A single cell, a fuel cell, and a method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The application provides a single battery, a fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof. The single battery comprises a first polar plate assembly and a second polar plate assembly which are separately formed. The first polar plate assembly comprises a first anode plate, a first cathode plate and a first membrane electrode, the second polar plate assembly comprises a second anode plate, a second cathode plate and a second membrane electrode, the first anode plate is connected to the second anode plate, the first cathode plate is connected to the second cathode plate, and the first membrane electrode is connected to the second membrane electrode. The first polar plate assembly and the second polar plate assembly are separately formed, so that the structures of the two are simple, the sizes are more easily controlled, and batch production is facilitated, thereby improving the production efficiency of the single battery and the consistency between the single batteries. In addition, in the assembly process of the fuel cell, the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode are not exposed, thereby reducing the cleanliness requirement of the stacking site.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery, in particular to a single battery, a fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] The fuel cell stack is usually composed of end plates, insulating plates, current collecting plates and at least one single battery, which are assembled together by compression force. At present, the common single battery includes an anode plate, a membrane electrode and a cathode plate, and is formed by sequentially stacking the anode plate, the membrane electrode and the cathode plate. Since the anode plate, the membrane electrode and the cathode plate of each single battery contain two-side flow channel design, the batch processing difficulty of the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode is increased, the consistency between the single batteries is difficult to guarantee, and the cleanliness requirement between the stacks is high due to the exposure of the membrane electrode. SUMMARY

[0003] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a single battery, a fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0004] In a first aspect, the single battery of the present application includes a first plate assembly and a second plate assembly which are formed separately. The first plate assembly includes a first anode plate, a first cathode plate and a first membrane electrode, and the first anode plate, the first cathode plate and the first membrane electrode are sequentially stacked. The second plate assembly includes a second anode plate, a second cathode plate and a second membrane electrode, and the second anode plate, the second cathode plate and the second membrane electrode are sequentially stacked. The first anode plate is connected to the second anode plate, the first cathode plate is connected to the second cathode plate, and the first membrane electrode is connected to the second membrane electrode.

[0005] Further, the first plate assembly is formed with an opening, and the second plate assembly is arranged in the opening and connected to the first plate assembly.

[0006] Further, the opening is a rectangular opening, and correspondingly, the second plate assembly is a rectangular structure.

[0007] Further, the first anode plate is formed with an anode plate transition area which is located on both sides of the opening. The first cathode plate is formed with a cathode plate transition area which is located on both sides of the opening. The first membrane electrode is formed with a membrane electrode flow channel area which is located on both sides of the opening. The second anode plate is formed with an anode plate flow channel area, and the second cathode plate is formed with a cathode plate flow channel area.

[0008] Further, the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode are both formed by stacking a first carbon paper layer, a CCM plate and a second carbon paper layer.

[0009] In a second aspect, the fuel cell of the present application comprises an end plate, an insulation plate and a current collecting plate which are stacked, wherein the fuel cell further comprises the single cell as described above, and the single cell is arranged at the lower side of the current collecting plate.

[0010] In a third aspect, the method for manufacturing the fuel cell of the present application is used for manufacturing the fuel cell as described above. The method comprises the steps of: preparing a first anode plate, a first cathode plate and a first membrane electrode, and manufacturing a first plate assembly; preparing a second anode plate, a second cathode plate and a second membrane electrode, and manufacturing a second plate assembly; arranging the second plate assembly in the first plate assembly, and connecting the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode; connecting the first anode plate and the second anode plate, and connecting the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate by laser welding, so as to form a single cell; stacking the single cells in sequence; stacking the end plate, the insulation plate and the current collecting plate; and arranging the stacked single cells below the stacked end plate, insulation plate and current collecting plate.

[0011] Further, the preparation of the first anode plate, the first cathode plate and the first membrane electrode, and the manufacturing of the first plate assembly, comprises the steps of: preparing the first anode plate, the first cathode plate and the first membrane electrode, and stacking the first anode plate, the first cathode plate and the first membrane electrode in sequence; connecting the first anode plate, the first cathode plate and the first membrane electrode by bonding to form the first plate assembly; and performing temperature raising and pressure increasing treatment on the first plate assembly, so as to seal and connect the first anode plate, the first cathode plate and the first membrane electrode.

