked, the medium layer 14 is arranged between the first metal plate 1 and the second metal plate 2, fuel gas enters the gas storage chamber 11 from the fuel gas inlet 3 for temporary storage, then enters the first flow channel 102 through the first buffer flow channel 101, is temporarily buffered in the second buffer flow channel 103, then flows through the second flow channel 104, and finally flows out of the fuel gas outlet 6 from the first buffer flow channel 101 at the bottom end.

The oxidant gas enters the air receiver 11 from the oxidant inlet 4 for temporary storage, then enters the first flow channel 102 through the first buffer flow channel 101, then is temporarily buffered in the second buffer flow channel 103, then flows through the second flow channel 104, and finally flows out of the oxidant outlet 7 from the first buffer flow channel 101 at the bottom end.

The embodiment of the application also discloses an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprises a plurality of air-cooled proton exchange membrane cell metal plates and a blower device, wherein the air-cooled proton exchange membrane cell metal plates are arranged in a stacked mode, and a dielectric layer 14 is arranged between every two adjacent air-cooled proton exchange membrane cell metal plates to form a complete electrochemical reaction environment. The air blowing device comprises a fan and an auxiliary part matched with the fan, wherein the auxiliary part comprises a control assembly, a connecting pipeline and the like. The fan is connected to a connecting duct that blows air from one side of the air-cooled pem fuel cell to the other, the connecting duct being in communication with the oxidant inlets 4, such that the fan blows air to each oxidant inlet 4 to provide sufficient oxygen for the reaction.

The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited by the above embodiments, so: all equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape and principle of the present application shall be covered by the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. The utility model provides an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate, includes first metal sheet (1) and second metal sheet (2), all be provided with first metal frame (9), gas entry (3) and oxidant entry (4) of setting in first metal frame (9) one side, gas export (6) and oxidant export (7) of setting in first metal frame (9) opposite side on first metal sheet (1) and second metal sheet (2), gas entry (3) and gas export (6) on first metal sheet (1) communicate with first metal frame (9), oxidant entry (4) and oxidant export (7) on second metal sheet (2) communicate with first metal frame (9), be provided with gas flow way (10) in first metal frame (9), its characterized in that: the gas flow channel (10) comprises first buffer flow channels (101) which are respectively arranged at the head end and the tail end of the gas flow channel (10), each first buffer flow channel (101) comprises a plurality of equally-spaced distribution columns (1011), a distribution groove (1012) is arranged between every two adjacent distribution columns (1011), and one end, far away from the distribution columns (1011), of each distribution groove (1012 is inclined towards the direction far away from the first metal frame (9).

2. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 1, wherein: the gas flow channel structure is characterized in that a second buffer flow channel (103) is arranged in the center of the first metal frame (9), a first flow channel (102) is arranged between one side of the second buffer flow channel (103) and the first buffer flow channel (101) at one end of the gas flow channel (10), and a second flow channel (104) is arranged between the other side of the second buffer flow channel (103) and the first buffer flow channel (101) at the other end of the gas flow channel (10).

3. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 2, wherein: and a connecting line between the fuel gas inlet (3) and the fuel gas outlet (6) and a connecting line between the oxidant inlet (4) and the oxidant outlet (7) are parallel, and the second buffer flow channel (103) and the first buffer flow channel (101) are arranged in an oblique and diagonal manner.

4. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 3, wherein: and a second runner (104) is arranged between the second buffer runner (103) and a first buffer runner (101) which is positioned at one end of the first metal frame (9) close to the gas outlet (6) and the oxidant outlet (7), the head end and the tail end of the second runner (104) are arranged diagonally, the second runner (104) comprises a plurality of second slots (1041), and the vertical section of the second runner (104) is wavy.

5. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 1, wherein: the gas storage chamber (11) is arranged at one end, close to the gas inlet (3) and the oxidant inlet (4), of the first metal frame (9), the gas storage chamber (11) is communicated with the gas inlet (3) on the first metal plate (1), and the gas storage chamber (11) is communicated with the oxidant inlet (4) on the second metal plate (2).

6. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 5, wherein: a guide plate (111) is arranged in the air storage chamber (11) on the first metal plate (1), the guide plate (111) inclines towards the direction close to the inside of the air storage chamber (11), and the first buffer flow channel (101) and the gas inlet (3) are respectively located on two sides of the guide plate (111).

7. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 1, wherein: the cooling device is characterized in that the first metal plate (1) and the second metal plate (2) are provided with a coolant inlet (5) located at one end of the first metal frame (9) and a coolant outlet (8) located at the other end of the first metal frame (9), the first metal plate (1) and the second metal plate (2) are provided with a second metal frame (12) surrounding the outer side of the first metal frame (9), the second metal frame (12) is communicated with the coolant inlet (5) and the coolant outlet (8), and a coolant channel is arranged between the first metal frame (9) and the second metal frame (12).

8. The air-cooled pem fuel cell metallic bipolar plate of claim 1, wherein: the gas flow channels (10) are arranged on two sides of the first metal plate (1) and the second metal plate (2), the first metal frames (9) are arranged in a staggered mode, and a medium layer (14) is arranged between the two adjacent first metal plates (1) and the second metal plates (2).

9. An air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising the air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of the air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plates are stacked in sequence, and a dielectric layer (14) is arranged between two adjacent air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell metal bipolar plates; and the number of the first and second groups,

and the air blowing device comprises a fan, and the fan is arranged corresponding to the oxidant inlets (4) and used for blowing air to each oxidant inlet (4).