KR20220008627A - Elastomeric cell frame for fuel cell and Unit cell and Fuel cell stack comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an elastic cell frame for a fuel cell capable of reducing the number of laminated separators, a unit cell for a fuel cell including the same, and a fuel cell stack. The elastic cell frame for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention constitutes a unit cell of a fuel cell and includes: an insert in which a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both sides thereof are bonded; and an elastic frame in which a reaction surface through-hole in which the insert is disposed is formed in a central region in a width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which a coolant flows are formed on both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction.

Description

Elastomeric cell frame for fuel cell and Unit cell and Fuel cell stack comprising the same

The present invention relates to an elastic cell frame for a fuel cell, a unit cell for a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack including the same, and more particularly, to an elastic cell frame for a fuel cell capable of reducing the number of stacked separators, and a fuel cell including the same It relates to a unit cell and a fuel cell stack.

A fuel cell is a type of power generation device that converts chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy by electrochemically reacting it in a stack. In recent years, the use area is gradually expanding as a high-efficiency clean energy source.

In a typical fuel cell unit cell, a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) is located at the innermost side, and the membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane that can move hydrogen cations (protons), and this polymer electrolyte membrane. It is composed of a catalyst layer coated on both sides so that hydrogen and oxygen can react, that is, an anode and a cathode.

In addition, a pair of separators for supplying a reaction gas and discharging product water generated by the reaction are disposed on one surface and the other surface of the membrane electrode assembly, that is, on the outer portion where the fuel electrode and the air electrode are located. In this case, a gas diffusion layer (GDL) that diffuses or smoothes the flow of the reaction gas and the product water may be interposed between the membrane electrode assembly and the separator.

On the other hand, conventionally, a membrane-electrode-gasket assembly (MEGA) in which a membrane electrode assembly and a gasket are integrated for the purpose of maintaining airtightness of the unit cell and convenience in the lamination process was manufactured and used.

Also, recently, an integrated frame in which an insert in which a gas diffusion layer is bonded to a membrane electrode assembly and a gasket is integrated has been proposed.

However, in the conventional one-piece frame, a plastic frame and an insert are bonded using an adhesive. In addition, in the case of manufacturing a unit cell using the conventional integrated frame, a separate adhesive member and a sealing member are required for bonding the separation plate and the integrated frame. This process caused the material cost and production cost to rise.

Therefore, recently, research on a fuel cell stack that is integrally bonded to a membrane electrode assembly and a gas diffusion layer without a separate adhesive member using a sheet-like elastic frame made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) has been studied.

In such a fuel cell stack, an elastic frame and a separator made of a metal material are stacked, and when the unit cells made of an elastic frame and a pair of separators are stacked, they are adjacent to each other so that hydrogen, air, and cooling water, which are reactive gases, are supplied without mixing with each other. In the unit cell to be used, each separator faces each other. Therefore, an inlet and an outlet through which the reaction gas flows are provided between the elastic frame and the separating plate, and an inlet and an outlet through which the cooling water flows between a pair of facing each other are provided.

However, in the case of this structure, since two separators have to be used between the elastic frames, the amount of the separators used increases, and accordingly, the weight of the fuel cell stack also increases.

The content described as the background art above is only for understanding the background of the present invention, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment that it corresponds to the prior art already known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-183066 (2005.07.07)

The present invention provides an elastic cell frame for a fuel cell capable of reducing the number of separators by improving the structure of the laminated elastic frame, and a unit cell for a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack including the same.

An elastic cell frame for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention is a cell frame constituting a unit cell of a fuel cell, comprising: a membrane electrode assembly and an insert bonded to a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both surfaces thereof; It includes an elastic frame in which a reaction surface through-hole on which the insert is disposed is formed in a central area in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which coolant flows are formed in both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction.

A plurality of first reaction gas inlet through-holes through which a reaction gas is introduced and a plurality of first cooling water inflow through-holes through which cooling water flows are formed on one side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame, and on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame It is characterized in that the plurality of first reaction gas discharge through-holes through which the reaction gas is discharged and the plurality of first cooling water discharge through-holes through which the cooling water is discharged are formed.

In the elastic frame, a first reaction gas connection passage for communicating with each other is formed between the first reaction gas inlet through hole and the reaction surface through hole, and between the reaction surface through hole and the first reaction gas discharge through hole characterized.