[0012] Further, the preparation of the second anode plate, the second cathode plate and the second membrane electrode, and the manufacturing of the second plate assembly, comprises the steps of: preparing the second anode plate, the second cathode plate and the second membrane electrode, and stacking the second anode plate, the second cathode plate and the second membrane electrode in sequence; connecting the second anode plate, the second cathode plate and the second membrane electrode by bonding to form the second plate assembly; and performing temperature raising and pressure increasing treatment on the second plate assembly, so as to seal and connect the second anode plate, the second cathode plate and the second membrane electrode.

[0013] Further, the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode are connected by a hot pressing process, an infrared connection process or a heat radiation connection process.

[0014] The present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] In the fuel cell of the present application, each single cell is assembled by the first polar plate assembly and the second polar plate assembly, and the first polar plate assembly and the second polar plate assembly are based on each sub-molding, so that the structure of the two is simple, the size is more easily controlled, and the batch production is facilitated, thereby improving the production efficiency of the single cell and the consistency between the single cells; at the same time, a plurality of single cells are sequentially stacked and then assembled with the end plate, the insulating plate and the current collecting plate to form the fuel cell, thereby greatly saving the production time of the fuel cell and improving the production efficiency of the fuel cell. In addition, during the assembly process of the fuel cell, the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode are not exposed, thereby reducing the cleanliness requirement of the stacking site.

[0016] The summary is provided to introduce some choices of concepts in a simplified form, which will be further described in the detailed description below. The summary is not intended to identify important features or essential features of the disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 An exploded view of the fuel cell of the present application is shown, in which only one single cell is shown for clarity.

[0019] Figure 2 An exploded view of the single cell of the present application is shown.

[0020] In which, the reference signs are explained as follows:

[0021] 1, single cell; 11, first polar plate assembly; 111, first anode plate; 112, first cathode plate; 113, first membrane electrode; 12, second polar plate assembly; 121, second anode plate; 122, second cathode plate; 123, second membrane electrode; 2, end plate; 3, insulating plate; 4, current collecting plate; P, opening. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is more thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0023] The term "includes," and variations thereof, means "includes but is not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise. The term "or" means "and / or," unless expressly specified otherwise. The term "based on" means "based at least in part on," unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "one example embodiment" and "an example embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment." The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment." The terms "a first," "a second," etc. do not require, unless expressly specified otherwise, that the first and second be different. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, will become apparent from the disclosure.

[0024] The fuel cell, the single cell and the manufacturing method thereof of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Referring to Figure 1 The fuel cell of the present application comprises an end plate 2, an insulating plate 3, a current collecting plate 4 and at least one single cell 1, the end plate 2, the insulating plate 3 and the current collecting plate 4 are stacked, and the at least one single cell 1 is arranged in a stack and disposed at the lower side of the current collecting plate 4.

[0026] Referring to Figure 2 The single cell 1 comprises a first polar plate assembly 11 and a second polar plate assembly 12 which are separately formed. The first polar plate assembly 11 comprises a first anode plate 111, a first cathode plate 112 and a first membrane electrode 113, and the first anode plate 111, the first cathode plate 112 and the first membrane electrode 113 are stacked in sequence. The second polar plate assembly 12 comprises a second anode plate 121, a second cathode plate 122 and a second membrane electrode 123, and the second anode plate 121, the second cathode plate 122 and the second membrane electrode 123 are stacked in sequence.

[0027] The first anode plate 111 of the first polar plate assembly 11 is connected to the second anode plate 121, the first cathode plate 112 is connected to the second cathode plate 122, and the first membrane electrode 113 is connected to the second membrane electrode 123.

[0028] In the fuel cell of the present application, each single cell 1 is assembled by the first polar plate assembly 11 and the second polar plate assembly 12, and the first polar plate assembly 11 and the second polar plate assembly 12 are separately formed, so that the structure of the two is simple and the size is easy to control, facilitating mass production, thereby improving the production efficiency of the single cell 1 and the consistency between the single cells 1. Meanwhile, a plurality of single cells 1 are stacked in sequence and then assembled with the end plate, the insulating plate and the current collecting plate to form the fuel cell, thereby greatly saving the production time of the fuel cell and improving the production efficiency of the fuel cell. In addition, during the assembly process of the fuel cell, the first membrane electrode 113 and the second membrane electrode 123 are not exposed, thereby reducing the cleanliness requirement of the assembly site.

[0029] Referring to Figure 2The first polar plate assembly 11 is formed with an opening P, and the second polar plate assembly 12 is arranged in the opening P and connected to the first polar plate assembly 11. With the arrangement of the first polar plate assembly 11 and the second polar plate assembly 12, the overall thickness of the single battery 1 is not increased, and the energy density of the fuel cell is ensured.

