Fuel cell and power consuming device

Abstract

The application relates to a fuel cell and an electric device, the fuel cell comprising a plurality of stack assemblies arranged in a first direction, a first end plate and a second end plate of the stack assembly being arranged on two sides of a stack unit in a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction, one side of the first end plate in the first direction being provided with a first connecting terminal, the first connecting terminal being electrically connected with a positive electrode of the stack unit, the other side of the second end plate in the first direction being provided with a second connecting terminal matched with the first connecting terminal, the second connecting terminal being electrically connected with a negative electrode of the stack unit; in any two adjacent stack assemblies, the two adjacent stack assemblies are electrically connected through the first connecting terminal in one of the stack assemblies and the second connecting terminal in the other stack assembly. The fuel cell of the application does not need to additionally arrange a copper bar, so that the space inside the fuel cell is not additionally occupied, and the output power of the whole fuel cell is further improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of secondary battery technology, and in particular to fuel cells and electrical devices. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell is an energy conversion device that converts the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy. Due to its cleanliness and high efficiency, it has been widely used in many fields. Since the output power of a single fuel cell stack is limited, multi-stack fuel cells will become the mainstream for future applications in order to increase the output power of fuel cells.

[0003] In multi-stack fuel cells based on related technologies, the series connection between the positive and negative electrodes of multiple stacks requires the use of external copper busbars. Given the large current values ​​in high-power stacks, the required copper busbars are also large, necessitating the creation of wiring and fixing space on the front or side of the stacks. This additional space occupies internal space within the fuel cell, hindering further improvements in the overall output power of the fuel cell. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a fuel cell and power supply device to address the problem that in multi-stack assembled fuel cells, the series connection between the positive and negative electrodes of multiple stacks requires the use of external copper busbars, which occupies additional space inside the fuel cell and is not conducive to further improving the overall output power of the fuel cell.

[0005] According to one aspect of this application, an embodiment of this application provides a fuel cell, including: a plurality of stack assemblies stacked along a first direction, each stack assembly including a stack unit, a first end plate, and a second end plate. The first end plate and the second end plate are respectively disposed on both sides of the stack unit in a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction. The first end plate has a first connection terminal on one side in the first direction, the first connection terminal being electrically connected to the positive electrode of the stack unit. The second end plate has a second connection terminal on the other side in the first direction that matches the first connection terminal, the second connection terminal being electrically connected to the negative electrode of the stack unit. In any two adjacent stack assemblies, the first end plate of one stack assembly and the second end plate of the other stack assembly are located on the same side in the second direction, and the two adjacent stack assemblies are electrically connected by the first connection terminal in one stack assembly to the second connection terminal in the other stack assembly.

[0006] In one embodiment, the first connecting terminal includes a protrusion that protrudes in a first direction away from the center of the first end plate; the second connecting terminal includes a recess that is recessed in a first direction toward the center of the second end plate; the protrusion and the recess are configured to engage with each other.

[0007] In one embodiment, both the protrusion and the groove are in the shape of a truncated cone, cylinder, cuboid, parallelepiped, pyramid, truncated prism, hemisphere, or spherical cap.

[0008] In one embodiment, the projection outline of the first connecting terminal on the surface of the first end plate along the first direction is a centrally symmetrical figure, and its center of symmetry coincides with the center of the surface of the first end plate; the projection outline of the second connecting terminal on the surface of the second end plate along the first direction is a centrally symmetrical figure, and its center of symmetry coincides with the center of the surface of the second end plate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the minimum distance between the projection profile of the first connecting terminal on the surface of the first end plate along the first direction and the boundary of the first end plate surface is L1, where L1 ≥ 2 mm; the minimum distance between the projection profile of the second connecting terminal on the surface of the second end plate along the first direction and the boundary of the second end plate surface is L2, where L2 ≥ 2 mm.

[0010] In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack unit includes mutually independent coolant inlet channels, air inlet channels, hydrogen inlet channels, coolant outlet channels, air outlet channels, and hydrogen outlet channels; the first end plate is provided with a first coolant inlet, a first air inlet, a first hydrogen inlet, a first coolant outlet, a first air outlet, and a first hydrogen outlet corresponding to the fuel cell stack unit; the second end plate is provided with a second coolant inlet, a second air inlet, a second hydrogen inlet, a second coolant outlet, a second air outlet, and a second hydrogen outlet corresponding to the fuel cell stack unit.

