WO2023237150A1 - Contacting device for a stack of electrochemical cells, and contacting method - Google Patents

Contacting device for a stack of electrochemical cells, and contacting method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023237150A1
WO2023237150A1 PCT/DE2023/100396 DE2023100396W WO2023237150A1 WO 2023237150 A1 WO2023237150 A1 WO 2023237150A1 DE 2023100396 W DE2023100396 W DE 2023100396W WO 2023237150 A1 WO2023237150 A1 WO 2023237150A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
contacting
strip
stack
electrochemical cells
contacting device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DE2023/100396
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Andreas Nendel
Original Assignee
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG filed Critical Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Publication of WO2023237150A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023237150A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/60—Constructional parts of cells
    • C25B9/65—Means for supplying current; Electrode connections; Electric inter-cell connections
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells
    • C25B9/73—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type
    • C25B9/75—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type having bipolar electrodes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells
    • C25B9/73—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type
    • C25B9/77—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type having diaphragms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0297—Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04544—Voltage
    • H01M8/04552—Voltage of the individual fuel cell
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/02—Hydrogen or oxygen
    • C25B1/04—Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
    • H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
    • H01R13/2407—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means
    • H01R13/2414—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means conductive elastomers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a contacting device for plates within a stack of electrochemical cells, in particular fuel cells.
  • the invention further relates to a method for contacting at least one plate of a stack of electrochemical cells.
  • WO 2020/200 338 A1 discloses a battery cell macromodule housing for accommodating multiple battery cells in one housing.
  • the housing includes a housing shell in which there is an opening for receiving a board connection socket.
  • the connection socket is attached to an external area of a circuit board body.
  • the battery cell macromodule housing according to WO 2020/200 338 A1 should be particularly suitable for use in electrically powered vehicles.
  • DE 89 02 967 U1 describes a possible design of an electrical plug contact with a flat plug.
  • the electrical plug contact is designed as a stamped sheet metal part, with the flat plug being formed in two layers by an envelope of at least one edge strip of the stamped sheet metal part.
  • a spring arm base of the electrical plug contact according to DE 89 02 967 U1 is connected to the flat plug by a connecting web.
  • a detent spring tongue base part, which is formed by a flat strip, is held on the spring arm base.
  • KR 10 2005 004 8277 A suggests contacting via wires under an adhesive layer, which lead to a plug contact outside the adhesive layer.
  • EP 1 900 052 B1 discloses a bipolar plate which is composed of two half sheets, namely a so-called half cathodic bipolar plate and half anodic bipolar plate.
  • the half-sheets form hollow receptacles into which electrical connecting elements can be inserted for measuring purposes.
  • US 2008 /0 102 332 A1 shows a connector for measuring a cell voltage.
  • Another connector for measuring a cell voltage of a fuel cell is described in DE 10 2018 110 870 A1.
  • a connector is mounted in a diagonal direction relative to the external shape of the fuel cells.
  • the invention is based on the object of achieving progress in the contacting of electrochemical cells compared to the stated prior art, particularly in terms of manufacturing aspects, with particularly good utilization of space also being sought.
  • a contacting device provided for contacting at least one plate within a stack of electrochemical cells with the features of claim 1.
  • the object is also achieved by a method for contacting a plate of a stack of electrochemical cells according to claim 9.
  • the design and advantages of the invention explained with the contacting device also apply mutatis mutandis to the contacting method and vice versa.
  • the contacting device comprises a flexible contacting strip, which is designed to be pressed onto an end face of a conductive plate of the electrochemical stack Cells are provided, wherein the contacting strip lies in a plane aligned orthogonally to the plate and is located on a contact strip, to which at least one positioning wedge is also attached.
  • positioning wedges can be adjacent to both ends of the contacting strip. Variants are also possible in which there is only a positioning wedge at a single end of the contacting strip. In any case, the at least one positioning wedge is provided for positioning between two mutually parallel plates of the stack of electrochemical cells.
  • the plates of the electrochemical cells to be contacted can in particular be bipolar plates.
  • the end faces to be contacted can in particular be in the form of sheet metal edges that were created by a cutting process and do not have an exactly defined geometric shape. In short, we can speak of edges of rough bipolar plates.
  • the bipolar plates can be bent at their edges to increase the contact areas. In the case of bends, angular errors can also play a role, which can be compensated for with the help of the contacting device.
  • the flexible contacting strip hugs the edge of the bipolar plate or other electrically conductive plate over a large area compared to conceivable, comparably stiff contacting elements, also in the form of metallic contacting springs. Because no surface contact has to be made on the top and/or bottom of the plate, the contacting device takes up particularly little space.
  • the at least one plate within the stack of electrochemical cells is contacted as follows: - a stack of electrochemical cells, which comprises a large number of mutually parallel plates, is provided,
  • the contacting device according to the application is pressed onto an end face of at least one plate of the cell stack with the aid of an inherently rigid pressure rail, the contact pressure giving a force vector lying in the plane of the plate.
  • the contacting strip can in particular be a strip made of electrically conductive plastic.
  • the conductivity can be produced in a manner known per se by adding electrically conductive material.
  • contacting on an end face that is to say the end-side contacting, which is provided by the contacting strip
  • reference is made, for example, to WO 02/096607 A1 which concerns the treatment of end faces of plates, but does not deal with electrical properties explains.
  • the contact strip on which the contacting strip is located can in particular be designed as a flexible conductor track.
  • the entire arrangement of contacting strips and contact strips therefore has flexibility, which is essential for surface contacting.
  • the contacting strip in the form of the current-conducting, elastic plastic can be applied to the flexible conductor track provided as an intermediate product in a manner known per se.
  • a compressible band for example made of foam rubber, on the side of the contact strip facing away from the contacting strip.
  • the strength of this band can be greater than the wall thickness of the contacting strip.
  • the contacting strip provided for electrical contacting can adapt particularly well to shape defects in the plate stack at the edges of the plates.
  • numerous design variants are possible, with each of these variants assuming that a plurality of mutually parallel contacting strips are arranged on the contact strip:
  • foil contacts provided by the contacting strips can run over the entire cell stack, which is also referred to as a stack for short. This is particularly important when the stack has narrow tolerances, i.e. when there is a high level of geometric precision.
  • foil contacts which are provided by means of the plurality of contacting strips, to a few cells of the stack.
  • stepped recesses in the contacting strips are advantageous. This generally means that the two contacting strips arranged on the edges of the contact strip are inserted into a first outer or second outer contour of the contact strip, the contours mentioned being coordinated with one another according to the key-lock principle, so that several similar contact strips are underneath Maintaining distances can be placed together.
  • a contacting element has, for example, three to eight flexible contacting strips arranged parallel to one another, in particular four such strips.
  • the number of contacts can be determined depending on the manufacturing tolerance of the cells. The more precisely the geometry of the cells and thus of the entire stack is defined, the more plates of the stack can be contacted at the same time by a single band on which there are several strip-shaped contact areas. In extreme cases, all cells of a stack, for example 400 cells, can be contacted by a single, uninterrupted, flat, flexible object that replaces a large number of contact strips.
