Hydrogen fuel cell stack
Technical Field
The invention relates to the field of hydrogen fuel cells, in particular to a hydrogen fuel cell stack.
Background
Fuel cells have the advantage of being pollution-free and are now in use in many industries. The electric pile is the most core technology in the fuel cell system, and the performance of the electric pile plays a decisive role.
The invention patent application with publication number of CN113178593A discloses a pile structure of proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which adopts a water cooling mode, and can meet certain requirements, but the application of the fuel cell is greatly limited in places such as vehicles and the like where water is inconvenient to use.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention mainly aims to provide a hydrogen fuel cell stack for solving the technical problems.
In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical scheme adopted by the invention is that the hydrogen fuel cell stack comprises:
an upper cover plate;
a lower cover plate;
The bipolar plates are arranged between the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate, the bipolar plates are stacked together, one side of each bipolar plate is a negative electrode, one side of each bipolar plate is a positive electrode, and the positive electrode or the negative electrode of one bipolar plate is in contact with the negative electrode or the positive electrode of the other bipolar plate in the adjacent bipolar plates;
when the bipolar plate is observed along the stacking direction, the bipolar plate is rectangular, a first air outlet and a first hydrogen inlet are arranged at one end of the bipolar plate along the length direction of the rectangle, a first hydrogen outlet and a first air inlet are arranged at the other end of the bipolar plate, the first air outlet and the first air inlet are arranged on one diagonal line of the rectangle, and the first hydrogen inlet and the first hydrogen outlet are arranged on the other diagonal line of the rectangle;
A first ventilation loop and a second ventilation loop are respectively arranged on one side of the positive plate and one side of the negative plate, which face each other, wherein the first ventilation loop and the second ventilation loop are bent in a shape of a Chinese character 'ji', one end of the first ventilation loop is communicated with the first air outlet, the other end of the first ventilation loop is communicated with the first air inlet, one end of the second ventilation loop is communicated with the first hydrogen outlet, and the other end of the second ventilation loop is communicated with the first hydrogen inlet;
The positive plate and the negative plate each at least partially adopt a carbon plate, and the first ventilation circuit and the second ventilation circuit are arranged on the corresponding carbon plates.
Preferably, a first conductive plate is provided on a side of the positive electrode plate facing away from the membrane electrode.
Preferably, a plastic frame is arranged on one side of the negative plate, which is far away from the membrane electrode, a placing groove is formed in the plastic frame, the placing groove is hollowed out in the stacking direction, at least one placing groove is formed, a metal sponge is placed in the placing groove, the thickness of the metal sponge is equal to or slightly greater than the depth of the placing groove, and one side of the metal sponge is in contact with the negative plate.
Preferably, two ends of a bipolar plate group formed by a plurality of bipolar plates are respectively provided with a second conductive plate and a third conductive plate, the second conductive plate is positioned between the bipolar plate group and the upper cover plate, the third conductive plate is positioned between the lower cover plate and the bipolar plate group, the third conductive plate is provided with a second air outlet, a first water outlet and a second air inlet, the second air outlet is aligned and communicated with the first air inlet, the first water outlet is aligned and communicated with the first hydrogen outlet, and the second air inlet is aligned and communicated with the first air outlet.
Preferably, the air humidifier further comprises a humidifying component for humidifying air entering the first air inlet from the second air outlet, the humidifying component is located between the third conducting plate and the lower cover plate, the humidifying component comprises at least one group of humidifying layers, each humidifying layer comprises a first humidifying layer, a membrane and a second humidifying layer which are stacked together in sequence, the membrane separates the first humidifying layer from the second humidifying layer, used air through the bipolar plate can enter the second humidifying layer, outside air can enter the first humidifying layer, and moisture in the second humidifying layer can enter the first humidifying layer through the membrane and enter the first humidifying layer.
