Stack module box connected to multiple medium guides leading to the stack module box, fuel cell device, and fuel cell vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stack module box having a fuel cell stack accommodated therein and having at least one fuel cell, the stack module box being connected to a plurality of medium guides leading to the stack module box, from which medium can be discharged to the stack module box or received from the stack module box, wherein at least two of the medium guides have electrically conductive areas for conducting current away from the fuel cell stack, and / or the wall of the stack module box is electrically conductive in areas opposite the medium guides, and wherein connecting lines are led from the fuel cell stack to the electrically conductive areas and away from these areas. The present invention also relates to a fuel cell device and a fuel cell vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stack module box having a fuel cell stack accommodated therein and having at least one fuel cell, the stack module box being connected to a plurality of medium guides leading to the stack module box, from which medium can be discharged to the stack module box or received from the stack module box, wherein at least two of the medium guides have electrically conductive areas for conducting current away from the fuel cell stack, and / or the wall of the stack module box is electrically conductive in areas opposite the medium guides, and wherein connecting lines are led from the fuel cell stack to the electrically conductive areas and away from these areas. The present invention also relates to a fuel cell device and a fuel cell vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Fuel cells are used to generate electrical energy in a chemical reaction between a hydrogen-containing fuel and an oxygen-containing oxidant (usually air). In a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), the electrolyte layer is composed of a solid material (e.g., ceramic yttrium-doped zirconium dioxide), which is named after it and is able to conduct oxygen ions but not electrons. The electrolyte layer is housed between two electrode layers, a cathode layer supplied with air and an anode layer supplied with fuel, which can be formed from H2, CO, CH4 or similar hydrocarbons. If air is introduced into the electrolyte layer through the cathode layer, the oxygen gas receives two electrons, and the oxygen ions O formed are converted into oxygen ions. 2- The oxygen ions move through the electrolyte layer to the anode layer, where they react with the fuel to form water and CO2. On the cathode side, the following reaction occurs: 1 / 2O2 + 2e - →2O 2- (reduction / electron acceptance). The following reaction occurs on the anode side: H2 + O 2- →H2O+2e - and CO+O 2- →CO2+2e - (oxidation / electron release).

[0003] In order to increase the electrical power provided by the fuel cell arrangement, there is the possibility of combining a plurality of fuel cells into a fuel cell stack provided in a stack module box, for which purpose an adequate supply of reactants must be ensured, which are supplied to the fuel cell stack via a medium guide and to the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack.

[0004] KR 20050070724 A shows a fuel cell that can deliver methanol at a uniform concentration to an electrode. The fuel cell comprises a cylindrical fuel supply tube with multiple openings at the outer periphery for discharging fuel, and a cylindrical air supply tube with multiple openings for discharging air. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is placed between the two tubes. A tubular current collector is placed between the MEA and the tubes. KR 100738308 B1 discloses a solid oxide fuel cell having a cylindrical structure and a centrally arranged fuel supply tube; a metal fabric is arranged between the fuel supply tube and the anode. A wire is wound around the cathode for current extraction. US 2006 / 0194099 A1 describes a flexible fuel cell in which the anode current collector layer serves as a medium guide for the air supply. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is directed to providing a stack module case having a compact structure and connected to a plurality of medium guides leading to the stack module case. It is also directed to using these medium guides as current conductors to prevent unnecessary heat dissipation from the stack module case, and to providing an improved fuel cell device and an improved fuel cell vehicle.

[0006] This object is achieved by a stack module case according to the invention connected to a plurality of medium guides leading to the stack module case, a fuel cell device according to the invention, and a fuel cell vehicle according to the invention.

[0007] The stack module box according to the present invention, which is connected to multiple media guides leading to the stack module box, is characterized by the fact that by assigning additional functions to the media guides and / or, in particular, to the electrically conductive walls, a smaller number of components is sufficient. This saves on additional components or lines and creates a desired compact design. The media guides leading away from the stack module box are therefore used to conduct the current, which can then be directed to remote areas without additional components. This results in less thermal mass and less heat dissipation, which is particularly important for solid oxide fuel cells that must operate at high temperatures. This reduction in components reduces system complexity and simplifies assembly.

