Battery assembly and cleaning method of battery assembly

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a battery assembly and a cleaning method of the battery assembly. The battery assembly comprises an electric pile, a water inlet assembly and a water drainage assembly. Wherein the electric pile comprises two end plates, and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode which are positioned between the two end plates, the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water outlet; the water inlet assembly is connected with the water inlet of the first end plate and is used for introducing water flow into the electric pile so as to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode through the water flow; and the drainage assembly is connected with the drainage port of the second end plate and is used for draining water flow in the electric pile. The water inlet and the water outlet are additionally arranged, impurities entering the cathode electrode plate and the membrane electrode along with air are discharged through water washing, the performance of the membrane electrode and the electrode plate is effectively improved, the output power of the electric pile is further improved, and the service life of the electric pile is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, in particular to a battery assembly and a cleaning method for the battery assembly. Background Art

[0002] The basic working principle of fuel cells is as follows: hydrogen and air reach the anode and cathode of the fuel cell respectively under the action of the hydrogen supply system and the air supply system, hydrogen generates hydrogen ions and electrons under the catalytic action of the catalyst, the electrons reach the cathode through the external circuit to generate electrical energy, and the hydrogen ions reach the cathode through the proton exchange membrane. At the same time, the oxygen in the air is converted into oxygen ions under the action of the catalyst, and reacts with the hydrogen ions to generate water.

[0003] The air supply system of the cathode open air-cooled fuel cell is simple. The air in the nature can be directly supplied to the cathode of the air-cooled fuel cell stack by the fan. Part of the air is used to cool the stack, and part of the air is used to participate in the electrochemical reaction to directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The air contains impurities, etc., which will affect the performance of the membrane electrode and electrode plate when entering the stack, and may even cause the stack to fail. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, embodiments of the present invention are proposed to provide a battery assembly and a method for cleaning a battery assembly that overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems.

[0005] Impurities in the air contaminate the membrane electrode, block the micropores of the membrane electrode, reduce the gas-liquid mass transfer capacity of the carbon paper, cause the membrane electrode performance to decline, and shorten the life of the membrane electrode. Impurities in the air adhere to the surface of the electrode plate, which will reduce the conductivity and corrosion resistance of the electrode plate, causing the internal resistance of the battery stack to be too large, affecting the output performance and life of the battery stack.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a battery assembly and a method for cleaning the battery assembly.

[0007] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery assembly, including:

[0008] The stack comprises two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a water outlet;

[0009] a water inlet assembly connected to the water inlet of the first end plate and used to introduce water flow into the stack so as to clean the electrode plates and the membrane electrode by the water flow;

[0010] A drainage assembly is connected to the drainage port of the second end plate and is used to discharge water in the battery stack.

[0011] Optionally, the water inlet assembly comprises:

[0012] a water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet;

[0013] A water tank, connected to the water inlet pipe, for storing water;

[0014] A water pump, disposed on the water inlet pipe, for pumping water in the water tank into the fuel cell stack;

[0015] The water inlet valve is installed on the water inlet pipe to control the on and off of the water flow.

[0016] Optionally, the drainage component includes:

[0017] a drain pipe connected to the drain outlet;

[0018] A drain valve is arranged on the drain pipe and is used to control the on-off flow of water discharged from the battery stack.

[0019] Optionally, it also includes:

[0020] An internal resistance tester, connected to the battery stack, for detecting the internal resistance of the battery stack;

[0021] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, the water pump, the water inlet valve and the drain valve are opened;

[0022] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than a second preset resistance value, the water pump, the drain valve and the drain valve are closed; and the first preset resistance value is greater than or equal to the second preset resistance value.

[0023] Optionally, it also includes:

[0024] A fan, used for sucking air into the fuel cell stack;

[0025] A filter is used to filter impurities in the air entering the battery stack.

[0026] Optionally,

[0027] The electrode plate is provided with a water flow channel for guiding water flow.

[0028] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for cleaning a battery assembly, which is applied to the battery assembly as described above, and the method comprises:

[0029] When it is detected that a preset condition is met, water is introduced into the water inlet of the first end plate of the stack through the water inlet assembly to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode by the water flow;

[0030] The water discharged through the drainage port of the second end plate of the fuel cell stack is discharged through the drainage assembly.

