EP1618620A1 - Plaque bipolaire comprenant des fibres metalliques - Google Patents

Plaque bipolaire comprenant des fibres metalliques

Info

Publication number
EP1618620A1
EP1618620A1 EP03727506A EP03727506A EP1618620A1 EP 1618620 A1 EP1618620 A1 EP 1618620A1 EP 03727506 A EP03727506 A EP 03727506A EP 03727506 A EP03727506 A EP 03727506A EP 1618620 A1 EP1618620 A1 EP 1618620A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bipolar plate
polymer wall
polymer
metal fibers
metal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03727506A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Lieven Anaf
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bekaert NV SA
Original Assignee
Bekaert NV SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bekaert NV SA filed Critical Bekaert NV SA
Publication of EP1618620A1 publication Critical patent/EP1618620A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0206—Metals or alloys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0221—Organic resins; Organic polymers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0223—Composites
    • H01M8/0226—Composites in the form of mixtures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0223—Composites
    • H01M8/0228—Composites in the form of layered or coated products
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to bipolar plates, especially for use in electrochemical processes.
  • the present invention also relates to methods for providing such bipolar plates
  • Bipolar plates are well known for use in electrochemical processes, e.g. fuel cells.
  • Reactors of electrochemical processes may comprise an anode and a cathode chamber being separated from each other by means of a liquid and gas tight barrier. Meanwhile, an electrically conductive electrode is provided in this anode and cathode chamber.
  • the bipolar plate may act as a liquid and gas barrier between anode and cathode chamber, providing such an electrode in the anode and cathode chamber.
  • EP1246284A2 describes a bipolar plate comprising a polymer wall comprising more than 60 %weight of conductive material, e.g. carbon particles or metal or carbon fibers.
  • Bipolar plates as presently known, comprising such amounts of carbon or metal particles or fibers, have the disadvantage to be relatively heavy and expensive. Further more, due to the significant amount of non- polymer present in the bipolar plate, the mechanical properties of the bipolar plates differ to a large extent from the mechanical properties of polymer material.
  • a bipolar plate as subject of the invention comprises a polymer wall, which comprises polymer material and metal fibers.
  • the metal fibers have an average length (L) and an equivalent diameter (D) of which the average length over equivalent diameter ratio (L/D) is more than 100, as an example more than 250 or even more than 400.
  • the weight of metal fibers may be less than 40 % weight or even less than 25% weight of the polymer wall.
  • the weight of metal fibers may be more than 10 % weight or even more than 15% weight of the polymer wall.
  • the mechanical properties of polymer wall comprising metal fibers according to the present invention do not differ too much from the properties of a polymer wall without metal fibers, as significantly less non-polymer material is added to polymer wall to render it sufficiently electrically conductive.
  • the average length of the metal fibers preferably ranges between 0.5mm and 6mm, e.g. between 0.5mm and 4mm or between 1 mm and 3.5mm such as 1.5mm, 2mm and any number between 0.5mm and 6mm.
  • the equivalent diameter of the metal fibers preferably ranges between 0.5 ⁇ m and 60 ⁇ m, e.g. between 2 ⁇ m and 35 ⁇ m or between 2 ⁇ m and 24 ⁇ m such as 6.5 ⁇ m, 8 ⁇ m, 12 ⁇ m and any number between 0.5 ⁇ m and 60 ⁇ m.
  • equivalent diameter of metal fibers is to be understood as the average diameter of imaginary fibers having a circular radial cross section, of which the surface of the radial cross sections are identical to the surface of a radial cross sections of the metal fibers.
  • the metal fibers may be any type of metal fibers, but preferably they are provided out of stainless steel or Ni or Ni-alloy. Different alloys of stainless steel may be used to provide the electrically conductive fibers, e.g. alloys out of the AISI 300- and AISI 400-series, e.g. AISI 302 and
  • the polymer wall preferably is a polymer sheet.
  • the thickness of the polymer wall is preferably more than 0.5 mm but less than 5mm. The selection of the thickness may influence the gas and liquid impermeability of the polymer wall.
  • the polymer material used to provide the polymer wall is preferably selected from the group consisting of fluoro-polymers such as polytetrafluorethylene, or polyolefines, such as e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene or high-density polyethylene, polyacetal or polysulfon.
  • fluoro-polymers such as polytetrafluorethylene, or polyolefines, such as e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene or high-density polyethylene, polyacetal or polysulfon.
  • the polymer wall is a polymer sheet, being obtained by extrusion processes. Extruded polymer sheets guarantee to a larger extent the gas- and liquid-tightness.
  • the metal fibers may be provided to the polymer material using chopped fiber form further comprising a polymeric binder, as described in US 5397608. Such chopped fibers with binder are added to the plastic compound, providing a master batch comprising metal fibers. This master batch may then be injection molded providing an injection molded sheet or plate of polymer material comprising metal fibers, being a bipolar plate as subject of the invention.
  • the polymer wall may be provided of a coating layer of metal material. More preferred, a nickel or nickel alloy coating is provided. This metal material can be provided in many different ways, e.g. by flame spraying, laminating a metal foil to the sides of the polymer wall, or as a solidified layer of metal material out of the melt of the metal material, e.g. by dip coating. Alternatively, a metal sheet may be glued to the surface of the polymer sheet using electrically conductive adhesives.
  • the sides of the polymer wall on which the coating layer is applied is roughened before the coating layer is provided.
  • Such roughening can be done by sand or grit blasting.
  • the polymer material and metal fibers are molded between two metal foils, which, after solidifying of the polymer wall, is present as the coating layer on the polymer wall.
  • inmould labeling or inmould decoration techniques may be used.
  • electrically conductive parts e.g. screws, bolt, nails or metallic parts may be inserted in the polymer wall over a depth of less than the wall thickness in order to make electrical contact with the metal fibers present in the inner part of the polymer wall. Penetration through the whole polymer wall thickness is to be prevented in order to avoid any gas or liquid leakage. Direct contact between conductive parts inserted from one side with conductive parts inserted from the opposite side is avoided. This to avoid any gas-or liquid leakage. Surprisingly it was found that by inserting such electrically conductive parts, the electrical conductivity of the polymer wall is improved significantly. In case a coating layer is applied on the polymer wall, the conductive parts may be inserted before or after the applying of the coating.
  • the bipolar plates as subject of the invention may be used in all kinds of electrochemical reactors, such as e.g. fuel cells, electrolysers or H 2 - production units.
  • FIGURE 1 shows schematically a section of a bipolar plate as subject of the invention.
  • FIGURES 2 and 3 show schematically a section of a bipolar plate as subject of the invention, comprising conductive parts.
  • a bipolar plate 100 as subject of the invention comprises a polymer wall 101 , which may have on both sides a coating layer 102 and 103.
  • the polymer wall, obtained by injection molding of polymer material polyacetal has a thickness 106 of 1.5mm and comprises, next to the polymer material, metal fibers 110, being stainless steel fibers out of
  • Ni-fibers having an average length of 4mm and having an equivalent diameter of 12 ⁇ m may be used.
  • the polymer wall 101 is obtained by injection molding of a master batch comprising the polymer material blended with chopped fibers of a length of more than the required average length of the fibers.
  • chopped fibers with length of 5mm may be used.
  • the coating layer preferably a Ni-coating layer has a thickness 107 of in the range of 0.01mm to 0.5mm. As an example the coating layer is given a thickness of 0.02mm.
  • the metal fiber content of the polymer wall is in the example 15 % weight of the polymer wall.
  • the bipolar plate 100 may be used to be placed between two metal wire knitted fabrics 104 and 105, each at one side
  • FIGURE 2 shows an alternative bipolar plate 200 as subject of the invention.
  • a bipolar plate 200 comprises a polymer wall 201 was obtained by injection molding of polymer material polyacetal has a thickness 206 of 3mm and comprises, next to the polymer material, metal fibers 210, being stainless steel fibers out of AISI 302, having an equivalent diameter of 8 ⁇ m and an average length of 4mm.
  • metal screws are inserted over a depth of approximately 1.5mm. Care is taken that screws inserted on side 202 does not contact screws inserted on the opposite side 203.
  • a Ni-coating layer 230 of thickness 107 of 0.02mm is provided. Ni screws are preferred in case the metal fibers are provided out of Ni or Ni-alloy.
  • Stainless steel screws are to be preferred in case the fibers are stainless steel fibers.
  • the bipolar plate 200 may be used to be placed between two metal wire knitted fabrics 204 and 205, each at one side 208 and 209 of the coated polymer wall in order to provide a cell of a fuel cell.
  • FIGURE 3 shows an alternative bipolar plate 300 as subject of the invention.
  • a polymer wall 301 comprising identical metal fibers 310 as in the embodiment of FIGURE 2, and having a thickness 306 of 3mm, is coated on both sides with a Ni-coating layer 303 and 302, having a thickness 307 of approximately 0.02mm.
  • metal parts such as Ni-screws 320 may be inserted over a depth of approximately 1.5mm. Also here, care is taken to avoid direct contact between screws, inserted on opposite sides.
  • the bipolar plate 300 may be used to be placed between two metal wire knitted fabrics 304 and 305, each at one side 308 and 309 of the coated polymer wall in order to provide a cell of a fuel cell.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à une plaque bipolaire, qui comprend une paroi polymère contenant un matériau polymère et des fibres métalliques. Les fibres métalliques ont une longueur moyenne L et un diamètre équivalent D, le rapport entre cette longueur et ce diamètre équivalent L/D étant supérieur à 100.
EP03727506A 2003-04-29 2003-04-29 Plaque bipolaire comprenant des fibres metalliques Withdrawn EP1618620A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2003/050131 WO2004097967A1 (fr) 2003-04-29 2003-04-29 Plaque bipolaire comprenant des fibres metalliques

