KR102217885B1 - Electrode Terminal Type Fuel Cell Separator having and Fuel Cell Stack thereby - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a fuel cell separator (1) applied to a fuel cell stack (100) includes an electrode terminal (10) of a groove structure in which a current is detected by a left manifold for sending out hydrogen, air, and cooling water to a channel flow path and a right manifold for returning hydrogen, air, and cooling water from the channel flow path, and thus it is easy to measure the current of the stack by the probe (200) and the current/performance measurement is possible for each unit cell (100-1), so that it is possible to accurately detect the location of a faulty cell when diagnosing a fault of the stack.

Description

Electrode Terminal Type Fuel Cell Separator having and Fuel Cell Stack thereby}

The present invention relates to a fuel cell separating plate, and more particularly, to a fuel cell stack using an electrode terminal type fuel cell separating plate that facilitates use of a probe for evaluating the output of a fastened stack.

In general, fuel cell stacks used in fuel cell vehicles generate electric power while generating water by electrochemically reacting hydrogen and oxygen.

To this end, the fuel cell stack includes a unit cell consisting of a Membrane-Electrode Assembly, a gas diffusion layer, a fuel cell separator, a gasket, and a seal member as major components.

Specifically, the electrode membrane assembly (MEA) is configured in a form in which catalyst layers are applied on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane and is located at the center of the fuel cell stack, and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) is located outside the electrode membrane assembly, and the The fuel cell separating plate forms a flow field to supply fuel to the outside of the gas diffusion layer and discharge water generated by the reaction, and the gasket is attached to the edge of the fuel cell separating plate to provide hydrogen/air/ Seals are formed so that each flow of cooling water is independently made, and the sealing member blocks water leakage while maintaining a flow of cooling water flowing through a plurality of stacked fuel cell separators.

Therefore, one electrode membrane assembly, two gas diffusion layers, two fuel cell separators, a plurality of gaskets and a plurality of sealing members are treated as constituent units constituting a unit cell.

Accordingly, the fuel cell stack is configured to secure output of a desired scale by stacking tens to hundreds of each unit cell.

Korean Patent Publication 10-1491349 (February 2, 2015)

However, the fuel cell stack requires output evaluation when the stack is fastened, and for this purpose, the stack output evaluation is performed by linking a probe (eg, a current probe) with a fuel cell separator. As a fuel cell separator is stacked as a component, there is a great need to improve the stack structure for ease of use of the probe.

Accordingly, the present invention in consideration of the above points is a stack in which tens to hundreds of cells are stacked by forming a connection structure between the separator and the probe using a groove structure in which the probe current measurement tip is easily inserted into the end of the fuel cell separator. It is easy to use a probe for output evaluation when fastening, and in particular, it is possible to measure the current/performance separately for each unit cell, so it is possible to accurately detect the location of the faulty cell when diagnosing a stack failure. The purpose is to provide a stack.

The fuel cell separating plate of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided on a flange edge forming the size of the separating plate, and includes an electrode terminal for detecting a current generated by the supply of hydrogen and air. To do.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrode terminal has a groove structure, and is provided on both left and right sides of the flange edge. The left and right portions of the flange rim are a left manifold and a right manifold having a channel passage through an intermediate section in which the hydrogen and the air are supplied together with cooling water.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrode terminal is made up of a plurality.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrode terminal includes a guide groove formed in the flange rim, and a guide cover protruding from the flange rim so as to be formed as a recessed space by covering the upper portion of the guide groove.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide groove is formed in a cross section.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrode terminal has a groove end, and the groove end covers a partial section opposite the entrance of the guide groove, or covers the lower part of the guide groove so that the guide groove forms a closed space having an entrance.

In a preferred embodiment, a gasket rim is formed inside the flange rim, and the gasket rim is formed in a groove structure into which a gasket for airtightness is inserted.

In addition, the fuel cell stack of the present invention for achieving the above object has a groove structure with a left manifold that discharges hydrogen, air, and coolant through a channel flow path, and a right manifold that returns hydrogen, air, and coolant from the channel flow path. A fuel cell separating plate having an electrode terminal of, and detecting a current generated from the electrode terminal; The fuel cell separator is applied and a unit cell in which the current is generated as an output is included.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit cell includes an electrode membrane assembly, a gas diffusion layer, and a gasket together with the fuel cell separator, and the gasket is fitted into a gasket edge surrounding the left manifold, the channel flow path, and the right manifold. Lose.

