Production process of hydrogen energy battery metal pole plate

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of cable manufacturing, in particular to a production process of a hydrogen energy battery metal plate, which is processed and formed through a continuous high-speed punching production line. The continuous high-speed punching production line comprises a first station, a second station, a third station and a fourth station arranged in sequence. A preforming die is arranged in the first station and is used for primarily forming the runner shape of the metal plate. A secondary forming die is arranged in the second station and is used for forming the runner of the target height on the metal plate and the convex envelope around the runner. A punching die is arranged in the third station and is used for punching three cavity holes on the metal plate. An edge cutting die is arranged in the fourth station and is used for cutting the shape of the metal plate. A feeding mechanism is arranged at the feeding port of each station, a pulling mechanism is arranged at the discharging port of each station, a coiled material belt is conveyed by the cooperation of the feeding mechanisms and the pulling mechanisms, sequentially passes through the four stations, and the preforming, secondary forming, punching and edge cutting processes are completed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of metal electrode plate manufacturing technology for new energy batteries, and particularly to a manufacturing process for metal electrode plates for hydrogen energy batteries. Background Technology

[0002] Bipolar plates are primarily used to separate fuel and oxidant, prevent gas permeation, collect and conduct current, and have high electrical conductivity. They are widely used in automobiles, distributed power generation, and portable power supplies, and are an important component of hydrogen fuel cell engines. Therefore, optimizing the manufacturing process of bipolar plates, improving the mass production yield of bipolar plates, and reducing the stamping cost of bipolar plates are imperative.

[0003] With the upgrading of the new energy industry and the rapid development of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries are gradually being replaced by hydrogen power generation. This is because hydrogen energy is a truly clean energy source, pollution-free, and unaffected by temperature, enabling a driving range of over a thousand kilometers with just three minutes of refueling. The core component of a hydrogen fuel cell is the metal bipolar plate. Its internal flow channel shape is becoming increasingly complex, leading to higher demands and requirements for the bipolar plate. Its internal shape design is becoming more complex and diverse, and the dimensional precision of the bipolar plate is also increasing to meet the overall assembly requirements.

[0004] In existing technologies, bipolar plates, due to their complex shape, high dimensional requirements, and large forming force, are typically produced using a large-tonnage, large-table press. However, because the press table is large, the force cannot be fully distributed across the forming station requiring a large tonnage, resulting in inconsistent quality, high defect rates, and wasted production costs. Alternatively, a single-stage, step-by-step stamping method can improve forming quality, but this requires material transfer via robotic arms or other mechanisms between stages, demanding high positioning accuracy and resulting in low production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on the above problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide a manufacturing process for metal plates of hydrogen energy batteries, which improves the forming quality and production efficiency of bipolar plates.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A manufacturing process for metal electrode plates for hydrogen energy batteries involves processing and forming them using a continuous high-speed stamping production line. The continuous high-speed stamping production line includes a first station, a second station, a third station, and a fourth station arranged sequentially. The first station is equipped with a pre-forming mold for initially shaping the flow channel shape of the metal electrode plate. The second station is equipped with a secondary forming mold for forming the flow channels of the target height on the metal electrode plate and the bulges around the flow channels. The third station is equipped with a punching mold for punching out three-cavity holes on the metal electrode plate. The fourth station is equipped with a trimming mold for trimming the shape of the metal electrode plate. Each station has a feeding mechanism at its inlet and a pulling mechanism at its outlet. The rolled material is conveyed by the feeding and pulling mechanisms, passing through the four stations sequentially to complete pre-forming, secondary forming, punching, and trimming.

[0008] Specifically, a material stacking gap is left between adjacent workstations, and the feeding and pulling mechanisms of each workstation are independently controlled to compensate for the difference in processing speed between the workstations.

[0009] Specifically, each workstation's inlet and outlet are equipped with downward-curving arc-shaped material support plates.

[0010] Specifically, each station's feeding mechanism and pulling mechanism include clamps for holding the material strip. The clamps at both locations reciprocate synchronously to coordinate with the opening and closing of the corresponding mold, controlling the conveying and stopping of the material strip.