[0030] Specifically, the opening P is a rectangular opening, and the first anode plate 111, the first cathode plate 112 and the first membrane electrode 113 of the first polar plate assembly 11 are all structures with rectangular openings. Correspondingly, the second polar plate assembly 12 is a rectangular structure as a whole.

[0031] The first anode plate 111 of the first polar plate assembly 11 is formed with an anode plate transition area on both sides of the opening P, and the first cathode plate 112 is formed with a cathode plate transition area on both sides of the opening P. The second anode plate 121 of the second polar plate assembly 12 is formed with an anode plate flow channel area in the opening P, and the second cathode plate 122 is formed with a cathode plate flow channel area in the opening P. The first membrane electrode 113 is formed with a membrane electrode flow channel area on both sides of the opening P.

[0032] In other words, the anode plate flow channel area and the anode plate transition area of the single battery 1 are arranged on the second anode plate 121 and the first anode plate 111, the cathode plate flow channel area and the cathode plate transition area are arranged on the second cathode plate 212 and the first cathode plate 112, and the membrane electrode flow channel area is arranged on the first membrane electrode 113, so that the structures of the first polar plate assembly 11 and the second polar plate assembly 12 are relatively simple, and the first polar plate assembly 11 and the second polar plate assembly 12 can be mass-produced respectively, thereby further improving the production efficiency of the single battery 1. Specifically, the first membrane electrode 113 and the second membrane electrode 123 are both formed by stacking a first carbon paper layer, a CCM plate and a second carbon paper layer.

[0033] The manufacturing method of the fuel cell of the present application comprises steps S1-S7. Specifically, S1, a first anode plate 111, a first cathode plate 112 and a first membrane electrode 113 are prepared and a first plate assembly 11 is manufactured; S2, a second anode plate 121, a second cathode plate 122 and a second membrane electrode 123 are prepared and a second plate assembly 12 is manufactured; S3, the second plate assembly 12 is placed in the first plate assembly 11 and the first membrane electrode 113 and the second membrane electrode 123 are connected; S4, the first anode plate 111 and the second anode plate 121 are connected and the first cathode plate 112 and the second cathode plate 122 are connected by laser welding, thereby forming a single cell 1; S5, a plurality of single cells 1 are stacked in sequence; S6, an end plate, an insulating plate and a current collecting plate are stacked; and S7, the plurality of single cells 1 stacked together are placed below the end plate, the insulating plate and the current collecting plate stacked together.

[0034] In the manufacturing method of the fuel cell of the present application, after each single cell 1 is manufactured, a plurality of single cells 1 are stacked in sequence and then assembled with an end plate, an insulating plate and a current collecting plate to form a fuel cell, thereby greatly saving the production time of the fuel cell and improving the production efficiency of the fuel cell. In addition, during the assembly of the fuel cell, the first membrane electrode 113 and the second membrane electrode 123 of each single cell 1 are not exposed, thereby reducing the cleanliness requirement of the stacking site.

[0035] In step S1, specifically comprising steps: S11, a first anode plate 111, a first cathode plate 112 and a first membrane electrode 113 are prepared and the first anode plate 111, the first cathode plate 112 and the first membrane electrode 113 are sequentially stacked; S12, the first anode plate 111, the first cathode plate 112 and the first membrane electrode 113 are connected by bonding to form the first plate assembly 11; and S13, the first plate assembly 11 is subjected to temperature rising and pressure increasing treatment to seal and connect the first anode plate 111, the first cathode plate 112 and the first membrane electrode 113.

[0036] In step S2, specifically comprising steps: S21, a second anode plate 121, a second cathode plate 122 and a second membrane electrode 123 are prepared and the second anode plate 121, the second cathode plate 122 and the second membrane electrode 123 are sequentially stacked; S22, the second anode plate 121, the second cathode plate 122 and the second membrane electrode 123 are connected by bonding to form the second plate assembly 12; and S23, the second plate assembly 12 is subjected to temperature rising and pressure increasing treatment to seal and connect the second anode plate 121, the second cathode plate 122 and the second membrane electrode 123.

[0037] In step S3, the first membrane electrode 113 and the second membrane electrode 123 are connected by a hot-pressing process, an infrared connection process, or a heat radiation connection process.