In a preferred embodiment, the fuel cell separating plate is divided into upper/lower fuel cell separating plates and laminated to the outer portion of the gas diffusion layer, and the electrode membrane assembly is formed by coating catalyst layers on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane. Located in the center, the gas diffusion layer is divided into upper/lower gas diffusion layers and positioned outside the electrode membrane assembly, and the gasket is positioned on each of the upper/lower fuel cell separation plates.

The fuel cell separator applied to the fuel cell stack of the present invention implements the following functions and effects by applying the electrode terminal structure.

First, the accessibility of the probe for current measurement is very excellent by using a groove structure formed at the end of the fuel cell separator when a stack in which dozens to hundreds of cells are stacked is used. Second, since groove structures are formed at both ends of the fuel cell separator, the output evaluation of the stack using a probe can be conveniently performed. Third, it is possible to measure the current/performance separately for each unit cell, so that it is possible to accurately detect the location of the faulty cell when diagnosing a failure of the stack. Fourth, since both ends of the fuel cell separating plate are used as probes, a design change for the stack component is not required.

1 is a configuration diagram of an electrode terminal type fuel cell separation plate according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed structure diagram of an electrode terminal formed on a fuel cell separation plate according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an electrode terminal type fuel according to the present invention. It is a configuration diagram of a fuel cell stack to which a battery separator is applied.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, and such embodiments are described herein as examples because those of ordinary skill in the art may be implemented in various different forms. It is not limited to this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fuel cell separating plate 1 includes an electrode terminal 10 on a flange edge 9-1 having a rectangular shape of the separating plate. In particular, the electrode terminal 10 separates the fuel cell by linking the fuel cell separating plate 1, which is a component of the cells stacked in tens to hundreds, with the probe 200 (see FIG. 3) for measuring current under the stack. The plate 1 is characterized as an electrode terminal type fuel cell separating plate 1.

Therefore, the electrode terminal type fuel cell separator 1 can accurately measure the current/performance for each unit cell (i.e., each cell) to perform performance evaluation after the stack is fastened. It functions to enable cell location detection.

Specifically, the electrode terminals 10 are provided on both left and right sides of the flange rim 9-1, and thus are positioned as portions of the left manifold 2-1 and the right manifold 2-2, respectively.

In particular, the electrode terminals 10 are composed of a plurality of electrode terminals 10 to be spaced apart from each other, and are composed of first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N, so that the stack using the fuel cell separator 1 Current measurement becomes easier. For example, the first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N may be formed of six, such as the first to six terminals (0-1, ..., 10-6), but the number of terminals is It may be variously changed according to the size of the fuel cell separator 1.

Furthermore, since each of the first to N terminals 0-1, ..., 10-N has a groove structure, the terminal tip of the probe 200 (refer to FIG. 3) can be inserted conveniently.

In addition, the fuel cell separating plate 1 is formed with a gasket rim 9 inside the flange rim 9-1, and the left manifold 2-1 and the channel flow path are surrounded by the gasket rim 9. (8) and the right manifold (2-2) are formed. Therefore, the fuel cell separating plate 1 has the left manifold 2-1 in one section (eg, the left part) with respect to the channel flow path 8, and the right manifold 2 in the other section (eg, the right part). -2) is formed.

Specifically, a hydrogen passage 3, an air passage 5 and a cooling water passage 7 having the same shape and structure are formed in each of the left manifold 2-1 and the right manifold 2-2, , To form an electrode terminal 10 consisting of the first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N with an extra space at the ends where they are not formed. In addition, the channel flow path 8 is not shown to guide the flow of hydrogen, air, and cooling water between the left manifold 2-1 and the right manifold 2-2, but has a complex flow path structure.

In particular, the hydrogen passage 3 extends from the left manifold 2-1 to the lower side of the cooling water passage 7 from the right manifold 2-2 through the channel passage 8 above the cooling water passage 7 As a result, a flow path of hydrogen is formed in a downward diagonal line from left to right. On the other hand, the air passage 5 extends from the left manifold 2-1 to the top of the cooling water passage 7 from the right manifold 2-2 through the channel passage 8 under the cooling water passage 7 As a result, the air flow path is formed in an upward diagonal line from left to right. Therefore, the cooling water passage 7 is located in the middle of the hydrogen passage 3 and the air passage 5 together with the cooling water guide portion 7-1, so that the left manifold 2-1 to the right manifold 2-2 ) To form a flow path of cooling water in a horizontal straight line.

