Hydrogen fuel cell

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising: a housing having an accommodating cavity; the electric pile unit is contained in the containing cavity, the electric pile unit comprises at least two electric pile assemblies which are sequentially arranged in the first direction, each electric pile assembly comprises a reactor core, a gas-liquid port, an end plate assembly and a supporting assembly, each end plate assembly comprises a first end plate and a second end plate, the length direction of the reactor core is the second direction, and the gas-liquid port is communicated with the first end plate; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, the first end plate and the second end plate are oppositely arranged at two ends of the reactor core along the second direction, and the supporting assembly is arranged along the length direction of the reactor core. According to the invention, the compactness of the structure can be effectively improved, and the height size of the whole structure is reduced, so that the adaptability of space is improved, the assembly by operators is facilitated, the assembly efficiency is greatly improved, the production efficiency is effectively improved, and the production cost is reduced on the premise of ensuring the strength of the double-galvanic-pile connection structure. And the reliability of the structure and the convenience of later maintenance are met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of hydrogen fuel cells, and in particular to a hydrogen fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] Fuel cells are devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions, and have broad development prospects in the field of new energy. A hydrogen fuel cell is a power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. Its basic principle is the reverse reaction of water electrolysis. The core components of a hydrogen fuel cell include an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane, and a catalyst. Hydrogen is oxidized into hydrogen ions (protons) and electrons at the anode. The electrons flow to the cathode through an external circuit, while the hydrogen ions reach the cathode through the electrolyte membrane, where they combine with oxygen to form water and release electrical energy. At present, in order to meet market demand, fuel cells with dual-stack structures in the industry usually adopt the form of a dual-stack or multi-stack combination. The dual-stack combination form or the use of dual-stack common end plates and other components are difficult to manufacture; or multiple single stacks are simply spliced ​​together, and the dual stack is large in size and low in power density.

[0003] The shortcomings of the existing technology also lie in that, in the existing dual-stack combined fuel cell module, the front end plates and structural parts of the dual stacks are stacked on each other, which increases the height of the overall structure. In addition, multi-stack connected fuel cells use connecting brackets to connect the dual stacks, and the structural reliability is not high; the dual-stack packaging also requires the development of a packaging shell structure and a dual-stack fixing structure. Summary of the invention

[0004] To this end, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and provide a hydrogen fuel cell that can effectively improve the compactness of the structure and reduce the height dimension of the overall structure, thereby improving the adaptability of the space, facilitating assembly by operators, greatly improving the efficiency of assembly, and effectively improving production efficiency. On the premise of ensuring the strength of the dual-stack connection structure, it also meets the reliability of the structure and the convenience of subsequent maintenance.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising:

[0006] A housing having a receiving cavity;

[0007] A stack unit is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and the stack unit includes at least two stack assemblies arranged in sequence along a first direction, wherein each stack assembly includes a core, a gas-liquid port, an end plate assembly and a support assembly, and the end plate assembly includes a first end plate and a second end plate, the length direction of the core is the second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, the first end plate and the second end plate are relatively arranged at the two ends of the core along the second direction, the support assembly is arranged along the length direction of the core, and the two ends of the support assembly are respectively connected to the first end plate and the second end plate; the first end plates of two adjacent stack assemblies are arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner, and the second end plates of two adjacent stack assemblies are arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner; the gas-liquid port is arranged at one end of the core along the length direction, and the gas-liquid ports of at least two stack assemblies are connected in parallel to form a gas-liquid circuit;

