Liquid inlet plate for flow battery stack

Abstract

The invention discloses a liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack, which belongs to the technical field of flow batteries and comprises a first end face, a second end face and flow channels formed on the surfaces of a first part and a second part. The first open hole is formed in the third part and forms a through hole extending in the third direction, and a protective sleeve body extending in the third direction is formed in the position, at the first open hole, of the first end face; the liquid inlet holes are formed in the four corners of the liquid inlet plate and extend from the first end face to the second end face in the third direction. The first end face and the second end face serve as the assembling faces of the end plate and the copper plate respectively, the embedded part structure for assembling the copper plate is designed on the second end face, the protection sleeve body structure is matched to achieve preassembling of the copper plate, the flow channel and the liquid inlet hole structure are matched, the copper plate preassembling function can be added on the basis of the original function of the liquid inlet plate, and the assembling efficiency is improved. And the processing and assembling difficulty is reduced, and meanwhile, the cost of the galvanic pile component is also saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of flow batteries, and particularly relates to an inlet plate for a flow battery stack. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the economic society and the improvement of the living standards of mankind, the traditional energy supply structure dominated by fossil energy can no longer meet the sustainable development of mankind. Renewable energy such as wind power and photovoltaic power is gradually changing from auxiliary energy to dominant energy. With the increase in the installed capacity of renewable energy, the demand for large-scale energy storage systems will be increasing. Energy storage technologies include physical energy storage, electrochemical energy storage, and electromagnetic energy storage. Large-scale electrochemical energy storage technology can effectively improve the safety and operation efficiency of the power grid, and is of extremely important significance for the country to implement the major strategy of energy structure adjustment; flow batteries are an important electrochemical energy storage method, with the characteristics of high safety, high cycle life, and scalability, and are a very promising large-scale energy storage technology.

[0003] The inlet plate is an important component of the flow battery, which is assembled between the end plate of the flow battery stack and the fluid plate frame, and plays the role of insulating, inletting liquid, and heat preservation for the flow battery stack; currently, common processing forms of the inlet plate in the market include organic processing, injection molding, and molding, etc., and the functions of the inlet plate are single. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inlet plate for a flow battery stack to solve the problems of the inlet plate in the use process mentioned in the above background art.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An inlet plate for a flow battery stack, the inlet plate having in a third direction:

[0006] A first end face, which is configured as an assembly face of the end plate;

[0007] A second end face, having an embedding part and a frame part, the frame part including a first part and a second part spaced apart in a second direction, and a third part and a fourth part spaced apart in a first direction;

[0008] The inlet plate further includes:

[0009] Flow channels, formed on the surfaces of the first part and the second part;

[0010] A first opening, formed in the third part and configured as a through hole extending in the third direction, and a protective sleeve body extending in the third direction is formed at the first opening position on the first end face;

[0011] Inlet holes, provided at the four corners of the inlet plate and extending from the first end face to the second end face in the third direction.

[0012] Preferably, the width of the first part is greater than the width of the third part.

[0013] Preferably, the flow channels on the first part and the second part are symmetrically arranged about the center.

[0014] Preferably, the liquid inlet plate is provided with a plurality of second openings extending in the third direction at the position of the fourth part, and the second openings are closed on the side of the first end face.

[0015] Preferably, when there are a plurality of the second openings, the adjacent second openings are spaced along the second direction.

[0016] Preferably, at least one bolt hole is provided at the outer end of the second opening in the fourth part.

[0017] Preferably, both the first opening and the second opening are strip-shaped holes.

[0018] Preferably, the liquid inlet hole has a first flow section extending to the first end face and a second flow section extending to the second end face in the third direction, and the first flow section and the second flow section have different cross-sectional shapes.

[0019] Preferably, the cross-section of the first flow section is circular, and the cross-section of the second flow section is rectangular.

[0020] Preferably, a liquid inlet pipe extending in the third direction is formed at the position of the first flow section on the first end face, and the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid inlet plate are integrally formed.