Specifically, the gasket edge 9 forms a rectangular shape on the fuel cell separating plate 1 to form a groove surrounding the left manifold 2-1, the channel flow path 8, and the right manifold 2-2. do. Therefore, the gasket rim 9 is provided as a groove into which the gasket 40 (refer to FIG. 3) is fitted so that airtightness of hydrogen, air and cooling water flowing through the fuel cell separator 1 is maintained. Therefore, the gasket edge 9 is located in the inner space of the electrode terminal 10 made of the first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 2, each of the first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N has the same configuration as the guide groove 11, the guide cover 13, and the groove end 15 It is formed in a groove structure as an element.

For example, the guide groove 11 is formed by pressing the flange edge 9-1 of the fuel cell separator 1 so that one side (eg, the rear of the front/rear side) is depressed, and the guide cover 13 is The guide groove 11 is formed as an upper surface of the guide groove 11 by protruding one side of the flange rim 9-1 to form an open space, and the groove end 15 It is formed as a lower surface and covers some sections opposite the entrance.

In particular, the depth and width of the guide groove 11 are formed such that the terminal tip (refer to FIG. 3) of the probe 200 contacts. Therefore, the depth and width of the guide groove 11 are changed according to the specifications of the probe used for current measurement. In addition, the shape of the guide groove 11 is made of a cross-section or arc cross-section.

Furthermore, the groove end 15 may be formed to cover the lower portion of the guide groove 11 such as a guide groove 11 that covers the upper portion of the guide groove 11 so that the guide groove 11 forms a closed space having an inlet. In this case, the shape of the guide groove 11 may be a cross-section or a circular cross-section.

However, each of the first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N has the guide groove 11 and the guide cover 13 as the same components, so that the groove end 15 is not applied. It can be formed in a groove structure. This is because the groove end 15 includes a function of supporting the terminal tip portion while the terminal tip of the probe 200 (see FIG. 3) is positioned in the guide groove 11.

Meanwhile, FIG. 3 is a fuel cell stack 100, wherein the fuel cell stack 100 includes a fuel cell separator 1, an electrode membrane assembly 20, a gas diffusion layer 30, and a gasket 40 as one unit. It is composed of cells 100-1. In this case, the fuel cell separating plate 1 is an electrode terminal method having an electrode terminal 10 composed of first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N described through FIGS. 1 and 2 It is the same as the fuel cell separation plate (1).

Specifically, the unit cell (100-1) has two fuel cell separators (1) divided into upper/lower fuel cell separators (1-1, 1-2), and a catalyst layer is coated on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane. One electrode membrane assembly 20, two gas diffusion layers 30 divided into upper/lower gas diffusion layers 30-1 and 30-2, and upper/lower fuel cell separation plates 1-1, 1-2 Consists of a plurality of gaskets 40 that are fitted into the gasket rim 9 and form airtight by compression deformation. Further, the unit cell (100-1) is located between the upper/lower fuel cell separation plate (1-1,) and the upper/lower gas diffusion layers (30-1, 30-2) to further enhance airtightness. A seal member may be further included.

In the stacked state of the unit cells 100-1, the upper/lower fuel cell separation plates 1-1 and 1-2 are stacked outside the gas diffusion layer 30, and the electrode membrane assembly 20 Is located at the center of the fuel cell stack 100, the gas diffusion layer 30 is located outside the electrode membrane assembly 20, and the gasket 40 is the upper/lower fuel cell separator plate (1- 1,1-2).

In this way, the fuel cell stack 100 is fastened in a state in which tens to hundreds of unit cells are stacked with first to N unit cells 100-1, ..., 100-N, thereby securing output of a desired scale. give.

In particular, the upper fuel cell separating plate 1-1 and the lower fuel cell separating plate 1-2 have one of the first to N terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N as electrodes. The terminal 10 is used for measuring the current of the probe 200. In this case, the probe 200 transmits a signal from the circuit to be measured to the input channel of the oscilloscope (eg, current analyzer 200-1). It is a current probe.