[0011] In one embodiment, the positions of the first coolant inlet, the first air inlet, the first hydrogen inlet, the first coolant outlet, the first air outlet, and the first hydrogen outlet on the first end plate on the same side of the second end plate in the second direction correspond one-to-one with the positions of the second coolant inlet, the second air inlet, the second hydrogen inlet, the second coolant outlet, the second air outlet, and the second hydrogen outlet on the second end plate.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first end plate and the second end plate are made of a polymer.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first and second connecting terminals are made of copper.

[0014] According to another aspect of this application, embodiments of this application also provide an electrical device, including: a fuel cell as described above, the fuel cell being used to provide electrical energy.

[0015] The aforementioned fuel cell and power supply device, by providing a first connection terminal electrically connected to the positive electrode of the fuel cell unit on one side of the first end plate in the first direction, and providing a second connection terminal electrically connected to the negative electrode of the fuel cell unit on the other side of the second end plate in the first direction, and the second connection terminal matching the first connection terminal, can achieve series connection between two adjacent fuel cell stack components by means of the first connection terminal in one fuel cell stack component and the second connection terminal in another fuel cell stack component, without the need for additional copper busbars, and thus will not occupy additional space inside the fuel cell, thereby helping to further improve the overall output power of the fuel cell. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fuel cell provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first connection terminal on the first end plate of a fuel cell provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second connection terminal on the second end plate of a fuel cell provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell provided in one embodiment of this application from a viewpoint in a second direction.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell provided in one embodiment of this application from another perspective in a second direction.

[0022] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows:

[0023] 10: Fuel cells;

[0024] 100: Fuel cell stack assembly;

[0025] 110: Fuel cell stack unit; 111: Coolant inlet channel; 112: Air inlet channel; 113: Hydrogen inlet channel; 114: Coolant outlet channel; 115: Air outlet channel; 116: Hydrogen outlet channel.

[0026] 120: First end plate; 121: First coolant inlet; 122: First air inlet; 123: First hydrogen inlet; 124: First coolant outlet; 125: First air outlet; 126: First hydrogen outlet; 127: First connecting terminal.

[0027] 130: Second end plate; 131: Second coolant inlet; 132: Second air inlet; 133: Second hydrogen inlet; 134: Second coolant outlet; 135: Second air outlet; 136: Second hydrogen outlet; 137: Second connection terminal.

[0028] y: First direction, x: Second direction. Detailed Implementation

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fuel cell 10 provided in one embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fuel cell stack assembly 100 in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Please see Figures 1 to 2This application provides a fuel cell 10, which includes a plurality of stack assemblies 100 stacked along a first direction y. The fuel cell stack assembly 100 includes a fuel cell unit 110, a first end plate 120, and a second end plate 130. The first end plate 120 and the second end plate 130 are respectively disposed on both sides of the fuel cell unit 110 in a second direction x, which intersects with the first direction y. The first end plate 120 has a first connection terminal 127 on one side in the first direction y, which is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the fuel cell unit 110. The second end plate 130 has a second connection terminal 137 on the other side in the first direction y, which matches the first connection terminal 127 and is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the fuel cell unit 110. In any two adjacent fuel cell stack assemblies 100, the first end plate 120 of one fuel cell stack assembly 100 and the second end plate 130 of the other fuel cell stack assembly 100 are located on the same side in the second direction x, and the two adjacent fuel cell stack assemblies 100 are electrically connected by the first connection terminal 127 in one fuel cell stack assembly 100 and the second connection terminal 137 in the other fuel cell stack assembly 100.

[0037] To increase the output power of the fuel cell 10, the fuel cell 10 includes multiple stacked fuel cell assembly 100s, and the sum of the output power of all fuel cell assembly 100s is the overall output power of the fuel cell 10. The specific number of fuel cell assembly 100s can be determined based on the required output power and is not limited here. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the fuel cell 10 includes three stacked fuel cell assemblies 100. The plurality of fuel cell stack assemblies 100 are stacked along a first direction y. Exemplarily, the first direction y may be... Figure 1 In other embodiments, the first direction y can be other directions that can be flexibly set according to different usage requirements.