[0031] Optionally, the water inlet assembly includes a water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet; a water tank connected to the water inlet pipe for storing water; a water pump provided on the water inlet pipe for pumping water in the water tank into the battery stack; and a water inlet valve provided on the water inlet pipe for controlling the on and off of water flow;

[0032] The step of introducing water flow into the water inlet of the first end plate of the fuel cell stack through the water inlet assembly comprises:

[0033] The water pump and the water inlet valve are turned on to introduce water flow into the water inlet of the first end plate of the fuel cell stack.

[0034] Optionally, the drainage assembly includes a drainage pipe connected to the drainage port; a drainage valve is provided on the drainage pipe and is used to control the on-off of the water flow discharged from the battery stack;

[0035] The step of draining the water discharged through the drain port of the second end plate of the stack by means of the drain assembly comprises:

[0036] The drain valve is opened to drain the water discharged through the drain port of the second end plate of the fuel cell stack.

[0037] Optionally, the battery assembly further comprises: an internal resistance tester connected to the battery stack and used to detect the internal resistance of the battery stack;

[0038] The step of starting the water pump and the water inlet valve comprises:

[0039] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, turning on the water pump and the water inlet valve;

[0040] The step of opening the drain valve comprises:

[0041] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than the first preset resistance, the drain valve is opened.

[0042] Optionally, it also includes:

[0043] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than the second preset resistance, the water pump, the drain valve and the drain valve are closed; the first preset resistance is greater than or equal to the second preset resistance. The embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0044] The battery assembly of the embodiment of the present invention includes: a battery stack, including two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a drain outlet; a water inlet assembly is connected to the water inlet of the first end plate, and is used to introduce water flow into the battery stack to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode through the water flow; a drain assembly is connected to the drain outlet of the second end plate, and is used to discharge the water flow in the battery stack. The addition of the inlet and drain outlets can discharge impurities that enter the cathode electrode plate and the membrane electrode with the air through water flushing, effectively improving the performance of the membrane electrode and the electrode plate, thereby improving the output power of the battery stack and extending the life of the battery stack. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Figure 1 is a structural block diagram of a battery assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 is a system schematic diagram of another battery assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 3 is a flow chart of steps of a battery assembly cleaning method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 4 It is a control flow chart of a battery assembly cleaning method provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Description of reference numerals:

[0050] Water inlet assembly 21, water tank 211, water pump 212, water inlet valve 213, battery stack 20, water inlet 201, water outlet 202, drainage assembly 22, drainage valve 221, internal resistance tester 23, fan 24, filter 25. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0052] The cathode open air-cooled fuel cell system is simple. Its cathode mainly transmits air from nature to the stack through the action of the fan, participates in the electrochemical reaction, and generates electricity. While transmitting air from nature to the cathode of the stack, impurities in the air will also be brought into the stack. On the one hand, these impurities will adhere to the surface of the membrane electrode and block the gas-liquid transmission channel in the stack; on the other hand, they will adhere to the surface of the electrode plate, affecting the conductivity of the electrode plate, resulting in an increase in the internal resistance of the stack, affecting the output performance and life of the stack.

[0053] One of the core concepts of the embodiment of the present invention is to add an inlet and outlet to the battery stack, add a water flow channel to the cathode, use the water in the cathode water flow channel to clean the impurities in the membrane electrode, open the blocked micropores of the membrane electrode, restore the gas-liquid mass transfer capacity of the carbon paper, and then restore the output performance of the membrane electrode performance and extend the life of the membrane electrode. Add a water flow channel to the cathode of the battery stack, and use the water in the cathode flow channel to rinse the impurities on the surface of the cathode plate, restore the conductivity and corrosion resistance of the electrode plate, and then restore the internal resistance and output performance of the battery stack, and also restore the corrosion resistance of the electrode plate.

[0054] Reference Figure 1 , shows a structural block diagram of a battery assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention, which may specifically include the following parts:

[0055] The stack 10 includes two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a water outlet;

[0056] A battery stack is a system that connects multiple individual battery cells in series or in parallel to form a larger energy storage system. This combination can increase the voltage, capacity or power output of the overall system to meet the needs of specific applications.