For example, to measure the current of the first to N unit cells 100-1, ..., 100-N with the probe 200, the first to N unit cells 100-1, ..., 100-N) from one unit cell 100-1 to select the upper fuel cell separator 1-1 and/or the lower fuel cell separator 1-2, and the current analyzer 200 Insert the terminal tip portion of the probe 200 connected to -1) to the groove end 15 along the guide groove 11.

Then, the probe 200 detects the current generated in the fuel cell separating plate 1 from the guide groove 11, the guide cover 13, and the terminal tip in contact with the groove end 15.

At this time, if the home end 15 is present, the operator checks whether the terminal tip of the probe 200 is jammed in the home end 15 to check the current measurement readiness, or if the home end 15 does not exist, the probe 200 By confirming that the terminal tip is in contact with the guide cover 13, it is possible to check the current measurement preparation state.

As described above, the fuel cell separating plate 1 applied to the fuel cell stack 100 according to the present embodiment collects hydrogen, air, and cooling water from the left manifold and channel flow paths that discharge hydrogen, air, and cooling water into the channel flow path. By including the electrode terminals 10 of the groove structure where each current is detected by the manifold when returning, it is easy to measure the current of the stack by the probe 200 and the current/performance measurement is possible for each unit cell 100-1. Thus, it is possible to accurately detect the location of the faulty cell when diagnosing a failure of the stack.

1: fuel cell separator 1-1,1-2: upper/lower fuel cell separator
2-1,2-2: left/right manifold 3: hydrogen passage
5: air passage 7: cooling water passage
7-1: cooling water guide part 8: channel flow path
9: gasket rim 9-1: flange rim
10: electrode terminals 10-1, ..., 10-N: first to N terminals
11: guide groove 13: guide cover
15: home end
20: electrode film assembly 30: gas diffusion layer
30-1,30-2: upper/lower gas diffusion layer
40: gasket
100: fuel cell stack 100-1, ..., 100-N: first to N unit cells
200: probe 200-1: current analyzer

Claims (14)

An electrode terminal is formed on the edge of the flange forming the size of the separating plate and for detecting current generated by the supply of hydrogen and air,
The electrode terminals are provided in a groove structure on both left and right sides of the flange rim,
The left and right portions of the flange rim are a left manifold and a right manifold having an intermediate section in which the hydrogen and the air are supplied together with cooling water as channel flow paths,
The electrode terminal has a guide groove formed on the flange rim, and a guide cover protruding from the flange rim so as to form a recessed space by covering the upper portion of the guide groove, the guide groove having a C cross-section, and the electrode terminal It has a groove end, and the groove end covers a portion of the section opposite the entrance of the guide groove,
And the groove end covers a lower portion of the guide groove so that the guide groove forms a closed space having an inlet.
delete delete delete The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein the electrode terminal is formed in plural.
delete delete delete delete The fuel cell separating plate of claim 1, wherein a gasket rim is formed inside the flange rim, and the gasket rim is formed in a groove structure into which a gasket for airtightness is inserted.
In the fuel cell stack to which the fuel cell separator according to any one of claims 1, 5 and 10 is applied,
The fuel cell separator is applied to include a unit cell in which the current is generated as an output,
The fuel cell separating plate is provided with an electrode terminal having a groove structure as a left manifold that discharges hydrogen, air, and cooling water through a channel flow path, and a right manifold that returns hydrogen, air, and cooling water from the channel flow path, and the electrode terminal A fuel cell stack, characterized in that the current generated in is detected.
The fuel cell stack according to claim 11, wherein the unit cell includes an electrode membrane assembly, a gas diffusion layer, and a gasket together with the fuel cell separator.
The fuel cell stack according to claim 12, wherein the gasket is fitted to an edge of a gasket surrounding the left manifold, the channel flow path, and the right manifold.
The method according to claim 12, wherein the fuel cell separator is divided into upper/lower fuel cell separators and laminated to the outer portion of the gas diffusion layer, and the electrode membrane assembly is formed by coating catalyst layers on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell, characterized in that it is located in the center, wherein the gas diffusion layer is divided into an upper/lower gas diffusion layer and is positioned outside the electrode membrane assembly, and the gasket is positioned on each of the upper/lower fuel cell separation plates. stack.

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