Preferably, a first ventilation space, a third air outlet, a second water outlet, a sixth air outlet, a fifth air inlet and a third air inlet are arranged on the first humidifying layer, the third air inlet is communicated with the first ventilation space, the third air outlet is also communicated with the first ventilation space, external air enters the first ventilation space from the third air inlet and exits from the third air outlet, the second water outlet is aligned with and communicated with the first water outlet, and the fifth air inlet is aligned with and communicated with the second air inlet.
Preferably, first clapboards are arranged in the first flowing space, at least two first clapboards are arranged, the two first clapboards are parallel to each other, a notch is arranged on each first clapboards, and the notches on the two first clapboards are arranged at opposite positions along the extending direction of the clapboards.
Preferably, the second humidification layer is provided with a second ventilation space, a sixth air inlet, a fourth air outlet, a third water outlet and a fifth air outlet, the fourth air inlet is communicated with the second ventilation space, the second ventilation space is simultaneously communicated with the fourth air outlet, the fourth air outlet is communicated with the outside, in the stacking direction, the fourth air inlet is aligned with the second air inlet and the first air outlet, the third water outlet is aligned with the first water outlet and the first hydrogen outlet, the fifth air outlet is aligned with and communicated with the third air outlet, the fourth air inlet is aligned with and communicated with the fifth air inlet, the sixth air inlet is aligned with and communicated with the third air inlet, and the fourth air outlet is aligned with and communicated with the sixth air outlet.
Preferably, the upper cover plate comprises a cover body, a hydrogen inlet hole, a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole are formed in the cover body, a pipeline joint is arranged at the outer end part of the hydrogen inlet hole, the first mounting hole is used for mounting a solenoid valve, the second mounting hole is used for mounting a pressure regulating valve, the hydrogen inlet hole is communicated with the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole, the solenoid valve can control the switch of the hydrogen inlet hole, and the pressure regulating valve is used for controlling the pressure of hydrogen;
The upper cover plate is also provided with a hydrogen outlet which is aligned with and communicated with the first hydrogen inlet, and hydrogen coming out of the pressure regulating valve enters the first hydrogen inlet through the hydrogen outlet; the upper cover plate is also provided with a hydrogen return hole which is aligned and communicated with the first hydrogen outlet, and meanwhile, the hydrogen return hole is communicated with the hydrogen inlet;
And/or the number of the groups of groups,
The lower cover plate is provided with an eighth air inlet, a seventh air inlet, a sixth air outlet, a fourth water outlet, a water outlet and an air pump, the air pump is arranged on the lower cover plate, an air outlet of the air pump is communicated with the eighth air inlet, the eighth air inlet is communicated with the seventh air inlet, the seventh air inlet is aligned and communicated with the sixth air inlet in the stacking direction, the sixth air outlet is aligned and communicated with the fourth air outlet in the stacking direction, used air is discharged through the fifth air outlet, the fourth water outlet is aligned and communicated with the third water outlet in the stacking direction, the water outlet is communicated with the fourth water outlet, a drain valve is arranged at the position of the lower cover plate corresponding to the water outlet, and drainage can be achieved by controlling the on-off of the drain valve.
Preferably, the positive plate comprises a positive outer frame, a positive carbon plate arranged in the positive outer frame and a positive conductive plate arranged on one side of the positive outer frame, which is far away from the membrane electrode, wherein a positive ventilation loop is arranged on one side of the positive carbon plate, which faces the membrane electrode, and is in a shape of a Chinese character 'ji', one end of the positive ventilation loop is communicated with the first air inlet, the other end of the positive ventilation loop is communicated with the first air outlet, and the positive conductive plate is contacted with the positive carbon plate;
The negative plate comprises a negative outer frame, a negative carbon plate arranged in the negative outer frame and a negative conductive plate arranged on one side of the negative outer frame, which is far away from the membrane electrode, wherein a negative ventilation loop is arranged on one side of the negative carbon plate, which faces the membrane electrode, the negative ventilation loop is in a shape like a Chinese character 'ji', one end of the negative ventilation loop is communicated with a first hydrogen inlet, the other end of the negative ventilation loop is communicated with a first hydrogen outlet, the membrane electrode separates a positive ventilation loop from a negative ventilation loop, the negative carbon plate contacts with the negative conductive plate, and the positive outer frame and the negative outer frame are both made of plastics;
the negative electrode conducting plate is provided with support frames at two ends of one side, which is far away from the membrane electrode, along the length direction, a placing groove is formed between the two support frames, metal sponge is placed in the placing groove, two adjacent layers of bipolar plates are arranged in the placing groove, and the positive electrode conducting plate of the former bipolar plate is in contact with the metal sponge of the latter bipolar plate.
Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following beneficial effects:
1) The bipolar plate adopts the metal sponge to dissipate heat, and the metal sponge is also used as electric conduction, thereby playing a double role;
2) The invention provides two bipolar plates, wherein when the size of a pile is smaller, a bipolar plate with a positive plate and a negative plate being carbon plates can be adopted, and when the size of the pile is larger, a bipolar plate with a positive plate and a negative plate being carbon plates can be adopted, so that the material cost is reduced;
3) The hydrogen can be recycled, so that the hydrogen is saved;
4) The invention has a humidifying layer, and a part of moisture generated by the reactor reaction is used for humidifying new air, so that the humidified air is helpful for the reactor reaction.
Drawings
Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a stack according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 3 is a perspective view of a bipolar plate of the first embodiment;
fig. 4 is an enlarged view at a;
FIG. 5 is another perspective view of a bipolar plate of the first embodiment;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bipolar plate of the first embodiment with metal sponge removed;
FIG. 7 is a structural view of a carbon plate of the first embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an upper cover plate;
fig. 9 is a block diagram of the humidifying assembly and the third conductive plate;
Fig. 10 is a block diagram of a humidifying assembly;
fig. 11 and 12 are structural diagrams of a first humidifying layer;
Fig. 13 and 14 are structural diagrams of a second humidifying layer;
Fig. 15 and 16 are structural views of the lower cover;
Fig. 17 and 18 are structural views of a bipolar plate of a second embodiment;
Fig. 19 is an enlarged view at B;
fig. 20 is a block diagram of a bipolar plate minus a positive electrode conductive plate of the second embodiment;
Fig. 21 is a structural view of a negative electrode plate.
Detailed Description
The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The preferred embodiments in the following description are by way of example only and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art.
Example 1
As shown in fig. 1 to 16, a hydrogen fuel cell stack includes an upper cover plate 1, a lower cover plate 2, and a plurality of bipolar plates 4, the plurality of bipolar plates 4 are disposed between the upper cover plate 1 and the lower cover plate 2, the plurality of bipolar plates 4 are stacked, one side of each bipolar plate 4 is a negative electrode, one side is a positive electrode, and the positive electrode or the negative electrode of one bipolar plate 4 is in contact with the negative electrode or the positive electrode of the other bipolar plate 4 in adjacent bipolar plates 4, i.e., the plurality of bipolar plates 4 are connected in series.
Each bipolar plate 4 includes a positive plate 404, a membrane electrode 405, and a negative plate 403 stacked in this order, the positive plate 404 and the negative plate 403 each employ a carbon plate, and the membrane electrode 405 separates the positive plate 404 and the negative plate 403 from each other, avoiding direct contact between the positive plate 404 and the negative plate 403. A first conductive plate 411 is disposed on a side of the positive electrode plate 404 facing away from the membrane electrode 405, for conducting electricity, and the first conductive plate 411 is made of a metal material and plays a role in protecting a carbon plate.
