Fuel cell stack core, fuel cell stack, and fuel cell
By employing sealing components of different sizes in the fuel cell stack, static friction is used to suppress the relative displacement between the bipolar plates and the membrane electrode assembly, thus solving the stack misalignment problem and improving electrical performance and safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202310640492.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-01
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-06-01
AI Technical Summary
When the length of a fuel cell stack increases in the stacking direction, misalignment is prone to occur, affecting electrical performance and safety.
The design employs seals of different sizes, with the first seal being larger than the second seal. Both seals undergo elastic deformation under clamping force, generating static friction to suppress the relative displacement between the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode. The sealing groove further enhances the limiting effect.
It effectively avoids internal misalignment of the fuel cell stack, improves electrical performance and safety, enhances sealing, adapts to external impacts, and extends service life.
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Figure CN116505015B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a fuel cell stack core, a fuel cell stack, and a fuel cell. Background Technology
[0002] As a promising power generation technology, fuel cells convert the Gibbs free energy portion of the chemical energy in fuel into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. They offer advantages such as high power generation efficiency, low environmental pollution, high energy density, and a wide range of fuels. Hydrogen fuel cells, in particular, are power generation devices that directly convert the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, producing only water and heat, thus causing no environmental pollution.
[0003] A fuel cell stack core is typically composed of alternating bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). The stack core, along with end plates, seals, fasteners, and other components, is compressed and integrated to form the fuel cell stack. As fuel cell technology matures, the power requirements for fuel cell stacks are increasing, leading to a continuous increase in the number of stacked bipolar plates and MEAs, resulting in a greater length of the stack along the stacking direction. During the operation of a fuel cell vehicle, misalignment may occur within the stack, affecting the fuel cell's electrical performance and safety. Summary of the Invention
[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a fuel cell stack core, a fuel cell stack, and a fuel cell to address the aforementioned technical problems, so as to avoid misalignment within the stack and improve the electrical performance and safety of the fuel cell.
[0005] The first aspect of this application provides a fuel cell stack core, the stack core including: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA); a bipolar plate for supporting the MEA, the bipolar plate and the MEA being stacked sequentially along a first direction; and a sealing unit, the sealing unit including a first sealing member and a second sealing member, the first sealing member being disposed between the bipolar plate and the MEA on one side of the MEA, the second sealing member being disposed between the bipolar plate and the MEA on the other side of the MEA, the dimension of the first sealing member in the first direction being larger than the dimension of the second sealing member in the first direction.
[0006] Both the first and second sealing elements on both sides of the membrane electrode can undergo elastic deformation under the action of clamping force, pressing against the membrane electrode and the bipolar plate. Under the action of gravity or external force, the membrane electrode and the bipolar plate will tend to move relative to each other, so that static friction will be generated between the sealing unit and the membrane electrode, and between the sealing unit and the bipolar plate. The sealing unit constrains the movement of the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode through static friction.
[0007] Because the size of the first seal is larger than that of the second seal, the first seal can withstand greater external forces, which increases the static friction between the sealing unit and the bipolar plate, as well as between the sealing unit and the membrane electrode assembly. This suppresses the relative displacement between the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode assembly, prevents misalignment inside the fuel cell stack, and improves the electrical performance and safety of the fuel cell.
[0008] In one embodiment, the bipolar plate has sealing grooves at both opposite ends in a first direction, one sealing groove for accommodating a first sealing element and the other sealing groove for accommodating a second sealing element.
[0009] In one embodiment, the first seal has a dimension larger than the sealing groove in the first direction, and the second seal has a dimension smaller than the sealing groove in the first direction.
[0010] In one embodiment, the membrane electrode is provided with a groove, at least a portion of which can be accommodated in a sealing groove.
[0011] In one embodiment, the core includes a plurality of bipolar plates, one of which is configured to support the bipolar plate, with both ends of the support bipolar plate connected to a first seal in a first direction.
