Metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention discloses a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells, including multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates, a membrane electrode layer between adjacent metal bipolar plates, and a limit block longitudinally distributed at the edge of the multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates. The edge of the metal bipolar plate is closely distributed, and the edge of the metal bipolar plate is relatively thin relative to the height of the metal bipolar plate body. The edge of the metal bipolar plate forms a flange that folds upward and downward to increase the contact area between the metal bipolar plate and the limit block, avoid the edge of the metal bipolar plate directly cutting the limit block, ensure the limit function of the limit block, and improve the position accuracy of parts such as the metal bipolar plate and the membrane electrode. By designing a flange structure at the edge of the metal plate, the contact area between the edge of the metal plate and the limit block is increased, the edge of the plate is avoided from directly cutting the limit block, the limit function of the limit block is ensured, and the reliability of the fuel cell operation is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of metal plates for fuel cells, and in particular to a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells, and in particular to a mechanical connection structure thereof. Background Art

[0002] After assembly, the multiple metal bipolar plates and membrane electrode parts of the fuel cell are fixed by pressing with pressure plates at both ends, and each part is limited by limit blocks around the stack to prevent parts from being misaligned due to vibration during operation. Since the limit blocks are in contact with the metal plates, the material of the limit blocks must be insulating material, usually plastic. However, the metal bipolar plates are very thin and have very sharp edges, which can easily cut the limit blocks or even cut off the limit blocks, causing the limit blocks to fail. In order to avoid the influence of the limit blocks on the part limit caused by the fuel cell bipolar plates cutting off, the existing technology needs to be further improved. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells, avoiding the metal bipolar plate from cutting the limit block, ensuring the limit block's limit function on the metal bipolar plate and the membrane electrode, and improving the reliability of the fuel cell in actual operation. This technical solution overcomes the shortcomings and deficiencies in the prior art.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution of the first embodiment of the present invention is: a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells, including multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates, a membrane electrode layer is covered between adjacent metal bipolar plates, and limiting blocks are longitudinally distributed at the edges of the multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates. The edges of the metal bipolar plates are closely distributed, and the edges of the metal bipolar plates are thinner than the height of the metal bipolar plate body. The edges of the metal bipolar plates are formed with flanges folded upward and downward to increase the contact area between the metal bipolar plates and the limiting blocks, avoid the edges of the metal bipolar plates directly cutting the limiting blocks, ensure the limiting function of the limiting blocks, and improve the position accuracy of parts such as metal bipolar plates and membrane electrodes.

[0005] Furthermore, the height of the flange at the edge of the metal bipolar plate is smaller than the height of the metal bipolar plate body, thereby avoiding interference with the membrane electrode assembly after stacking and compression.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution of the second embodiment of the present invention is: a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells, including multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates, a membrane electrode is covered between adjacent metal bipolar plates, and limiting blocks are longitudinally distributed at the edges of the multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates. The edges of the metal bipolar plates are closely distributed, and the edges of the metal bipolar plates are relatively thinner than the height of the metal bipolar plate body, and the edges of the metal bipolar plates form an upward positive wave shape and a downward reverse wave shape.

[0007] Furthermore, the positive wave shape is formed by a plurality of rectangular protrusions distributed at equal intervals at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 , and the rectangular protrusions are distributed at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 in an upwardly protruding manner.

[0008] Furthermore, the reverse wave shape is formed by a plurality of rectangular protrusions distributed at equal intervals at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 , and the rectangular protrusions are distributed at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 in a downwardly protruding manner.

[0009] The present invention discloses a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells. By designing a flanging structure on the edge of the metal plate, the contact area between the edge of the metal plate and the limiting block is increased, and the plate edge is prevented from directly cutting the limiting block, thereby ensuring the limiting function of the limiting block and improving the reliability of the fuel cell operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 This is an assembly state diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of a traditional fuel cell metal bipolar plate.