[0057] Air-cooled fuel cells are a type of fuel cell that uses air as a cooling medium. Its stack has a very complex and sophisticated mechanical structure. Generally speaking, it is similar to the laminated structure of devices such as filter presses or plate heat exchangers. It is composed of multiple groups of battery cells, plus positive and negative current collectors on both sides, and the outermost end plates. Each single cell unit is composed of two adjacent seals of the membrane electrode assembly and two positive and negative monopolar plates. The combination of positive and negative monopolar plates can form a bipolar plate; the stability of the stack structure is maintained by the assembly force applied by external fastening bolts or strapping. The assembly force is applied to the end plate. As a structural part of the stack, the end plate needs to have a certain strength and rigidity to ensure the stability of the assembly force and the uniform distribution of the assembly force on the battery plane: each single cell unit is connected in series. The current collector serves as the power output terminal to output the stack power to the external load.

[0058] A water inlet assembly 11, connected to the water inlet of the first end plate, and used to introduce water flow into the battery stack to clean the electrode plates and the membrane electrode by the water flow;

[0059] The cathode structure design of the air-cooled fuel cell stack is crucial to ensure battery performance. The cathode is where oxygen (or air) enters and reacts with the catalyst. While transmitting air from nature to the cathode of the stack, it also brings impurities in the air into the stack. On the one hand, these impurities will adhere to the membrane electrode surface and block the gas-liquid transmission channel in the stack; on the other hand, they will adhere to the surface of the bipolar plate, affecting the conductivity of the bipolar plate, causing the internal resistance of the stack to increase, affecting the output performance and life of the stack.

[0060] In the embodiment of the present invention, a water inlet assembly and a water outlet assembly are added to the cathode of the battery stack to facilitate water flow in and out of the battery stack to clean the electrode plates and membrane electrodes. In order to distinguish the inlet and outlet, the end plate between the outside of the battery stack and the water inlet is defined as the first port, and the water inlet assembly is connected to the water inlet of the first end plate.

[0061] The drainage assembly 12 is connected to the drainage port of the second end plate and is used to discharge water in the battery stack.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to distinguish the inlet and outlet, the end plate between the outside of the battery stack and the outlet is defined as the second end plate. After water flows into the battery stack through the water inlet buckle and cleans the electrode plates and membrane electrodes, the water containing impurities flows through the outlet of the second end plate and is discharged by the drainage component.

[0063] An embodiment of the present invention provides a battery assembly, including a battery stack, a water inlet assembly and a water discharge assembly. The battery stack includes two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a water discharge port; the water inlet assembly is connected to the water inlet of the first end plate, and is used to introduce water flow into the battery stack to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode by water flow; the water discharge assembly is connected to the water discharge port of the second end plate, and is used to discharge the water flow in the battery stack. The present invention adds an inlet and a water discharge port to the cathode of the battery stack, and impurities on the cathode electrode plate and the membrane electrode that enter with the air can be discharged by flushing with water, which effectively improves the performance of the membrane electrode and the electrode plate, thereby improving the output power of the battery stack and extending the life of the battery stack.

[0064] Reference Figure 2 , shows a system schematic diagram of another battery assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention, which may specifically include the following parts:

[0065] The stack 20 includes two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet 201, and the second end plate is provided with a water outlet 202;

[0066] The electrode plate is provided with a water flow channel for guiding water flow.

[0067] The bipolar plates of the air-cooled fuel cell stack include a combined positive and negative single-stage plates. In one embodiment, the electrode plate refers to the bipolar plate, which acts as a current collector and distributor, and also serves to separate adjacent units. One side of the bipolar plate faces the cathode, and the other side faces the anode of the adjacent unit. Especially as a cathode open air-cooled fuel cell, the cathode is where oxygen (or air) enters and reacts with the catalyst, and its design needs to ensure good gas diffusion, efficient thermal management, and proper water management. The cathode part may affect its performance due to dust, pollutants, or chemical deposits accumulated during use. Keeping the cathode clean is essential to maintaining the efficient operation of the fuel cell system.

