KR101480838B1 - Manifold type fuel cell having fluid guide - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell comprising a plurality of manifolds mounted on a stack, the fuel cell being formed between the first and second manifolds so that the first gas flows in one direction between the first manifold and the vessel Includes fluid guides to guide in and out.
Therefore, guiding the flow path of the fluid minimizes damage to the stack and prevents the gasket from escaping.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a manifold type fuel cell including a fluid guide,

The present invention relates to a high temperature external manifold type fuel cell.

The present invention relates to a high temperature external manifold type fuel cell. Fuel cells are devices that convert chemical energy in the form of fuel directly into electrical energy by electrochemical reaction. Generally, like a battery, a fuel cell includes a negative electrode or positive electrode and a positive electrode or a negative electrode, which are classified by an electrolyte that conducts electrically ionized ions between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. However, unlike batteries, fuel cells will continue to generate electricity as long as fuel and oxidant are provided to the anode and cathode, respectively.

To produce a useful amount of electricity, each fuel cell is typically arranged in a series-stacked relationship with an electrically conductive separating plate between each of the cells. The fuel cell stack can be classified into an internally manifolded stack or an externally manifolded stack.

For high-temperature external manifold-type fuel cells, insulation between the stack and the manifold is required. To this end, a gasket structure that can complement the brittleness of the ceramic material and the ceramic material is included.

The gasket is flexible and made to withstand high temperatures. Since the gasket having such characteristics is damaged when the sintering pressure is high, there is a limitation in the tightening pressure that can be applied.

That is, when the pressure inside the manifold rises above the designed value, the gasket and the insulator can be separated from the manifold. In this case, the anode and cathode gases of the fuel cell can be ignited and burned. When the combustion reaction occurs inside the stack, the stack formed of the metal material is damaged, and stable operation of the fuel cell becomes difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell which can guide the flow of fluid inside a stack and can be stably performed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell including a stack, first and second manifolds, a vessel, and a fluid guide. The stack is formed by stacking fuel cells. The first manifold is installed on one side of the stack and accommodates a first gas. The second manifold is installed on the other side of the stack opposite to one side of the stack, and receives the second gas different from the first gas. The vessel houses the stack, the first and second manifolds, and receives a gas containing oxygen. The fluid guide is formed between the first and second manifolds and includes a discharge portion formed such that the first gas can flow into or out between the first manifold and the vessel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first gas is a fuel gas containing hydrogen, and the pressure of the first manifold is formed to be greater than the pressure of the vessel and the pressure of the second manifold.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first gas is a gas containing oxygen, the pressure inside the first manifold is formed to be smaller than the pressure of the vessel containing gas including oxygen and the pressure of the second manifold do.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second gaskets are formed between the first manifold and the stack and between the second manifold and the stack. The crossing first and second members of the fluid guide overlap with the first and second gaskets, respectively.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a support is formed to support a third member that intersects with the first and second members to prevent the fluid guide from escaping from the gasket.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the support portion includes a hole overlapping with the discharge portion so that the first gas can pass therethrough.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid guide includes a plurality of members, and the plurality of members are connected in the longitudinal direction of the first and second manifolds.

According to the present invention, the gasket is supported by the fluid guide so as not to be separated from the manifold. Therefore, the damage of the fuel cell can be reduced even when the pressure or the like is changed due to the abnormality of the external device.

In addition, fluid may be introduced into the vessel or moved from the vessel to the cathode manifold by the fluid guide. Therefore, damage to the stack is prevented and stable operation of the fuel cell is induced.

1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell of FIG. 1 taken along line AA. FIG.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid guide and the support.
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of FIG. 2C. FIG.
FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of FIG. 2B. FIG.

Hereinafter, a fuel cell including a fluid guide according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to different embodiments in the same or similar configurations. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell according to the present invention.

1, a fuel cell includes a stack 100, an anode outlet manifold 101, an anode inlet manifold 102, a cathode outlet manifold 103, an upper end plate 120, (130) and a vessel (200).

The stack 100 is formed by stacking fuel cells on a lower end plate 130 and an upper end plate 120 coupled to the cells. The stack 100 may be formed of metal that is deformable by heat or pressure.

An anode outlet manifold 101, an anode inlet manifold 102, and a cathode outlet manifold 103, which form the inlet and the outlet of the anode and cathode, are provided on each side of the stack 100. That is, the fuel cell is divided into an anode outlet manifold 101, an anode inlet manifold 102, a cathode outlet manifold 103, the stack 100, and a vessel 200 region.

The pressure in each region is highest in the order of the vessel pressure Pv, the anode outlet manifold pressure Pa, out, and the cathode outlet manifold pressure Pc, out, in that order, Lt; / RTI >

A gasket 501 including an insulating layer 502 is formed between the stack 100 and the edges of the anode outlet manifold 101, the anode inlet manifold 102 and the cathode outlet manifold 103.