[0012] In one embodiment, the first seal is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode facing the supporting bipolar plate, and the second seal is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode facing away from the supporting bipolar plate.
[0013] In one embodiment, the compressive strain of the first seal is less than or equal to the compressive strain of the second seal.
[0014] In one embodiment, the hardness of the first seal is greater than or equal to the hardness of the second seal.
[0015] A second aspect of this application provides a fuel cell stack, which includes a core as described above.
[0016] In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack further includes an end plate assembly, which includes a first end plate and a second end plate, respectively disposed at opposite ends of the stack core in a first direction.
[0017] A third aspect of this application provides a fuel cell, which includes the fuel cell stack as described above. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell stack in some embodiments of this application.
[0019] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell stack core in some embodiments of this application.
[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell stack core in some embodiments of this application.
[0021] Figure 4 This is a partially exploded schematic diagram of the fuel cell stack core in some embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0022] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0023] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
[0024] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0025] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0026] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0027] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.
[0028] As a fourth-generation power generation technology, fuel cells convert part of the Gibbs free energy in the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions. They have advantages such as high power generation efficiency, no noise, and no pollution, and are given broad application prospects.
[0029] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a fuel cell stack according to some embodiments of this application is shown. The fuel cell stack 100 is the core of the fuel cell power system, the site where the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell occurs, and is used to transmit the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell to an external load. The stack 100 is used for the fuel cell to undergo electrochemical reactions to generate the required electrical energy and to collect the electrical energy. During assembly, the stack 100 needs to be compressed to form a sealed structure, so that the stack 100 structure has good airtightness and ensures the normal operation of the fuel cell.
[0030] Typically, the fuel cell stack 100 includes a core 10, a current collector assembly 20, and an endplate assembly 30. The core 10 is the site where hydrogen and oxygen undergo an electrochemical reaction, enabling the fuel cell to generate electricity. Typically, the core 10 is formed into a sealed structure by compression force to ensure the normal inflow and outflow of gases.
[0031] The current collector assembly 20 is typically located at both ends of the fuel cell stack 10 and is used to transfer the collected electrical energy from the fuel cell stack 100 to an external load. The current collector assembly 20 includes two current collectors 21 disposed opposite to each other at both ends of the fuel cell stack 10. The two current collectors 21 are located at opposite ends of the fuel cell stack 10 in the first direction S1. Typically, the current collectors 21 are plate-shaped structures and are often made of metal materials with high conductivity, such as copper plates, nickel plates, or gold-plated metal plates.
[0032] The end plate assembly 30 includes a first end plate 31 and a second end plate 32. The first end plate 31 is disposed along a first direction S1 at the end of one current collector 21 away from the core 10, and the second end plate 32 is disposed along the first direction S1 at the end of the other current collector 21 away from the core 10. The end plate assembly 30 has a certain strength and rigidity, is not damaged during the assembly of the fuel cell stack 100, and uniformly transmits the assembly force to the core 10. One of the first end plate 31 and the second end plate 32 is disposed on the anode side of the fuel cell stack 100, and the other is disposed on the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 100. Both the first end plate 31 and the second end plate 32 are provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet for the entry and exit of gas during the operation of the fuel cell stack 100 to generate electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction.
[0033] Typically, connection seals (not shown) are also provided between the first end plate 31 and the core 10, and between the second end plate 32 and the core 10. The connection seals prevent the leakage of reactant gas and coolant to the core 10, and prevent the fuel, oxidizer, and coolant from mixing with each other.
[0034] See Figures 2 to 4 , Figures 2 to 4 A schematic diagram of a fuel cell stack core according to some embodiments of this application is shown. In some embodiments, the fuel cell stack core 10 includes a membrane electrode 12, a bipolar plate 11, and a sealing unit 13. The bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12 are alternately stacked along a first direction S1 to form the stack core 10.
[0035] The membrane electrode 12 is the core component of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, serving as the site of energy conversion within the fuel cell. The membrane electrode 12 is responsible for the transport of multiphase substances within the fuel cell, such as liquid water, hydrogen, oxygen, protons, and electrons, converting the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions.
