KR20020058857A - A fuel cell for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided is a fuel cell for automobile, which shares a fastening structure, and thus has simple structure and decreased volume and number of fastening components. CONSTITUTION: The fuel cell comprises stack consisting of sequentially laminated cooling plates(22) and bipolar plates(23); end plates(21,21') fastened to ends of the stack so as to integrate with the stack; and a plurality of fastening pipe which fastens the stack and the end plates(21,21') by penetrating the stack and the plates, and has a channel(32) formed so as to achieve an inflow and an outflow of desired fluid to the stack. The fastening pipe has one end fastened by bolt(31), and another end fastened by nut formed so as to allow the fluid to inflow and outflow.

Description

Automotive fuel cell {A FUEL CELL FOR VEHICLES}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel cell for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a fuel cell for a vehicle having an improved structure so that the structure and manufacturing can be simplified by adopting a fastening pipe that also combines a manifold. .

A fuel cell electric vehicle is an electric vehicle that obtains power by directly converting chemical energy of a fuel into electric energy.

Fuel cell vehicles employing fuel cells are attracting attention as next-generation low-polluting vehicles with no pollution, quietness, and better fuel efficiency than hybrid vehicles.

The fuel cell is composed of an oxygen electrode (+), a hydrogen electrode (-), and an electrolyte. Hydrogen supplied to the hydrogen electrode becomes hydrogen ions by a catalyst, and hydrogen ions and oxygen ions react at the oxygen electrode to generate water vapor. In this process, electricity flows from the oxygen electrode to the hydrogen electrode to generate electricity. To drive the motor. The only material released during this process is water vapor.

When the hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel is classified according to the method of supplying hydrogen as a fuel. Thus, when hydrogen is used as a raw material, a tank containing hydrogen is mounted in a car and electricity is generated directly from the vehicle, thereby becoming a pollution free car.

In such a fuel cell, the fuel cell stack has a structure in which cells separated by bi-polar current collector plates are connected.

The current collector plate is made of polymer-bonded graphite, which has an active area of 780 cm < 2 > and is a corrosion resistant material. The current collector also includes an internal manifold and provides a passage for water removal as well as a suitable flow path for fuel and oxidant.

A fuel cell as described above is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown, end plates 11 are installed at both ends of the stack 10 and the fastening mechanisms with holes formed therein are fitted. A groove (not shown) is formed in the end plate 11 through which a reaction gas can flow, and through the groove, a hole is introduced into the stack 10. In this hole, each path enters and reacts, and overflowing gases are discharged out through the outlet on the opposite side.

The fastening mechanism consists of a pressure bar 12, a tie-rod 13, a nut 14, a washer 15, and the like, for fastening the stack 10 together with the end plate 11.

The conventional vehicle fuel cell configured as described above has a complicated fastening structure, an increase in volume, and an increase in the number of parts for the fastening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object of providing a fuel cell for a vehicle in which a fastening structure is made common so that the structure is simple and the number of parts for volume and fastening is reduced.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a typical vehicle fuel cell.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a vehicle fuel cell according to the present invention.

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

20. Stack 21, 21 '. End plate

30. Fastening plate 31. volt

32.Euro 33. Communicator

A vehicle fuel cell of the present invention for achieving the above object, the stack is formed by sequentially stacking the cooling plate and the bipolar plate; An end plate coupled to the stack at both ends of the stack to integrate the stack; And a plurality of fastening pipes passing through the stack and the end plate and fastening them, and having a flow path formed to allow a fluid to flow into and out of the stack.

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

2 is a schematic view showing a vehicle fuel cell according to the present invention. Here, the description of the configuration of a general vehicle fuel cell is omitted, and only the configuration according to the features of the present invention will be described.

Referring to the drawings, a vehicle fuel cell according to the present invention includes a stack 20 in which a cooling plate 22 and a bipolar plate 23 are sequentially stacked, and the stack 20 is End plates 21 and 21 'fastened to the stack 20 at both ends of the stack 20, through the stack 20 and the end plates 21 and 21', and fastened them, and the stack And a plurality of fastening pipes 30 having flow paths formed therein so as to allow inflow and outflow of a predetermined fluid, that is, a reactant gas.

The fastening pipe 30, the bolt 31 is fastened so that one end is fastened, the other end is open is fastened to the nut 41 is formed to enable the entry and exit of the reaction gas, the reaction gas is bipolar plate A communication hole 33 communicating with the flow path 32 is formed to flow toward the 23.

In addition, a gasket 42 is installed between the nut 41 and the end plate 21 ′.

In addition, a surface of the end of the end plate 21 in contact with the bolt 31 is coated with, for example, a sealing member 43 to seal the surface of the bolt 31 and the end plate 21. Is a drawing groove 21a which is drawn into a predetermined depth.

In particular, the fastening pipe 30 is formed differently depending on the shape of the holes formed in the cooling plate 22 and the bipolar plate 23.

Referring to the operation of the vehicle fuel cell according to the present invention having the configuration as described above are as follows. Here, the description of the operation of the fuel cell for a general vehicle will be omitted, and only the operation according to the features of the present invention will be described.

Referring back to the drawings, the flow path 32 and the communication hole 33 is formed in the fastening pipe 30 to enable the entry and exit of the reaction gas, it is possible to fasten both ends, that is, to combine the manifold To make it possible.

Therefore, the fastening pipe 30 functions as a fastening function to integrate the stack 20 and the end plates 21 and 21 ', and serves as a passage through which the reaction gas flows.

As described above, the vehicle fuel cell according to the present invention has the following effects.

By fastening the stack with a fastening pipe that can also serve a manifold, the volume of the stack can be reduced, i.e., the power density is improved.

And it can solve the leakage problem that occurs between each plate and around the gas passage, and the sealing problem is more serious when increasing the number of plates stacked to increase the power of the stack. By solving the problem, the sealing performance was improved.

The number of parts can be reduced, which simplifies manufacturing and reduces manufacturing costs. And it is not necessary to process the groove in the end plate as conventionally.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (5)

A stack in which cooling plates and bipolar plates are sequentially stacked; An end plate coupled to the stack at both ends of the stack to integrate the stack; And a plurality of fastening pipes passing through the stack and the end plate and fastening them, the flow path being formed to allow inflow and outflow of a predetermined fluid into the stack. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastening pipe, A bolt is connected at one end, and the other end is open, and a nut formed to enable the inflow and outflow of fluid is fastened, and a communication hole communicating with the flow path is formed so that the fluid flows toward the bipolar plate. The method of claim 2, The other end of the fastening pipe vehicle fuel cell, characterized in that a gasket is installed between the nut and the end plate. The method of claim 2, The fuel cell for the vehicle, characterized in that the sealing surface is in contact with the bolt and the end plate of the fastening pipe. The method of claim 2, A portion of the end plate in contact with the bolt is a fuel cell for a vehicle, characterized in that the inlet grooves are introduced into a predetermined depth.