KR100777240B1 - A separator for fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

A separator for a fuel cell is provided to simplify the structure and the manufacturing process and to save the materials required for the manufacturing process of a current collector plate. A separator for a fuel cell comprises a bipolar plate(300) which prevents a fuel gas from being mixed with air; a pair of masking plates(200,400) which seal electrodes between electrodes(100, 500); and a pair of current collector parts(220,420) which are connected with the electrode electrically, wherein the current collector parts are integrated at the center part of the masking plates, and the current collector parts have the area capable of accommodating the electrode sufficiently and have the level difference to the making plates.

Description

Separator for fuel cell {A SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL}

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional separator for fuel cells;

2 is an exploded perspective view showing another conventional separator for fuel cells;

3 is an exploded perspective view showing a separator for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a plan view illustrating a bipolar plate as one component of a separator for a fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a plan view of a masking plate which is one component of a separator plate for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a cross-sectional view showing an X-X cutting plane in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a Y-Y cut surface in FIG. 5. FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100,500: electrode 200,400: masking plate

210,410: connection part 220,420: current collector part

300: bipolar plate 310: frame portion

311: protrusion

The present invention relates to a separator for a fuel cell, and more particularly, to a separator for a fuel cell provided with a current collector in a masking plate to facilitate manufacturing and reduce material required for manufacturing.

In general, a fuel cell is an electrochemical fuel cell that utilizes ion conduction induced in an electrolyte layer by supplying fuel gas containing hydrogen and air containing oxygen, respectively, to the anode and the cathode, which are two electrode plates positioned on both sides of the dense electrolyte layer. It is a power generation device that produces electricity from the chemical energy of fuel by reacting hydrogen contained in oxygen with oxygen contained in the air.

Such fuel cells are classified into various types according to the electrolytes used. Among them, lithium, potassium, sodium carbonate mixtures, or a small amount of carbonate or oxide mixtures of carbonates containing additives have a temperature above 500. A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is a fuel cell that is melted at a temperature higher than or equal to and used as an electrolyte material. Since the MCFC uses a liquid substance as an electrolyte, an electrolyte is used by capillary pressure in matrix pores made of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) or lithium aluminate (LiAlO ₂ ) having a porous structure to fix the electrolyte. It is used by impregnation. That is, the electrolyte melted at the MCFC operating temperature is impregnated into the pores of the matrix to form an electrolyte / matrix composite, and both of the electrolyte / matrix composites are provided with nickel anode plates and cathode plates, respectively, and unit cells, which are basic units of a fuel cell. The fuel cell stack is formed by stacking the unit cells with the separator for fuel cell interposed therebetween.

Meanwhile, the MCFC separator plate, which is mainly made of stainless steel, provides a flow path for evenly supplying fuel gas and air to each unit cell constituting the stack, while preventing fuel gas and air from being mixed. Is a component that plays a variety of roles, such as forming a gas seal to prevent leakage to unwanted places and electrically connecting each unit cell in series. Therefore, the separator is a complex mechanical structure is required in order to perform these various functions is to manufacture each unit component.

Such a conventional unit cell separator is briefly described with reference to the drawings below.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional fuel cell separator plate, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing another conventional fuel cell separator plate.

As shown in the drawings, the conventional separator plates for fuel cells have a bipolar plate 40 which prevents the mixing of fuel gas and air, and a pair of masking plates forming a seal between the electrode 10 and the electrode 70 ( 20, 60, and a pair of current collector plates 30, 35, 50, and 55 forming an electrical connection between the electrodes 10, 70.

In the above configuration, the current collector plates 30 and 50 of FIG. 1 are located in a space formed between the bipolar plate 40 and the masking plates 20 and 60, and thus the current collector plates 30 and 50. In order for the) to directly contact the electrodes 10 and 70 to form an electrical connection, the openings 21 and 61 in which the electrodes can be placed must be provided in the central portion A of the masking plates 20 and 60. On the other hand, the other prior art as shown in Figure 2 is made of the same configuration as the prior art described above, but the bonding plate 35, 55 is made so that only the openings (21, 61) of the masking plate (20, 60).

Therefore, the conventional fuel cell separator of FIG. 1 of the conventional fuel cell separator may not recycle the material corresponding to the openings 21 and 61 of the central portion A of the masking plates 20 and 60. 20,60) Since the majority of the material consumed in the manufacturing process will be discarded, the waste of the material is severe in the manufacture of the separator.

In addition, another conventional fuel cell separation plate as shown in FIG. 2 may be used as the current collector plates 35 and 55 by processing a material corresponding to the openings 21 and 61, but the current collector plates 35 and 55 may be used. In order to be fixed in the space formed between the masking plates 20 and 60 and the bipolar plate 40, a separate material is applied around the current collector plates 35 and 55, such as a welding joint to the masking plates 20 and 60. There was a problem that the production process is complicated because additional processes are required.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, by manufacturing a masking plate integrally formed with a current collector in the masking plate to minimize the waste of materials without additional processing, and also reduce the number of unit parts The purpose of the present invention is to provide a separator for a fuel cell which simplifies the production process.