[0036] Typically, the electrode plates 11 include single-plate and bipolar plates. Single-plate 11 are disposed at both ends of the fuel cell stack 10 for gas inflow or outflow. Bipolar plates 11 play an important role in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, distributing reactant gases, conducting electrons, draining water, and transporting coolant. A bipolar plate 11 generally consists of an anode plate and a cathode plate. The anode plate has fuel flow channels to assist fuel mass transfer to the anode catalyst, and the cathode plate has oxidant flow channels to assist oxidant mass transfer to the cathode catalyst. The fuel cell outputs electrical energy through the reaction of fuel and oxidant at the anode and cathode of the membrane electrode 12.
[0037] It should be noted that the bipolar plate 11 in this application can be integrally formed from an anode plate and a cathode plate, or it can be formed by connecting an anode plate and a cathode plate together. In this case, the core 10 is formed by alternating stacking of an anode plate 11, a membrane electrode 12, and a cathode plate 11 along the first direction S1. The bipolar plates 11 disposed at opposite ends of the core 10 in the first direction S1 can be either anode plates or cathode plates individually, and are not limited to the bipolar plate 11 shown in the figure. Figure 1 In some embodiments, the anode plate 11 is connected to the first end plate 31 by a connecting seal, and the cathode plate 11 is connected to the second end plate 32 by a connecting seal.
[0038] The sealing unit 13 ensures that the reactant gas and coolant in the core 10 flow in their respective channels without mixing, and prevents leakage of the reactant gas and coolant, thus guaranteeing the safety of the fuel cell. The sealing unit 13 includes a first sealing element 131 and a second sealing element 132. The first sealing element 131 is disposed between the membrane electrode 12 and the bipolar plate 11 on one side of the membrane electrode 12 in the first direction S1. The second sealing element 132 is disposed between the membrane electrode 12 and the bipolar plate 11 on the other side of the membrane electrode 12 in the first direction S1. The dimension of the first sealing element 131 in the first direction S1 is larger than the dimension of the second sealing element 132 in the first direction S1.
[0039] The first sealing element 131 and the second sealing element 132 on both sides of the membrane electrode 12 can undergo elastic deformation under the action of clamping force, so that one end face of the first sealing element 131 abuts against the membrane electrode 12 and the other end face abuts against the bipolar plate 11, and one end face of the second sealing element 132 abuts against the membrane electrode 12 and the other end face abuts against the bipolar plate 11. The membrane electrode 12 and the bipolar plate 11 will have a tendency to move relative to each other under the action of gravity or impact force, so that static friction is generated between the sealing unit 13 and the membrane electrode 12 and between the sealing unit 13 and the bipolar plate 11. Thus, the contact surfaces of the sealing unit 13 with the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12 are constrained by static friction to restrict the movement of the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12, thereby achieving a sealing effect.
[0040] When external forces, such as the impact force on the core 10 caused by bumps, are applied, the first seal 131, being larger than the second seal 132, can withstand greater external forces, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity of the sealing unit 13. Furthermore, the first seal 131 can be further compressed under external forces, increasing the static friction between the sealing unit 13 and the bipolar plate 11, as well as between the sealing unit 13 and the membrane electrode 12. This suppresses the relative displacement between the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12, prevents misalignment within the stack 100, and improves the electrical performance and safety of the fuel cell.
[0041] See Figure 4 , Figure 4 The diagram shows a partially exploded view of the fuel cell stack core in some embodiments of this application. In some embodiments, the bipolar plate 11 has sealing grooves 111 on both opposite sides in the first direction S1, one sealing groove 111 for accommodating a first seal 131 and the other sealing groove 111 for accommodating a second seal 132.
[0042] The sealing groove 111 enables at least a portion of the first seal 131 and the second seal 132 to be accommodated in the bipolar plate 11, thereby forming a fit between the first seal 131 and the sealing groove 111 and between the second seal 132 and the sealing groove 111, enhancing the ability of the first seal 131 and the second seal 132 to restrict the relative movement of the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12.