[0068] Membrane electrode refers to membrane electrode assembly, which has a multi-layer structure. The middle layer is the proton exchange membrane, which conducts hydrogen ions (protons) and blocks electrons, forcing them to flow through the external circuit to generate current; the two sides of the proton exchange membrane are the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer, and this three-layer combination is also called the "three-layer electrode structure"; the two sides of the anode and cathode are the anode and cathode diffusion layers respectively, and the three-layer electrode structure plus two diffusion layers can also be called the "five-layer electrode structure"; in addition to the five-layer electrode structure, there are two frames, which are part of the sealing structure and also serve as an insulation isolation function between single cell units. The five-layer electrode structure plus two frames is also called the "seven-layer electrode structure".

[0069] In air-cooled fuel cells, the cathode flow field is usually designed as a series of elongated grooves or channels that allow air to flow and contact the catalyst layer on the bipolar plate. In this embodiment, by adding water flow channels to the electrode plates, and setting a water inlet 201 on the first end plate and a drain port 202 on the second end plate, water can flow smoothly through the water flow channels and membrane electrodes of the stack cathode to remove impurities and clean the electrode plates and membrane electrodes of the stack.

[0070] The water inlet assembly 21 comprises:

[0071] a water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet;

[0072] A water tank 211, connected to the water inlet pipe, for storing water;

[0073] A water pump 212, disposed on the water inlet pipe, for pumping water in the water tank into the fuel cell stack;

[0074] The water inlet valve 213 is arranged on the water inlet pipe and is used to control the on and off of the water flow.

[0075] The water tank of the water inlet assembly can provide water flow to clean the stack, and a water pump 212 and a water inlet valve 213 are arranged on the connected water inlet pipe. When the cathode of the stack is contaminated by impurities in the air, the water in the water tank 211 is pressurized by the water pump 212 and enters the cathode of the stack through the water inlet 201. The water inlet valve 213 can be a water inlet solenoid valve, which is a device that uses electromagnetic force to control the flow of water. The basic working principle of the solenoid valve is to generate a magnetic field by energizing the coil, thereby attracting or releasing the internal iron core to move, and then opening or closing the valve, so as to control the flow of water into the stack.

[0076] The drainage assembly 22 includes:

[0077] a drain pipe connected to the drain outlet;

[0078] The drain valve 221 is arranged on the drain pipe and is used to control the on-off of the water flow discharged from the battery stack.

[0079] The drainage assembly corresponding to the water inlet assembly includes a drainage pipe connected to the stack drainage port 202, and a drainage valve 213 arranged on the drainage pipe. Similarly, the drainage valve 213 can be a drainage solenoid valve. Solenoid valves generally have normally closed and normally open types, and there is also a type of two-way solenoid valve that can be switched on and off as needed. The solenoid valve can be opened or closed quickly, usually only a few milliseconds to a few seconds; by combining with an electronic control system, the solenoid valve can be remotely operated and automatically controlled; the solenoid valve can accurately control the flow by adjusting the current; due to its simple mechanical structure and fewer moving parts, the solenoid valve usually has high reliability and long service life. The solenoid valve can efficiently realize the on-off control of the inlet and outlet water flow with its fast response, automatic control capability, high reliability and wide applicability.

[0080] An internal resistance tester 23, connected to the battery stack, for detecting the internal resistance of the battery stack;

[0081] An internal resistance tester is an instrument used to measure the internal resistance of batteries, capacitors or other energy storage devices. Internal resistance (or internal resistance) is an important parameter for measuring the performance of energy storage devices, which affects the working efficiency, discharge capacity and service life of the equipment. An internal resistance tester is an important tool for maintaining the health of batteries and other energy storage devices. Using it correctly can effectively extend the life of the equipment and reduce the occurrence of unexpected failures.

[0082] Impurities in the air adhere to the surface of the bipolar plate, which will reduce the conductivity and corrosion resistance of the bipolar plate, resulting in excessive internal resistance of the battery stack, affecting the output performance and life of the battery stack. The battery component cleaning system uses an internal resistance tester embedded in the battery stack to feedback the degree of contamination of the battery stack and start and shut down the cleaning control system of the battery component.

[0083] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, the water pump, the water inlet valve and the drain valve are opened;

[0084] When the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than a second preset resistance value, the water pump, the drain valve and the drain valve are closed; and the first preset resistance value is greater than or equal to the second preset resistance value.