The first reaction gas inlet through-hole and the first reactive gas outlet through-hole are each formed as a pair, so that hydrogen and air are introduced and discharged, and hydrogen is introduced and discharged on one surface of the elastic frame. A first reaction gas connection passage is formed for communicating the gas inlet through hole and the first reaction gas exhaust through hole to one surface of the insert disposed on the reaction surface, respectively, and the other surface of the elastic frame is the second surface through which air flows in and out. It is characterized in that a first reaction gas connection passage is formed for communicating the first reaction gas inlet through hole and the first reaction gas exhaust through hole to the other surface of the insert disposed on the reaction surface, respectively.

The first reaction gas connection passage is characterized in that it is spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the first protrusion and the first groove are repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction.

A first cooling water connection passage communicating with each other may be formed between the first cooling water inlet through hole and the cooling surface, and between the cooling surface and the first cooling water discharge through hole.

The cooling surface and the first cooling water connection passage are respectively formed on both surfaces of the elastic frame.

The first cooling water connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the second protrusion and the second groove are repeatedly formed along the length direction.

On the other hand, a unit cell for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly and an insert in which a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both surfaces are joined; an elastic frame in which a reaction surface through-hole on which the insert is disposed is formed in a central region in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which coolant flows are formed in both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction; and a pair of separation plates disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame to flow a reaction gas and cooling water to an interface with the elastic frame.

A plurality of first reaction gas inlet through-holes through which a reaction gas is introduced and a plurality of first cooling water inflow through-holes through which cooling water flows are formed on one side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame, and on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame A plurality of first reaction gas discharge through-holes through which the reaction gas is discharged, and a plurality of first cooling water discharge through-holes through which the cooling water is discharged are formed, and a plurality of second reaction gases through which the reaction gas is introduced are formed at one side in the longitudinal direction of the separator. A reactive gas inlet through-hole and a plurality of second cooling water inlet through-holes through which the cooling water flows are formed, and a plurality of second reactive gas discharge through-holes through which the reactive gas is discharged are formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the separation plate, and the cooling water It is characterized in that the plurality of second cooling water discharge through-holes to be discharged are formed.

A first reaction gas connection passage is formed in the elastic frame to communicate with each other between the first reaction gas inlet through hole, the reaction surface through hole, and the reaction surface through hole and the first reaction gas discharge through hole, A first cooling water connection passage communicating with each other may be formed between the first cooling water inlet through hole and the cooling surface, and between the cooling surface and the first cooling water discharge through hole.

The first reaction gas connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction to repeatedly form a first protrusion and a first groove portion in a longitudinal direction, and the first cooling water connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction to form a second second passage along the length direction. It is characterized in that the protrusion and the second groove are repeatedly formed.

The separation plate has a flat region facing the first reaction gas connection passage and the first cooling water connection passage, so that the reaction gas flows between the first groove portion and the separation plate, and the cooling water flows between the second groove portion and the separation plate. It is characterized in that it is movable.

In addition, the separation plate includes a first forming part in the form of a tunnel in which the reaction gas flows while being superimposed on the first groove in an area facing the first reaction gas connection passage, and a first holding part overlapping the first protrusion. It is characterized in that the second reaction gas connection passage is formed.

The first forming part of the separator is formed by being bent while protruding in the direction of one surface of the separator so that both ends in the longitudinal direction communicate with each other, and the reaction gas flows to the area of the other surface of the first forming part.

The separation plate includes a second forming part in the form of a tunnel in which a reaction gas flows while being superimposed on the second groove part in a region facing the first cooling water connection passage, and a second holding part superimposed on the second protrusion part. It is characterized in that the cooling water connection passage is formed.

The second forming part of the separator is formed by being bent while protruding in the direction of one surface of the separator so that both ends in the longitudinal direction communicate with each other, and the cooling water flows to the area of the other surface of the second forming part.

On the other hand, a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly and an insert in which a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both surfaces are bonded; a plurality of elastic frames in which a reaction surface through-hole on which the insert is disposed is formed in a central region in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which coolant flows are formed in both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction; and a separator plate disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame, respectively, to flow a reaction gas and cooling water to an interface with the elastic frame, wherein one separator is disposed between adjacent elastic frames and stacked. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by improving the structure of the elastic cell frame, the anode surface, the cathode surface, and the cooling surface can all be formed using only one separator, thereby simplifying the structure of the fuel cell stack and , weight reduction and miniaturization can be expected.