[0038] The fuel cell stack assembly 100 typically includes multiple bipolar plates and membrane electrodes stacked on top of each other. A first end plate 120 and a second end plate 130 are disposed on both sides of the fuel cell stack unit 110 for fastening. The output power of the fuel cell stack unit 110 is determined by the current density and number of bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies. A higher current density results in a higher output current, and a greater number of stacked membrane electrodes and bipolar plates results in a higher voltage and consequently, a higher stack output power. The first end plate 120 and the second end plate 130 are respectively disposed on both sides of the fuel cell stack unit 110 in a second direction x. The second direction x intersects the first direction y, meaning it is not parallel to the first direction y. The angle between them can be acute, right, or obtuse. For example, the second direction x can be... Figure 1In other embodiments, the second direction x can be any other direction that can be flexibly set according to different usage requirements, as long as it intersects with the first direction y.

[0039] The first end plate 120 has a first connection terminal 127 on one side in the first direction y, and the first connection terminal 127 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the fuel cell unit 110. The first connection terminal 127 is located on one side of the first end plate 120 in the first direction y, such as... Figure 2 As shown, by way of example, a first connection terminal 127 is provided on the upper side of the first end plate 120. The specific shape, structure, size and position of the first connection terminal 127 on the upper side of the first end plate 120 are not limited. That is, the first end plate 120 is electrically insulating and the first connection terminal 127 is conductive. In this way, it is convenient to lead out the positive terminal of the fuel cell unit 110 through the first connection terminal 127, so that the first end plate 120 can be used as the positive terminal plate of the fuel cell unit 110.

[0040] The second end plate 130 has a second connection terminal 137 on the other side of the first direction y, which matches the first connection terminal 127. The second connection terminal 137 is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the fuel cell unit 110. The second connection terminal 137 is located on the other side of the second end plate 130 in the first direction y, such as... Figure 2 As shown, by way of example, a second connection terminal 137 is provided on the lower side of the second end plate 130. The specific shape, structure, size and position of the second connection terminal 137 on the lower side of the second end plate 130 are not limited. That is, the second end plate 130 is electrically insulating and the second connection terminal 137 is conductive. In this way, it is convenient to lead out the negative terminal of the fuel cell unit 110 through the second connection terminal 137, so that the second end plate 130 can be used as the negative terminal plate of the fuel cell unit 110.

[0041] Please continue reading. Figure 1Multiple stack assemblies 100 are stacked along a first direction y of the fuel cell 10. In any two adjacent stack assemblies 100, the first end plate 120 of one stack assembly 100 and the second end plate 130 of the other stack assembly 100 are located on the same side along the second direction x. That is, after stacking the two stack assemblies 100 along the first direction y, the first end plate 120 of the stack assembly 100 located above the first direction y is stacked on the second end plate 130 of the stack assembly 100 located below the first direction y, and the second end plate 130 of the stack assembly 100 located above the first direction y is stacked on the first end plate 120 of the stack assembly 100 located below the first direction y. Thus, the two stack assemblies 100 have a pair of mating first connection terminals 127 and second connection terminals 137. With the help of these two terminals, the two stack assemblies 100 can achieve an electrical connection between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby connecting the two stack assemblies 100 in series.

[0042] In this embodiment of the fuel cell 10, a first connection terminal 127 electrically connected to the positive electrode of the stack unit 110 is provided on one side of the first end plate 120 in the first direction y, and a second connection terminal 137 electrically connected to the negative electrode of the stack unit 110 is provided on the other side of the second end plate 130 in the first direction y. The second connection terminal 137 matches the first connection terminal 127. In this way, among the multiple stack components 100 stacked in the first direction y, two adjacent stack components 100 can be electrically connected to each other by means of the first connection terminal 127 in one stack component 100 and the second connection terminal 137 in another stack component 100, so as to realize the series connection of the two stack components 100 without the need to set up additional copper busbars, and thus will not occupy additional space inside the fuel cell 10, which is conducive to further improving the overall output power of the fuel cell 10.