[0085] As the impurities attached to the internal electrode plates and membrane electrodes of the battery stack increase, the internal resistance of the battery stack also increases. The internal resistance of the electrode pair is tested by the internal resistance tester 23 embedded in the battery stack 20. The first preset resistance value R1 and the second preset resistance value R2 are set in advance. When the resistance value is between R1 and R2, it belongs to the normal range and the battery stack works normally. If the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than R1, it means that the electrode plates and membrane electrodes are too contaminated by impurities at this time, then the water pump 212, the water inlet valve 213 and the drain valve 221 are started, so that the water flow begins to enter the battery stack and start cleaning. After cleaning for a period of time, the water flow takes away the impurities and discharges the wastewater. When the internal resistance of the battery stack drops to R2, the internal resistance of the battery stack returns to the normal range, and the water pump 212, the water inlet valve 213 and the drain valve 221 can be closed. The cleaning is completed and the battery stack recovers its performance.

[0086] A fan 24, used for sucking air into the fuel cell stack;

[0087] The functions of the fan in the air-cooled fuel cell system can be simply divided into cooling and oxygen supply. Cooling refers to the use of forced air flow to remove the heat generated by the fuel cell stack and keep the battery within a suitable operating temperature range; oxygen supply means that the fan is also responsible for providing the required oxygen (from the air) to the fuel cell to support the electrochemical reaction. The fan can be used to guide air into the fuel cell stack through a fan or other form of forced ventilation device, supplying oxygen to the cathode while also helping to dissipate heat; some designs may also include a dedicated exhaust port for exhausting exhaust gas and excess moisture.

[0088] The filter 25 is used to filter impurities in the air entering the fuel cell stack.

[0089] The filter in the air-cooled fuel cell system is used to filter impurities to prevent dust, particulate matter, etc. from entering the fuel cell. These impurities may cause blockage or corrosion, affecting battery performance; protect the fan from damage due to inhalation of foreign matter. In one embodiment provided by the present invention, air passes through the suction fan, through the filter, and into the cathode of the stack to participate in the electrochemical reaction. Correctly selecting and maintaining the fan and filter is very important to ensure the efficient and stable operation of the air-cooled fuel cell system.

[0090] The embodiment of the present invention provides a battery assembly, including a battery stack, a water inlet assembly and a drainage assembly. The battery stack includes two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a drainage outlet; the water inlet assembly is connected to the water inlet of the first end plate, and is used to introduce water flow into the battery stack to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode through the water flow; the drainage assembly is connected to the drainage outlet of the second end plate, and is used to discharge the water flow in the battery stack. A water inlet and outlet are added to the battery stack, and a water flow channel is added to the cathode. The water in the cathode water flow channel is used to clean the impurities in the membrane electrode, open the blocked micropores of the membrane electrode, restore the gas-liquid mass transfer capacity of the carbon paper, and then restore the output performance of the membrane electrode performance, and extend the life of the membrane electrode. A water flow channel is added to the cathode of the battery stack, and the impurities on the surface of the cathode plate are washed clean by the water in the cathode flow channel, and the conductivity and corrosion resistance of the electrode plate are restored, thereby restoring the internal resistance and output performance of the battery stack, and the corrosion resistance of the electrode plate can also be restored.

[0091] Reference Figure 3 , shows a flowchart of the steps of a cleaning method for a battery assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to the battery assembly as described above. The method may specifically include the following steps:

[0092] Step 301, when it is detected that a preset condition is met, water is introduced to the water inlet of the first end plate of the stack through the water inlet assembly to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode by the water flow;

[0093] When air is transmitted to the cathode of the stack, impurities in the air will also be brought into the stack. On the one hand, these impurities will adhere to the surface of the membrane electrode and block the gas-liquid transmission channel in the stack; on the other hand, they will adhere to the surface of the bipolar plate, affecting the conductivity of the bipolar plate, resulting in an increase in the internal resistance of the stack. When the internal resistance is greater than a certain resistance value, that is, the first preset resistance value, the water inlet component and the drainage component are turned on, and high-pressure water is introduced through the water inlet to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode, and then the wastewater with impurities is discharged through the drainage component through the drainage port.