[0008] In particular, it is also possible here to contact an electrically conductive region of the wall with an electrically conductive region of an opposite medium-conducting part, ie, only connecting lines need to be guided from the fuel cell stack to the wall, which establishes electrical contact with the medium-conducting part.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferred that the clamping device of the clamping system is guided around the medium guide and that the clamping device consists of at least two electrically conductive segments that are electrically insulated from one another and rest against the electrically conductive medium guide. Thus, the clamping device can also be used to transfer current that has already been guided out of the fuel cell stack via the wall or the medium guide, thus providing various spatial options for ultimately dissipating the current. The insulation of the segments hereby enables contacting of the two electrodes using the clamping device.

[0010] It is also advantageous if the distribution structures of the medium guides and / or the stack module boxes have an elastic function in order to assign further functions to them.

[0011] In this case, there is the possibility of guiding the clamping means in the circumferential direction of the stack module box around four medium guides.

[0012] Alternatively, the design can also be such that the clamping means are guided in both longitudinal directions in the medium guide around the stack module box, wherein the stack module box can be arranged multiple times in an arrangement corresponding to the extent of the clamping means.

[0013] The advantages and effects described above also apply to a fuel cell system having a stack module box of the above-described type connected to a plurality of medium guides leading to the stack module box, and a fuel cell vehicle having such a fuel cell system.

[0014] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown individually in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or individually without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following embodiments are also to be considered as included and disclosed by the present invention, which are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures but are inferred and can be generated from the individual feature combinations in the explained embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further advantages, features and details of the present invention are apparent from the description, the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cross section through a stack module box is shown, wherein the current is conducted via a medium guide.

[0017] Figure 2 Shown with Figure 1 The corresponding diagram, in which the walls of the stacked module boxes are included in the current lead-out,

[0018] Figure 3 Shown with Figure 1 The corresponding diagram shows that the current is drawn only through the wall of the stack module box.

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a cross section through a stack module cassette is shown, wherein a tensioning system applies a tensioning force via clamping means, wherein the current is conducted via the media guide and the clamping system,

[0020] Figure 5 Shown with Figure 4 The corresponding diagram shows the tension and Figure 4 Compared with the increase,

[0021] Figure 6 Shown with Figure 1 A corresponding embodiment, in which all media guides are loaded via a clamping system,

[0022] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 Schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0023] Figure 8 Shown with Figure 7 A corresponding diagram of another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack 1 having a plurality of fuel cells 2 preferably connected in series. The fuel cell system can be part of a fuel cell vehicle (not shown in detail), for example. The fuel cells 2 can also be formed in particular by solid oxide fuel cells.

[0025] Each fuel cell 2 includes an anode and a cathode, and an ion-conducting membrane separating the anode from the cathode. Fuel (e.g., hydrogen) is supplied from a gas pressure accumulator to the anode via an anode supply line through the anode chamber within the fuel cell stack 1. Cathode gas (e.g., oxygen or oxygen-containing air) can be supplied to the cathode via a cathode supply line through the cathode chamber within the fuel cell stack 1. The fuel cell device may also include a coolant circuit for regulating the temperature of the fuel cell stack 1.

[0026] Fuel, cathode gas and, if necessary, coolant must be introduced into the fuel cell stack 1 and discharged again from it, for which purpose the media guides 3 are used.

[0027] exist Figure 1 , a highly simplified illustration of a fuel cell stack 1 is shown, which is accommodated in a stack module box 4. The reactants, namely the fuel and the oxidant, are supplied to the stack module box 4 via a medium guide 3 and distributed to the electrodes via a distribution structure 5 in the stack module box 4.

[0028] A tensioning system 6 is guided around the stack module box 4, wherein the clamping means 7 of the tensioning system surround the distribution structure 5 formed by the gas channels on the outside and performing a spring function, wherein the Figure 4 and Figure 5 The spring action is shown in FIG as a response to the clamping force indicated by arrow 8 .