[0043] The specific structures of the first connecting terminal 127 and the second connecting terminal 137 are not limited. For example, they can be connecting posts, connecting blocks, etc. In some embodiments, the first connecting terminal 127 may optionally include a protrusion protruding in a first direction y from the center of the first end plate 120. In this case, in order to facilitate the cooperation with the first connecting terminal 127, the second connecting terminal 137 includes a groove recessed in a first direction y towards the center of the second end plate 130. The protrusion and the groove are configured to engage with each other, that is, the protrusion can penetrate into the groove to engage with the groove.

[0044] Depending on their cross-sectional shape, protrusions and grooves can take on different shapes. In some embodiments, optionally, both protrusions and grooves can be shaped like a truncated cone, cylinder, cuboid, parallelepiped, pyramid, truncated prism, hemisphere, or spherical cap. A truncated cone, also called a frustum or truncated cone, refers to the cone portion between the cross-section and the base, formed by a plane that cuts through a cone but does not pass through its vertex and intersects all the generatrices of the cone. A cylinder refers to the space traversed by a rectangle rotating clockwise or counterclockwise around one side as an axis, or the space traversed by moving a certain distance up or down with a circle as the base. A cuboid is a right prism with a rectangular base. A parallelepiped is a polyhedron enclosed by six parallelograms. A pyramid is a geometric solid enclosed by faces that are polygonal and whose remaining faces are triangles sharing a common vertex. A truncated prism is a prism that has been cut by a plane that is not parallel to its surface, leaving the prism portion between the cross-section and the base. A hemisphere is the portion of a sphere that remains after half of it has been cut off. A spherical cap is a portion of a sphere whose surface has been cut off by a plane. The shape of the bump and the groove should match so that the bump can penetrate deeply into the groove and engage with it.

[0045] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first connection terminal 127 on the first end plate 120 of the fuel cell 10 according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second connection terminal 137 on the second end plate 130 of the fuel cell 10 provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0046] Please combine Figure 2 And see Figure 3 In some embodiments, optionally, the projected outline of the first connecting terminal 127 along the first direction y on the surface of the first end plate 120 is a centrally symmetrical shape, and its center of symmetry coincides with the center of the surface of the first end plate 120. For example, in... Figure 3 In the diagram, the first connecting terminal 127 has a circular projection outline along the first direction y on the surface of the first end plate 120, and the surface of the first end plate 120 is rectangular, with the center of the circle coinciding with the center of the rectangle. Please refer to... Figure 2 And see Figure 4 In some embodiments, optionally, the projected outline of the second connecting terminal 137 along the first direction y on the surface of the second end plate 130 is a centrally symmetrical shape, and its center of symmetry coincides with the center of the surface of the second end plate 130. For example, in... Figure 4 In the middle, the projection outline of the second connecting terminal 137 along the first direction y on the surface of the second end plate 130 is circular, and the surface of the second end plate 130 is rectangular, with the center of the circle coinciding with the center of the rectangle.

[0047] Please continue reading. Figures 2 to 4In some embodiments, optionally, the minimum distance between the projection profile of the first connecting terminal 127 along the first direction y on the surface of the first end plate 120 and the boundary of the surface of the first end plate 120 is L1, where L1 ≥ 2 mm; the minimum distance between the projection profile of the second connecting terminal 137 along the first direction y on the surface of the second end plate 130 and the boundary of the surface of the second end plate 130 is L2, where L2 ≥ 2 mm.

[0048] The minimum distance L1 between the projected outline of the first connecting terminal 127 along the first direction y on the surface of the first end plate 120 and the boundary of the surface of the first end plate 120 is the distance between the closest point of the projected outline of the first connecting terminal 127 on the surface of the first end plate 120 and the surface of the first end plate 120. Similarly, the minimum distance L2 between the projected outline of the second connecting terminal along the first direction y on the surface of the second end plate 130 and the boundary of the surface of the second end plate 130 is the distance between the closest point of the projected outline of the second connecting terminal 137 on the surface of the second end plate 130 and the surface of the second end plate 130. By setting L1 ≥ 2mm and L2 ≥ 2mm, the degree of structural damage to the surfaces of the first end plate 120 and the second end plate 130 can be reduced, thereby improving their structural strength. For example, L1 and L2 can specifically be 2mm, 2.5mm, 3.4mm, 4.1mm, 5mm, etc. The above data are only examples; in actual embodiments, L1 and L2 are not limited to the above data.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell 10 provided in one embodiment of this application, viewed from a second direction x. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell 10 provided in one embodiment of this application from another perspective in the second direction x.