In addition, since the flow path for introducing and discharging hydrogen, air, and cooling water can be formed in a straight line, the pressure difference can be improved and water can be easily discharged.

In addition, since the airtight performance of hydrogen, air and cooling water can be satisfied only by forming the airtight structure only in the elastic frame, the effect of omitting the process for forming an additional airtight structure such as cooling surface gasket and wire welding is expected can

1 and 2 are exploded perspective views showing a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a view showing an elastic frame according to an embodiment of the present invention,
4 is a view showing a separator according to an embodiment of the present invention,
5A to 5D are cross-sectional views showing a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 and 7 are exploded perspective views showing a fuel cell stack according to another embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a view showing a separator according to another embodiment of the present invention,
9 is a cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell stack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in a variety of different forms, only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art completely It is provided to inform you. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

1 and 2 are exploded perspective views showing a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view showing an elastic frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the present invention It is a view showing a separator according to , and FIGS. 5A to 5D are cross-sectional views showing a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the present invention. At this time, Fig. 5a is a view showing a cross section taken along line AA of Fig. 2, Fig. 5b is a view showing a cross section taken along line BB of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5c is a view showing a cross section of the stacked state of Fig. 5b, Fig. 5d is a view showing a cross-section taken along line CC of FIG. 2 .

As shown in the drawings, the elastic cell frame for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention constitutes a separator and a unit cell, and a plurality of unit cells configured in this way are stacked to form a fuel cell stack.

The elastic cell frame includes an insert 100 in which a membrane electrode assembly 110 and a pair of gas diffusion layers 120 disposed on both sides thereof are bonded; A reaction surface through-hole 211 in which the insert 100 is disposed is formed in the central region in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces ( It includes an elastic frame 200 on which 212 is formed.

The insert 100 is an assembly in which a membrane electrode assembly 110 and a pair of gas diffusion layers 120 are laminated. Preferably, a gas diffusion layer 120 is disposed on one side and the other surface of the membrane electrode assembly 110 and laminated. do.

The membrane electrode assembly 110 includes a polymer electrolyte membrane capable of moving hydrogen cations (Proton), and a catalyst layer coated on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane so that hydrogen and oxygen can react, that is, a cathode and an anode. ) is implemented as a general membrane electrode assembly composed of

The gas diffusion layer 120 is a means for passing the reaction gas flowing through the separator 300 while diffusing it into the membrane electrode assembly 110, and a microporous layer ( MPL). In this case, the material of the substrate and the microporous layer is implemented as a material applied to a general gas diffusion layer.

The elastic frame 200 is a means integrally formed in the outer region of the insert 100 for airtight maintenance of the insert 100 and convenience in the lamination process. It is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE; Thermo Plastic Elastomer) for bonding by thermal fusion without an adhesive member.

In this case, the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) may be formed of a resin-based hard segment and a rubber-based soft segment. So, the resin-based hard segment contributes to thermal fusion of the elastic frame 200, and the soft segment contributes to elasticity and shape maintenance.

Therefore, as the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), styrene-based, olefin-based, urethane-based, amide-based, polyester-based and the like can be applied, and preferably, polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) can be applied. Then, the resin-based hard segment may be formed of a polyolefin resin such as PE or PP, and the rubber-based soft segment may be formed of an olefinic rubber such as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber).

On the other hand, the elastic frame 200 is disposed to surround the side of the edge of the insert 100 in the outer region of the insert 100, and any one side and side or both sides and the side and the interface of the edge of the insert 100. It is heat-sealed and formed integrally. Here, the 'outer region' of the insert 100 means an area including the edge region of the insert 100 and the space around it, and the 'edge' of the insert 100 means the edge region of the insert 100 . .

For example, as shown in FIG. 5B , the elastic frame 200 is disposed to surround the outer region of the insert 100 while facing each other from one side and one side of the edge of the insert 100 .

