A fuel cell heat dissipation device, a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack

Abstract

Relating to the technical field of fuel cell heat dissipation, the present application discloses a fuel cell heat dissipation device, a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack. It includes a heat conducting member and a heat dissipating member. The heat conducting member is attached to the plate electrode, and the heat dissipating member is located on one side of the heat conducting member. The heat conducting member conducts the heat of the plate electrode to the heat dissipating member. The heat dissipating member includes a plurality of fins, and the heat conducting area of the fins closer to the center position of the plate electrode among the plurality of fins is larger. Compared with the prior art, in the present application, the problem of heat concentration at the center position of the plate electrode can be effectively avoided, and the heat conducting area of the fins closer to the center position of the plate electrode is larger, thereby accelerating the rapid derivation of the heat at the center position of the plate electrode, and further effectively improving the reliability and stability of the overall performance of the fuel cell, and increasing the durability of the battery use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of fuel cell heat dissipation. Specifically, this application discloses a fuel cell heat dissipation device, a fuel cell, and a fuel cell stack. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell is a device that directly converts the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy. It has the advantages of high energy conversion efficiency, environmental friendliness, and low operating temperature, and is a clean energy technology with great development prospects. A fuel cell stack is composed of multiple single cells stacked together. A single cell includes a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a membrane electrode. Due to the difference in the thermal conductivity of the cooling medium or the influence of the use environment, heat is likely to concentrate at the contact position of the center of the bipolar plate of the fuel cell and cannot be quickly discharged, which affects the durability of the battery and the stability of the overall performance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve the technical problem of heat concentration at the center position of the plate and the inability to quickly dissipate heat, the main object of this application is to provide a fuel cell heat dissipation device, a fuel cell, and a fuel cell stack that can avoid heat concentration at the center position of the plate and can quickly discharge the heat at the center position of the plate.

[0004] To achieve the above invention object, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] According to one aspect of this application, a fuel cell heat dissipation device is provided, including a heat conducting member and a heat dissipating member. The heat conducting member is attached to the plate, and the heat dissipating member is located on one side of the heat conducting member. The heat conducting member conducts the heat of the plate to the heat dissipating member. The heat dissipating member includes a plurality of fins, and the closer the fins are to the center position of the plate, the larger the heat conducting area of the fins.

[0006] According to an embodiment of this application, the heat conducting member is a heat conducting sheet located between two plates.

[0007] According to an embodiment of this application, the heat dissipating member includes a first fin group and a second fin group located on both sides of the heat conducting member.

[0008] According to an embodiment of this application, the closer the fins are to the center position, the higher the fins are.

[0009] According to an embodiment of this application, the heat conducting member and the heat dissipating member are of an integrally formed structure.

[0010] According to another aspect of this application, a fuel cell is provided, including the fuel cell heat dissipation device described above.

[0011] According to another aspect of this application, a fuel cell stack is provided, including the fuel cell described above.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present application, it also includes a frame and an end cover, the end cover is installed on the top of the frame, the fuel cell heat dissipation device is installed on the frame, and the end cover is provided with a heat dissipation cavity, and the heat of the electrode plate can be discharged through the heat dissipation cavity.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present application, a fluid driving member is further provided on one side of the frame, and a third fluid channel is provided between the end cover and the electrode plate. The fluid driving member can drive the fluid to pass through the heat dissipation cavity and the third fluid channel to extract the heat from the electrode plate.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present application, the heat sink is provided with a first fluid channel facing the center of the electrode plate, and the fluid driving member can drive the fluid to conduct heat from the electrode plate through the first fluid channel.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present application, the electrode plate is provided with a second fluid channel corresponding to the first fluid channel, and the fluid driving member can drive the fluid to conduct heat from the electrode plate through the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present application, the end cover includes radial ribs and circular ribs, and a plurality of heat dissipation cavities are spaced between the radial ribs and the circular ribs.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present application, the radial ribs and the circular ribs are fin structures with a set height.