[0021] Preferably, the first end face has a groove portion and a frame portion, and the liquid inlet plate is provided with a reinforcing rib structure at the position of the groove portion.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0023] In this application, the liquid inlet plate uses the first end face and the second end face as the assembly surfaces of the end plate and the copper plate respectively, and an embedding portion structure for the assembly of the copper plate is designed on the second end face. Cooperating with the protective sleeve structure to realize the pre-assembly of the copper plate. Cooperating with the flow channel and the liquid inlet hole structure, it can add the function of pre-assembling the copper plate on the basis of the original function of the liquid inlet plate, reduce the processing and assembly difficulty, and save the cost of the fuel cell stack components at the same time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 Schematic perspective view of the liquid inlet plate Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 2 Front view of the second end face of the liquid inlet plate;

[0026] Figure 3 Front view of the first end face of the liquid inlet plateFigure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 4 Front view of the first end face of the liquid inlet plate Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 5 Schematic side view of the liquid inlet plate;

[0029] Figure 6 Schematic three-dimensional structure of the liquid inlet plate Figure 2 ;

[0030] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the end plate structure;

[0031] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the copper plate structure.

[0032] In the figure:

[0033] 10. Liquid inlet plate; 20. Copper plate; 20a. Bending part; 20b. Plug; 30. End plate;

[0034] 100. First end face; 101. Frame part; 102. Groove part;

[0035] 110. Reinforcing rib structure; 111. Longitudinal reinforcing rib; 112. Transverse reinforcing rib; 113. Intermediate section; 114. Side section; 120. Ring part; 121. First straight part; 122. Second straight part; 123. Third straight part; 124. Inclined part;

[0036] 200. Second end face; 201. Embedded part; 202. Frame part; 202a. First part; 202b. Second part; 202c. Third part; 202d. Fourth part; 203. Flow channel; 203a. Inlet part; 203b. Intermediate channel; 203c. Outlet part;

[0037] 300. First opening; 301. Protective sleeve body; 302. Second opening; 303. Bolt hole

[0038] 400. Liquid inlet hole; 400a. First hole end; 400b. Second hole end; 400c. First flow section; 400d. Second flow section; 401. Liquid inlet. Specific embodiments

[0039] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0040] A liquid flow battery stack inlet plate 10 (hereinafter referred to as the inlet plate 10), referring to Figure 1 , in the subsequent description process, the first direction (i.e., the X-axis direction) represents the length direction of the inlet plate 10, the second direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction) represents the width direction of the inlet plate 10, and the third direction (i.e., the Z-axis direction) represents the thickness direction of the inlet plate 10.

[0041] Referring to Figure 1 and 5 , the above-mentioned inlet plate 10 has a first end face 100 and a second end face 200 in the third direction, wherein the first end face 100 is configured as an assembly surface of the end plate 30 component, and the second end face 200 is configured as an assembly surface of the copper plate 20 component. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned first end face 100 includes a frame portion 101 and a groove portion 102, wherein the groove portion 102 is formed inside the first end face 100, and the frame portion 101 is formed at the edge position of the first end face 100 and correspondingly surrounds the groove portion 102. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned inlet plate 10 is provided with a reinforcing rib structure 110 at the position of the groove portion 102. Exemplarily, referring to Figure 4 , the reinforcing rib structure 110 includes a plurality of longitudinal reinforcing ribs 111 extending in the second direction. The adjacent longitudinal reinforcing ribs 111 are spaced in the first direction, and the groove portion 102 is divided in the first direction by the longitudinal reinforcing ribs 111 to form a plurality of first intervals. The two first intervals located at the middle position of the groove portion 102 are correspondingly denoted as the middle intervals 113, and the first intervals at the remaining positions are denoted as the side intervals 114. In this example, the reinforcing rib structure 110 further includes a plurality of transverse reinforcing ribs 112 spaced in the second direction within the first interval. A single transverse reinforcing rib 112 extends from one end to the other end of the first interval in the first direction. Preferably, in this example, the positions of the transverse reinforcing ribs 112 in the adjacent first intervals in the side intervals 114 are staggered (in the second direction), and the positions of the transverse reinforcing ribs 112 in the two first intervals in the middle interval 113 coincide (in the second direction). In some other examples, referring to Figure 3 , the above-mentioned reinforcing rib structure 110 includes an annular portion 120, and the center of the annular portion 120 is located at the center position of the groove portion 102. In this example, the reinforcing rib structure 110 further includes a first straight portion 121 extending in the first direction and a second straight portion 122 extending in the second direction, and both the first straight portion 121 and the second straight portion 122 pass through the center position of the groove portion 102 and are cut off at the position of the annular portion 120. The groove portion 102 is divided into four approximately rectangular intervals by the annular portion 120, the first straight portion 121, and the second straight portion 122. Correspondingly, in this example, the reinforcing rib structure 110 further includes an inclined portion 124 that constitutes the diagonal of the interval and a third straight portion 123 with one end connected to the intersection point of the inclined portion 124 and the other end extending in the second direction;

[0042] Further, a plurality of threaded holes are provided on the first end face 100 of the liquid inlet plate 10, and the positions of the threaded holes correspond to the positions of the threaded holes on the end plate 30, so as to realize the assembly of the liquid inlet plate 10 and the end plate 30 through connecting members such as bolts.