On the other hand, the elastic frame 200 has a reaction surface through-hole 211 in which the insert 100 is disposed in the central region in the width direction is formed. Therefore, by placing the insert 100 in the reaction surface through-hole 211 , an anode surface through which hydrogen flows to one surface of the insert 100 is formed, and a cathode surface through which air flows to the other surface of the insert 100 is formed. do.

In addition, a pair of cooling surfaces 212 through which cooling water flows are formed in the elastic frame 200 in both sides in the width direction of the reaction surface through-hole 211 . At this time, the cooling surface 212 is formed in the form of a flow path through which the cooling water flows. For example, the cooling surface 212 is formed in the form of a wide groove with a cross-sectional shape recessed from the surface of the elastic frame 200 as shown in FIG. 5B .

In addition, a plurality of first reaction gas inlet through-holes 220 through which a reaction gas is introduced and a plurality of first cooling water inflow through-holes 230 through which a cooling water is introduced are formed on one side of the elastic frame 200 in the longitudinal direction. . In addition, a plurality of first reaction gas discharge through-holes 240 through which the reaction gas is discharged and a plurality of first cooling water discharge through-holes 250 through which the cooling water is discharged are formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame 200 . .

In other words, a pair of the first reactive gas inlet through-hole 220 and the first reactive gas outlet through-hole 240 is formed to be divided so that hydrogen and air are introduced and discharged.

Therefore, on one surface of the elastic frame 200, a first reaction gas inlet through-hole 220a through which hydrogen flows in and out and a first reaction gas discharge through-hole 240a are disposed on the reaction surface, respectively. One surface of the insert 100 A first reaction gas connection passage 260 communicating with the phosphor anode surface is formed.

In addition, on the other surface of the elastic frame 200 , a first reaction gas inlet through hole 220b and a first reaction gas discharge through hole 240b through which air flows in and out are respectively disposed on the reaction surface of the insert 100 , the other surface of the insert 100 . A first reaction gas connection passage 260 communicating with the phosphor cathode surface is formed.

At this time, the shape of the first reaction gas connection passage 260 communicating with the anode surface and the first reaction gas connection passage 260 communicating with the cathode surface are the same. However, the first reaction gas connection passage 260 communicating with the anode surface is formed on one surface of the elastic frame 200 , and the first reaction gas connection passage 260 communicating with the cathode surface is the other surface of the elastic frame 200 . is formed with

In addition, each of the first reaction gas connection passages 260 is spaced apart from each other in the width direction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A so that the first protrusion 261 and the first groove portion 262 are repetitively formed in a straight line along the longitudinal direction. is formed Meanwhile, it is preferable that a diffusion passage 270 for diffusing the reaction gas is formed between each of the first reaction gas connection passages 260 and the anode surface and the cathode surface.

In addition, a first cooling water connection passage 280 for communicating with each other is formed between the first cooling water inlet through hole 230 and the cooling surface 212 and between the cooling surface 212 and the first cooling water discharge through hole 250 . do.

In other words, the first cooling water inlet through hole 230 and the first cooling water discharge through hole 250 are respectively formed on both surfaces of the elastic frame 200 . Accordingly, the first cooling water connection passages 280 are also formed on both surfaces of the elastic frame 200 .

In addition, each of the first cooling water connection passages 280 is spaced apart from each other in the width direction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A so that the second protrusion 281 and the second groove 282 are repeatedly formed in a straight line along the length direction. do. At this time, the second protrusion 281 and the second groove 282 formed on one surface of the elastic frame 200 and the second protrusion 281 and the second groove 282 formed on the other surface of the elastic frame 200 are elastic bodies. It is preferable that the frame 200 be formed to be symmetrical with respect to the center plane in the thickness direction.

On the other hand, the elastic frame 200 may be formed with means for airtightness with the separation plate (300).

For example, one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame 200 surround the anode surface, the cathode surface, and the cooling surface, and surround the region through which hydrogen, air, and coolant flow, so that hydrogen, air, and coolant leak into an unwanted area. A protrusion seal 290 in the form of a line to block being formed is formed.

On the other hand, a pair of separators are disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame for fuel cell configured as described above to constitute a unit cell for fuel cell.

The separator 300 is disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic cell frame made of the insert 100 and the elastic frame 200, and means to flow hydrogen and air, which are reactive gases, and cooling water to the interface with the elastic frame 200. As such, it is made of a metal material.