  • At least one electrical connecting element on the contact strip including grouped contacting strips, or on a component connected to the contact strip.
  • This element can be either for example, a plug or a more complex element of an electronic network.
  • the connecting element which is in particular integrated into a bus system, can be arranged on a fixed circuit board.
  • Flexible connections between individual, typically similar contacting devices can be designed, for example, as films laid in loops, with which tolerances in the normal direction of the mutually parallel plates to be contacted can be compensated. If the panels are aligned horizontally, tolerances in the vertical direction can be compensated for.
  • Positioning wedges With the help of the elements known as positioning wedges, the heights of the individual contacting strips adapt to the height of the plates, based on the arbitrary horizontal alignment of the electrically conductive plates to be contacted, in particular bipolar plates. Positioning wedges are also referred to when they do not have a strict wedge shape, but rather, for example, a rounded cross-sectional shape or a tooth shape, as long as the so-called positioning wedges allow sufficient adjustment of the contacting strips in relation to the plates for contacting.
  • the individual contacting devices are initially held resiliently at a distance from one another.
  • spring elements can be tensioned, for example, between plugs, each of which can be assigned to a contacting device.
  • the spring elements ensure that there are initially equal distances between the individual contacting devices.
  • the pressing of all contacting devices onto the entire stack of electrochemical cells can then be carried out in particular with a pressure rail attached to the cell stack, for example held at the ends of the stack.
  • the top and bottom contacting devices are first brought to the intended height. The remaining contacting devices in between are aligned with the help of the mentioned spring elements and the positioning wedges, so that no further manual adjustment work is required.
  • the advantage of the invention is, in particular, that contacting bipolar plates of a fuel cell stack is possible in a simple, space-saving manner without requiring notches, projections or similar contours of the plates to be electrically contacted.
  • the contacting device can be used in particular for measuring the cell voltage of fuel cells, that is, for cell monitoring.
  • FIG. 1 shows a section of a schematic sectional view of a stack of electrochemical cells and a contacting device attached thereto
  • FIG. 2 shows a section of the contacting device according to FIG. 1 in a top view
  • FIG. 3 shows the entire contacting device according to FIG. 2 in a schematic top view
  • FIG. 4 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 3 in a schematic sectional view
  • FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a contacting device in a view analogous to FIG. 3,
  • FIG. 6 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 5 in a view analogous to FIG. 4. Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations refer to all exemplary embodiments. Parts that correspond to one another or have the same effect in principle are marked with the same reference numerals in all figures.
  • a stack of electrochemical cells marked overall with the reference number 1 is a fuel cell stack. Electrical contacts to bipolar plates 3 of the fuel cell stack 1 are made using a contacting device 2.
  • the fuel cell stack 1 is also referred to as a stack for short.
  • the stack 1 could, for example, be part of an electrolysis system for producing hydrogen or a core component of a redox flow battery.
  • the plates 3, that is to say bipolar plates, are each composed of two half sheets 4, 5.
  • Individual electrochemical cells 6, that is to say fuel cells, comprise two half cells 7, 8 in a structure known per se, which are separated from one another by a proton-conducting membrane 9.
  • the biopolar plates 3 are always aligned horizontally. This does not provide any information about the actual arrangement of the bipolar plates 3 in space. Accordingly, directional information such as “top”, “bottom” or “side” only refers to the arrangements visible in the figures and does not represent a precedent for the actual orientation in space. In particular, a vertical orientation of the bipolar plates 3 is possible.
  • the contacting device 2 comprises at least one flexible contacting strip 10, which is intended to rest on an end face 11 of a bipolar plate 3.
  • the contacting strip 10 is made of an electrically conductive plastic and is located on a contact strip generally designated 12, which in the exemplary embodiments is a flexible conductor track.
  • Positioning wedges 13 are also held on the contact strip 12 and are firmly connected between two adjacent bipolar plates 3 or with the bipolar plates 3 Structures are to be used so that each contacting strip 10 comes into correct contact with the end face 11 of one of the bipolar plates 3.
  • the compressible band 14 On the side of the contact strip 12 facing away from the contacting strip 10 there is a compressible band 14 which can transmit compressive forces.
  • the compressible band 14 protrudes laterally beyond the contacting strips 10, so that it covers not only the contacting strips 10, but also the positioning wedges 13, which are located at both ends of the contacting strips 10.
  • the compressible band 14 is made of foam rubber and is significantly thicker than the contacting strip 10, which is also flexible.
  • four contacting strips 10 are arranged one above the other on the contact strip 12.
  • a pressure rail 15 is provided, which can be attached to the stack 1. With the pressure rail 15, a plurality of contacting devices 2 can be pressed onto the stack 1 at the same time. In extreme cases, all bipolar plates 3 of the stack 1 can be electrically contacted simultaneously by several contacting devices 2.
  • the contact strip 12 has an upper contour 21 with projections and recesses and a similarly designed lower contour 22.
  • the different contours 21, 22 fit together according to a key-lock principle, with recesses in each contour 21, 22 being significantly wider than associated projections of the corresponding contour 22, 21, so that gaps arise between contact strips 12 placed next to one another. There are also gaps in the horizontal direction between adjacent contact strips 12 attached to the stack 1. Due to the lack of a fixed connection between the individual contact strips 12, geometric imperfections in the stack 1 can be compensated for.
  • Fuel cell stacks electrochemical cell stacks

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
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  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
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Abstract

A contacting device (2) for a stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6), in particular a fuel-cell stack, comprises a flexible contacting strip (10). This contacting strip (10) is intended for pressing against an end face (11) of a conductive plate (3) of the stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6), wherein the contacting strip (10) lies in a plane orthogonal to the plate (3) and is located at an abutment strip (12), also attached to which is at least one positioning wedge (13), which is located at one of the two ends of the contacting strip (10), and wherein the positioning wedge (13) is intended for positioning between two mutually parallel plates (3) of the stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6).

Description

Kontaktiervorrichtunq für einen Stapel elektrochemischer Zellen und Kontaktie- runqsverfahren Contacting device for a stack of electrochemical cells and contacting method
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Kontaktiervorrichtung für Platten innerhalb eines Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen, insbesondere Brennstoffzellen. Ferner betrifft die Erfindung ein Verfahren zur Kontaktierung mindestens einer Platte eines Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen. The invention relates to a contacting device for plates within a stack of electrochemical cells, in particular fuel cells. The invention further relates to a method for contacting at least one plate of a stack of electrochemical cells.
