KR20190079312A - Integrated cell of fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an integrated cell for a fuel cell capable of improving interface bonding force between a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) and integrating the same. An integrated cell for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an MEA including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, and a cathode; a first GDL disposed on one surface of the MEA; a second GDL disposed on the other surface of the MEA; and a frame injection-molded on edges of the MEA, the first GDL and the second GDL to integrate the MEA, the first GDL, and the second GDL, wherein the MEA has a plurality of through-holes spaced apart from each other along an edge of a reaction region, and the first GDL and the second GDL each have a plurality of communication holes communicated with the through-holes, respectively, along the edge of the reaction region.

Description

[0001] INTEGRATED CELL OF FUEL CELL [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an integrated cell for a fuel cell, and more particularly, to an integral cell for a fuel cell capable of enhancing an interface bonding force between an MEA and a GDL.

Recently, in addition to solving the environmental pollution problem caused by the use of petroleum resources, it has been accelerating the research and development of a renewable energy source that can replace the petroleum resources.

Fuel cell refers to a power generation device that directly converts the chemical reaction energy of hydrogen contained in a hydrocarbon-based material such as methanol, ethanol, and natural gas and oxygen supplied from the outside directly into electric energy.

Fuel cells can be classified into various types such as a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).

On the other hand, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell has a higher power density and efficiency than other fuel cells, operates at a lower operating temperature, and has a quick start and response characteristic. As a result, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell can be widely used not only as a power source for transportation such as automobiles, but also as a portable power source for various portable devices, as well as a power source for dispersing necessary for a residential environment.

The fuel cell unit cell includes an electrolyte membrane, electrodes (i.e., anode and cathode), a gas diffusion layer (GDL), and a separator. These fuel cell unit cells are stacked to form a fuel cell stack.

Particularly, an electrode attached to an electrolyte membrane is referred to as a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Since the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) has an ultra-thin (currently, within 50 μm) structure, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) may be damaged or damaged during transportation. Particularly, the alignment of the membrane electrode assembly Otherwise, the quality of lamination may deteriorate. Currently, most GDLs and MEAs are simply bonded using a thermocompression bonding method.

Such poor quality of lamination between the MEA and the GDL hinders good performance of the fuel cell, and even classified as a defective product, the use and supply thereof are limited. In order to solve this problem, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) are integrally formed by laminating a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) Cell technology has been proposed.

However, the conventional integrated cell technology has a limit that depends only on the impregnation degree of the polymer resin injected to the edge of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of various physical properties such as interface bonding force, injection molding defective ratio, crossover at the interface.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2015-0087731 (July 30, 2015)

The present invention provides an integral cell for a fuel cell that can be integrated while improving the interface bonding force between the MEA and GDL.

An integrated cell for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, and a cathode; A first gas diffusion layer (GDL) disposed on one surface of the membrane electrode assembly; A second gas diffusion layer (GDL) disposed on the other surface of the membrane electrode assembly; Wherein the membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly formed integrally with the membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly, the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer, and integrally molding the membrane electrode assembly, the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer, A plurality of through holes are formed along the edges of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer, and the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer are formed with a plurality of communication holes communicating with the through holes along the edge of the reaction region, respectively.

The communication hole is divided into a first communication hole formed in the first gas diffusion layer and a second communication hole formed in the second gas diffusion layer, and a through hole, a first communication hole, and a second communication hole formed at positions communicating with each other And at least one of them is formed in a diameter different from that of the remaining one.

The first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at positions communicating with each other are formed to have diameters different from each other and any one of the first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at a position to communicate with each other is formed in the through hole As shown in FIG.

Wherein the first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at positions communicating with each other are formed to have the same diameter and the first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at positions communicating with each other have diameters larger than the through holes As shown in FIG.

At least one of the plurality of first communication holes formed at different positions may be formed to have different diameters and at least one of the plurality of second communication holes formed at different positions may be formed to have different diameters.

And at least one edge of at least one of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer is arranged at different positions.

One edge of one of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer is aligned at a position different from one edge of the membrane electrode assembly.