[0043] Referring to Figure 1 and 2 , the second end face 200 includes an embedding portion 201 and a frame portion 202. The embedding portion 201 is generally configured as a rectangular groove body and is configured to be adapted to the specifications of the copper plate 20, so that the copper plate 20 can be assembled in the embedding portion 201. In some embodiments, a part of the embedding portion 201 extends in the second direction into the frame portion 202 to form a current collecting plate groove at the position of the frame portion 202;

[0044] Returning to Figure 1 and 2 , continuing to describe the composition of the second end face 200, the frame portion 202 is located at the periphery of the embedding portion 201 and is generally configured as a quadrilateral frame. Specifically, the frame portion 202 includes a first plate body portion and a second plate body portion. The first plate body portion is composed of two parts spaced apart in the second direction, and the second plate body portion is composed of two parts spaced apart in the first direction. For the convenience of description, the two parts constituting the first plate body portion are denoted as a first part 202a and a second part 202b, and the two parts constituting the second plate body portion are respectively denoted as a third part 202c and a fourth part 202d. In some embodiments, the width of the first part 202a (the second part 202b) is greater than the width of the third part 202c (the fourth part 202d);

[0045] Referring to Figure 2 , flow channels 203 are provided at the positions of the first part 202a and the second part 202b of the frame portion 202 of the liquid inlet plate 10, and the flow channels 203 on the first part 202a and the second part 202b are centrosymmetrically arranged about the center of the second end face 200. In some embodiments, the flow channel 203 has an inlet portion 203a, an outlet portion 203c, and an intermediate channel 203b connecting the inlet portion 203a and the outlet portion 203c. The inlet portion 203a is generally located at the middle position of the frame portion 202 in the first direction and faces the embedding portion 201. The inlet portion 203a of the flow channel 203 is located at the corner position of the second end face 200 and is communicated with the subsequent liquid inlet hole 400. Referring to Figure 2 , the intermediate channel 203b has a plurality of direct current portions extending in the first direction and connecting portions connecting the direct current portions. Exemplarily, the intermediate channel 203b is generally configured as an "S"-shaped intermediate channel 203b. Correspondingly, in this example, the connecting portion is generally semicircular.

[0046] Referring to Figure 2 and 7 , a first opening 300 extending in the third direction is formed in the third part 202c of the above-mentioned border part 202. The first opening 300 penetrates the liquid inlet plate 10 in the third direction to allow the plug 20b of the copper plate 20 to pass through the liquid inlet plate 10 from this position. At the same time, a protective sleeve 301 extending in the third direction is provided at the first end face 100 of the liquid inlet plate 10 at the position of the first opening 300. The extension length of the protective sleeve 301 allows it to pass through the hole in the end plate 30 and ensure a certain margin, that is, the length of the protective sleeve 301 in the third direction is greater than the thickness of the end plate 30. The protective sleeve 301 can wrap the part of the plug 20b of the copper plate 20 passing through the liquid inlet plate 10 to form insulation between the copper plate 20 and the end plate 30. Exemplarily, when the plug 20b of the copper plate 20 is configured as a rectangular thin sheet, correspondingly, the above-mentioned first opening 300 is configured as a long strip-shaped through hole.

[0047] Referring to Figure 2 and 8 , a plurality of second openings 302 extending in the third direction are formed in the border part 202 at the position of the fourth part 202d, and the adjacent second openings 302 are spaced in the second direction. Specifically, the second opening 302 is closed at one end of the first end face 100. Correspondingly, a space for accommodating the bent part 20a of the copper plate 20 is formed in the border part 202 at the position of the second opening 302. During assembly, the bent part 20a of the copper plate 20 is assembled into this space. Exemplarily, when the bent part 20a of the copper plate 20 is configured as two rectangular thin plates spaced in the second direction, correspondingly, the second opening 302 is configured as a strip-shaped hole and there are two of them to respectively accommodate the two rectangular thin plates. Further, a plurality of bolt holes 303 are formed in the outer side face of the fourth part 202d of the border part 202 at the position of the second opening 302. After the bent part 20a of the copper plate 20 enters the space in the second opening 302, bolts are screwed in from the position of the bolt holes 303 and contact the bent part 20a to complete the fixation.