[0018] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that the advantages and positive effects of a fuel cell heat dissipation device, a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack of the present application are:

[0019] In the present application, a heat conductor is arranged between the electrode plates, and a heat sink is arranged on one side of the heat conductor, so that the heat of the electrode plates can be conducted to the heat sink through the heat conductor. Furthermore, the heat sink includes a plurality of fins, and the heat conduction area of ​​the fins closer to the center of the electrode plate is larger, which can effectively increase the heat dissipation performance of the center of the electrode plate, prevent the problem of heat concentration in the center of the electrode plate, improve the stability and reliability of the overall performance of the fuel cell, and improve the durability of the fuel cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, for those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fuel cell stack shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a fuel cell stack shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fuel cell heat dissipation device shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an end cap in a fuel cell heat dissipation device shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of another cross-sectional structure of an end cap in a fuel cell heat dissipation device shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] Among them, the reference numerals are explained as follows:

[0028] 1, frame; 2, plate; 201, central position; 202, second fluid channel; 3, heat conducting member; 4, end cap; 401, heat dissipation cavity; 402, radial ribs; 403, circular ribs; 5, first fin group; 501, first fluid channel; 6, fluid driving member; 7, second fin group; 8, third fluid channel; 9, fin. Specific embodiments

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0030] In the prior art, a single fuel cell has a cathode plate and an anode plate. Hydrogen is introduced into the anode plate as fuel, and air is introduced into the cathode plate as an oxidant. When the load is connected, the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen can generate electric energy. Among them, the bipolar plate is a core component of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, with multiple important functions such as collecting and conducting current, supporting the membrane electrode, uniformly delivering and isolating reaction gases, circulating coolant, and rapidly dissipating heat. Therefore, the heat dissipation performance of the bipolar plate affects the performance and durability of the fuel cell. At the same time, due to the difference in the thermal conductivity of the cooling medium, the heat dissipation capacity of air-cooled fuel cells is much weaker than that of water-cooled fuel cells. In addition, the heat in the central region or the central position 201 of the fuel cell bipolar plate is prone to accumulation, and the problem of being unable to quickly remove heat energy restricts the durability and the stability of the overall performance of the fuel cell. Therefore, this application proposes a fuel cell heat dissipation device. Aiming at the problem that the heat in the central position 201 of the plate 2 accumulates and cannot be quickly discharged, it is proposed to make one side of the plate 2 fit the heat conducting member 3, so that the heat of the plate 2 can be evenly conducted into the heat conducting member 3. To further enhance the heat dissipation performance of the plate 2, a heat dissipation member is provided on one side of the heat conducting member 3 to quickly discharge the heat through the heat dissipation member. The heat dissipation member includes a plurality of fins 9. To quickly discharge the heat in the central position 201 of the plate 2 or the central heat generating area of the plate 2, and to further enhance the discharge of the heat in the central position 201, the heat conducting area of the plurality of fins 9 closer to the central position 201 in this application is larger.

[0031] Reference Figure 3 As shown, those skilled in the art should be able to understand that the central position 201 of the plate 2 can also be defined as the area where heat is concentrated. The temperature near the central position 201 is higher than that of the surrounding positions. Since the heat of the surrounding positions of the plate 2 can be quickly discharged or exchanged through heat conduction or heat exchange, for the heat exchange of the central position 201, the heat conducting area of the plurality of fins 9 relative to the central position 201 can be adjusted. As an example, the heat conducting area of the plurality of fins 9 can be gradually reduced from the central position 201 to the surrounding positions. Those skilled in the art can adjust the relative dimensions of the fins 9 according to the actual situation, thereby adjusting the heat dissipation coefficient of the heat dissipation member at different regional positions, that is, increasing the heat dissipation coefficient of the temperature concentration area and relatively reducing the heat dissipation coefficient of the area with a lower temperature, which can improve the heat dissipation effect while saving materials and reducing the heat dissipation cost.

[0032] As an example, the heat sink may be disposed around the heat conducting member 3, and at the same time, a plurality of the fins 9 may be extended towards the central position 201. Those skilled in the art may set the extension length of the fins 9 relative to the central position 201 of the plate 2 according to the gap between the heat conducting member 3 and the plate 2, so that the plurality of the fins 9 are in contact with the surfaces of the heat conducting member 3 and the plate 2, thereby increasing the heat conducting area of the fins 9 and improving the heat dissipation rate.