[0011] Specifically, each station's feeding and pulling mechanisms include synchronously rotating conveyor guide rollers to control the conveying and stopping of the material belt.

[0012] In summary, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: compared with the prior art, the manufacturing process of the hydrogen energy battery metal electrode plate has the following advantages:

[0013] (1) Four single-point punch presses are used in conjunction with a feeding mechanism and a pulling mechanism to complete the processing of bipolar plates at multiple stations, resulting in stable forming quality and high yield.

[0014] (2) The multi-station step-by-step continuous forming method of material strip is adopted, which eliminates the need for robotic arms or manual transfer of products, ensuring high-speed continuity in the stamping process and greatly improving production efficiency.

[0015] (3) The pre-forming and secondary forming method has carried out high-precision processing and shaping of the flow channel, which effectively solves the problems of easy cracking and deformation due to the thin material, meets the requirements of welding the top surface of the flow channel, and makes it have high electrical and thermal conductivity. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing process of the metal electrode plate for a hydrogen energy battery provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the metal electrode plate of the hydrogen energy battery provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the picture:

[0019] 100, First workstation; 200, Second workstation; 300, Third workstation; 400, Fourth workstation;

[0020] 1. Pre-forming mold; 2. Secondary forming mold; 3. Punching mold; 4. Trimming mold; 5. Feeding mechanism; 6. Pulling mechanism; 7. Stacking gap; 8. Curved support plate. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components or components having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0022] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. They can also refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature. The technical solutions of this invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown in the preferred embodiment, this process provides a manufacturing process for metal electrode plates of hydrogen energy batteries. Due to the small spacing between the multiple flow channels on the electrode plate, the complex shape of the electrode plate, the high dimensional requirements, and the use of stainless steel material with a thickness of only 0.075mm, the thickness after forming must not be less than 0.05mm. Currently, most domestic processes use single-process stamping, with robotic arms used to transfer the sheet material between processes. This stamping process not only has poor positioning accuracy but also low production efficiency (stamping speed less than 10 times / minute), which cannot meet the needs of subsequent industry development. Therefore, it needs to be improved.

[0025] The production process involves forming the material through a continuous high-speed stamping production line, which includes a first station 100, a second station 200, a third station 300, and a fourth station 400 arranged sequentially.

[0026] The first station 100 is equipped with a pre-forming mold 1, which is used to initially form the flow channel shape of the metal electrode plate. The second station 200 is equipped with a secondary forming mold 2, which is used to form the flow channel of the target height on the metal electrode plate and the bulges around the flow channel, and even the reinforcing ribs around the entire circumference of the electrode plate, waist-shaped bulges for positioning, and other structural features. In particular, the flow channel, the two forming processes ensure the forming quality of the flow channel shape, avoid cracking, deformation and other problems, meet the requirements of welding the top surface of the flow channel, and make it have high electrical and thermal conductivity.

[0027] The third station 300 is equipped with a punching die 3, which is used to punch out features such as three-cavity holes (hydrogen inlet / outlet holes, air inlet / outlet holes, coolant inlet / outlet holes) and even positioning holes on the metal electrode plate.

[0028] The fourth station 400 is equipped with a cutting mold 4, which is used to cut the shape of the metal electrode plate.

[0029] In addition, each station is equipped with a feeding mechanism 5 at the inlet and a pulling mechanism 6 at the outlet. The rolled strip is conveyed by the feeding mechanism 5 and the pulling mechanism 6 in cooperation, passing through four stations in sequence to complete pre-forming, secondary forming, punching and edge trimming.

[0030] It should be noted that, to prevent instability in the flow channel height of the entire electrode plate during forming, a separate high-tonnage small-table punch press is set up at multiple stations. This concentrates the force during electrode plate forming, stabilizes the forming force, and results in a full internal shape, which is beneficial for dimensional stability. Furthermore, although this embodiment still uses multi-stage stamping, adjacent stages are sequentially connected by the feeding mechanism 5 and the pulling mechanism 6, enabling the linkage of multiple processing dies and achieving high-speed continuous production. Depending on the punch press capacity, the fastest stamping speed can reach 125 strokes per minute.