Die WO 2020 / 200 338 A1 offenbart ein Batteriezellenmakromodulgehäuse zum Aufnehmen mehrerer Batteriezellen in einem Gehäuse. Das Gehäuse umfasst eine Gehäuseschale, in welcher sich eine Öffnung zur Aufnahme einer Platinenanschlussbuchse befindet. Die Anschlussbuchse ist an einem Außenbereich eines Platinenkörpers befestigt. Das Batteriezellenmakromodulgehäuse nach der WO 2020 / 200 338 A1 soll insbesondere für den Einsatz in elektrisch betriebenen Fahrzeugen geeignet sein. WO 2020/200 338 A1 discloses a battery cell macromodule housing for accommodating multiple battery cells in one housing. The housing includes a housing shell in which there is an opening for receiving a board connection socket. The connection socket is attached to an external area of a circuit board body. The battery cell macromodule housing according to WO 2020/200 338 A1 should be particularly suitable for use in electrically powered vehicles.
Die DE 89 02 967 U1 beschreibt eine mögliche Bauform eines elektrischen Steckkontakts mit einem Flachstecker. Der elektrische Steckkontakt ist als Blechstanzteil ausgebildet, wobei der Flachstecker durch einen Umschlag wenigstens eines Randstreifens des Blechstanzteils doppellagig ausgebildet ist. Eine Federarmbasis des elektrischen Steckkontakts nach der DE 89 02 967 U1 ist durch einen Anbindungssteg mit dem Flachstecker verbunden. An der Federarmbasis ist ein Rastfederzungen-Basisteil gehalten, welches durch einen ebenen Streifen gebildet ist. Insgesamt soll der bekannte elektrische Steckkontakt derart gestaltbar sein, dass im Bereich der Federarmbasis die Dicke des Flachsteckers nicht überschritten wird. KR 10 2005 004 8277 A schlägt eine Kontaktierung über Drähte unter einer Klebeschicht vor, die zu einem Steckkontakt außerhalb der Klebeschicht führen. Weitere Varianten elektrischer Verbindungselemente, die aus Blech geformt sind, sind zum Beispiel in den Dokumenten WO 2018 / 193 347 A1 , DE 20 2018 006 251 U1 und DE 1 002 435 B beschrieben; eine, mit einer Leitgummischicht geht aus DE 10 2007 038 153 A1 hervor. DE 89 02 967 U1 describes a possible design of an electrical plug contact with a flat plug. The electrical plug contact is designed as a stamped sheet metal part, with the flat plug being formed in two layers by an envelope of at least one edge strip of the stamped sheet metal part. A spring arm base of the electrical plug contact according to DE 89 02 967 U1 is connected to the flat plug by a connecting web. A detent spring tongue base part, which is formed by a flat strip, is held on the spring arm base. Overall, the known electrical plug contact should be designed in such a way that the thickness of the flat plug is not exceeded in the area of the spring arm base. KR 10 2005 004 8277 A suggests contacting via wires under an adhesive layer, which lead to a plug contact outside the adhesive layer. Further variants of electrical connecting elements that are formed from sheet metal are described, for example, in the documents WO 2018/193 347 A1, DE 20 2018 006 251 U1 and DE 1 002 435 B; one with a conductive rubber layer emerges from DE 10 2007 038 153 A1.
Die EP 1 900 052 B1 offenbart eine Bipolarplatte, welche aus zwei Halbblechen, nämlich einer sogenannten halben kathodischen Bipolarplatte und einer halben anodischen Bipolarplatte, zusammengesetzt ist. Zusätzlich zu zahlreichen sonstigen dreidimensionalen Strukturierungen sind durch die Halbbleche hohle Aufnahmen gebildet, in welche elektrische Verbindungselemente zu Messzwecken einsteckbar sind. EP 1 900 052 B1 discloses a bipolar plate which is composed of two half sheets, namely a so-called half cathodic bipolar plate and half anodic bipolar plate. In addition to numerous other three-dimensional structures, the half-sheets form hollow receptacles into which electrical connecting elements can be inserted for measuring purposes.
US 2008 /0 102 332 A1 zeigt einen Steckverbinder zum Messen einer Zellspannung. Ein weiterer Steckverbinder zum Messen einer Zellspannung einer Brennstoffzelle ist in der DE 10 2018 110 870 A1 beschrieben. In diesem Fall ist ein Steckverbinder in eine diagonale Richtung relativ zur äußeren Form der Brennstoffzellen angebracht. US 2008 /0 102 332 A1 shows a connector for measuring a cell voltage. Another connector for measuring a cell voltage of a fuel cell is described in DE 10 2018 110 870 A1. In this case, a connector is mounted in a diagonal direction relative to the external shape of the fuel cells.
Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, Fortschritte bei der Kontaktierung elektrochemischer Zellen gegenüber dem genannten Stand der Technik insbesondere unter fertigungstechnischen Aspekten zu erzielen, wobei auch eine besonders gute Raumausnutzung angestrebt wird. The invention is based on the object of achieving progress in the contacting of electrochemical cells compared to the stated prior art, particularly in terms of manufacturing aspects, with particularly good utilization of space also being sought.
Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch eine zur Kontaktierung mindestens einer Platte innerhalb eines Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen vorgesehene Kontaktiervorrichtung mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1. Ebenso wird die Aufgabe gelöst durch ein Verfahren zur Kontaktierung einer Platte eines Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen gemäß Anspruch 9. Im Folgenden im Zusammenhang mit der Kontaktiervorrichtung erläuterte Ausgestaltung und Vorteile der Erfindung gelten sinngemäß auch für das Kontaktierungsverfahren und umgekehrt. This object is achieved according to the invention by a contacting device provided for contacting at least one plate within a stack of electrochemical cells with the features of claim 1. The object is also achieved by a method for contacting a plate of a stack of electrochemical cells according to claim 9. In the context below The design and advantages of the invention explained with the contacting device also apply mutatis mutandis to the contacting method and vice versa.
Die Kontaktiervorrichtung umfasst einen flexiblen Kontaktierungsstreifen, welcher zum Andrücken an eine Stirnfläche einer leitfähigen Platte des Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen vorgesehen ist, wobei der Kontaktierungsstreifen in einer orthogonal zur Platte ausgerichteten Ebene liegt und sich an einem Anlagestreifen befindet, an welchem weiterhin mindestens ein Positionierkeil angebracht ist. Hierbei können Positionierkeile beiden Enden des Kontaktierungsstreifens benachbart sein. Ebenso sind Varianten möglich, bei welchen sich lediglich an einem einzigen Ende des Kontaktierungsstreifens ein Positionierkeil befindet. In jedem Fall ist der mindestens eine Positionierkeil zur Positionierung zwischen zwei zueinander parallelen Platten des Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen vorgesehen. The contacting device comprises a flexible contacting strip, which is designed to be pressed onto an end face of a conductive plate of the electrochemical stack Cells are provided, wherein the contacting strip lies in a plane aligned orthogonally to the plate and is located on a contact strip, to which at least one positioning wedge is also attached. Here, positioning wedges can be adjacent to both ends of the contacting strip. Variants are also possible in which there is only a positioning wedge at a single end of the contacting strip. In any case, the at least one positioning wedge is provided for positioning between two mutually parallel plates of the stack of electrochemical cells.