[0033] As an example, the relative height of the fins 9 relative to the plate 2 or the heat conducting member 3 may be adjusted to adjust the heat dissipation effect of the heat sink in different regions. Preferably, the cross sections of the plurality of the fins 9 may be provided with a slope structure, so that the height of the fins 9 gradually decreases from the central position 201 to the edge region of the heat conducting member 3. The heat at the central position 201 of the plate 2 can be extended and transferred to the periphery of the heat conducting member 3 and then discharged, avoiding a large amount of heat accumulation at the central position 201 of the plate 2, which can increase the heat dissipation effect of the plate 2 at the central position 201, and further improve the stability and durability of the overall performance of the fuel cell.

[0034] Reference Figures 1 - 5 As shown, according to one aspect of the present application, a fuel cell heat dissipation device is provided, which includes a heat conducting member 3 and a heat sink. The heat conducting member 3 is attached to the plate 2, the heat sink is located on one side of the heat conducting member 3, the heat conducting member 3 conducts the heat of the plate 2 to the heat sink, and the heat sink includes a plurality of fins 9. Among the plurality of fins 9, the fins 9 closer to the central position 201 of the plate 2 have a larger heat conducting area.

[0035] Furthermore, the temperature at the central position 201 of the plate 2 is higher than that at the non - central position 201. The heat conducting areas of the plurality of fins 9 may gradually extend and gradually decrease from the central position 201 to the surroundings, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation performance of the central position 201 of the plate 2 and diffusing the heat at the central position 201 to the surroundings.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present application, the heat conducting member 3 is a heat conducting sheet located between two plates 2. It should be understood that fuel cells all have two plates 2, namely a cathode plate and an anode plate. As an example, the heat conducting member 3 may be clamped between the two substrates and set as a heat conducting sheet structure, thereby enhancing the contact area with the plates. Preferably, the plate 2 may be attached to the surface of the heat conducting member 3, and the heat sink may be disposed around the heat conducting member 3.

[0037] Preferably, the thickness of the fin 9 can be controlled within 2 mm, the width of each fin 9 is between 1 - 2.5 mm, and the maximum height of the fin 9 at the central position 201 is controlled below 30 mm. Further, the material of the heat conducting member 3 can be made of red copper, aluminum, titanium, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel or nickel-based alloy, and can be bonded to the electrode plate 2 by welding. On the one hand, it can effectively increase the heat dissipation effect, and on the other hand, it can also have electrical conductivity.

[0038] Those skilled in the art can, according to the actual usage situation, without affecting the battery's conductivity and under the premise of efficient heat dissipation, select a material with high conductivity to coat the surface of the heat sink to improve the conductivity of the heat sink.

[0039] As an example, a coating can also be provided on the surface of the heat conducting member 3, and the coating material is a conductive polymer coating such as carbon, graphite, polyaniline or polypyrrole; a noble metal coating such as gold, niobium, silver, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, a metal nitride or metal carbide such as titanium nitride, titanium carbide, chromium nitride, chromium carbide, or a metal oxide coating such as tin oxide, ruthenium oxide, lead oxide, iridium oxide, etc., so as to increase the heat conduction performance and electrical conductivity of the heat conducting member 3. Those skilled in the art can adjust the material of the coating according to the actual usage situation.

[0040] Reference Figure 2 In the fuel cell shown in the reference, according to an embodiment of the present application, the heat dissipation member includes a first fin group 5 and a second fin group 7 located on both sides of the heat conducting member 3. A heat dissipation member can be provided around the central position 201, and a plurality of the fins 9 of the heat dissipation member are arranged on both sides of the heat conducting member 3 to further enhance the heat dissipation performance of the central position 201 of the electrode plate 2.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the present application, the heat conducting member 3 and the heat dissipation member are an integrally formed structure. Preferably, those skilled in the art can adjust the shape of the heat conducting member 3, arrange a plurality of the fins 9 of the heat dissipation member around the heat conducting member 3, and make the plurality of the fins 9 be arranged between the electrode plates 2 at an angle with the heat conducting member 3. Thus, the heat on the surface of the heat conducting member 3 can be directly conducted to the surface of the fin 9, improving the heat conduction efficiency, and thus improving the heat dissipation effect of the entire fuel cell heat dissipation device.