[0008] The output unit includes a plurality of connectors, some of which are configured to be connected to the battery stack assembly to output the voltage of the battery stack assembly; some of the connectors are accommodated in the shell, and at least two of the connectors are connected in series to form a voltage loop.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first mounting portion for assembling the support assembly is provided on the first end plate, and the first mounting portion includes a first extension body and a second extension body arranged on opposite side edges of the first end plate, and the projections of the first extension body and the second extension body along the first direction do not overlap with each other; two first extension bodies are provided and are arranged at intervals, and two second extension bodies are provided and are arranged at intervals.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second end plate is provided with a second mounting portion for assembling the support assembly, and the second mounting portion overlaps with a projection of the first mounting portion along the length direction of the core.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the support assembly includes a plurality of support rods, some of which are connected to the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion; the plurality of support rods are arranged around the core, and the plurality of support rods and the first end plate and the second end plate together form a receiving space, and the core is received in the receiving space.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the shell includes a main body, a first cover plate and a connecting side plate, the main body is provided with a first opening at one end along the second direction, the first cover plate is used to close the first opening, and the main body is also provided with a second opening, and the connecting side plate is detachably arranged at the second opening.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, an inspection module is further included. The inspection module is electrically connected to the battery stack unit, the inspection module is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and the inspection module is adjacent to the connecting side plate.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell stack assembly further includes a third end plate, the third end plate is disposed between the core and the second end plate, and the third end plate is made of a composite material of metal and plastic.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member comprises a copper busbar.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the battery stack unit includes a first battery stack assembly and a second battery stack assembly, and the first battery stack assembly and the second battery stack assembly are stacked in the shell along the first direction.

[0017] The above technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0018] A hydrogen fuel cell described in the present invention is provided with a shell, a stack unit and an output unit. The stack unit is accommodated in the shell. The stack unit includes at least two stack assemblies stacked in the height direction. Specifically, each stack assembly includes a core, a gas-liquid port, an end plate assembly and a support assembly. The support assembly and the end plate assembly cooperate with each other to form a receiving space, and the core is received in the receiving space.

[0019] The support assembly can be used to withstand tensile force in the bare stack state, thereby playing a role in maintaining the stacking force. During the packaging process, it is used to withstand pressure when the fasteners lock the shell and the end plate assembly, thereby playing a role in supporting the core, and then protecting the core, effectively preventing the core from being squeezed and deformed; the support assemblies of the fuel cell stack assembly are arranged to be staggered, thereby effectively reducing the height dimension of the fuel cell stack unit, making the structure of the fuel cell stack unit compact and improving the adaptability of the space; the fuel cell stack assemblies stacked up and down have a consistent structure and are centrally symmetrical, with good production processability, which is convenient for operators to assemble, greatly improving the efficiency of assembly, effectively improving production efficiency, and reducing manufacturing costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to make the content of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below according to specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a hydrogen fuel cell according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded diagram.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a structural explosion diagram of a fuel cell stack assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Explanation of the reference numerals in the specification: 1. shell; 10. main body; 11. first cover plate; 110. second through hole; 12. second cover plate; 120. first through hole; 13. connecting side plate; 14. fourth cover plate; 15. top screw; 20. core; 21. gas-liquid port; 22. first end plate; 220. first extension body; 221. second extension body; 23. second end plate; 230. third extension body; 231. fourth extension body; 24. support rod; 30. connecting piece; 40. inspection module; 51. first current collecting piece; 52. second current collecting piece; 61. insulating plate; 62. third end plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments so that those skilled in the art can better understand the present invention and implement it, but the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 to Figure 2 As shown, the present invention discloses a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising a shell 1, wherein the shell 1 has a containing cavity.

[0027] The hydrogen fuel cell further includes a stack unit, which is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and includes at least two stack assemblies arranged in sequence along a first direction. The first direction is defined as being in the same direction as the height direction, and it can also be considered that the first direction is consistent with the thickness direction of the stack assembly.

[0028] Each of the stack assemblies includes a core 20 , a gas-liquid port 21 , an end plate assembly and a support assembly, and the end plate assembly includes a first end plate 22 and a second end plate 23 .

[0029] The length direction of the core 20 is defined as a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The first direction can also be considered to be in the same direction as the thickness direction of the core 20 .

[0030] Specifically, the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23 are relatively arranged at the two ends of the core 20 along the second direction. The support assembly is arranged along the length direction of the core 20, and the two ends of the support assembly are respectively connected to the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23. The support assembly and the end plate assembly cooperate with each other to form a receiving space, and the core 20 is received in the receiving space. During the assembly process, the end plate assembly can be locked with the shell 1 by fasteners.

[0031] It should be noted that the first end plates 22 of two adjacent stack assemblies are centrally symmetrically arranged, and the second end plates 23 of two adjacent stack assemblies are centrally symmetrically arranged. In this way, the structure of the stack unit is consistent and centrally symmetrical.

[0032] The gas-liquid port 21 is disposed at one end of the core 20 along the length direction.