At this time, the separation plate 300 has a reaction surface passage 311 and a cooling surface passage 312 so that the reaction gas and cooling water can smoothly flow in the region corresponding to the reaction surface and the cooling surface 212 of the elastic frame 200 . is formed The reaction surface passage 311 and the cooling surface passage 312 are preferably formed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction while repeating the concavo-convex shape in the width direction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B . Of course, the reaction surface flow path 311 and the cooling surface flow path 312 are not limited to the concavo-convex shape, but may be modified and implemented in various shapes capable of smoothly flowing the reaction gas and the cooling water.

In addition, in the separation plate 300 , like the elastic frame 200 , a through hole is formed to form a manifold for introducing and discharging reaction gas and cooling water.

In other words, a plurality of second reaction gas inlet through-holes 320 through which a reactive gas flows and a plurality of second cooling water inlet through-holes 330 through which cooling water flows are formed on one side of the separator 300 in the longitudinal direction. do.

In addition, a plurality of second reaction gas discharge through-holes 340 through which the reaction gas is discharged and a plurality of second cooling water discharge through-holes 350 through which the cooling water is discharged are formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the separation plate 300 . .

In addition, the separation plate 300 has a flat region facing the first reaction gas connection passage 260 and the first cooling water connection passage 280 formed in the elastic frame 200 . So, as the first protrusion 261 of the elastic frame 200 and the separator 300 face each other, a reaction gas flows between the first groove 262 of the elastic frame 200 and the separator 300, and the elastic frame ( As the second protrusion 281 of 200 and the separator 300 face each other, the cooling water flows between the second groove 282 and the separator 300 .

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5D , the cooling water supplied through the first cooling water inflow through-hole 230 of the elastic frame 200 and the second cooling water inflow through-hole 330 of the separating plate 300 is supplied by the separating plate 300 . It is supplied to one surface and the other surface of the pair of elastic frames 200 that are stacked adjacent to each other while branching.

On the other hand, a fuel cell stack is constituted by stacking a plurality of the elastic frame for fuel cell and the separator configured as described above.

A fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an elastic frame 200 integrated with the insert 100 described above; The separator plate 300 is disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame 200 to flow the reaction gas and cooling water to the interface with the elastic frame 200, respectively.

In particular, one separator 300 is disposed and stacked between the elastic frames 200 adjacent to each other in this embodiment due to structural improvement of the elastic frame 200 and the separator 300 .

Thus, an anode surface is formed in the central region of one surface of the elastic frame 200 , and a pair of cooling surfaces 212 are formed on both sides of the anode surface in the width direction. And a cathode surface is formed in the central region of the other surface of the elastic frame 200, and a pair of cooling surfaces 212 are formed on both sides of the cathode surface in the width direction.

On the other hand, the present invention provides a first reaction gas connection passage 260 and a second reaction gas connection passage 360 and a first coolant connection passage 280 and a second coolant connection passage 380 when the elastic frame and the separator are laminated. The shape of the separator 300 may be changed so that the surface pressure formed therein is uniformly formed.

6 and 7 are exploded perspective views showing a fuel cell stack according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a view showing a separator according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the present invention It is a cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell stack according to At this time, FIG. 9 is a view showing a cross-section taken along line A-A of FIG. 7 .

6 to 9 , the separator 300 constituting the unit cell for a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention has a first groove portion 262 in an area facing the first reaction gas connection passage 260 . ) and a first forming part 361 in the form of a tunnel through which the reaction gas flows while being superimposed; A second reaction gas connection passage 360 including a first mounting portion 362 overlapping the first protrusion 261 is formed.

At this time, the first forming part 361 of the separating plate 300 is formed by being bent while protruding in the direction of one surface of the separating plate 300 so that both ends in the longitudinal direction communicate with each other, and the reaction gas is directed to the other surface area of the first forming part 361 . to allow it to flow.

In other words, the first forming part 361 of the separating plate 300 is formed by bending a partial region of the separating plate 300 in one surface direction by press molding. In particular, in the separator 300, the end of the region where the first forming portion 361 is formed is cut to a predetermined length so that the first forming portion 361 is processed into a tunnel shape in which both ends communicate with each other after press molding. So, by the first forming part 361 formed in a tunnel shape, from the other surface area of the first forming part 361 to the one surface area of the separator plate 300 adjacent to the area where the first forming part 361 is formed. A communicating flow path is formed. Accordingly, the reaction gas flows to the reaction surface, that is, the insert 100 through the flow path formed by the first forming unit 361 in the other surface area of the first forming unit 361 .