Durch die Flexibilität des Kontaktierungsstreifens werden Fertigungs- und Montagetoleranzen ausgeglichen, sodass trotz des ausschließlich oder überwiegend stirnseitigen Kontakts zuverlässig eine elektrisch leitfähige Verbindung zwischen der Platte des Zellenstapels und der Kontaktiervorrichtung hergestellt wird. Bei den zu kontaktierenden Platten der elektrochemischen Zellen kann es sich insbesondere um Bipolarplatten handeln. Die zu kontaktierenden Stirnflächen können hierbei insbesondere in Form von Blechkanten vorliegen, die durch einen Schneidprozess erzeugt wurden und keine exakt definierte geometrische Form haben. Kurz kann hierbei von Kanten rauer Bipolarplatten gesprochen werden. Optional werden die Bipolarplatten an ihren Kanten umgebogen, um die Kontaktflächen zu vergrößern. Im Fall von Abkantungen können auch Winkelfehler eine Rolle spielen, welche mit Hilfe der Kontaktiervorrichtung ausglichen werden können. Due to the flexibility of the contacting strip, manufacturing and assembly tolerances are compensated for, so that an electrically conductive connection is reliably established between the plate of the cell stack and the contacting device despite the exclusively or predominantly frontal contact. The plates of the electrochemical cells to be contacted can in particular be bipolar plates. The end faces to be contacted can in particular be in the form of sheet metal edges that were created by a cutting process and do not have an exactly defined geometric shape. In short, we can speak of edges of rough bipolar plates. Optionally, the bipolar plates can be bent at their edges to increase the contact areas. In the case of bends, angular errors can also play a role, which can be compensated for with the help of the contacting device.
In Relation zur gegebenen unebenen und rauen stirnseitigen Oberfläche schmiegt sich der flexible Kontaktierungsstreifen im Vergleich zu denkbaren, in sich vergleichbar steifen Kontaktierungselementen, auch in Form metallischer Kontaktierungsfedern, großflächig an die Kante der Bipolarplatte oder sonstigen elektrisch leitfähigen Platte an. Dadurch, dass kein flächiger Kontakt auf der Ober- und/oder Unterseite der Platte hergestellt werden muss, beansprucht die Kontaktiervorrichtung besonders wenig Raum. In relation to the given uneven and rough front surface, the flexible contacting strip hugs the edge of the bipolar plate or other electrically conductive plate over a large area compared to conceivable, comparably stiff contacting elements, also in the form of metallic contacting springs. Because no surface contact has to be made on the top and/or bottom of the plate, the contacting device takes up particularly little space.
Allgemein erfolgt die Kontaktierung der mindestens einen Platte innerhalb des Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen, insbesondere Brennstoffzellenstapels, folgendermaßen: - ein Stapel elektrochemischer Zellen, welcher eine Vielzahl zueinander paralleler Platten umfasst, wird bereitgestellt, In general, the at least one plate within the stack of electrochemical cells, in particular fuel cell stack, is contacted as follows: - a stack of electrochemical cells, which comprises a large number of mutually parallel plates, is provided,
- die anmeldungsgemäße Kontaktiervorrichtung wird mit Hilfe einer in sich starren Druckschiene an eine Stirnfläche mindestens einer Platte des Zellenstapels angepresst, wobei durch die Anpresskraft ein in der Plattenebene liegender Kraftvektor gegeben ist. - The contacting device according to the application is pressed onto an end face of at least one plate of the cell stack with the aid of an inherently rigid pressure rail, the contact pressure giving a force vector lying in the plane of the plate.
Bei dem Kontaktierungsstreifen kann es sich insbesondere um einen Streifen aus elektrisch leitfähigem Kunststoff handeln. Die Leitfähigkeit kann hierbei in an sich bekannter Weise durch zugesetztes elektrisch leitfähiges Material hergestellt sein. Was den Begriff der Kontaktierung an einer Stirnfläche, das heißt die stirnseitige Kontaktierung, welche durch den Kontaktierungsstreifen gegeben ist, betrifft, wird beispielhaft auf die WO 02/096607 A1 hingewiesen, die die Behandlung von Stirnflächen von Platten betrifft, sich jedoch nicht mit elektrischen Eigenschaften auseinandersetzt. The contacting strip can in particular be a strip made of electrically conductive plastic. The conductivity can be produced in a manner known per se by adding electrically conductive material. As far as the term contacting on an end face is concerned, that is to say the end-side contacting, which is provided by the contacting strip, reference is made, for example, to WO 02/096607 A1, which concerns the treatment of end faces of plates, but does not deal with electrical properties explains.
Der Anlagestreifen, auf welchem sich der Kontaktierungsstreifen befindet, kann insbesondere als flexible Leiterbahn ausgebildet sein. Somit weist die gesamte Anordnung aus Kontaktierungsstreifen und Anlagestreifen eine Flexibilität auf, welche für die flächige Kontaktierung von wesentlicher Bedeutung ist. Der Kontaktierungsstreifen in Form des ström leitenden, elastischen Kunststoffs kann auf die als Zwischenprodukt bereitgestellte flexible Leiterbahn in an sich bekannter Weise aufgebracht werden. The contact strip on which the contacting strip is located can in particular be designed as a flexible conductor track. The entire arrangement of contacting strips and contact strips therefore has flexibility, which is essential for surface contacting. The contacting strip in the form of the current-conducting, elastic plastic can be applied to the flexible conductor track provided as an intermediate product in a manner known per se.
Gemäß einer vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung befindet sich auf der dem Kontaktierungsstreifen abgewandten Seite des Anlagestreifens ein komprimierbares Band, beispielsweise aus Moosgummi. Die Stärke dieses Bandes, bezogen auf den nicht komprimierten Zustand, kann größer als die Wandstärke des Kontaktierungsstreifens sein. Mit Hilfe des komprimierbaren Bandes kann sich der zur elektrischen Kontaktierung vorgesehene Kontaktierungsstreifen besonders gut Formfehlern des Plattenstapels an den Kanten der Platten anpassen. Was die Ausdehnung des insgesamt von der Kontaktiervorrichtung oder mehreren solcher Vorrichtungen kontaktierten Bereichs des Stapels elektrochemischer Zellen betrifft, sind zahlreiche Gestaltungsvananten möglich, wobei bei jeder dieser Varianten davon ausgegangen wird, dass auf dem Anlagestreifen eine Mehrzahl zueinander paralleler Kontaktierungsstreifen angeordnet ist: According to an advantageous embodiment, there is a compressible band, for example made of foam rubber, on the side of the contact strip facing away from the contacting strip. The strength of this band, based on the uncompressed state, can be greater than the wall thickness of the contacting strip. With the help of the compressible band, the contacting strip provided for electrical contacting can adapt particularly well to shape defects in the plate stack at the edges of the plates. As far as the extent of the total area of the stack of electrochemical cells contacted by the contacting device or several such devices is concerned, numerous design variants are possible, with each of these variants assuming that a plurality of mutually parallel contacting strips are arranged on the contact strip:
Beispielsweise können durch die Kontaktierungsstreifen gegebene Folienkontakte über den gesamten Zellenstapel, welcher kurz auch als Stack bezeichnet wird, laufen. Dies kommt insbesondere bei engen Toleranzen des Stacks, das heißt bei einer hohen geometrischen Präzision, in Betracht. For example, foil contacts provided by the contacting strips can run over the entire cell stack, which is also referred to as a stack for short. This is particularly important when the stack has narrow tolerances, i.e. when there is a high level of geometric precision.