[0033] Reference Figure 2 As shown, further, the hydrogen fuel cell also includes an output unit, which includes a plurality of connectors 30, some of which are configured to be connected to one of the stack assemblies to output the voltage of the stack assembly; and some of the connectors 30 are accommodated in the shell 1.

[0034] The gas-liquid ports 21 of at least two of the stack assemblies are connected in parallel to form a gas-liquid loop, and at least two of the connectors 30 are connected in series to form a voltage loop, so that the load of each stack assembly can be ensured to be uniform and independent of each other.

[0035] It can be known that a hydrogen fuel cell to be protected by the present invention is provided with a shell, a stack unit and an output unit. The stack unit is accommodated in the shell, and the stack unit includes at least two stack assemblies stacked in the height direction. Specifically, each stack assembly includes a core, a gas-liquid port, an end plate assembly and a support assembly. The support assembly can be used to withstand tension in the bare stack state, thereby playing a role in maintaining the stacking force. During the packaging process, when the fasteners lock the shell and the end plate assembly, it is used to withstand pressure, thereby playing a role in supporting the core, and then protecting the core, effectively preventing the core from being squeezed and deformed; the support assemblies of the stack assemblies are arranged to be staggered, thereby effectively reducing the height dimension of the stack unit, making the structure of the stack unit compact and improving the adaptability of the space; the stack assemblies stacked up and down have consistent structures and are centrally symmetrical, which is convenient for operators to assemble, greatly improving the efficiency of assembly, and effectively improving production efficiency.

[0036] As a preferred embodiment, the fasteners include but are not limited to the top screw 15. The first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23 are provided with mounting holes, and the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23 can be fixed to the shell 1 through the top screw 15. Such a configuration can greatly reduce the size of the battery stack unit along the stacking direction.

[0037] Furthermore, combined with Figure 3As shown, a first mounting portion for assembling the support assembly is provided on the first end plate 22, and the first mounting portion includes a first extension body 220 and a second extension body 221 arranged on opposite side edges of the first end plate 22, and the projections of the first extension body 220 and the second extension body 221 along the first direction do not overlap each other.

[0038] In terms of details, refer to Figure 2 , 3 As shown, two first extension bodies 220 are provided and are spaced apart, and two second extension bodies 221 are provided and are spaced apart. Moreover, the first extension body 220 and the second extension body 221 are staggered along the first direction, so that sufficient avoidance space can be provided for the support assembly during assembly, so that the support assemblies of the two stack assemblies stacked up and down can cooperate with each other and avoid each other, thereby reducing the size of the entire stack unit in the height direction.

[0039] Correspondingly, the second end plate 23 is provided with a second mounting portion for assembling the support assembly, and the second mounting portion overlaps with the projection of the first mounting portion along the length direction of the core 20. It can also be considered that the second mounting portion has the same structure as the first mounting portion, and the second mounting portion and the first mounting portion are symmetrically arranged. Specifically, the second mounting portion includes a third extension body 230 and a fourth extension body 231 arranged at two opposite edges of the second end plate 23. Similarly, the third extension body 230 and the fourth extension body 231 are staggered along the first direction, and the third extension body 230 is provided with two and spaced apart, and the fourth extension body 231 is provided with two and spaced apart.

[0040] As a preferred embodiment, the support assembly includes a plurality of support rods 24, some of which are connected to the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, and the remaining support rods 24 are connected to the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23. Specifically, the plurality of support rods 24 extend along the first direction and are arranged around the core 20. The plurality of support rods 24, the first end plate 22, and the second end plate 23 together form a receiving space, and the core 20 is received and installed in the receiving space, thereby providing better protection for the core 20 and preventing it from being squeezed, deformed, or damaged.

[0041] As a preferred embodiment, Figure 3As shown, in one of the stack assemblies, the number of support rods 24 is set to 6 and the support rods are set with equal lengths, wherein 4 support rods 24 are symmetrically connected to the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion in pairs, and the remaining 2 support rods 24 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the core 20 and connected to the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23. Thus, the 6 support rods 24 fix the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23, realize the fixed length assembly of the stack assembly, facilitate the fixing of the core 20 in the shell 1, and play a role in structural protection.