As a means for achieving the above object, the separator plate for fuel cells of the present invention, a bipolar plate to prevent the mixing of the fuel gas and air, a pair of masking plate to form a seal between the electrode and the electrode, In the fuel cell separator comprising a pair of current collectors for electrical connection, the current collector portion is integrally formed at the central portion of the masking plate to simplify the components to reduce the production process.

Preferably, the current collector portion is formed to have a step with respect to the manifold portion while having an area that can accommodate the electrode sufficiently, characterized in that the electrode is accommodated to prevent the flow of the positive electrode.

Preferably, the junction between the current collector and the masking plate is disconnected except for at least one or more connecting parts to facilitate the flow of current, and is integrally formed with the connecting plate integrally with the masking plate.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing a separator for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a plan view showing a bipolar plate which is one component of the separator for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the separator for fuel cells of the present invention is responsible for sealing the gas and the bipolar plate 300 for separating the fuel gas and air, and provides an electrical connection to the electrodes 100 and 500 and the separator plate therein. And a pair of masking plates 200 and 400 provided with current collectors 220 and 420.

As shown in Figure 4, the bipolar plate 300, a conventional bipolar plate may be applied to this description, as a flat plate having a manifold hole (H), a plurality of protrusions protruding to the top and bottom, respectively 311 is formed. The protrusion 311 may be formed of a circular protrusion 311a formed around the manifold hole H and a slot-type protrusion 311b formed at the center portion A. The protrusion 311 protrudes upward and protrudes downward. (Iii) arranged. In addition, both sides of the edge of the bipolar plate 300 is formed by further protruding the edge portion 313 for coupling to the masking plate (200,400).

The protrusion 311 supports the current collectors 220 and 420 of the masking plates 200 and 400 having a flat plate shape in an upward or downward direction so that the electrodes 100 and 500 of the current collector plates 30 and 50 of FIG. 1 are in charge. ) Will bear the support for instead.

Hereinafter, a masking plate which is one component of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 3.

5 is a plan view of a masking plate that is one component of a separator for fuel cells according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cutting plane XX of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting plane YY of FIG. 5. to be.

As shown in the figure, the masking plate 200 has a manifold in which a plurality of manifold holes 230H and 250H are formed on both sides to form a manifold serving to distribute gas to each unit cell. Consists of a fold portion (b), the central portion (a) is composed of a current collector portion 220, 420 formed with a plurality of vents (h).

The current collectors 220 and 420 are formed to have a step with respect to the manifold part a. The step height is different depending on the material of the separator and the thickness of the electrodes 100 and 500 and the penetration amount of the electrodes 100 and 500. Can be.

In addition, the current collectors 220 and 420 may be formed to have a width enough to accommodate the electrodes 100 and 500, and a vent h may be further formed to allow gas to flow therethrough. In this case, the shape of the vent (h) may be formed in a circle or a square, it may be formed in two or more shapes.

The manifold portion b is separated from the manifold portion b around the current collector portions 220 and 420, but is not completely cut and leaves at least one or more connecting portions 210 along the cutting line during the cutting process. ) Are formed such that the current collectors 220 and 240 are attached thereto.

On the other hand, in the configuration as described above, the current collector parts 220 and 420 are supported by the slot-shaped protrusions 311b provided in the center portion A of the upper and lower portions of the bipolar plate 300, respectively. The fold portion (b of FIG. 5) is supported by circular protrusions 311a provided at the upper and lower manifold portions (B of FIG. 4) of the bipolar plate 300, respectively. Accordingly, the supporting function of the electrodes 100 and 500 is assumed by the slot-type protrusion 311b of the bipolar plate 300 through the current collectors 220 and 420 of the masking plates 200 and 400.

The masking plates 200 and 400 are bonded to the bipolar plate 300, and are fixed through the edge portions 313 of the bipolar plate 300 protruding downward and upward, respectively, and the current collectors of the masking plates 200 and 400. Electrodes 100 and 500 are attached to the upper portions 220 and 420. At this time, the bonding means may be formed by blazing bonding or the like, which is one of thermal fusion bonding.

When the bonding is completed as described above, the external force pressurized through the electrodes (100, 500) of the masking plate (200, 400) instead of being supported by the current collector plate (30, 50 of FIG. It is supported by the protrusion part 311 formed in the bipolar plate 300 through the collectors 220 and 420.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, and it is common in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be evident to those who have knowledge of.

As described above, the separator for fuel cell of the present invention can minimize material waste required for fabricating a current collector plate due to the masking plate configuration including the current collector, and simplify the separation plate manufacturing process by simplifying unit components. It can work.

Claims (3)

In a separator for a fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate that prevents mixing of fuel gas and air, a pair of masking plates forming a seal between the electrode and the electrode, and a pair of current collectors for electrically connecting the electrodes. , The current collector portion is integrally formed in the central portion of the masking plate, The current collector portion has a surface area that can sufficiently accommodate the electrode, the separator for a fuel cell, characterized in that formed to have a step with respect to the masking plate. delete The method of claim 1, The junction between the current collector portion and the masking plate is disconnected except for at least one connection portion.

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