Ebenso ist es möglich, Folienkontakte, welche mittels der Mehrzahl an Kontaktierungsstreifen gegeben sind, auf wenige Zellen des Stacks zu beschränken. Zu diesem Zweck sind stufige Aussparungen der Kontaktierungsstreifen von Vorteil. Dies bedeutet allgemein, dass die beiden an den Rändern des Anlagestreifens angeordneten Kontaktierungsstreifen in eine erste äußere beziehungsweise zweite äußere Kontur des Anlagestreifens eingefügt sind, wobei die genannten Konturen nach dem Schlüs- sel-Schloss-Prinzip aufeinander abgestimmt sind, so dass mehrere gleichartige Anlagestreifen unter Einhaltung von Abständen aneinander gesetzt werden können. Ein Kontaktierungselement weist zum Beispiel drei bis acht parallel zueinander angeordnete flexible Kontaktierungsstreifen, insbesondere vier solcher Streifen, auf. It is also possible to limit foil contacts, which are provided by means of the plurality of contacting strips, to a few cells of the stack. For this purpose, stepped recesses in the contacting strips are advantageous. This generally means that the two contacting strips arranged on the edges of the contact strip are inserted into a first outer or second outer contour of the contact strip, the contours mentioned being coordinated with one another according to the key-lock principle, so that several similar contact strips are underneath Maintaining distances can be placed together. A contacting element has, for example, three to eight flexible contacting strips arranged parallel to one another, in particular four such strips.
Die Anzahl der Kontakte kann in Abhängigkeit von der Fertigungstoleranz der Zellen festgelegt werden. Je präziser die Geometrie der Zellen und damit des gesamten Stacks festgelegt ist, desto mehr Platten des Stacks können durch ein einziges Band, auf welchem sich mehrere streifenförmige Kontaktierungsbereiche befinden, gleichzeitig kontaktiert werden. Im Extremfall können sämtliche Zellen eines Stacks, beispielsweise 400 Zellen, von einem einzigen, ununterbochenen flächigen flexiblen Objekt, das eine Vielzahl an Kontaktbändern ersetzt, kontaktiert werden. The number of contacts can be determined depending on the manufacturing tolerance of the cells. The more precisely the geometry of the cells and thus of the entire stack is defined, the more plates of the stack can be contacted at the same time by a single band on which there are several strip-shaped contact areas. In extreme cases, all cells of a stack, for example 400 cells, can be contacted by a single, uninterrupted, flat, flexible object that replaces a large number of contact strips.
Optional befindet sich auf dem Anlagestreifen einschließlich gruppierter Kontaktierungsstreifen oder auf einer mit dem Anlagestreifen verbundenen Komponente mindestens ein elektrisches Verbindungselement. Bei diesem Element kann es sich bei- spielsweise um einen Stecker oder um ein komplexeres Element eines elektronischen Netzwerks handeln. Das Verbindungselement, welches insbesondere in ein Bus- System eingebunden ist, kann hierbei auf einer festen Platine angeordnet sein. Optionally, there is at least one electrical connecting element on the contact strip, including grouped contacting strips, or on a component connected to the contact strip. This element can be either for example, a plug or a more complex element of an electronic network. The connecting element, which is in particular integrated into a bus system, can be arranged on a fixed circuit board.
Flexible Verbindungen zwischen einzelnen, typischerweise gleichartigen Kontaktiervorrichtungen können beispielsweise als in Schlaufen gelegte Folien ausgebildet sein, mit welchen Toleranzen in Normalrichtung der zueinander parallelen, zu kontaktierenden Platten ausgeglichen werden können. Sind die Platten horizontal ausgerichtet, sind auf diese Weise Toleranzen in vertikaler Richtung ausgleichbar. Flexible connections between individual, typically similar contacting devices can be designed, for example, as films laid in loops, with which tolerances in the normal direction of the mutually parallel plates to be contacted can be compensated. If the panels are aligned horizontally, tolerances in the vertical direction can be compensated for.
Mit Hilfe der als Positionierkeile bezeichneten Elemente passen sich, ausgehend von der willkürlich als horizontal angenommenen Ausrichtung der elektrisch leitfähigen, zu kontaktierenden Platten, insbesondere Bipolarplatten, die Höhen der einzelnen Kontaktierungsstreifen der Höhenlage der Platten an. Von Positionierkeilen wird auch dann gesprochen, wenn diese keine strenge Keilform, sondern beispielsweise eine abgerundete Querschnittsform oder eine Zahnform aufweisen, solange mit Hilfe der sogenannten Positionierkeile eine für die Kontaktierung ausreichende Justierung der Kontaktierungsstreifen in Relation zu den Platten möglich ist. With the help of the elements known as positioning wedges, the heights of the individual contacting strips adapt to the height of the plates, based on the arbitrary horizontal alignment of the electrically conductive plates to be contacted, in particular bipolar plates. Positioning wedges are also referred to when they do not have a strict wedge shape, but rather, for example, a rounded cross-sectional shape or a tooth shape, as long as the so-called positioning wedges allow sufficient adjustment of the contacting strips in relation to the plates for contacting.
Sollen mehrere Kontaktiervorrichtungen gleichzeitig elektrisch an mehrere Platten o- der alle Platten des Stapels angeschlossen werden, so ist es von Vorteil, wenn die einzelnen Kontaktiervorrichtungen zunächst federnd auf Abstand zueinander gehalten werden. Hierbei können Federelemente beispielsweise zwischen Steckern, die jeweils einer Kontaktiervorrichtung zuzurechnen sind, gespannt sein. Die Federelemente sorgen dafür, dass zunächst gleiche Abstände zwischen den einzelnen Kontaktiervorrichtungen gegeben sind. Das Andrücken sämtlicher Kontaktiervorrichtungen an den gesamten Stapel elektrochemischer Zellen kann dann insbesondere mit einer am Zellenstapel befestigten, beispielsweise an den Stackenden gehaltenen Druckschiene erfolgen. Im Zuge der Anbringung der Kontaktiervorrichtungen wird beispielsweise zunächst die oberste und die unterste Kontaktierungsvorrichtung auf die vorgesehene Höhe gebracht. Die restlichen, dazwischen liegenden Kontaktierungsvorrichtungen richten sich mit Hilfe der genannten Federelemente und der Positionierkeile aus, so dass keine weiteren manuellen Justierungsarbeiten erforderlich sind. If several contacting devices are to be electrically connected to several plates or all plates of the stack at the same time, it is advantageous if the individual contacting devices are initially held resiliently at a distance from one another. Here, spring elements can be tensioned, for example, between plugs, each of which can be assigned to a contacting device. The spring elements ensure that there are initially equal distances between the individual contacting devices. The pressing of all contacting devices onto the entire stack of electrochemical cells can then be carried out in particular with a pressure rail attached to the cell stack, for example held at the ends of the stack. In the course of attaching the contacting devices, for example, the top and bottom contacting devices are first brought to the intended height. The remaining contacting devices in between are aligned with the help of the mentioned spring elements and the positioning wedges, so that no further manual adjustment work is required.