The ventilation circuit 410 is arranged on the side of the positive electrode plate 404 and the negative electrode plate 403 facing each other, the ventilation circuit 410 is bent in a shape of a Chinese character 'ji', and is used for increasing the circulation time of gas in the ventilation circuit 410 and improving the utilization rate of hydrogen, and for convenience of description, the ventilation circuit 410 on the positive electrode plate 404 is called a first ventilation circuit, and the ventilation circuit 410 on the negative electrode plate 403 is called a second ventilation circuit. The ventilation circuit 410 on the positive electrode plate 404 and the negative electrode plate 403 can be separated by the membrane electrode 405, that is, air and hydrogen passing through the two ventilation circuits 410 do not directly contact each other. The membrane electrode 405 is used for losing electrons from hydrogen to become hydrogen ions, and the hydrogen ions pass through the membrane electrode 405 to react with oxygen in the air to form water, so as to realize the transfer of charges.
The positive electrode plate 404, the membrane electrode 405 and the negative electrode plate 403 are each rectangular, and edges of the positive electrode plate 404 and the negative electrode plate 403 are aligned with each other when viewed in a stacking direction along the two. On both ends in the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode plate 404, the membrane electrode 405, and the negative electrode plate 403, a first air outlet 406 and a first hydrogen inlet 408 are provided at one end, and a first hydrogen outlet 409 and a first air inlet 407 are provided at the other end. The first air outlet 406 and the first air inlet 407 are positioned on one diagonal of the rectangle, the first hydrogen inlet 408 and the first hydrogen outlet 409 are positioned on the other diagonal of the rectangle, two ends of the first ventilation loop are respectively communicated with the first air outlet 406 and the first air inlet 407, and two ends of the second ventilation loop are respectively communicated with the first hydrogen inlet 408 and the first hydrogen outlet 409. The first air outlet 406, the first air inlet 407, the first hydrogen inlet 408 and the first hydrogen outlet 409 are aligned in the stacking direction of the bipolar plates 4, and four channels are formed respectively, corresponding to the channels of the first air inlet 407 and the first hydrogen inlet 408, and only a corresponding gas needs to be input at one end of the channels, so that the gas can enter the bipolar plates 4 of each layer at the same time.
Preferably, a plastic frame 401 is provided on the side of the negative plate 403 facing away from the membrane electrode 405, the plastic frame 401 being fixed to the negative plate 403 by glue. The plastic frame 401 is provided with a placing groove, the placing groove is hollowed out in the stacking direction, at least one placing groove is arranged in the placing groove, the depth of the metal sponge 402 is equal to that of the placing groove, the metal sponge 402 can ventilate and dissipate heat on one hand, and on the other hand, the metal sponge 402 can be in contact with the first conductive plate 411 on the other bipolar plate 4 to realize the communication between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the two adjacent bipolar plates 4.
A second conductive plate 412 and a third conductive plate 413 are respectively disposed at two ends of the bipolar plate group formed by the bipolar plates 403, the second conductive plate 412 is located between the bipolar plate group and the upper cover plate 1, and the third conductive plate 413 is located between the lower cover plate 2 and the bipolar plate group. A second air outlet 302, a first water outlet 304, and a second air inlet 303 are provided on the third conductive plate 413, the second air outlet 302 is aligned with the first air inlet 407, and air coming out of the second air outlet 302 enters the first air inlet 407. The first water outlet 304 is aligned with the first hydrogen outlet 409, and the hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen outlet 409 will have a certain amount of moisture, and some of the moisture will drip from the first water outlet 304. The second air inlet 303 is aligned with the first air outlet 406 and used air exiting the first air outlet 406 enters the second air inlet 303.
The stack further comprises a humidifying assembly 3 for humidifying the air entering the first air inlet 407 from the second air outlet 302. The humidifying assembly 3 is located between the third conductive plate 413 and the lower cover plate 2. The humidifying assembly 3 comprises at least one group of humidifying layers, wherein the humidifying layers comprise a first humidifying layer 305, a membrane and a second humidifying layer 309 which are sequentially stacked together, a first flowing space 314, a third air outlet 311, a second water outlet 317, a sixth air outlet 320, a fifth air inlet 318 and a third air inlet 310 are arranged on the first humidifying layer 305, the third air inlet 310 is communicated with the first flowing space 314, the third air outlet 311 is also communicated with the first flowing space 314, external air enters the first flowing space 314 from the third air inlet 310 and exits from the third air outlet 311, and the second water outlet 317, the fifth air inlet 318 and the sixth air outlet 320 are not communicated with the first flowing space 314. The third air outlet 311 is aligned with and communicates with the first air inlet 407, the second water outlet 317 is aligned with and communicates with the first water outlet 304, and the fifth air inlet 318 is aligned with and communicates with the second air inlet 303. The first flow space 314 is provided with at least two first partitions 307, the first partitions 307 are parallel to each other, each first partition 307 is provided with a notch, and the notches on the two first partitions 307 are arranged at opposite positions to increase the flow time of air in the first flow space 314.