[0042] Specifically, the six support rods 24 are arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner, so that the battery stack assembly as a whole is also centrally symmetrical. It can be considered that the upper battery stack assembly is the battery stack assembly located below after being rotated 180°. Therefore, when the upper battery stack assembly and the lower battery stack assembly are installed, there is an avoidance space due to the provision of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion. The positions of the support rods 24 are staggered, and the upper battery stack assembly and the lower battery stack assembly can fit together and clamp each other for easy assembly, thereby improving space utilization.

[0043] As a preferred embodiment, Figure 1-Figure 3 From the perspective of the embodiment, the housing 1 includes a body 10, a first cover plate 11, a second cover plate 12, a connecting side plate 13 and a fourth cover plate 14. The body 10 is provided with a first opening at one end along the second direction. The first cover plate 11 is used to close the first opening. The body 10 is also provided with a second opening. The connecting side plate 13 is detachably arranged at the second opening. The second cover plate 12 is arranged at the top of the housing 1 along the first direction. The fourth cover plate 14 is arranged to be opposite to the first cover plate 11, and the fourth cover plate 14 is assembled to the body 10 by bolts.

[0044] Furthermore, the shell 1 is provided with a first through hole 120 and a second through hole 110, wherein the first through hole is provided in the shell 1, specifically, the first through hole 120 is provided in the second cover plate 12; and the second through hole 110 is provided in the first cover plate 11. In this way, the connector 30 is led out of the shell 1 through the first through hole 120 to output voltage, and the second through hole 110 is configured as a gas-liquid communication channel of the stack unit, and the gas-liquid port 21 is connected to the gas-liquid communication channel to achieve gas-liquid communication of the core 20.

[0045] As a preferred embodiment, the number of the first through holes 120 is set to be consistent with the number of the gas-liquid ports 21 , and the positions correspond one to one, so as to facilitate the mutual communication between the gas communication channel and the gas-liquid ports 21 .

[0046] Furthermore, the number of the second through holes 110 is set to be consistent with the number of the connecting members 30 , and each of the connecting members 30 outputs high voltage through one of the second through holes 110 .

[0047] Furthermore, the hydrogen fuel cell also includes an inspection module 40, which is electrically connected to the stack unit to collect data of the stack unit and upload it to the control end. The inspection module 40 is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and the inspection module 40 is adjacent to the connecting side plate 13. Specifically, the inspection module 40 is arranged between the stack unit and the connecting side plate.

[0048] As a preferred embodiment, the battery stack assembly also includes a current collecting assembly, which includes a first current collecting part 51 and a second current collecting part 52, wherein the first current collecting part 51 and the second current collecting part 52 are respectively arranged at both ends of the core 20 along the length direction, and the first current collecting part 51 and the second current collecting part 52 are connected to the output unit.

[0049] As a preferred embodiment, in order to avoid short circuit of the battery stack assembly and achieve a better insulation effect, the battery stack assembly also includes an insulating plate 61 and a third end plate 62, the insulating plate 61 is arranged between the first current collecting part 51 and the first end plate 22, and the insulating plate 61 is provided with a avoidance hole for gas-liquid exchange, the avoidance hole is opposite to the gas-liquid port 21 and can be connected, and the third end plate 62 is arranged between the second current collecting part 52 and the second end plate 23 to insulate the second current collecting part 62 from the second end plate 23.

[0050] In detail, the third end plate is made of a composite material of metal and plastic, so that it can play an insulating role on the one hand and provide strength support to the structure on the other.

[0051] As a preferred embodiment, the battery stack unit includes a first battery stack assembly and a second battery stack assembly, and the first battery stack assembly and the second battery stack assembly are stacked in the shell 1 along the first direction.

[0052] As a preferred embodiment, the number of the connectors 30 is five, two of which are used to connect the first battery stack assembly and the second battery stack assembly in series, and the remaining three connectors 30 are used to output high voltage.

[0053] It should be noted that the stacking accessories (end plate assembly, insulating plate, current collecting plate assembly, etc.) of the first and second stack assemblies are completely identical in structure, so that a set of molds can be shared, thereby significantly reducing the manufacturing cost. When performing a double stack assembly, only the current collecting plate assembly direction is opposite, and no foolproofing is required when assembling a single stack, and the assembly process is good.