[0043] Furthermore, the dimension of the first sealing member 131 in the first direction S1 is larger than the dimension of the sealing groove 111 in the first direction S1, and the dimension of the second sealing member 132 in the first direction S1 is smaller than the dimension of the sealing groove 111 in the first direction S1. After the core 10 is compressed under the action of the clamping force, at least part of the first sealing member 131 can be pressed into the sealing groove 111 where the second sealing member 132 is located, so that the first sealing member 131 can cooperate with the sealing grooves 111 provided on both sides of the membrane electrode 12, further limiting the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12 in various directions and suppressing the relative displacement between the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12.
[0044] To avoid damage to the membrane electrode 12, which could affect the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell stack 100, in some embodiments, the membrane electrode 12 is provided with a groove 121, at least a portion of which can be accommodated in the sealing groove 111. The groove 121 can be located close to the periphery of the membrane electrode 12 to minimize damage to the membrane electrode 12.
[0045] In a feasible embodiment, a frame is provided on the periphery of the membrane electrode 12 to protect it. The frame keeps the membrane electrode 12 taut, and the sealing unit 13 can be combined with the frame to prevent leakage of reactant gas and coolant. A groove 121 can be provided on the frame. During stacking, the frame contacts the sealing unit 13, preventing deformation and damage to the membrane electrode 12 during stacking, thus ensuring normal use of the membrane electrode 12. At the same time, at least part of the groove 121 can be accommodated in the sealing groove 111, which can assist in positioning the bipolar plate 11 and membrane electrode 12 during stacking of the fuel cell stack 10, which is beneficial for the assembly of the fuel cell stack 100 and improves the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the fuel cell stack 100.
[0046] Under the action of clamping force, the first sealing member 131 can press the membrane electrode 12 into the sealing groove 111 where the second sealing member 132 is located through the groove 121 of the membrane electrode 12. This results in a good sealing fit between the first sealing member 131, the membrane electrode 12, the second sealing member 132, and the bipolar plate 11, enhancing the restraint of the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12. This enables the fabrication of a high-power-density fuel cell 10 with a large stack size. During the operation of the fuel cell vehicle, relative displacement between the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12 of the fuel cell stack 100 is prevented due to vehicle vibration, ensuring the electrical performance and safety of the fuel cell.
[0047] In a feasible embodiment, the frame of the membrane electrode 12 can be configured as a through hole at the position corresponding to the sealing groove 111, so that the first seal 131 can be pressed into the sealing groove 111 where the second seal 132 is located through the through hole, thereby further limiting the distance between the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12.
[0048] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 The reactor core 10 includes multiple electrode plates 11, one of which is configured as a supporting bipolar plate 11. Both ends of the supporting bipolar plate 11 in the first direction S1 are first seals 131. Typically, the supporting bipolar plate 11 provides primary support for the reactor stack 100. The presence of first seals 131 on both sides of the supporting bipolar plate 11 allows for greater support of the portion most severely affected by gravity or impact forces perpendicular to the first direction S1, and transmits the force to both sides of the reactor core 10, enhancing the overall strength and reliability of the reactor core 10. Optionally, the bipolar plate 11 located in the center of the reactor core 10 is configured as a supporting bipolar plate 11.
[0049] Furthermore, the first sealing member 131 is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode 12 facing the supporting electrode plate 11, and the second sealing member 132 is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode 12 facing away from the supporting electrode plate 11, so that different membrane electrodes 12 can be subjected to the action of the first sealing member 131 and the second sealing member 132, so that each membrane electrode 12 and its adjacent bipolar plate 11 are well limited, and the relative position between the membrane electrode 12 and the bipolar plate 11 is reduced.