In addition, the separating plate 300 includes a second forming part 381 in the form of a tunnel through which a reaction gas flows while overlapping with the second groove part 282 in an area facing the first cooling water connection passage 280 , and a second protrusion. A second cooling water connection passage 380 including the second mounting portion 382 overlapping the 281 is formed.

At this time, the second forming part 381 of the separating plate 300 is formed by being bent while protruding in the direction of one surface of the separating plate 300 so that both ends in the longitudinal direction communicate with each other, and the cooling water flows to the other surface area of the second forming part 381 . make it move

At this time, the second forming part 381 of the separator 300 is formed by bending a portion of the separator plate 300 in the direction of one side or the other surface by press molding, similarly to the above-described first forming part 361 . .

At this time, the direction and shape in which the first forming part 361 and the second forming part 381 protrude are the first reaction gas connection passage 260 and the first reaction gas connection passage 260 formed in the elastic frame 200 . It can be implemented with various changes corresponding to the shape and location of the .

So, when the elastic frame 200 and the separator 300 are laminated, the first forming part 361 , the first holding part 362 , the second forming part 381 and the second supporting part 382 formed on the separator plate. ) to be superimposed on the first groove portion 262, the first projection portion 261, the second groove portion 282, and the second projection portion 281 formed in the elastic frame 200, respectively, to prevent deformation of the corresponding area while increasing the surface pressure to occur uniformly.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the above-described preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is defined by the following claims. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art can variously change and modify the present invention within the scope without departing from the spirit of the claims to be described later.

100: insert 110: membrane electrode assembly (MEA)
120: gas diffusion layer (GDL) 200: elastic frame
211: reaction surface through hole 212: cooling surface
220: first reaction gas inlet through hole 230: first cooling water inlet through hole
240: first reaction gas discharge through hole 250: first cooling water discharge through hole
260: first reaction gas connection passage 261: first protrusion
262: first groove portion 270: diffusion path
280: first cooling water connection passage 281: second protrusion
282: second groove portion 290: protrusion seal
300: separator 311: reaction surface flow path
312: cooling surface flow path 320: second reaction gas inlet through hole
330: second cooling water inlet through hole 340: second reaction gas discharge through hole
350: second cooling water discharge through hole 360: second reaction gas connection passage
361: first forming part 362: first holding part
380: second cooling water connection passage 381: second forming part
282: second mounting portion

Claims (18)