[0031] Specifically, a material stacking gap 7 is left between each adjacent workstation, and the feeding mechanism 5 and pulling mechanism 6 of each workstation are independently controlled to compensate for the difference in processing speed between each workstation. Furthermore, each workstation's inlet and outlet are respectively equipped with a downwardly curved arc-shaped material support plate 8, the surface of which causes damage to the stacked material.

[0032] Specifically, the feeding mechanism 5 and pulling mechanism 6 at each station can include clamps for holding the material strip, with the clamps at both locations reciprocating synchronously to coordinate with the opening and closing of the corresponding mold and control the conveying and stopping of the material strip; or they can include synchronously rotating conveying guide rollers to control the conveying and stopping of the material strip. The structure of the feeding mechanism 5 and pulling mechanism 6 is not limited here, and existing mechanisms for material conveying can be used as substitutes, without further description.

[0033] Process steps:

[0034] Step 1) The material strip is fed into the pre-forming mold 1 of the first station 100 by the feeding mechanism 5 and the pulling mechanism 6, and the flow channel shape of the electrode plate is initially formed.

[0035] Step 2) The feeding mechanism 5 and the pulling mechanism 6 bring the material strip into the secondary forming mold 2 of the second station 200 to form the required flow channel height and flow channel periphery convex height on the electrode plate, and even the reinforcing ribs around the entire circumference of the electrode plate, waist-shaped convex ...

[0036] Step 3) The feeding mechanism 5 and the pulling mechanism 6 cause the material strip to enter the punching die 3 in the third station 300 to punch out the three-cavity holes, positioning holes, etc. on the electrode plate.

[0037] Step 4) The feeding mechanism 5 feeds the material strip into the cutting die 4 of the fourth station 400 to cut out the shape of the metal electrode plate and obtain the finished product.

[0038] Therefore, the production process of the above-mentioned hydrogen energy battery metal plates adopts four single-point punch presses in conjunction with the feeding mechanism and the pulling mechanism to complete the bipolar plate processing at multiple stations. Since the forming is carried out step by step on the material strip, there is no need to rely on robotic arms or manual transfer of products, which ensures high-speed continuity in the stamping process, stable forming quality, high production efficiency, and greatly reduces costs.

[0039] The above embodiments merely illustrate the basic principles and characteristics of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A manufacturing process for metal electrode plates in hydrogen fuel cells, characterized in that, The metal electrode plate is formed by continuous high-speed stamping production line. The thickness of the metal electrode plate before forming is 0.075mm. The continuous high-speed stamping production line includes a first station (100), a second station (200), a third station (300), and a fourth station (400) arranged in sequence. The first station (100) is provided with a pre-forming mold (1) for initially forming the flow channel shape of the metal electrode plate; The second station (200) is equipped with a secondary forming mold (2) for forming the flow channel of the target height on the metal electrode plate and the convex bulge around the flow channel; The third station (300) is equipped with a punching die (3) for punching out the three-cavity holes and positioning holes on the metal electrode plate; The fourth workstation (400) is equipped with a trimming mold (4) for cutting the shape of the metal electrode plate. Each station has a feeding mechanism (5) at its inlet and a pulling mechanism (6) at its outlet. The rolled strip is conveyed by the feeding mechanism (5) and the pulling mechanism (6) in cooperation, passing through four stations in sequence to complete pre-forming, secondary forming, punching and trimming. There is a material stacking gap (7) between adjacent workstations. The feeding mechanism (5) and pulling mechanism (6) of each workstation are independently controlled to compensate for the difference in processing speed of each workstation. Each station's feeding mechanism (5) and pulling mechanism (6) includes a clamp for holding the material strip. The clamps at both locations reciprocate synchronously to cooperate with the opening and closing of the corresponding mold and control the conveying and stopping of the material strip; or, each station's feeding mechanism (5) and pulling mechanism (6) includes synchronously rotating conveying guide rollers to control the conveying and stopping of the material strip.

2. The manufacturing process of the metal electrode plate for a hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each workstation has a downward-curved arc-shaped material support plate (8) at its inlet and outlet.

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