[0050] Please combine Figure 1 And see Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, optionally, the fuel cell stack unit 110 includes mutually independent coolant inlet channel 111, air inlet channel 112, hydrogen inlet channel 113, coolant outlet channel 114, air outlet channel 115, and hydrogen outlet channel 116; the first end plate 120 is provided with a first coolant inlet 121, a first air inlet 122, a first hydrogen inlet 123, a first coolant outlet 124, a first air outlet 125, and a first hydrogen outlet 126 corresponding to the fuel cell stack unit 110; the second end plate 130 is provided with a second coolant inlet 131, a second air inlet 132, a second hydrogen inlet 133, a second coolant outlet 134, a second air outlet 135, and a second hydrogen outlet 136 corresponding to the fuel cell stack unit 110.

[0051] The coolant inlet channel 111, air inlet channel 112, hydrogen inlet channel 113, coolant outlet channel 114, air outlet channel 115, and hydrogen outlet channel 116 in the fuel cell stack unit 110 are respectively designed to connect with external fluid inlet and outlet channels, facilitating the entry of external fluids (air, oxygen, and coolant) into the fuel cell stack unit 110 and the discharge of fluids from inside the fuel cell stack unit 110 to the outside. The first coolant inlet 121, first air inlet 122, first hydrogen inlet 123, first coolant outlet 124, first air outlet 125, and first hydrogen outlet 126 on the first end plate 120 are respectively matched with the inlet and outlet channels of the fuel cell stack unit 110 to facilitate fluid entry and exit. Similarly, the second coolant inlet 131, second air inlet 132, second hydrogen inlet 133, second coolant outlet 134, second air outlet 135, and second hydrogen outlet 136 on the second end plate 130 are respectively matched with the inlet and outlet channels of the fuel cell unit 110 to facilitate the entry and exit of fluids. It should be noted that the various inlets and outlets on the first end plate 120 and the various inlets and outlets on the second end plate 130 are not all activated simultaneously. In some embodiments, some of the inlets and outlets may be closed or shut off because they are not needed.

[0052] To facilitate the arrangement of fluid pipes in the fuel cell 10, in some embodiments, optionally, the positions of the first coolant inlet 121, first air inlet 122, first hydrogen inlet 123, first coolant outlet 124, first air outlet 125, and first hydrogen outlet 126 on the first end plate 120 and the second end plate 130 on the same side in the second direction x correspond one-to-one with the positions of the second coolant inlet 131, second air inlet 132, second hydrogen inlet 133, second coolant outlet 134, second air outlet 135, and second hydrogen outlet 136 on the second end plate 130. That is, on the same side in the second direction x, whether it is the first end plate 120 or the second end plate 130, the inlet and outlet positions of the same type are in the same position on the end plate, which facilitates the connection and layout of pipes.

[0053] In fuel cell 10, the first end plate 120 and the second end plate 130 are electrically insulated, while the first connection terminal 127 and the second connection terminal 137 are conductive. Their specific materials are not limited. Please continue reading. Figure 1In some embodiments, the first end plate 120 and the second end plate 130 may optionally be made of a polymer. A polymer is a high molecular weight (10⁴-10⁶) compound formed by repeated bond linkages, including crystalline, amorphous, oriented, and woven structures. Specifically, polymers can be plastics, rubber, and fibers, etc. They possess high elasticity and viscoelasticity, providing excellent protection for the fuel cell unit 110. In some embodiments, the first connection terminal 127 and the second connection terminal 137 may optionally be made of copper. That is, the first connection terminal 127 and the second connection terminal 137 can be made of pure copper or a copper alloy. Copper is a metallic element; pure copper is a soft metal with good ductility, high thermal conductivity, and high electrical conductivity. Copper alloys have excellent mechanical properties and very low resistivity. Thus, the first connection terminal 127 and the second connection terminal 137 can have good electrical conductivity.