[0042] Preferably, the cross-section of a plurality of the fins 9 can be made elliptical, with the highest central height, gradually decreasing to the edge position of the heat conducting member 3 to ensure the maximum heat dissipation and heat transfer efficiency at the center of the electrode plate 2.

[0043] According to another aspect of the present application, a fuel cell is provided, including the fuel cell heat dissipation device described above.

[0044] Reference Figure 1As shown, according to another aspect of the present application, a fuel cell stack is provided, comprising a plurality of the above-mentioned fuel cells.

[0045] A person skilled in the art may assemble a plurality of the fuel cell stacks together to meet actual use requirements. The present application does not specifically limit the number of stacked single fuel cells, and a person skilled in the art may make adjustments based on actual use conditions.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the present application, it also includes a frame 1 and an end cover 4, the end cover 4 is assembled on the top of the frame 1, the fuel cell heat dissipation device is assembled on the frame 1, and the end cover 4 is provided with a heat dissipation cavity 401, and the heat of the plate 2 can be discharged through the heat dissipation cavity 401.

[0047] As an example, the fuel cell heat dissipation device and the two electrode plates 2 are preferably fixedly assembled together, and in actual use, a plurality of the fuel cell heat dissipation devices can be fixed on the frame 1, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0048] Preferably, in order to facilitate the heat dissipation performance of the plurality of fuel cells, a certain spacing distance may be set between the fuel cells in each layer according to actual use conditions, so that each fuel cell has good heat dissipation performance.

[0049] It should be understood that the fuel cell is disposed between the end cover 4 and the frame 1 , and those skilled in the art may also provide two end cover 4 structures so that a plurality of fuel cells are disposed between the two end covers 4 .

[0050] The end cover 4 may also be provided with a heat-conducting metal plate structure, which can further improve the heat dissipation effect of the fuel cell stack.

[0051] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, further, a plurality of heat dissipation cavities 401 may be provided on the end cover 4, and the heat of the electrode plate 2 may be quickly conducted out through the heat dissipation cavities 401, so that the fuel cell inside the frame 1 may be in contact with the external fluid through the heat dissipation cavities 401 to dissipate heat.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the present application, a fluid driving member 6 is further provided on one side of the frame 1, and a third fluid channel 8 is provided between the end cover 4 and the electrode plate 2. The fluid driving member 6 can drive the fluid to pass through the heat dissipation cavity 401 and the third fluid channel 8 to export the heat of the electrode plate 2.

[0053] Preferably, a plurality of the fins 9 can be arranged to extend in the same direction, and the fluid driver is arranged in the extending direction of the fins 9, so as to accelerate the rapid discharge of part of the heat of the heat dissipation member. Those skilled in the art can design the width of the third fluid channel 8 according to the actual situation, with the heat dissipation cavity 401 as the inlet direction and the position of the fluid driver 6 as the fluid outlet, so that the fluid can be drawn out from the position of the fluid driver 6 after passing through the heat dissipation cavity 401 and the third fluid channel 8. Those skilled in the art can, according to the actual use situation, use the heat dissipation cavity 401 as the fluid outlet and the position of the fluid driver as the fluid inlet, and can also achieve the discharge of the heat of the inner plate 2 of the frame 1 through the third fluid channel 8 and the heat dissipation cavity 401.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the present application, a first fluid channel 501 is arranged at the center position 201 of the plate 2 facing the heat dissipation member, and the fluid driver 6 can drive the fluid to export the heat of the plate 2 through the first fluid channel 501.

[0055] Preferably, a plurality of the fins 9 can be arranged to extend at the same angle and in the same direction, and the fluid driver 6 can accelerate the flow rate of the fluid in the first fluid channel 501, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the center position 201 of the pole piece.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present application, a second fluid channel 202 is arranged on the plate 2 corresponding to the first fluid channel 501, and the fluid driver 6 can drive the fluid to export the heat of the plate 2 through the first fluid channel 501 and the second fluid channel 202.