The gasket 501 may be formed of a layer of a fibrous material, such as zirconia felt, such as, for example, Zircar ZYF100, alumina felt, or similar fibrous or felt material. The gasket 501 may be filled with silica powder or a similar non-metallic powder material.

The gasket 501 is formed between each of the anode outlet manifold 101, the anode inlet manifold 102 and the cathode outlet manifold 103 and the stack 100 so that the gasket 501, Clog the gap between the folds. However, the gasket 501 is formed so that gas in each of the regions can move.

Is formed between the anode outlet manifold 101 and the stack 100, between the anode inlet manifold 102 and the stack 100, between the cathode outlet manifold 103 and the stack 100 . That is, as shown in the figure, the fuel cell may include four gaskets 501.

The four gaskets 501 are disposed adjacent to each other. For example, two gaskets 501 adjacent to the corners of the anode outlet manifold 101 and the cathode outlet manifold 103 are disposed to abut one edge, with respect to the edge of the stack 100. Similarly, two gaskets 501 adjacent to the edges of the anode inlet manifold 102 and the cathode outlet manifold 103 are disposed.

A fluid guide 320 may be formed between the two gaskets 501. The fluid guide 320 is formed to guide the flow path of the gas flowing through the gasket 501 in the respective regions.

A support 310 which covers one side of the fluid guide 320 and is fixed to the anode outlet manifold 101, the anode inlet manifold 102 and the cathode outlet manifold 103 to fix the fluid guide 320, Can be formed. Both ends of the support part 310 are bent and formed to support the fluid guide 320.

The fluid guide 320 and the support 310 may cause the gasket 501 to contact the stack 100 and the anode outlet manifold 101, the anode inlet manifold 102, and the cathode outlet manifold 103 As shown in Fig.

Therefore, when an abnormal pressure is formed during operation of the fuel cell, the gasket 501 can be prevented from being separated, and gas leakage can be prevented, so that the stability of the fuel cell operation can be improved.

Hereinafter, the specific structure of the fluid guide 320 and the support 310 will be described.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid guide and the support.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fluid guide 320 includes first to fifth surfaces 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 connected to each other. The fluid guide 320 includes a hollow so that the gas can move.

The fluid guide 320 may be formed to be substantially the same as the lengths of the anode outlet manifold 101, the anode inlet manifold 102, and the cathode outlet manifold 103. The fluid guide 320 may include a plurality of surfaces, and the surfaces may be connected to each other in the longitudinal direction of the manifold. Accordingly, when the stack 100 is deformed or twisted, the fluid guide 320 is deformable according to the deformation of the stack 100. That is, damage of the fluid guide 320 due to deformation of the stack 100 can be prevented.

The first and second surfaces 321 and 322 are formed so as to intersect with each other and are in contact with adjacent surfaces of the two gaskets 501. The first and second surfaces 321 and 322 may be substantially the same as the length of the surface of the gasket 501.

The third surface 323 is formed to intersect the second surface 322 and the fourth surface 324 is formed to intersect the third surface 323. The third and fourth surfaces 323 and 324 may be shorter than the lengths of the first and second surfaces 321 and 322.

The fifth surface 325 is formed to connect the first and fourth surfaces 321 and 324. Therefore, the cross section of the fluid guide 320 may be formed in a trapezoidal shape having the third surface 323 on the upper side and the first surface 321 on the lower side.

First and second gas discharge openings 327a and 327b are formed in the third and fourth surfaces 323 and 324 from the outside of the fluid guide 320 through the hollow. Therefore, the gas introduced into the hollow can move to another region through the first and second gas discharge openings 327a and 327b.

The support portion 310 is formed on the fourth surface 324. That is, the support part 310 supports the fourth surface 324 to fix the fluid guide 320 to the gasket 501. A bending portion formed by being bent from both ends of the support portion 310 is formed to support the fluid guide 320.

The support portion 310 includes a plurality of members, and the plurality of members may be connected to each other. Like the fluid guide 320, damage due to deformation of the stack 100 can be prevented.

First and second holes 311a and 311b are formed in the support 310 so as to overlap with the first and second gas discharge ports 327a and 327b. That is, the gas that has passed through the first and second gas discharge ports 327a and 327b is moved to another region through the first and second holes 311a and 311b.

However, the center of the fluid guide 320 may be formed to include an empty space to form a lighter fuel cell.

Hereinafter, the movement of the gas through the first and second gas discharging portions 327a and 327b and the first and second holes 311a and 311b will be described.

4A is an enlarged view of C in Fig.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4A, the stack 100 and the anode inlet manifold 102 and the cathode outlet manifold 103 are coupled with the two gaskets 501 interposed therebetween. The pressure Pa of the anode inlet manifold 102 is the largest and the pressure Pv of the vessel 200 is formed to be larger than the pressure Pc, out of the cathode outlet manifold 103. Accordingly, the fluid passing through the gasket 501 from the anode inlet manifold 102 can be introduced into the vessel 200 and the cathode outlet manifold 103.