[0038] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with the aid of example without implying any limitation of the field of application and use of multiple embodiments disclosed. Changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the scope of the description or the range of equivalents to which the disclosure is entitled. The selection of the terms to be used in this disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments described herein or the scope of the claims to follow. The choice of terms is made with the understanding that the terms are to be interpreted broadly in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A single cell (1) characterized in that, The monomer battery (1) comprises a first polar plate assembly (11) and a second polar plate assembly (12) which are separately formed; The first polar plate assembly (11) comprises a first anode plate (111), a first cathode plate (112) and a first membrane electrode (113), and the first anode plate (111), the first cathode plate (112) and the first membrane electrode (113) are sequentially stacked; The second polar plate assembly (12) comprises a second anode plate (121), a second cathode plate (122) and a second membrane electrode (123), and the second anode plate (121), the second cathode plate (122) and the second membrane electrode (123) are sequentially stacked; The first anode plate (111) is connected to the second anode plate (121), the first cathode plate (112) is connected to the second cathode plate (122), and the first membrane electrode (113) is connected to the second membrane electrode (123); The first polar plate assembly (11) is formed with an opening (P), and the second polar plate assembly (12) is arranged in the opening (P) and connected to the first polar plate assembly (11).

2. A single cell (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The opening (P) is a rectangular opening, and correspondingly the second polar plate assembly (12) is a rectangular structure.

3. The monomer battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first anode plate (111) is formed with an anode plate transition area on both sides of the opening (P), the first cathode plate (112) is formed with a cathode plate transition area on both sides of the opening (P), and the first membrane electrode (113) is formed with a membrane electrode flow channel area on both sides of the opening (P); The second anode plate (121) is formed with an anode plate flow channel area, and the second cathode plate (122) is formed with a cathode plate flow channel area.

4. A single cell (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The first membrane electrode (113) and the second membrane electrode (123) are both formed by stacking a first carbon paper layer, a CCM plate and a second carbon paper layer.

5. A fuel cell comprising an end plate (2), an insulating plate (3) and a current collector plate (4) which are stacked, characterized in that, The fuel cell further comprises at least one monomer battery (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, and the monomer battery (1) is arranged on the lower side of the current collector plate (4).

6. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell, characterized by The manufacturing method for the fuel cell of claim 5, wherein the monomer battery (1) is in a plurality in quantity, and the manufacturing method comprises the steps of: Preparation of a first anode plate (111), a first cathode plate (112) and a first membrane electrode (113), and manufacturing of a first polar plate assembly (11); Preparation of a second anode plate (121), a second cathode plate (122) and a second membrane electrode (123), and manufacturing of a second polar plate assembly (12); Placing the second polar plate assembly (12) in the first polar plate assembly (11), and connecting the first membrane electrode (113) and the second membrane electrode (123); Connecting the first anode plate (111) and the second anode plate (121) and connecting the first cathode plate (112) and the second cathode plate (122) by laser welding to form a monomer battery (1); Stacking a plurality of the monomer batteries (1). Stacking the end plate, the insulating plate and the current collecting plate; Placing the plurality of single cells (1) stacked together under the end plate, the insulating plate and the current collecting plate stacked together.

7. The method of manufacturing a fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein Preparation of the first anode plate (111), the first cathode plate (112) and the first membrane electrode (113) and fabrication of the first polar plate assembly (11) include the steps of: Preparation of the first anode plate (111), the first cathode plate (112) and the first membrane electrode (113) and stacking the first anode plate (111), the first cathode plate (112) and the first membrane electrode (113) in sequence; Adhesive connection of the first anode plate (111), the first cathode plate (112) and the first membrane electrode (113) to form the first polar plate assembly (11); Temperature and pressure treatment of the first polar plate assembly (11) to seal the connection of the first anode plate (111), the first cathode plate (112) and the first membrane electrode (113).

8. The method of manufacturing a fuel cell of claim 6, wherein Preparation of the second anode plate (121), the second cathode plate (122) and the second membrane electrode (123) and fabrication of the second polar plate assembly (12) include the steps of: Preparation of the second anode plate (121), the second cathode plate (122) and the second membrane electrode (123) and stacking the second anode plate (121), the second cathode plate (122) and the second membrane electrode (123) in sequence; Adhesive connection of the second anode plate (121), the second cathode plate (122) and the second membrane electrode (123) to form the second polar plate assembly (12); Temperature and pressure treatment of the second polar plate assembly (12) to seal the connection of the second anode plate (121), the second cathode plate (122) and the second membrane electrode (123).

9. The method of manufacturing a fuel cell of claim 6, wherein The first membrane electrode (113) and the second membrane electrode (123) are connected by a hot pressing process, an infrared connection process or a heat radiation connection process.

Images