[0054] In detail, the connecting member 30 includes but is not limited to a copper busbar.

[0055] As a preferred embodiment, the housing 1 is further provided with a mounting member, and the mounting member is used for suspension connection with the battery system. Specifically, the mounting member includes but is not limited to a pair of mounting points 50 provided on the housing 1 .

[0056] During the assembly process, the first end plate 22 is positioned and assembled with the first cover plate 11 through the pin holes set thereon, and then the first end plate 22 and the first cover plate 11 are fixed with bolts, which improves the assembly accuracy and connection structure strength of the stack assembly. The first cover plate 11 is fixed to the shell 1 to achieve IP67 protection. Finally, the shell 1 fixes the first end plate 22 and the second end plate 23 respectively through the top screw 15. At this time, the support rod 24 can play a supporting role, and the locking force of the top screw 15 will not act on the core 20. In addition, the two groups of the stack assemblies share a set of inspection modules 40 to reduce the cost of the stack. Finally, the second cover plate 12, the connecting side plate 13, and the fourth cover plate 14 are respectively assembled to the shell 1. After the packaging is completed, the IP67 protection of the stack unit is achieved.

[0057] As a background introduction, the IP67 protection standard refers to the protection safety level. IP is the abbreviation of Ingress Protection Rating (or International Protection code), which defines the protection ability of an interface against liquid and solid particles. IP is followed by two digits. The first is the solid protection level, ranging from 0-6, which represents protection from large particles to dust; the second is the liquid protection level, ranging from 0-8, which represents protection from vertical water drops to underwater pressure. The larger the number, the stronger the ability.

[0058] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it is also necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "setting" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0059] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0060] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0061] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely examples for the purpose of clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation methods. For those skilled in the art, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the implementation methods here. The obvious changes or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydrogen fuel cell, characterized in that: include, A housing having a receiving cavity; A stack unit is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and the stack unit includes at least two stack assemblies arranged in sequence along a first direction, wherein each stack assembly includes a core, a gas-liquid port, an end plate assembly and a support assembly, and the end plate assembly includes a first end plate and a second end plate, the length direction of the core is the second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, the first end plate and the second end plate are relatively arranged at the two ends of the core along the second direction, the support assembly is arranged along the length direction of the core, and the two ends of the support assembly are respectively connected to the first end plate and the second end plate; the first end plates of two adjacent stack assemblies are arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner, and the second end plates of two adjacent stack assemblies are arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner; the gas-liquid port is arranged at one end of the core along the length direction, and the gas-liquid ports of at least two stack assemblies are connected in parallel to form a gas-liquid circuit; The output unit includes a plurality of connectors, some of which are configured to be connected to the battery stack assembly to output the voltage of the battery stack assembly; some of the connectors are accommodated in the shell, and at least two of the connectors are connected in series to form a voltage loop.

2. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end plate is provided with a first mounting portion for assembling the support assembly, the first mounting portion includes a first extension body and a second extension body arranged on opposite side edges of the first end plate, the projections of the first extension body and the second extension body along the first direction do not overlap each other; the first extension body is provided with two and spaced apart, and the second extension body is provided with two and spaced apart.

3. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second end plate is provided with a second mounting portion for assembling the support assembly, and the second mounting portion overlaps with a projection of the first mounting portion along the length direction of the core.

4. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support assembly includes a plurality of support rods, some of which are connected to the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion; the plurality of support rods are arranged around the core, and the plurality of support rods and the first end plate and the second end plate together form a receiving space, and the core is received in the receiving space.

5. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell includes a main body, a first cover plate and a connecting side plate. The main body is provided with a first opening at one end along the second direction. The first cover plate is used to close the first opening. The main body is also provided with a second opening. The connecting side plate is detachably arranged at the second opening.

6. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes an inspection module, which is electrically connected to the battery stack unit, is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and is adjacent to the connecting side plate.

7. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stack assembly further includes a third end plate, which is disposed between the core and the second end plate and is made of a composite material of metal and plastic.

8. A hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting member comprises a copper busbar.

9. A hydrogen fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The battery stack unit includes a first battery stack assembly and a second battery stack assembly, and the first battery stack assembly and the second battery stack assembly are stacked and arranged in the shell along the first direction.

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