One of the first edge portions of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer is aligned in the center direction than the one edge portion of the membrane electrode assembly.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the first gas diffusion layer disposed on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly and the communication holes formed in the second gas diffusion layer and communicating with each other are formed to have different diameters, The communication hole is filled to improve the bonding force of the interface, so that the crossover can be effectively suppressed.

Further, since the diameters of the communication holes communicating with each other are different from each other and the positions of the inner diameters are aligned differently, electrical shorting due to contact between the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer can be prevented.

Since the holes that communicate with the membrane electrode assembly, the first gas diffusion layer, and the second gas diffusion layer are formed, the defects can be reduced because they can be more effectively aligned during the lamination and injection processes.

In addition, since the first and second gas diffusion layers and the anode and cathode constituting the membrane electrode assembly are separately manufactured, improvement in quality control and workability can be expected.

1 is a schematic view showing a front view of an integral cell for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line AA in Fig. 1,
FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views showing a modification of the communication hole, which is a main part of the present invention,
5A to 5D are schematic views showing an example of modification of end alignment of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer which are essential parts of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, It is provided to let you know. Wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a front view of an integral cell for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.

As shown in the figure, an integrated cell for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 100 including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, and a cathode; A first gas diffusion layer (GDL) 200 disposed on one surface of the membrane electrode assembly 100; A second gas diffusion layer (GDL) 300 disposed on the other surface of the membrane electrode assembly 100; And a frame 400 for integrating the edges of the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200, and the second gas diffusion layer 300.

The membrane electrode assembly 100 includes an anode and a cathode disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane. At this time, the anode and the cathode are disposed in the central region excluding the rim of the electrolyte membrane, whereby the reaction region A is formed in the central region of the membrane electrode assembly 100 except for the rim.

On the other hand, the membrane electrode assembly 100 is formed with a plurality of through holes 110 along the edge of the reaction region. Preferably, a plurality of through-holes 110 are arranged in a side-by-side arrangement of reaction zones. At this time, the through holes 110 are formed so as to communicate with both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly 100.

The first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are disposed on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly 100 so as to face each other. Thus, a reaction region is formed in a region corresponding to the reaction region of the membrane electrode assembly 100 in the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300. The reaction region A of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the reaction region A of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 mean the same region.

The first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are provided with a plurality of communication holes communicating with the through holes 110 formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100 along the edge of the reaction region A, . At this time, the communication hole formed in the first gas diffusion layer 200 is divided into the first communication hole 210 and the communication hole formed in the second gas diffusion layer 300 is divided into the second communication hole 310.

A first communication hole 210 formed in the first gas diffusion layer 200 and a second communication hole 310 formed in the second gas diffusion layer 300 are formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100, Are formed at positions corresponding to each other and communicated with each other. At least one of the through holes 110, the first communicating pores 210, and the second communicating pores 310 formed at positions communicating with each other is formed to have a diameter different from that of the remainder. However, it is preferable that the through holes 110, the first communicating pores 210, and the second communicating pores 310 have their central axes co-linear.

2, the through-holes 110 formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the first communicating pores 210 formed in the first gas diffusion layer 200 are formed to have the same diameter, It is preferable that the second communication hole 310 formed in the second gas diffusion layer 300 is formed to have a larger diameter than the through hole 110 and the first communication hole 210.

The inner circumferential surfaces of the second communicating pores 310 formed in the first communicating pores 210 formed in the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second communicating pores 310 formed in the second gas diffusion layer 300 are arranged in line by the membrane electrode assembly 100 The first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 can be prevented from being electrically short-circuited through the first and second communicating pores 210 and 310.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, at least one of the plurality of first communication holes 210 formed at different positions is formed in a different diameter, and a plurality of second communication holes 310 May be formed to have different diameters.

The diameters of the through-holes 111, the first communication holes 211, and the second communication holes 311 formed in the direction of the inlet manifold 410 are set to be the same as the diameters of the outlet manifolds The first communication hole 212 and the second communication hole 312 may be formed larger than the diameter of the through-hole 112, the first communication hole 212, and the second communication hole 312,

Therefore, when the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are produced and then laminated for bonding with the membrane electrode assembly 100, the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200, And the second gas diffusion layer 300 can be easily aligned.