A cell frame constituting a unit cell of a fuel cell, comprising:
an insert in which a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both surfaces are joined;
A fuel cell elastic body comprising an elastic frame in which a reaction surface through-hole on which the insert is disposed is formed in a central region in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which coolant flows are formed in both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction. cell frame.
The method according to claim 1,
A plurality of first reaction gas inlet through-holes through which a reaction gas flows and a plurality of first cooling water inflow through-holes through which cooling water flows are formed on one side of the elastic frame in the longitudinal direction;
The elastic cell frame for a fuel cell, characterized in that at the other side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame, a plurality of first reaction gas discharge through-holes through which the reaction gas is discharged and a plurality of first cooling water discharge through-holes through which the coolant is discharged are formed.
3. The method according to claim 2,
In the elastic frame,
A first reaction gas connection passage communicating with each other is formed between the first reaction gas inlet through hole and the reaction surface through hole, and between the reaction surface through hole and the first reaction gas discharge through hole. elastomer cell frame.
4. The method according to claim 3,
A pair of the first reaction gas inlet through-hole and the first reactive gas discharge through-hole are respectively formed and divided so that hydrogen and air are introduced and discharged;
A first reaction gas connection passage is formed on one surface of the elastic frame to connect the first reaction gas inlet through-hole through which hydrogen flows in and out and the first reaction gas discharge through-hole through one surface of the insert disposed on the reaction surface, respectively. becomes,
A first reaction gas connection passage is formed on the other surface of the elastic frame to connect the first reaction gas inlet through-hole through which air flows in and out and the first reaction gas discharge through-hole through the other surface of the insert disposed on the reaction surface, respectively. An elastic cell frame for a fuel cell, characterized in that it becomes.
4. The method according to claim 3,
The first reactive gas connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the first protrusion and the first groove are repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction.
3. The method according to claim 2,
and a first cooling water connection passage communicating with each other between the first cooling water inlet through hole and the cooling surface, and between the cooling surface and the first cooling water discharge through hole.
7. The method of claim 6,
The elastic cell frame for a fuel cell, characterized in that the cooling surface and the first cooling water connection passage are respectively formed on both surfaces of the elastic frame.
7. The method of claim 6,
The first cooling water connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the second protrusion and the second groove are repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction.
A unit cell for a fuel cell, comprising:
an insert in which a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both surfaces are joined;
an elastic frame in which a reaction surface through-hole on which the insert is disposed is formed in a central region in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which coolant flows are formed in both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction;
and a pair of separator plates disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame to flow a reaction gas and cooling water to an interface with the elastic frame.
10. The method of claim 9,
A plurality of first reaction gas inlet through-holes through which a reaction gas flows and a plurality of first cooling water inflow through-holes through which cooling water flows are formed on one side of the elastic frame in the longitudinal direction;
A plurality of first reaction gas discharge through-holes through which the reaction gas is discharged and a plurality of first cooling water discharge through-holes through which the cooling water is discharged are formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic frame,
A plurality of second reaction gas inlet through-holes through which a reaction gas is introduced and a plurality of second cooling water inlet through-holes through which cooling water is introduced are formed on one side of the separation plate in the longitudinal direction;
A unit cell for a fuel cell, characterized in that a plurality of second reaction gas discharge through-holes through which the reaction gas is discharged and a plurality of second cooling water discharge through-holes through which the cooling water is discharged are formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the separator.
11. The method of claim 10,
In the elastic frame,
A first reaction gas connection passage communicating with each other is formed between the first reaction gas inlet through hole and the reaction surface through hole, and between the reaction surface through hole and the first reaction gas discharge through hole,
and a first cooling water connection passage communicating with each other between the first cooling water inlet through hole and the cooling surface, and between the cooling surface and the first cooling water discharge through hole.
12. The method of claim 11,
The first reaction gas connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction to repeatedly form a first protrusion and a first groove along the longitudinal direction,
The first coolant connection passage is spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the second protrusion and the second groove are repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction.
13. The method of claim 12,
The separation plate has a flat region facing the first reaction gas connection passage and the first cooling water connection passage, so that the reaction gas flows between the first groove portion and the separation plate, and the cooling water flows between the second groove portion and the separation plate. A unit cell for a fuel cell, characterized in that it flows.
13. The method of claim 12,
The separation plate includes a first forming part in the form of a tunnel in which the reactant gas flows while being superimposed on the first groove in a region facing the first reactive gas connection passage, and a first mounting part superimposed on the first protrusion. 2 A unit cell for a fuel cell, characterized in that the reaction gas connection passage is formed.
15. The method of claim 14,
The first forming part of the separator is formed by being bent while protruding in the direction of one surface of the separator so that both ends of the separator in the longitudinal direction communicate with each other, and the reaction gas flows to the area of the other surface of the first forming part.
13. The method of claim 12,
The separation plate includes a second forming part in the form of a tunnel in which a reaction gas flows while being superimposed on the second groove part in a region facing the first cooling water connection passage, and a second holding part superimposed on the second protrusion part. A unit cell for a fuel cell, characterized in that a cooling water connection passage is formed.
17. The method of claim 16,
The second forming part of the separator is formed by being bent while protruding in the direction of one surface of the separator so that both ends of the separator in the longitudinal direction communicate with each other, and the coolant flows to the area of the other surface of the second forming part.
an insert in which a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on both surfaces are joined;
a plurality of elastic frames in which a reaction surface through-hole on which the insert is disposed is formed in a central region in the width direction, and a pair of cooling surfaces through which coolant flows are formed in both sides of the reaction surface through-hole in the width direction;
a separation plate disposed on one surface and the other surface of the elastic frame, respectively, to flow a reaction gas and cooling water to an interface with the elastic frame;
A fuel cell stack, characterized in that one separator is disposed and stacked between adjacent elastic frames.

Images