Der Vorteil der Erfindung liegt insbesondere darin, dass auf einfache, raumsparende Weise eine Kontaktierung von Bipolarplatten eines Brennstoffzellenstapels möglich ist, ohne Ausklinkungen, Vorsprünge oder ähnliche Konturen der elektrisch zu kontaktierenden Platten zu benötigen. Die Kontaktierungsvorrichtung ist insbesondere zum Messen der Zellspannung von Brennstoffzellen, das heißt zur Zellüberwachung, verwendbar. The advantage of the invention is, in particular, that contacting bipolar plates of a fuel cell stack is possible in a simple, space-saving manner without requiring notches, projections or similar contours of the plates to be electrically contacted. The contacting device can be used in particular for measuring the cell voltage of fuel cells, that is, for cell monitoring.
Nachfolgend werden mehrere Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert. Hierin zeigen, teilweise grob vereinfacht: Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show here, partly simplified:
Fig. 1 in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung ausschnittsweise einen Stapel elektrochemischer Zellen sowie eine hieran angesetzte Kontaktiervorrichtung, 1 shows a section of a schematic sectional view of a stack of electrochemical cells and a contacting device attached thereto,
Fig. 2 einen Abschnitt der Kontaktiervorrichtung nach Figur 1 in Draufsicht, 2 shows a section of the contacting device according to FIG. 1 in a top view,
Fig. 3 die gesamte Kontaktiervorrichtung nach Figur 2 in schematisierter Draufsicht, 3 shows the entire contacting device according to FIG. 2 in a schematic top view,
Fig. 4 die Anordnung nach Figur 3 in einer schematisierten Schnittdarstellung, 4 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 3 in a schematic sectional view,
Fig. 5 eine alternative Ausgestaltung einer Kontaktiervorrichtung in einer Ansicht analog Figur 3, 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a contacting device in a view analogous to FIG. 3,
Fig. 6 die Anordnung nach Figur 5 in einer Ansicht analog Figur 4. Die folgenden Erläuterungen beziehen sich, soweit nicht anders angegeben, auf sämtliche Ausführungsbeispiele. Einander entsprechende oder prinzipiell gleichwirkende Teile sind in allen Figuren mit den gleichen Bezugszeichen gekennzeichnet. 6 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 5 in a view analogous to FIG. 4. Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations refer to all exemplary embodiments. Parts that correspond to one another or have the same effect in principle are marked with the same reference numerals in all figures.
Bei einem insgesamt mit dem Bezugszeichen 1 gekennzeichneten Stapel elektrochemischer Zellen handelt es sich in den Ausführungsbeispielen um einen Brennstoffzellenstapel. Elektrische Kontakte zu Bipolarplatten 3 des Brennstoffzellenstapels 1 werden mit Hilfe einer Kontaktiervorrichtung 2 hergestellt. Der Brennstoffzellenstapel 1 wird kurz auch als Stack bezeichnet. Alternativ zu den Ausführungsbeispielen könnte der Stack 1 beispielsweise Teil einer Elektrolyseanlage zur Herstellung von Wasserstoff oder Kernkomponente einer Redox-Flow-Batterie sein. In the exemplary embodiments, a stack of electrochemical cells marked overall with the reference number 1 is a fuel cell stack. Electrical contacts to bipolar plates 3 of the fuel cell stack 1 are made using a contacting device 2. The fuel cell stack 1 is also referred to as a stack for short. As an alternative to the exemplary embodiments, the stack 1 could, for example, be part of an electrolysis system for producing hydrogen or a core component of a redox flow battery.
Die Platten 3, das heißt Bipolarplatten, sind jeweils aus zwei Halbblechen 4, 5 zusammengesetzt. Einzelne elektrochemische Zellen 6, das heißt Brennstoffzellen, umfassen in an sich bekanntem Aufbau zwei Halbzellen 7, 8, welche durch eine Protonen leitende Membran 9 voneinander getrennt sind. The plates 3, that is to say bipolar plates, are each composed of two half sheets 4, 5. Individual electrochemical cells 6, that is to say fuel cells, comprise two half cells 7, 8 in a structure known per se, which are separated from one another by a proton-conducting membrane 9.
In den in den Figuren skizzierten Anordnungen sind die Biopolarplatten 3 stets horizontal ausgerichtet. Eine Aussage über die tatsächliche Anordnung der Bipolarplatten 3 im Raum ist damit nicht verbunden. Dementsprechend beziehen sich Richtungsangaben wie „oben“, „unten“ oder „seitlich“ lediglich auf die in den Figuren erkennbaren Anordnungen und stellen kein Präjudiz für die tatsächliche Orientierung im Raum dar. Insbesondere ist eine vertikale Ausrichtung der Bipolarplatten 3 möglich. In the arrangements sketched in the figures, the biopolar plates 3 are always aligned horizontally. This does not provide any information about the actual arrangement of the bipolar plates 3 in space. Accordingly, directional information such as “top”, “bottom” or “side” only refers to the arrangements visible in the figures and does not represent a precedent for the actual orientation in space. In particular, a vertical orientation of the bipolar plates 3 is possible.
Die Kontaktiervorrichtung 2 umfasst mindestens einen flexiblen Kontaktierungsstreifen 10, welcher zur Anlage an einer Stirnfläche 11 einer Bipolarplatte 3 vorgesehen ist. Der Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 ist aus einem elektrisch leitfähigen Kunststoff hergestellt und befindet sich auf einem allgemein mit 12 bezeichneten Anlagestreifen, bei welchem es sich in den Ausführungsbeispielen um eine flexible Leiterbahn handelt. Am Anlagestreifen 12 sind weiterhin Positionierkeile 13 gehalten, die jeweils zwischen zwei benachbarte Bipolarplatten 3 oder mit den Bipolarplatten 3 fest verbundene Strukturen einzusetzen sind, sodass jeder Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 zur korrekten Anlage an der Stirnfläche 11 einer der Bipolarplatten 3 gelangt. The contacting device 2 comprises at least one flexible contacting strip 10, which is intended to rest on an end face 11 of a bipolar plate 3. The contacting strip 10 is made of an electrically conductive plastic and is located on a contact strip generally designated 12, which in the exemplary embodiments is a flexible conductor track. Positioning wedges 13 are also held on the contact strip 12 and are firmly connected between two adjacent bipolar plates 3 or with the bipolar plates 3 Structures are to be used so that each contacting strip 10 comes into correct contact with the end face 11 of one of the bipolar plates 3.