[0094] The water inlet assembly includes a water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet; a water tank connected to the water inlet pipe for storing water; a water pump provided on the water inlet pipe for pumping water in the water tank into the battery stack; and a water inlet valve provided on the water inlet pipe for controlling the on and off of water flow.

[0095] In one embodiment, the step 301 further includes the following sub-steps:

[0096] Sub-step S11, starting the water pump and opening the water inlet valve to introduce water flow into the water inlet of the first end plate of the fuel cell stack.

[0097] The battery assembly further includes: an internal resistance tester connected to the battery stack and used to detect the internal resistance of the battery stack;

[0098] In one embodiment, the sub-step S11 further includes:

[0099] Sub-step S111, when the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, turning on the water pump and the water inlet valve;

[0100] Step 302: drain the water discharged through the drain port of the second end plate of the fuel cell stack through the drain assembly.

[0101] The drainage assembly includes a drainage pipe connected to the drainage port; a drainage valve is arranged on the drainage pipe and is used to control the on and off of the water flow discharged from the battery stack;

[0102] In one embodiment, step 302 further includes the following sub-steps:

[0103] Sub-step S21, opening the drain valve to drain the water flow discharged through the drain port of the second end plate of the fuel cell stack.

[0104] In one embodiment, the sub-step S21 further includes the following sub-steps:

[0105] Sub-step S211, when the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, opening the drain valve.

[0106] When the cathode of the battery stack is contaminated by impurities in the air, the water in the water tank is pressurized by a water pump and enters the cathode of the battery stack through the water inlet. The impurities on the cathode plate are washed away through the water flow channel of the cathode of the battery stack. At the same time, part of the water passes through the membrane electrode and also carries away the surface impurities on the membrane electrode. Under the action of the high-pressure water flow, the impurities in the blocked gas-liquid mass transfer channel in the membrane electrode are discharged along with the water flow, so that the membrane electrode can restore its normal gas-liquid mass transfer capacity, thereby restoring the performance of the battery stack to normal.

[0107] In one embodiment, it also includes closing the water pump, the drain valve and the drain valve when the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than a second preset resistance value; the first preset resistance value is greater than or equal to the second preset resistance value.

[0108] When the cleaning system cleans until the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than the second preset resistance value R2 and the performance of the battery stack returns to normal, the water pump, drain valve and drain valve are closed, and the cleaning is completed. After the battery has worked for a period of time, the impurity accumulation internal resistance is higher than the first preset resistance value R1 again, and the cleaning system is turned on again. Here, R1 can be less than R2 or equal to R2, that is, the normal resistance value of the internal resistance of the battery stack can be a fixed value or a certain resistance range.

[0109] The embodiment of the present invention provides a battery assembly, including a battery stack, a water inlet assembly and a drainage assembly. The battery stack includes two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a drainage outlet; the water inlet assembly is connected to the water inlet of the first end plate, and is used to introduce water flow into the battery stack to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode through the water flow; the drainage assembly is connected to the drainage outlet of the second end plate, and is used to discharge the water flow in the battery stack. A water inlet and outlet are added to the battery stack, and a water flow channel is added to the cathode. The water in the cathode water flow channel is used to clean the impurities in the membrane electrode, open the blocked micropores of the membrane electrode, restore the gas-liquid mass transfer capacity of the carbon paper, and then restore the output performance of the membrane electrode performance, and extend the life of the membrane electrode. A water flow channel is added to the cathode of the battery stack, and the impurities on the surface of the cathode plate are washed clean by the water in the cathode flow channel, and the conductivity and corrosion resistance of the electrode plate are restored, thereby restoring the internal resistance and output performance of the battery stack, and the corrosion resistance of the electrode plate can also be restored.

[0110] Reference Figure 4 , shows a control flow chart of a cleaning method for a battery assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the implementation process is as follows:

[0111] When the cathode of the fuel cell stack is contaminated by impurities in the air, the internal resistance of the fuel cell stack will increase. The internal resistance tester detects the internal resistance of the fuel cell stack each time the fuel cell stack is shut down. When it is detected that the internal resistance of the fuel cell stack is higher than a certain value R1, the water pump starts, the water inlet solenoid valve of the fuel cell stack opens, and the water in the water tank enters the cathode of the fuel cell stack through the water inlet solenoid valve under the action of the water pump, and cleans the impurities on the membrane electrode and cathode plate inside the fuel cell stack through the cathode water flow channel. At the same time, the internal resistance tester of the fuel cell stack continues to monitor the internal resistance of the fuel cell stack. When the internal resistance of the fuel cell stack is less than a certain value R2, the water pump, the water inlet solenoid valve and the drain solenoid valve are closed in turn, the fuel cell stack cleaning process ends, and the fuel cell stack performance recovery is completed.