[0057] It should be understood that there is a certain gap between the plate 2 and the heat conducting member 3, and second fluid channels 202 are formed in these gaps. A plurality of the fins 9 can be arranged to extend in the second fluid channels 202. On the one hand, it can increase the contact area between the fins 9 and the center position 201, and on the other hand, it can further improve the heat dissipation performance of the center position 201 through the fluid flow of the fluid driver 6.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present application, the end cover 4 includes radial ribs 402 and circular ribs 403, and a plurality of heat dissipation cavities 401 are spaced between the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403.

[0059] As an example, the side of the end cap 4 in contact with the outside is designed as a circular ring grille. The grille functions as the fin 9, exchanging the heat conducted from the metal support column by the bipolar plate with the outside. At the same time, the circular ring grille structure can correspond to the reaction flow field area at the center position 201 of the plate 2, so that when assembling the battery, the fastening force spreads evenly from the middle in a circular ring shape outward, making the stacking pressure more uniform.

[0060] The design of the hollow end cap 4 composed of the heat dissipation cavity 401, the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403 also reduces the overall weight of the battery and improves the power density of the battery on the one hand.

[0061] According to an embodiment of the present application, the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403 are fin 9 structures with a set height. Preferably, the horizontal width of the fuel cell covered by the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403 can be between 1 - 2.5 mm, and the height extending towards the fuel cell can be between 3 - 10 mm, and the radius difference between each circular rib 403 can be between 30 - 100 mm. Thus, it can be ensured that while the end cap 4 has a good heat dissipation effect, the fuel cell stack can also have a more uniform stacking pressure.

[0062] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the term "comprising", "including" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non - exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. Without more limitations, an element defined by the statement "including one..." does not exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the said element.

[0063] The above - mentioned are only specific embodiments of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to these embodiments shown herein, but rather will conform to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack, characterized in that, The invention comprises a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell comprises a fuel cell heat dissipation device, wherein the fuel cell heat dissipation device comprises a heat conducting member (3), a heat dissipation member (5), a frame (1) and an end cover (4), wherein the heat conducting member (3) is attached to an electrode plate (2), the heat dissipation member (5) is located on one side of the heat conducting member (3), the heat conducting member (3) conducts the heat of the electrode plate (2) to the heat dissipation member (5), the heat dissipation member (5) comprises a plurality of fins (9) arranged at intervals, wherein the fins (9) closer to a center position (201) have a greater height among the plurality of fins (9); the end cover (4) is mounted on the top of the frame (1), the fuel cell heat dissipation device is mounted on the frame (1), the end cover (4) is provided with a heat dissipation cavity (401), the heat of the electrode plate (2) can be conducted out through the heat dissipation cavity (401), a fluid driving member (6) is further provided on one side of the frame (1), a third fluid channel (8) is provided between the end cover (4) and the electrode plate (2), the fluid driving member (6) is provided with a third fluid channel (8) The body driving member (6) can drive the fluid to pass through the heat dissipation cavity (401) and the third fluid channel (8) to export the heat of the plate (2); the heat dissipation member (5) is provided with a first fluid channel (501) facing the center position (201) of the plate (2); the fluid driving member (6) can drive the fluid to pass through the first fluid channel (501) to export the heat of the plate (2); the plate (2) is provided with a second fluid channel (201) corresponding to the first fluid channel (501). 02), the fluid driving member (6) can drive the fluid to export the heat of the electrode plate (2) through the first fluid channel (501) and the second fluid channel (202), the end cover (4) includes radial ribs (402) and circular ribs (403), the radial ribs (402) and the circular ribs (403) are separated by a plurality of heat dissipation cavities (401), and the radial ribs (402) and the circular ribs (403) are fin structures with a set height.

2. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat conducting member (3) is a heat conducting sheet located between the two pole plates (2).

3. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat sink (5) comprises a first fin group (5) and a second fin group (7) located on both sides of the heat conducting member (3).

4. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein, The heat conducting component (3) and the heat dissipating component (5) are an integrally formed structure.

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