[0048] Referring to Figure 1 and 5, The above-mentioned liquid inlet plate 10 is also provided with four liquid inlet holes 400. Each single liquid inlet hole 400 extends along the third direction and penetrates through the liquid inlet plate 10, that is, each single liquid inlet hole 400 extends from the first end face 100 to the second end face 200 in the third direction. And the liquid inlet hole 400 has a first hole end 400a and a second hole end 400b in the third direction. Among them, the first hole end 400a is configured as one end on the first end face 100 and is located at the frame part 101 of the first end face 100. The second hole end 400b is configured as one end on the second end face 200 and is located at the position of the first plate body part of the second end face 200. When the liquid inlet plate 10, the copper plate 20 and the end plate 30 are assembled, the first hole end 400a of the liquid inlet hole 400 corresponds to and communicates with the liquid inlet position on the end plate 30. The second hole ends 400b of some liquid inlet holes 400 (such as the liquid inlet holes 400 located at the diagonal positions) communicate with the inlet part 203a of the flow channel 203 on the second end face 200. External liquid (such as electrolyte) enters from the liquid inlet position of the end plate 30, flows through the liquid inlet hole 400 and enters the flow channel 203. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned liquid inlet hole 400 has a first flow section 400c and a second flow section 400d in the third direction. Among them, the first flow section 400c is configured as the section extending from the first hole end 400a, and the second flow section 400d is configured as the section extending from the second hole end 400b. The cross-sectional shapes of the above-mentioned first flow section 400c and second flow section 400d are different to realize the conversion connection between the liquid inlet hole 400 of the end plate 30 and the stack plate frame. That is, the liquid inlet hole 400 is configured as a pipeline adapter. By dividing the liquid inlet hole 400 into a first flow section 400c and a second flow section 400d composed of different cross-sectional shapes, the transition conversion between the liquid inlet of the end plate 30 and the liquid inlet of the plate frame is realized, so as to realize the independent design of the liquid inlet of the plate frame and the liquid inlet of the end plate 30 while maintaining the positioning relationship. Exemplarily, the cross-section of the first flow section 400c in the above-mentioned liquid inlet hole 400 is circular, and the cross-section of the second flow section 400d is rectangular.

[0049] In some examples, referring to Figure 6 , at the position of the first flow section 400c of the first end face 100 of the liquid inlet plate 10, a liquid inlet pipeline 401 extending along the third direction is formed. The liquid inlet pipeline 401 and the liquid inlet plate 10 are integrally formed, avoiding the leakage risk that may occur when the liquid inlet plate 10 and the liquid inlet pipeline 401 are assembled separately.

[0050] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, for those of ordinary skill in the art, it can be understood that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack, characterized in that: The liquid inlet plate has the following features in the third direction: a first end surface configured as a mounting surface of the end plate; A second end surface, comprising an embedded portion and a frame portion, wherein the frame portion comprises a first portion and a second portion arranged at a distance in the second direction, and a third portion and a fourth portion arranged at a distance in the first direction; The liquid inlet plate also includes: a flow channel formed on surfaces of the first portion and the second portion; A first opening is formed in the third portion and is configured as a through hole extending along a third direction, and a protective cover extending along the third direction is formed on the first end surface at the position of the first opening; The liquid inlet holes are arranged at the four corners of the liquid inlet plate and extend from the first end surface to the second end surface in the third direction.

2. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The width of the first portion is greater than the width of the third portion.

3. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow channels on the first part and the second part are arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner.

4. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inlet plate is provided with a plurality of second openings extending along the third direction at the fourth portion, and the second openings are closed at the first end surface side.

5. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 4, characterized in that: When a plurality of second openings are provided, adjacent second openings are spaced apart along the second direction.

6. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fourth part is provided with at least one bolt hole at the outer end of the second opening.

7. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first opening and the second opening are both bar-shaped holes.

8. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inlet hole has a first flow section extending to the first end surface and a second flow section extending to the second end surface in the third direction, and the first flow section and the second flow section have different cross-sectional shapes.

9. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cross section of the first flow segment is circular, and the cross section of the second flow segment is rectangular.

10. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 8, characterized in that: A liquid inlet pipe extending along a third direction is formed on the first end surface at the first flow section position, and the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid inlet plate are integrally formed.

11. The liquid inlet plate for a flow battery stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end surface has a groove portion and a frame portion, and the liquid inlet plate is provided with a reinforcing rib structure at the position of the groove portion.

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