The edge portions of the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200, and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are joined to each other at their ends so that the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200, The gas diffusion layer 300 can be easily aligned.

The frame 400 is formed at the edges of the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 by the injection process to form the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200, And the second gas diffusion layer 300 are integrated by using a polymer resin. Of course, the material forming the frame 400 is not limited to the polymer resin, but various materials capable of being injection-molded with insulation can be applied.

On the other hand, the frame 400 is injected on the rim of the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300, and the injection material forming the frame 400 is injected into the membrane electrode assembly 100 The first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are filled together with the through holes 110 of the membrane electrode assembly 100, The bonding strength between the interfaces of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 is improved.

At this time, the frame 400 may have an inlet manifold 410 formed on one side and an outlet manifold 420 formed on the other side depending on the shape of the injection mold.

The first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are formed in the through hole 110 formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the first and second gas diffusion layers 210 and 300, May be implemented by variously varying the diameter of the rotor 310.

Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic views showing a modification of the communication hole which is a main part of the present invention. Fig.

As shown in FIG. 3, the integrated cell for a fuel cell according to a modification of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly 100 having a plurality of through holes 110 formed therein, a plurality of first communicating pores 210 A second gas diffusion layer 300 in which a plurality of second communication holes 310 are formed and a second gas diffusion layer 300 in which a plurality of second communication holes 310 are formed, And a frame 400 which is formed by being injected into a region where the red 310 is formed.

3, the through holes 110 formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the first and second gas diffusion layers 210 and 300 formed in the first gas diffusion layer 200 are formed on the membrane electrode assembly 100, The second communicating tubes 310 are formed at positions corresponding to each other and communicated with each other. At least one of the through holes 110, the first communicating pores 210, and the second communicating pores 310 formed at positions communicating with each other is formed to have a diameter different from that of the remainder.

3, the through-holes 110 formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the second communicating pores 310 formed in the second gas diffusion layer 300 are formed to have the same diameter, The first gas diffusion layer 210 formed on the first gas diffusion layer 200 may be formed to have a larger diameter than the through holes and the second communication gap 310.

4, the first communication hole 210 formed in the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second communication hole 310 formed in the second gas diffusion layer 300 are formed to have the same diameter And the diameter of the first communicating tube 210 and the second communicating tube 310 are formed to be larger than the diameter of the through hole 110 formed in the membrane electrode assembly 100.

Meanwhile, the present invention can be implemented by variously changing the alignment of the edge portions of the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200, and the second gas diffusion layer 300.

5A to 5D are schematic views showing an example of modification of end alignment of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer which are essential parts of the present invention.

5A to 5D, the integrated type cell for a fuel cell according to a modification of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly 100 having a plurality of through holes 110 formed therein and a plurality of through- A second gas diffusion layer 300 formed with a plurality of second communication holes 310 and a second gas diffusion layer 300 formed with a plurality of through holes 110 and a first communication hole 210, And a frame 400 which is formed by being injected into a region where the second communication hole 310 is formed.

At this time, at least one edge of at least one of both ends of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 is aligned at different positions. Preferably, one edge of one of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 is aligned at a position different from one edge of the membrane electrode assembly 100, and the first gas diffusion layer 200 And the second gas diffusion layer 300 are aligned and aligned in the direction of the center of one side edge of the membrane electrode assembly 100.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, one end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and one end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 are aligned at the same position, and one end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 One end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the other end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 are centered and aligned.

The other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the other end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are aligned at the same position and the other end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 is aligned with the other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 The second gas diffusion layer 300 is aligned in the center direction with respect to the other end portion.

Here, one end portion refers to the direction of the inlet manifold 410 formed on the frame 400, and the other end means the direction of the outlet manifold 420 formed on the frame 400.

Thus, the end portions of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the end portions of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are prevented from being aligned in a line by the membrane electrode assembly 100, so that the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 can be prevented from being electrically short-circuited through the end portions.

5B, one end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and one end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 are aligned at the same position, and one end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 is arranged at the same position as the membrane electrode assembly 100. [ One end of the joined body 100 and one end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 are centered and aligned.