The second humidification layer 309 is provided with a second ventilation space 315, a sixth air inlet 319, a fourth air inlet 312, a fourth air outlet 313, a third water outlet 318, and a fifth air outlet 316, the fourth air inlet 312 is in communication with the second ventilation space 315, the second ventilation space 315 is simultaneously in communication with the fourth air outlet 313, the fourth air inlet 312 is aligned with and in communication with the second air inlet 303 and the first air outlet 406, the used air enters the second ventilation space 315 through the second air inlet 303 and the fourth air inlet 312 after exiting from the first air outlet 406, moisture is contained in the used air, the moisture in the used air enters the first ventilation space 314 through the membrane after entering the second ventilation space 315, the humidified air enters the first ventilation circuit, the moisture in the air in the first ventilation circuit permeates into the membrane electrode 405, and the moisture in the membrane electrode 405 helps the H + to enter the first ventilation circuit through the membrane electrode 405 to react with oxygen in the first ventilation circuit. The used air is finally discharged through the fourth air outlet 313. The third water outlet 318 is aligned with the first water outlet 304 and the first hydrogen outlet 409, and the hydrogen entering the first hydrogen outlet 409 from the second ventilation circuit will have a certain amount of moisture, and these moisture will enter the third water outlet 318 under the action of gravity. The fifth air outlet 316 is aligned with and communicates with the third air outlet 311. The fourth air inlet 312 is aligned with and in communication with the fifth air inlet 318. The sixth air inlet 319 is aligned with and communicates with the third air inlet 310. The fourth air outlet 313 is aligned with and communicates with the sixth air outlet 310.
The upper cover plate 1 comprises a cover body 101, an electromagnetic valve 103 and a pressure regulating valve 104, wherein a hydrogen inlet hole 102, a first mounting hole 105 and a second mounting hole 106 are formed in the cover body 101, a pipeline joint is arranged at the end part of the hydrogen inlet hole 102, the first mounting hole 105 is used for mounting the electromagnetic valve 103, the second mounting hole 106 is used for mounting the pressure regulating valve 104, the hydrogen inlet hole 102 is communicated with the first mounting hole 105 and the second mounting hole 106, the electromagnetic valve 103 can control the switch of the hydrogen inlet hole 102, and the pressure regulating valve 104 is used for controlling the air pressure of hydrogen.
A hydrogen outlet hole (not shown) is also provided in the upper cover plate 1, and the hydrogen outlet hole is aligned with and communicated with the first hydrogen inlet 408, and hydrogen gas coming out of the pressure regulating valve 104 enters the first hydrogen inlet 408 through the hydrogen outlet hole. A hydrogen return hole (not shown) is further formed in the upper cover plate 1, the hydrogen return hole is aligned to and communicated with the first hydrogen outlet 409, and meanwhile, the hydrogen return hole is communicated with the hydrogen inlet 102, so that hydrogen can be recycled. Corresponding holes are provided on the second conductive plate 412 at positions corresponding to the hydrogen outlet holes and the hydrogen return holes to ensure the normal circulation of hydrogen.