[0054] This application embodiment also provides an electrical device, which includes a fuel cell 10 as described in any of the above embodiments. The fuel cell 10 is used to provide electrical energy. The electrical device can be, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. Vehicles can be gasoline-powered vehicles, natural gas vehicles, or new energy vehicles, where new energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. The fuel cell 10 is installed inside the vehicle, and can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle. The fuel cell 10 can be used to power the vehicle; for example, the fuel cell 10 can serve as the vehicle's operating power source. The vehicle may also include a controller and a motor. The controller is used to control the battery 10 to supply power to the motor, for example, for the vehicle's starting, navigation, and driving power needs. In some embodiments of this application, the fuel cell 10 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle, replacing or partially replacing fuel oil or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle.

[0055] The electrical device of this application embodiment has a first connection terminal 127 electrically connected to the positive electrode of the stack unit 110 on one side of the first end plate 120 in the first direction y, and a second connection terminal 137 electrically connected to the negative electrode of the stack unit 110 on the other side of the second end plate 130 in the first direction y. The second connection terminal 137 matches the first connection terminal 127. In this way, among the multiple stack components 100 stacked in the first direction y, two adjacent stack components 100 can be electrically connected to each other by means of the first connection terminal 127 in one stack component 100 and the second connection terminal 137 in another stack component 100, so as to realize the series connection of the two stack components 100 without the need to set up additional copper busbars, and thus will not occupy additional space inside the fuel cell 10, which is conducive to further improving the overall output power of the fuel cell 10.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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, characterized in that, include: Multiple fuel cell stack assemblies are stacked along a first direction. Each fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell unit, a first end plate, and a second end plate. The first end plate and the second end plate are respectively disposed on both sides of the fuel cell unit in a second direction, which intersects with the first direction. The first end plate has a first connection terminal on one side in the first direction, which is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the fuel cell unit. The second end plate has a second connection terminal on the other side in the first direction that matches the first connection terminal, which is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the fuel cell unit. In any two adjacent fuel cell stack assemblies, the first end plate of one fuel cell stack assembly and the second end plate of the other fuel cell stack assembly are located on the same side in a second direction, and the two adjacent fuel cell stack assemblies are electrically connected by means of a first connection terminal in one fuel cell stack assembly and a second connection terminal in the other fuel cell stack assembly. The minimum distance between the projection outline of the first connecting terminal on the surface of the first end plate along the first direction and the boundary of the surface of the first end plate is L1, where L1 ≥ 2 mm; the minimum distance between the projection outline of the second connecting terminal on the surface of the second end plate along the first direction and the boundary of the surface of the second end plate is L2, where L2 ≥ 2 mm.

2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connection terminal includes a protrusion that protrudes in a first direction away from the center of the first end plate; The second connection terminal includes a groove recessed in a first direction toward the center of the second end plate; The protrusion and the groove are configured to engage with each other.

3. The fuel cell according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the protrusion and the groove are in any one of the following shapes: truncated cone, cylinder, cuboid, parallelepiped, pyramid, truncated prism, hemisphere, or spherical cap.

4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projection outline of the first connecting terminal on the surface of the first end plate along the first direction is a centrally symmetrical figure, and its center of symmetry coincides with the center of the surface of the first end plate. The projection outline of the second connection terminal on the surface of the second end plate along the first direction is a centrally symmetrical figure, and its center of symmetry coincides with the center of the surface of the second end plate.

5. The fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell unit includes independent coolant inlet channel, air inlet channel, hydrogen inlet channel, coolant outlet channel, air outlet channel, and hydrogen outlet channel. The first end plate is provided with a first coolant inlet, a first air inlet, a first hydrogen inlet, a first coolant outlet, a first air outlet, and a first hydrogen outlet, which correspond one-to-one with the fuel cell unit. The second end plate is provided with a second coolant inlet, a second air inlet, a second hydrogen inlet, a second coolant outlet, a second air outlet, and a second hydrogen outlet, each corresponding to one of the fuel cell units.

6. The fuel cell according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the first end plate and the second end plate located on the same side in the second direction, the positions of the first coolant inlet, the first air inlet, the first hydrogen inlet, the first coolant outlet, the first air outlet, and the first hydrogen outlet on the first end plate correspond one-to-one with the positions of the second coolant inlet, the second air inlet, the second hydrogen inlet, the second coolant outlet, the second air outlet, and the second hydrogen outlet on the second end plate.

7. The fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second end plates are made of polymer materials.

8. The fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second connecting terminals are made of copper.

9. An electrical device, characterized in that, include: The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is used to provide electrical energy.

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