Auf der dem Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 abgewandten Seite des Anlagestreifens 12 befindet sich ein komprimierbares Band 14, welches Druckkräfte übertragen kann. Das komprimierbare Band 14 ragt seitlich über die Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 hinaus, sodass es nicht nur die Kontaktierungsstreifen 10, sondern auch die Positionierkeile 13 abdeckt, die sich an beiden Enden der Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 befinden. Das komprimierbare Band 14 ist in den vorliegenden Fällen aus Moosgummi gefertigt und deutlich dicker als der ebenfalls flexible Kontaktierungsstreifen 10. In den Ausführungsbeispielen sind jeweils vier Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 übereinander auf dem Anlagestreifen 12 angeordnet. On the side of the contact strip 12 facing away from the contacting strip 10 there is a compressible band 14 which can transmit compressive forces. The compressible band 14 protrudes laterally beyond the contacting strips 10, so that it covers not only the contacting strips 10, but also the positioning wedges 13, which are located at both ends of the contacting strips 10. In the present cases, the compressible band 14 is made of foam rubber and is significantly thicker than the contacting strip 10, which is also flexible. In the exemplary embodiments, four contacting strips 10 are arranged one above the other on the contact strip 12.
Um die Kontaktiervorrichtung 2 seitlich an den Stack 1 anzudrücken, ist eine Druckschiene 15 vorgesehen, die am Stack 1 befestigbar ist. Mit der Druckschiene 15 kann eine Mehrzahl an Kontaktiervorrichtungen 2 gleichzeitig an den Stack 1 angedrückt werden. Im Extremfall können sämtliche Bipolarplatten 3 des Stacks 1 gleichzeitig durch mehrere Kontaktiervorrichtungen 2 elektrisch kontaktiert werden. In order to press the contacting device 2 laterally onto the stack 1, a pressure rail 15 is provided, which can be attached to the stack 1. With the pressure rail 15, a plurality of contacting devices 2 can be pressed onto the stack 1 at the same time. In extreme cases, all bipolar plates 3 of the stack 1 can be electrically contacted simultaneously by several contacting devices 2.
Wie aus den Figuren 3 und 5 hervorgeht, weist der Anlagestreifen 12 eine Vor- und Rücksprünge aufweisende obere Kontur 21 und eine in ähnlicher Weise gestaltete untere Kontur 22 auf. Die verschiedenen Konturen 21 , 22 passen hierbei nach einem Schlüssel-Schloss-Prinzip zusammen, wobei Aussparungen jeder Kontur 21 , 22 signifikant breiter als zugehörige Vorsprünge der korrespondierenden Kontur 22, 21 sind, so dass Spalte zwischen aneinander gesetzten Anlagestreifen 12 entstehen. Auch in horizontaler Richtung existieren Spalte zwischen benachbarten, an den Stack 1 angesetzten Anlagestreifen 12. Durch das Fehlen einer festen Verbindung zwischen den einzelnen Anlagestreifen 12 können geometrische Unvollkommenheiten des Stacks 1 ausgeglichen werden. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 5, the contact strip 12 has an upper contour 21 with projections and recesses and a similarly designed lower contour 22. The different contours 21, 22 fit together according to a key-lock principle, with recesses in each contour 21, 22 being significantly wider than associated projections of the corresponding contour 22, 21, so that gaps arise between contact strips 12 placed next to one another. There are also gaps in the horizontal direction between adjacent contact strips 12 attached to the stack 1. Due to the lack of a fixed connection between the individual contact strips 12, geometric imperfections in the stack 1 can be compensated for.
Damit können mehrere Kontaktiervorrichtungen 2 in geometrisch nicht exakt definierter Weise übereinandergesetzt werden, ohne Bipolarplatten 3 auszulassen. Auch in Fällen. In denen die Konturen 21 , 22, gerade sind, ermöglichen geringe Abstände zwischen den einzelnen Kontaktiervorrichtungen 2 einen Ausgleich von geometrischen Toleranzen innerhalb des Brennstoffzellenstapels 1. Die einzelnen Kontaktiervorrichtungen 2 können über federnde Elemente, die Kräfte in vertikaler Richtung er- zeugen, flexibel miteinander Zusammenwirken. This means that several contacting devices 2 can be placed one above the other in a manner that is not geometrically precisely defined, without leaving out bipolar plates 3. Also in cases. In which the contours 21, 22 are straight, small distances between the individual contacting devices 2 enable geometric tolerances within the fuel cell stack 1 to be compensated for. The individual contacting devices 2 can interact flexibly with one another via resilient elements that generate forces in the vertical direction .
In den Figuren 3 und 5 sind mehrere Leiter 16 auf dem Anlagestreifen 12 erkennbar, welche an die Kontaktierungsstreifen 10 angeschlossen sind. Sowohl in der Anordnung nach Figur 3 als in der Anordnung nach Figur 5 befindet sich ein elektrisch mit den Leitern 16 verbundener Stecker 17 auf einer festen Platine 18. Zusätzlich ist in der Ausgestaltung nach Figur 5 ein Netzwerkelement 19 vorhanden, an welches ein Flachbandkabel 23 angeschlossen ist, mit dem die Verbindung zu einer weiteren, gleichartigen Kontaktiervorrichtung 2 hergestellt ist. Die Gesamtheit an Kontaktiervorrichtungen 2, welche sich am Brennstoffzellenstapel 1 befinden, ist über ein Kabel 20 mit einer nicht dargestellten Auswerteeinheit verbunden. In Figures 3 and 5, several conductors 16 can be seen on the contact strip 12, which are connected to the contacting strips 10. Both in the arrangement according to FIG. 3 and in the arrangement according to FIG is, with which the connection to another, similar contacting device 2 is established. The entirety of contacting devices 2, which are located on the fuel cell stack 1, is connected via a cable 20 to an evaluation unit, not shown.