A fluid guide 320 is disposed between the two gaskets 501. The support 310 is disposed on the fluid guide 320 to support the fluid guide 320 toward the two gaskets 501.

The first and second gas discharge ports 327a and 327b are formed in the fluid guide 320 and the first and second holes 311a and 311b are formed in the support 310. [ These are formed to communicate with the anode inlet manifold 102 and the vessel 200, but are not communicated with the cathode outlet manifold 103.

Therefore, the gas that flows out from the anode inlet manifold 102 with the highest pressure through the gasket 501 does not flow into the cathode outlet manifold 103, and the first and second gas outlets 327a, And flows into the vessel 200 through the first and second holes 311a and 311b.

For example, the gas may be a fuel gas containing hydrogen, and the cathode outlet manifold 103 may contain a gas containing oxygen. When the fuel gas containing hydrogen flows into the cathode outlet manifold 103, combustion of the fuel gas containing hydrogen and the gas containing oxygen occurs in a space relatively narrower than the vessel 200. As a result, the temperature inside the cathode outlet manifold 103, which is a limited space, rises, and the temperature distribution of the stack 100 may be damaged and the electrodes may be damaged due to an abrupt temperature rise. However, according to the present invention, since combustion is generated in the relatively large vessel 200, the temperature rise is relatively low, so that damage to the stack 100 can be prevented.

For example, when the pressure inside the anode manifold improves abnormally relative to the cathode manifold due to an external factor such as an abnormality of the cathode air supply blower, the gasket 501 including the insulating layer 502 is detached, The anode and the cathode gas may be mixed.

In this case, the fluid guide 320 prevents the gasket 501 from being released, and the gas can be guided to a relatively large space, thereby reducing damage to the stack 100.

Further, since the fuel gas containing hydrogen flows into the vessel 200 containing the oxygen-containing gas, it can be guided out of the explosion range of the fuel gas containing hydrogen.

4B is an enlarged view of FIG. 2B. This is substantially the same as the components of FIG. 4B except for the path through which the movement of the fluid is guided, so that the redundant description is replaced with the description of FIG. 4B.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4B, the stack 100 and the anode outlet manifold 101 and the cathode outlet manifold 103 are coupled with the two gaskets 501 interposed therebetween. The pressure Pv of the vessel 200 is the largest and the anode outlet manifold pressure Pa and out is formed to be larger than the cathode outlet manifold pressure Pc, out. Accordingly, the fluid that has passed through the gasket 501 in the vessel 200 can flow into the anode outlet manifold 101 and the cathode outlet manifold 103.

The first and second gases (100) are formed between the anode outlet manifold (101) and the cathode outlet manifold (103) and the stack (100) so that the vessels (200) and the cathode outlet manifold A fluid guide 320 including the discharge ports 327a and 327b and the first and second holes 311a and 311b and the support 310 are disposed.

For example, fuel gas containing hydrogen may be received in the anode outlet manifold 101, and gas containing oxygen may be received in the cathode outlet manifold 103. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen-containing gas in the vessel 200 can not flow into the anode outlet manifold 101 and flows into the cathode outlet manifold 103, . Thus, damage to the stack 100 can be prevented.

The fuel cell described above is not limited in the configuration and method of the embodiments described above, but the embodiments may be configured such that all or some of the embodiments are selectively combined so that various modifications can be made It is possible.

Claims (8)

A stack in which fuel cells are stacked and formed;
A first manifold installed on one side of the stack, the first manifold receiving a first gas;
A second manifold installed on the other side of the stack opposite to the first side, the second manifold receiving a second gas different from the first gas;
A vessel housing the stack, the first and second manifolds, and containing a gas containing oxygen; And
And a fluid guide formed between the first and second manifolds and guiding the first gas to be introduced or discharged in one direction between the first manifold and the vessel. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fluid guide includes a discharge port formed so that the first gas can move. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first gas is a fuel gas containing hydrogen and the pressure of the first manifold is greater than the pressure of the vessel and the pressure of the second manifold. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first gas is a gas containing oxygen and the pressure inside the first manifold is smaller than the pressure of the vessel containing gas containing oxygen and the pressure of the second manifold. 2. The gasket assembly of claim 1, further comprising first and second gaskets formed between the first manifold and the stack and between the second manifold and the stack,
And the first and second surfaces intersecting with the fluid guide are overlapped with the first and second gaskets, respectively. 6. The method of claim 5,
And a support formed to support a third surface intersecting the first and second surfaces to prevent the fluid guide from escaping from the gasket. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the support portion includes a hole overlapping a discharge port formed in the fluid guide so that the first gas can pass therethrough. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fluid guide includes a plurality of surfaces,
And the surfaces extend in the longitudinal direction of the first and second manifolds.

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