[0050] In some embodiments, the compressive strain of the first seal 131 is less than or equal to the compressive strain of the second seal 132. That is, under pressure, the dimensional reduction of the first seal 131 is always less than the dimensional reduction of the second seal 132. This ensures that during long-term use, the dimension of the first seal 131 in the first direction S1 is always greater than the dimension of the second seal 132 in the first direction S1, so that the first seal 131 and the second seal 132 can always cooperate, providing good containment between the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12, and ensuring the long-term normal operation of the fuel cell. Optionally, the compressive stress strain of the first seal 131 and the second seal 132 after 24 hours should be less than or equal to 5%, and the compressive stress strain of the first seal 131 and the second seal 132 after 1000 hours should be less than or equal to 35%. This range can ensure the long-term normal operation of the first seal 131 and the second seal 132.
[0051] In some embodiments, the hardness of the first seal 131 is greater than or equal to the hardness of the second seal 132. Because of the higher hardness, the first seal 131 experiences less compression during the stacking of the electrode stack 100, and the first seal 131 experiences less shear force when the electrode stack 100 is subjected to impact, thereby maintaining good sealing between the membrane electrode 12 and the bipolar plate 11. Optionally, the Shore hardness of the first seal 131 is in the range of 50-60 degrees, and the Shore hardness of the second seal 132 is in the range of 35-60 degrees. This range allows both the first seal 131 and the second seal 132 to possess good elastic deformation capabilities.
[0052] Typically, the material of the first seal 131 can be silicone rubber or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and the material of the second seal 132 can be one or more of silicone rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), polyisobutylene (PIB), and fluorosilicone rubber.
[0053] In some embodiments, the sealing unit 13 is integrated with the bipolar plate 11 to form a bipolar plate 11 with a sealing function. The first sealing element 131 and the second sealing element 132 are formed in situ within the sealing groove 111 of the bipolar plate 11 through a certain molding process. Depending on the molding method, this can be divided into dispensing and injection molding; depending on the curing method of the sealing material, it can be divided into hot-press curing, cold-press curing, and ultraviolet curing. Integrated sealing is easy to assemble and suitable for mass production. In feasible embodiments, the first sealing element 131 and the second sealing element 132 are made into a sealing unit 13 that matches the structure and size of the bipolar plate 11 by molding or other methods. During assembly, the independent first sealing element 131 and the second sealing element 132 are fixed to the bipolar plate 11 using adhesive. It should be noted that the first sealing element 131 and the second sealing element 132 can also be integrated into the groove 121 of the membrane electrode 12 or fixed separately to the groove 121 of the membrane electrode 12. Using the first sealing element 131 and the second sealing element 132 separately facilitates subsequent maintenance and replacement in case of failure.
[0054] In some embodiments, the core 10 includes a first stacking assembly, a support assembly, and a second stacking assembly. The first stacking assembly is connected to a first end plate 31, and the second stacking assembly is connected to a second end plate 32. The first stacking assembly, the support assembly, and the second stacking assembly are sequentially connected in a first direction S1. The first stacking assembly is formed by sequentially stacking a bipolar plate 11, a second seal 132, a membrane electrode 12, and a first seal 131 along the first direction S1. The support assembly is formed by supporting the bipolar plate 11. The second stacking assembly is formed by sequentially stacking the first seal 131, the membrane electrode 12, the second seal 132, and the bipolar plate 11 along the first direction S1. Specifically, in the first stacking assembly, the first seal 131 is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode 12 facing the supporting bipolar plate 11, and the second seal 132 is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode 12 facing the first end plate 31. In the second stacking assembly, the first seal 131 is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode 12 facing the supporting bipolar plate 11, and the second seal 132 is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode 12 facing the second end plate 32.
[0055] Specifically, the bipolar plate 11 is disposed in the middle of the core 10 in the first direction S1. When the core 10 has an even number of film electrodes 12, the number of bipolar plates 11 in the first stacking assembly and the second stacking assembly is the same. When the core 10 has an odd number of film electrodes 12, the first stacking assembly has one more bipolar plate 11 than the second stacking assembly, or the second stacking assembly has one more bipolar plate 11 than the first stacking assembly.