Bezuqszeichenliste Reference character list
Brennstoffzellenstapel, Stapel elektrochemischer ZellenFuel cell stacks, electrochemical cell stacks
Kontaktiervorrichtung Contacting device
Platte, Bipolarplatte Plate, bipolar plate
Halbblech Half sheet metal
Halbblech elektrochemische Zelle Half sheet electrochemical cell
Halbzelle Half cell
Halbzelle Half cell
Membran membrane
Kontaktierungsstreifen Contact strips
Stirnfläche face
Anlagestreifen, flexible Leiterbahn Contact strips, flexible conductor track
Positionierkeil komprimierbares Band Positioning wedge compressible band
Druckschiene Pressure rail
Leiter Director
Stecker feste Platine Connector fixed board
Netzwerkelement Network element
Kabel obere Kontur untere Kontur Cable upper contour lower contour
Flachbandkabel Ribbon cable

Claims

Patentansprüche Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) für einen Stapel (1 ) elektrochemischer Zellen (6), mit einem flexiblen Kontaktierungsstreifen (10), welcher zum Andrücken an eine Stirnfläche (11 ) einer leitfähigen Platte (3) des Stapels (1 ) elektrochemischer Zellen (6) vorgesehen ist, wobei der Kontaktierungsstreifen (10) in einer orthogonal zur Platte (3) ausgerichteten Ebene liegt und sich an einem Anlagestreifen (12) befindet, an welchem weiterhin mindestens ein Positionierkeil (13) angebracht ist, welcher sich an einem der beiden Enden des Kontaktierungsstreifens (10) befindet, und wobei der Positionierkeil (13) zur Positionierung zwischen zwei zueinander parallelen Platten (3) des Stapels (1 ) elektrochemischer Zellen (6) vorgesehen ist. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Kontaktierungsstreifen (10) aus einem elastischen, elektrisch leitfähigen, Kunststoff enthaltenden Material gebildet und der Anlagestreifen (12) als flexible Leiterbahn ausgebildet ist. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an beiden Enden des Kontaktierungsstreifens (10) Positionierkeile (13) auf dem Anlagestreifen (12) angebracht sind. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich auf der dem Kontaktierungsstreifen (10) abgewandten Seite des Anlagestreifens (12) ein komprimierbares Band (14) befindet, dessen Stärke, bezogen auf den nicht komprimierten Zustand, größer als die Stärke des Kontaktierungsstreifens (10) ist. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich auf dem Anlagestreifen (12) mindestens ein elektrisches Verbindungselement (17, 19) befindet. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass als Verbindungselement (19) ein Element eines elektronischen Netzwerks vorgesehen ist. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass auf dem Anlagestreifen (12) eine Mehrzahl zueinander paralleler Kontaktierungsstreifen (10) angeordnet ist. Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die beiden an den Rändern des Anlagestreifens (12) angeordneten Kontaktierungsstreifen (10) in eine erste äußere beziehungsweise zweite äußere Kontur (21 , 22) des Anlagestreifens (12) eingefügt sind, wobei die genannten Konturen (21 , 22) nach dem Schlüssel-Schloss-Prinzip aufeinander abgestimmt sind. Verfahren zur Kontaktierung einer Platte (3) eines Stapels (1 ) elektrochemischer Zellen (6), mit folgenden Schritten: Claims Contacting device (2) for a stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6), with a flexible contacting strip (10), which is used to press against an end face (11) of a conductive plate (3) of the stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6). is provided, wherein the contacting strip (10) lies in a plane aligned orthogonally to the plate (3) and is located on a contact strip (12), to which at least one positioning wedge (13) is also attached, which is located at one of the two ends of the Contacting strip (10) is located, and wherein the positioning wedge (13) is provided for positioning between two mutually parallel plates (3) of the stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6). Contacting device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contacting strip (10) is formed from an elastic, electrically conductive, plastic-containing material and the contact strip (12) is designed as a flexible conductor track. Contacting device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that positioning wedges (13) are attached to the contact strip (12) at both ends of the contacting strip (10). Contacting device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the side of the contact strip (12) facing away from the contacting strip (10) there is a compressible band (14), the strength of which, based on the non-compressed state, is greater than the thickness of the contacting strip (10). Contacting device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that there is at least one electrical connecting element (17, 19) on the contact strip (12). Contacting device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that an element of an electronic network is provided as the connecting element (19). Contacting device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a plurality of mutually parallel contacting strips (10) are arranged on the contact strip (12). Contacting device (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the two contacting strips (10) arranged on the edges of the contact strip (12) are inserted into a first outer or second outer contour (21, 22) of the contact strip (12), the mentioned contours (21, 22) are coordinated with one another according to the key-lock principle. Method for contacting a plate (3) of a stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6), with the following steps:
- Bereitstellung eines Stapels (1 ) elektrochemischer Zellen (6) , welcher eine Vielzahl zueinander paralleler Platten (3) umfasst, - Providing a stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6) which comprises a plurality of mutually parallel plates (3),
- Anpressen einer Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) nach Anspruch 1 an eine Stirnfläche (11 ) mindestens einer Platte (3) mit Hilfe einer in sich starren Druckschiene (15), welche auf die Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) eine in der Plattenebene auf die Stirnfläche (11 ) ausgerichtete Kraft ausübt. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Druckschiene (15), welche zum Anpressen der Kontaktiervorrichtung (2) verwendet wird, am Stapel (1 ) elektrochemischer Zellen (6) befestigt wird. - Pressing a contacting device (2) according to claim 1 onto an end face (11) of at least one plate (3) with the aid of an inherently rigid pressure rail (15), which is applied to the contacting device (2) in the plane of the plate on the end face (11). exerts aligned force. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure rail (15), which is used to press the contacting device (2), is attached to the stack (1) of electrochemical cells (6).
PCT/DE2023/100396 2022-06-07 2023-05-26 Contacting device for a stack of electrochemical cells, and contacting method WO2023237150A1 (en)

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DE102022114215.9 2022-06-07
DE102022114215.9A DE102022114215B3 (en) 2022-06-07 2022-06-07 Contacting device for a stack of electrochemical cells and contacting method

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Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1002435B (en) 1954-04-07 1957-02-14 Siemens Ag Clamp for insulated conductors that can be attached to electrical connection lugs
DE8902967U1 (en) 1989-03-10 1990-07-12 Grote & Hartmann Gmbh & Co Kg, 5600 Wuppertal Electrical plug contact with a flat plug
WO2002096607A1 (en) 2001-05-31 2002-12-05 Hans Niedermayer Board having a face and means for bonding said face to the face of another board
US20030215678A1 (en) * 2001-09-19 2003-11-20 Ballard Power Systems Inc. Electrical contacting device for a fuel cell
KR20050048277A (en) 2003-11-19 2005-05-24 현대자동차주식회사 A cell voltage monitoring device for a fuel cell stack
EP1900052B1 (en) 2005-06-28 2018-11-14 PSA Automobiles SA Bipolar plate for fuel cell comprising a housing for measuring connector
US20080102332A1 (en) 2006-11-01 2008-05-01 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd Device for measuring electrical output and fuel cell stack including the same
DE102007038153A1 (en) 2007-06-28 2009-01-08 Beone Hamburg Gmbh Fuel cell, has conductive rubber layer extending from one end of stack to other end of stack and comprising conductive layers that contact bipolar plates for measuring voltage at respective bipolar plate
DE112010005607T5 (en) * 2010-05-28 2013-03-21 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Connector and fuel cell
DE102014225949A1 (en) * 2014-12-15 2016-06-16 Volkswagen Ag Electrical connector with latching device for contacting a bipolar plate stack for a fuel cell and bipolar plate stack
WO2018193347A1 (en) 2017-04-21 2018-10-25 Braun Gmbh Connector device with connector and assembly method
DE102018110870A1 (en) 2017-06-26 2018-12-27 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Fuel cell module, fuel cell module manufacturing method and connector
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WO2020200338A1 (en) 2019-04-05 2020-10-08 Scio Technology Gmbh Battery cell macromodule housing, contacting device for a battery cell macromodule housing, housing cover for a contacting device for a battery cell macromodule housing, and battery cell macromodule

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