The other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the other end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 are aligned at the same position and the other end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 is aligned with the other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 And is aligned and aligned in the center direction with respect to the other end of the first gas diffusion layer (200).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the end portions of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the end portions of the second gas diffusion layer 300 from being aligned in a line by the membrane electrode assembly 100.

5C, one end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and one end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are aligned at the same position, and one end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 is connected to the membrane electrode assembly 100. [ One end portion of the joined body 100 and the other end portion of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are centered and aligned.

The other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the other end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are aligned at the same position and the other end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 is aligned with the other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 The second gas diffusion layer 300 is aligned in the center direction with respect to the other end portion.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the end portions of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the end portions of the second gas diffusion layer 300 from being aligned in a line by the membrane electrode assembly 100.

5D, one end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and one end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are aligned at the same position, and one end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 is arranged at the same position as the membrane electrode assembly 100. [ One end portion of the joined body 100 and the other end portion of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are centered and aligned.

The other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 and the other end of the first gas diffusion layer 200 are aligned at the same position and the other end of the second gas diffusion layer 300 is aligned with the other end of the membrane electrode assembly 100 And is aligned and aligned in the center direction with respect to the other end of the first gas diffusion layer (200).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the end portions of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the end portions of the second gas diffusion layer 300 from being aligned in a line by the membrane electrode assembly 100.

The first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are formed by variously changing the alignment of the edge portions of the membrane electrode assembly 100, the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, And the ends of the second gas diffusion layer 300 are prevented from being aligned in a line by the membrane electrode assembly 100 so that the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300 are electrically connected It is possible to prevent a short circuit from occurring.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and variations of the present invention, but may be applied to other examples of the membrane electrode assembly 100, such as a change in the diameter of the through hole 110, the first communication hole 210 and the second communication hole 310, The first gas diffusion layer 200, and the second gas diffusion layer 300, according to a change in the alignment of the edge portions of the first gas diffusion layer 200 and the second gas diffusion layer 300.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited thereto but is limited by the following claims. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the following claims.

100: membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 110, 111, 112: through hole
200: first gas diffusion layer (GDL) 210, 211, 212: first communication hole
300: second gas diffusion layer (GDL) 310, 311, 312: second communication hole
400: frame 410: inlet side manifold
420: outlet-side manifold

Claims (8)

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, and a cathode;
A first gas diffusion layer (GDL) disposed on one surface of the membrane electrode assembly;
A second gas diffusion layer (GDL) disposed on the other surface of the membrane electrode assembly;
And a frame which is injection-molded at the edges of the membrane electrode assembly, the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer to integrate the membrane electrode assembly, the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer,
Wherein the membrane electrode assembly is formed with a plurality of through holes along the edge of the reaction region,
Wherein the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer each have a plurality of communication holes communicating with the through holes along edges of the reaction region, respectively.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the communication hole is divided into a first communication hole formed in the first gas diffusion layer and a second communication hole formed in the second gas diffusion layer,
Wherein at least one of the through-hole, the first communication hole, and the second communication hole formed at the positions communicating with each other is formed to have a diameter different from that of the remaining one.
The method of claim 2,
The first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at positions communicating with each other have diameters different from each other,
Wherein at least one of the first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at a position communicating with each other is formed to have the same diameter as the through hole.
The method of claim 2,
The first communicating hole and the second communicating hole formed at positions communicating with each other are formed to have the same diameter,
Wherein the first communication hole and the second communication hole formed at the positions communicating with each other are formed to have a larger diameter than the through hole.
The method of claim 2,
At least one of the plurality of first communication holes formed at different positions is formed to have a different diameter,
And at least one of the plurality of second communication holes formed at different positions is formed to have a different diameter.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein at least one side edge of at least one of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer is aligned at different positions.
The method of claim 6,
Wherein one end edge of one of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer is aligned at a position different from one end edge of the membrane electrode assembly.
The method of claim 7,
Wherein one end edge of one of the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer is aligned and aligned in the center direction than one end edge of the membrane electrode assembly.

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