[0112] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the method embodiments are described as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should be aware that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited by the order of the actions described, because according to the embodiments of the present invention, certain steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions involved are not necessarily required by the embodiments of the present invention.

[0113] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0114] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art may make additional changes and modifications to these embodiments once they have learned the basic creative concept. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0115] Finally, it should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or terminal device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or terminal device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprise a ..." do not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or terminal device including the elements.

[0116] The battery assembly and the cleaning method of the battery assembly provided by the present invention are introduced in detail above. The principles and implementation methods of the present invention are explained in this article using specific examples. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core idea. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of ​​the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation method and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery assembly, characterized in that: include: The stack comprises two end plates and an electrode plate and a membrane electrode located between the two end plates; the first end plate of the two end plates is provided with a water inlet, and the second end plate is provided with a water outlet; a water inlet assembly connected to the water inlet of the first end plate and used to introduce water flow into the stack so as to clean the electrode plates and the membrane electrode by the water flow; A drainage assembly is connected to the drainage port of the second end plate and is used to discharge water in the battery stack.

2. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water inlet assembly comprises: a water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet; A water tank, connected to the water inlet pipe, for storing water; A water pump, disposed on the water inlet pipe, for pumping water in the water tank into the fuel cell stack; The water inlet valve is installed on the water inlet pipe to control the on and off of the water flow.

3. The battery assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drainage assembly comprises: a drain pipe connected to the drain outlet; A drain valve is arranged on the drain pipe and is used to control the on-off flow of water discharged from the battery stack.

4. The battery assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: Also includes: An internal resistance tester, connected to the battery stack, for detecting the internal resistance of the battery stack; When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, the water pump, the water inlet valve and the drain valve are opened; When the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than a second preset resistance value, the water pump, the drain valve and the drain valve are closed; and the first preset resistance value is greater than or equal to the second preset resistance value.

5. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A fan, used for sucking air into the battery stack; A filter is used to filter impurities in the air entering the battery stack.

6. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode plate is provided with a water flow channel for guiding water flow.

7. A method for cleaning a battery assembly, characterized in that: Applied to the battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the method comprises: When it is detected that a preset condition is met, water is introduced into the water inlet of the first end plate of the stack through the water inlet assembly to clean the electrode plate and the membrane electrode by the water flow; The water discharged through the drainage port of the second end plate of the fuel cell stack is discharged through the drainage assembly.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The water inlet assembly includes a water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet; a water tank connected to the water inlet pipe and used to store water; a water pump arranged on the water inlet pipe and used to pump the water in the water tank into the battery stack; A water inlet valve, arranged on the water inlet pipe, for controlling the on and off of water flow; The step of introducing water flow into the water inlet of the first end plate of the fuel cell stack through the water inlet assembly comprises: The water pump and the water inlet valve are turned on to introduce water flow into the water inlet of the first end plate of the fuel cell stack.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The drainage assembly includes a drainage pipe connected to the drainage port; a drainage valve is arranged on the drainage pipe and is used to control the on and off of the water flow discharged from the battery stack; The step of draining the water discharged through the drain port of the second end plate of the stack by means of the drain assembly comprises: The drain valve is opened to drain the water discharged through the drain port of the second end plate of the fuel cell stack.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The battery assembly further includes: an internal resistance tester connected to the battery stack and used to detect the internal resistance of the battery stack; The step of starting the water pump and the water inlet valve comprises: When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than a first preset resistance value, turning on the water pump and the water inlet valve; The step of opening the drain valve comprises: When the internal resistance of the battery stack is greater than the first preset resistance, the drain valve is opened.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Also includes: When the internal resistance of the battery stack is less than a second preset resistance value, closing the water pump, the drain valve and the drain valve; The first preset resistance is greater than or equal to the second preset resistance.

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