[0056] During the assembly of the fuel cell stack 100, the first end plate 31 and one of the current collectors 121 are first placed in the fuel cell stack 100 assembly equipment. Then, the bipolar plate 11, the second seal 132, the membrane electrode 12, and the first seal 131 in the first stack assembly are sequentially stacked in the fuel cell stack 100 assembly equipment along the first direction S1. The bipolar plate 11 is then placed. Next, the first seal 131, the membrane electrode 12, the second seal 132, and the bipolar plate 11 in the second stack assembly are sequentially stacked in the fuel cell stack 100 assembly equipment along the first direction S1. Finally, another current collector 121 and the second end plate 32 are placed, and the fuel cell stack 100 is press-fitted under the action of clamping force.
[0057] In this application, the core 10 first presses the first sealing member 131 into the groove 121 of the membrane electrode 12, and then presses the groove 121 of the membrane electrode 12 into the sealing groove 111 where the second sealing member 132 is located. On the one hand, this achieves the positioning between the membrane electrode 12 and the bipolar plate 11. On the other hand, after assembly, the first sealing member 131 can be configured in the sealing grooves 111 on both sides of the membrane electrode 12, so that a good sealing effect is formed between the sealing unit 13, the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12. Furthermore, the first sealing member 131, together with the second sealing member 132, limits the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12, so as to realize the assembly of a larger length of fuel cell stack 100. During use, such as when the vehicle is bumpy, it avoids the relative displacement between the bipolar plate 11 and the membrane electrode 12, thereby improving the electrical performance and safety of the fuel cell stack 100. Furthermore, first seals 131 are provided on both sides of the supporting bipolar plate 11, so that the middle part of the core 10, which is most severely affected by gravity or impact in the vertical stacking direction, can obtain the maximum support and transmit the force to both sides of the fuel cell stack 100, thereby enhancing the overall reliability of the fuel cell stack 100.
[0058] As part of the same concept of this application, a fuel cell is also provided, which includes a fuel cell stack 100, wherein the fuel cell stack 100 is the fuel cell stack 100 as described in the above embodiments.
[0059] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0060] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A fuel cell stack core, characterized in that, The core includes: Membrane electrode; Bipolar plates, used to support the membrane electrode, are stacked sequentially with the membrane electrode along a first direction; and A sealing unit, comprising a first sealing element and a second sealing element, wherein the first sealing element is disposed between the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode on one side of the membrane electrode, and the second sealing element is disposed between the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode on the other side of the membrane electrode, wherein the dimension of the first sealing element in the first direction is greater than the dimension of the second sealing element in the first direction; The bipolar plate has sealing grooves at both opposite ends in the first direction. The size of the first sealing member in the first direction is larger than the size of the sealing groove in the first direction, and the size of the second sealing member in the first direction is smaller than the size of the sealing groove in the first direction. The membrane electrode has a groove. The first sealing member can press the membrane electrode into the sealing groove where the second sealing member is located by means of the groove, so that a sealing fit is formed between the first sealing member, the membrane electrode, the second sealing member and the bipolar plate, and the bipolar plate and the membrane electrode are limited.
2. The reactor core according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the groove can be accommodated in the sealing groove.
3. The reactor core according to claim 1, characterized in that, The core includes a plurality of bipolar plates, one of which is configured as a support bipolar plate, and both ends of the support bipolar plate are connected to the first seal in the first direction.
4. The reactor core according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first sealing element is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode facing the supporting bipolar plate, and the second sealing element is disposed on the side of the membrane electrode facing away from the supporting bipolar plate.
5. The reactor core according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The compressive strain of the first seal is less than or equal to the compressive strain of the second seal.
6. The reactor core according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The hardness of the first seal is greater than or equal to the hardness of the second seal.
7. A fuel cell stack, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack includes the core as described in any one of claims 1-6.
8. A fuel cell, characterized in that, The fuel cell includes the fuel cell stack as described in claim 7.
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