The lower cover plate 2 is provided with an eighth air inlet 205, a seventh air inlet 201, a sixth air outlet 202, a fourth water outlet 203, a water outlet 204 and an air pump 206, the air pump 206 is arranged on the lower cover plate 2, the air outlet of the air pump 206 is communicated with the eighth air inlet 205, the eighth air inlet 205 is communicated with the seventh air inlet 201, the seventh air inlet 201 is aligned with and communicated with the sixth air inlet 319 in the stacking direction, the sixth air outlet 202 is aligned with and communicated with the fourth air outlet 313 in the stacking direction, and the used air is discharged through the fifth air outlet 316. The fourth water outlet 203 is aligned with and communicated with the third water outlet 318 in the stacking direction, the water outlet 204 is communicated with the fourth water outlet 203, a drain valve (not shown) is arranged on the lower cover plate 2 at a position corresponding to the water outlet 204, and drainage can be achieved by controlling the opening and closing of the drain valve. Since the fourth water outlet 203 is in communication with the first hydrogen outlet 409, a small amount of hydrogen is discharged when the drain valve is opened.
Example two
As shown in fig. 17 to 21, in this embodiment, the structure of the bipolar plate is different from that in the first embodiment, and the other structures are the same. The bipolar plate 5 in this embodiment includes a positive plate 501, a membrane electrode, and a negative plate 502 stacked in order, and viewed along the stacking direction, the bipolar plate 5 is rectangular, a first hydrogen inlet 503, a first air outlet 504, a first hydrogen outlet 506, and a first air inlet 505 are formed on the bipolar plate 5, along the length direction of the rectangle, the first hydrogen inlet 503 and the first air inlet 504 are disposed at one end of the bipolar plate 5, the first hydrogen outlet 506 and the first air inlet 505 are disposed at the other end of the bipolar plate 5, and the first hydrogen inlet 503 and the first hydrogen outlet 506 are disposed on a diagonal of the rectangle, and the first air outlet 504 and the first air inlet 505 are disposed on another diagonal of the rectangle.
The first hydrogen inlet 503, the first air outlet 504, the first hydrogen outlet 506, the first air inlet 505 penetrate through the positive plate 501, the membrane electrode and the negative plate 502, the positive plate 501 comprises a positive outer frame 509, a positive carbon plate 508 arranged in the positive outer frame 509, and a positive conductive plate 511 arranged on one side of the positive outer frame 509, which is far away from the membrane electrode, wherein a positive ventilation loop is arranged on one side of the positive carbon plate 508, which faces the membrane electrode, and is in a shape of a Chinese character 'ji', one end of the positive ventilation loop is communicated with the first air inlet 505, and the other end of the positive ventilation loop is communicated with the first air outlet 504. The positive electrode conductive plate 511 is in contact with the positive electrode carbon plate 508 for conducting electricity.
The negative plate 502 comprises a negative outer frame 513, a negative carbon plate 512 arranged in the negative outer frame 513, and a negative conductive plate 514 arranged on one side of the negative outer frame 513, which is far away from the membrane electrode, wherein a negative ventilation loop is arranged on one side of the negative carbon plate 512, which faces the membrane electrode, and is in a shape of a Chinese character 'ji', one end of the negative ventilation loop is communicated with the first hydrogen inlet 503, and the other end of the negative ventilation loop is communicated with the first hydrogen outlet 506. The membrane electrode separates the positive vent circuit from the negative vent circuit. The negative electrode carbon plate 512 is in contact with a negative electrode conductive plate 514 for conducting electricity. The positive frame 509 and the negative frame 513 are made of plastic, so that the use of carbon materials can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
The two ends of the side, facing away from the membrane electrode, of the negative electrode conductive plate 514 along the length direction are respectively provided with a supporting frame 515, a placing groove is formed between the two supporting frames 515, a metal sponge 516 is placed in the placing groove, and the metal sponge 516 is convenient for heat dissipation on one hand and is used for conducting on the other hand. The positive electrode conductive plate 511 of the previous bipolar plate 5 is in contact with the metal sponge 516 of the next bipolar plate 5 to realize the conduction of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the adjacent two bipolar plates 5.
The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, principal features and advantages of the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that the above embodiments and descriptions are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.