[0014] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the cutting limit block for traditional fuel cell metal bipolar plates.

[0015] in:

[0016] 1. Metal bipolar plate;

[0017] 2. Plate flange structure;

[0018] 3. Membrane electrode;

[0019] 4. Limit block;

[0020] 5. Press plate;

[0021] 6. End plate;

[0022] 7. Bolts;

[0023] 8. Insulation board;

[0024] 9. Collector plate;

[0025] 10. Positive wave shape;

[0026] 11. Reverse wave shape. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects achieved by the present invention easy to understand, the present invention is further described below in conjunction with illustrations and specific embodiments.

[0028] The present invention discloses a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells. Figure 1 As shown in the figure, it is the first embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the prior art in that: it includes a multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plate 1, a membrane electrode 3 is covered between adjacent metal bipolar plates 1, and limiting blocks 4 are longitudinally distributed at the edges of the multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plates 1. The edges of the metal bipolar plates 1 are closely distributed, and the edges of the metal bipolar plates 1 are thinner than the main body of the metal bipolar plates 1. The edges of the metal bipolar plates 1 form flanges 2 that are folded upward and downward.

[0029] In a specific implementation, the height of the flange 2 at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 is smaller than the height of the main body of the metal bipolar plate 1 to avoid interference with the membrane electrode assembly after stacking and compression.

[0030] The present invention discloses a metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells. Figure 2 As shown in, it is the second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the prior art in that: it includes a multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plate 1, a layer of membrane electrode 3 is covered between adjacent metal bipolar plates 1, and a limiting block 4 is longitudinally distributed at the edge of the multi-layer stacked metal bipolar plate 1. The edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 is closely distributed, and the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 is relatively thin relative to the height of the main body of the metal bipolar plate 1. An upward positive wave shape 10 and a downward reverse wave shape 11 are formed at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1. The positive wave shape 10 and the downward reverse wave shape 11 are symmetrically distributed up and down. The wavy edge structure increases the contact area between the edge of the bipolar plate and the limiting block, avoids the limiting block from being cut off, and thus ensures the position accuracy of the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode.

[0031] In a specific implementation, the positive wave shape 10 is formed by a plurality of rectangular protrusions distributed at equal intervals at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 , and the rectangular protrusions are distributed at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 in an upwardly protruding manner.

[0032] In a specific implementation, the reverse wave shape 11 is formed by a plurality of rectangular protrusions distributed at equal intervals at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 , and the rectangular protrusions are distributed at the edge of the metal bipolar plate 1 in a downwardly protruding manner.

[0033] In a specific implementation, the forward wave shape 10 and the downward reverse wave shape 11 can be semicircular, triangular, semi-elliptical, trapezoidal, or other regular shapes.

[0034] The above shows and describes the basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions are only for explaining the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be subject to various changes and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. These changes and improvements fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A metal plate structure for improving the reliability of multi-layer stacking of fuel cells, characterized in that: The invention comprises a plurality of stacked metal bipolar plates (1), wherein a membrane electrode (3) is coated between adjacent metal bipolar plates (1), and a limiting block (4) is longitudinally distributed at the edge of the plurality of stacked metal bipolar plates (1), the edge of the metal bipolar plates (1) is closely distributed, the edge of the metal bipolar plates (1) is thinner than the height of the main body of the metal bipolar plates (1), and the edge of the metal bipolar plates (1) forms an upward positive wave shape (10) and a downward reverse wave shape (11); The positive wave shape (10) is formed by a plurality of rectangular protrusions distributed at equal intervals on the edge of the metal bipolar plate (1), and the rectangular protrusions are distributed on the edge of the metal bipolar plate (1) in an upwardly protruding manner; The reverse wave shape (11) is formed by a plurality of rectangular protrusions distributed at equal intervals on the edge of the metal bipolar plate (1), and the rectangular protrusions are distributed in a downwardly protruding manner on the edge of the metal bipolar plate (1).

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