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1618620A1 true EP1618620A1 (fr) 2006-01-25

Family

ID=33395703

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03727506A Withdrawn EP1618620A1 (fr) 2003-04-29 2003-04-29 Plaque bipolaire comprenant des fibres metalliques

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1618620A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2003233798A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004097967A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4874678A (en) * 1987-12-10 1989-10-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Elongated solid electrolyte cell configurations and flexible connections therefor
US5190833A (en) * 1990-12-31 1993-03-02 Luz Electric Fuel Israel Ltd. Electrodes for metal/air batteries and fuel cells and bipolar metal/air batteries incorporating the same
US5200281A (en) * 1991-11-18 1993-04-06 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Sintered bipolar battery plates
US5429894A (en) * 1993-12-03 1995-07-04 Westinghouse Elec. Corp. Silver-iron battery
JP3583897B2 (ja) * 1997-04-11 2004-11-04 三洋電機株式会社 燃料電池
FR2765723B1 (fr) * 1997-07-01 1999-07-30 Commissariat Energie Atomique Materiau composite conducteur, materiau obtenu par frittage de celui-ci, plaques bipolaires preparees avec ce dernier, et dispositif de pile a combustible comprenant ces plaques bipolaires
US6103413A (en) * 1998-05-21 2000-08-15 The Dow Chemical Company Bipolar plates for electrochemical cells
CA2379007C (fr) * 2001-03-27 2011-04-26 Nichias Corporation Separateur de cellules electrochimiques, et methode de fabrication

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004097967A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004097967A8 (fr) 2005-01-20
AU2003233798A1 (en) 2004-11-23
WO2004097967A1 (fr) 2004-11-11

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