[0029] The stack module box 4 with at least one fuel cell, in particular a solid oxide fuel cell, accommodated therein is therefore connected to a plurality of medium guides 3 leading to the stack module box 4, from which medium can be discharged to the stack module box 4 or received from the stack module box 4. Figure 1 In the embodiment, two of the medium-conducting parts 3 have electrically conductive regions or are made entirely of an electrically conductive material in order to conduct current away from the fuel cell stack 1 .

[0030] Figure 3 The wall 9 of the stack module case 4 is shown to be electrically conductive, in the illustrated embodiment in the region opposite the medium guide 3. Connecting lines 10 lead from the fuel cell stack 1 to the medium guide 3 and / or the electrically conductive region of the wall 9 and away from these regions.

[0031] Figure 2 An embodiment is shown in which an electrically conductive region of the wall 9 is in contact with an electrically conductive region of the opposite medium guide 3 .

[0032] Figure 4 Combine Figure 5 An embodiment is described in which a clamping means 7 of a tensioning system 6 is guided around a medium guide 3, wherein the clamping means 7 consists of at least two electrically conductive sections 11, 12, which are electrically insulated from one another and rest against the electrically conductive medium guide 3. In this case, the distribution structure 5 of the medium guide 3 and / or the stack module box 4 additionally has a spring function.

[0033] In the embodiments discussed above, the current is drawn from the stack module case 4 via the already existing structures required for operation, thereby reducing the complexity of the stack module case 4 while enabling the supply of current to remote areas. Due to the characteristics of direct current, it should be noted that separate current conduction is provided from the two electrodes, thereby providing insulating (i.e., non-conductive) areas in the wall 9 of the stack module case 4 and the clamping means 7.

[0034] Figure 6 and Figure 7 It is shown that the clamping means 7 is guided around the four medium guides 3 in the circumferential direction of the stack module cassette 4, while Figure 8 The possibility of guiding the clamping means 7 in both longitudinal directions in the medium guide 3 around the stack module cassette 4 is mentioned, which is particularly suitable if the stack module cassette 4 is arranged multiple times in an arrangement corresponding to the extent of the clamping means 7 .

[0035] Reference Signs List

[0036] 1. Fuel cell stack

[0037] 2 Fuel Cells

[0038] 3 Media guide

[0039] 4 stack module boxes

[0040] 5 Allocation Structure

[0041] 6 Tensioning system

[0042] 7 Clamping device

[0043] 8 arrows

[0044] 9 wall

[0045] 10 Connecting pipelines

[0046] 11 sections

[0047] 12 segments.

Claims

1. A stack module box (4) having a fuel cell stack (1) with at least one fuel cell (2) accommodated therein, the stack module box being connected to a plurality of medium guides (3) leading to the stack module box (4), from which a medium can be output to the stack module box (4) or received from the stack module box (4), wherein: At least two of the medium guides (3) have electrically conductive areas for conducting current out of the fuel cell stack (1), and connecting lines (10) are led from the fuel cell stack (1) to the electrically conductive areas and away from them.

2. The stack module box (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that The wall (9) of the stack module box (4) is electrically conductive in a region opposite the medium guide (3).

3. The stack module box (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that The electrically conductive region of the wall (9) is in contact with the electrically conductive region of the opposite medium guide (3).

4. The stack module box (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that A clamping element (7) of a tensioning system (6) is guided around the medium guide (3) and consists of at least two electrically conductive sections (11, 12) that are electrically insulated from one another and rest against the conductive medium guide (3).

5. The stack module box (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The medium guide (3) and / or the distribution structure (5) of the stack module box (4) have an elastic function.

6. The stack module box (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that The clamping means (7) is guided around four medium guides (3) in the circumferential direction of the stack module box (4).

7. The stack module box (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that The clamping means (7) are guided in the longitudinal direction of two of the media guides (3) around the stack module box (4).

8. The stack module box (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that The stack module boxes (4) are arranged multiple times in an arrangement corresponding to the extent of the clamping means (7).

9. A fuel cell device comprising a stack module case (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10 . A fuel cell vehicle comprising the fuel cell device according to claim 9 .

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