Cooling cavity structure, metal monopolar plate and preparation method
By setting a flow regulating structure in the coolant flow section of the metal monopolar plate, the cost and complexity problems caused by the end effect in the existing technology are solved, and the performance and stability of the fuel cell are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510857665.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies, when alleviating the end effect of fuel cells, increase the types of plates and the number of membrane electrodes, which increases costs or introduces additional heating systems, resulting in increased system complexity and energy consumption, and reduced overall efficiency.
By setting a flow regulating structure, including a flanging structure or a blocking structure, in the coolant flow section of the metal monopolar plate, precise control of the coolant flow is achieved, forming a closed structure to improve the end effect.
It effectively improves the end effect, enhances the performance and stability of the fuel cell, reduces manufacturing costs, and maintains the simplicity and efficient operation of the system.
Smart Images
Figure CN120657162A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and in particular to a cooling cavity structure, a metal monopolar plate and a preparation method thereof. Background Art
[0002] As the main device for utilizing hydrogen energy, hydrogen fuel cells have broad prospects in the fields of transportation, distributed power stations, portable power sources, etc. As the core component of fuel cells, bipolar plates mainly serve multiple functions such as supporting membrane electrode (MEA), providing channels for reaction gases and coolant, separating hydrogen and oxygen, collecting electrons, and conducting heat. However, the proximity of the end cells to the current collecting plate leads to heat loss, causing temperature and temperature differences, and thus causing water and heat management problems. In addition, the MEA is only configured on one side of the end unipolar plate, which reduces the heat generation by half, exacerbating the temperature drop.
[0003] To alleviate the end effect, the commonly used methods are: First, adding a dummy membrane electrode between the end cell and the current collecting plate. Although this can improve the end effect of the stack, it increases the types of plates and the number of membrane electrodes, which increases the cost of the stack. Second, changing the flow field design of the end cell plate, which requires the design and manufacture of plates with special flow fields, and also increases the types of plates and mold costs. Third, using a membrane electrode different from other cells, which involves an increase in the type and number of membrane electrodes, which undoubtedly increases the cost of the stack. Fourth, adding a heating device to the end cell, but this requires an additional heating system, which not only increases the cost, but also increases the complexity and energy consumption of the system, and reduces the overall efficiency.
[0004] Therefore, it is particularly important to develop a cooling cavity structure, a metal unipolar plate and a preparation method that can seal the coolant flow section through a flow regulating structure to achieve precise control of the coolant flow of the metal unipolar plate, thereby effectively improving the end effect and enhancing the performance of the fuel cell. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a cooling chamber structure, a metal monopolar plate and a preparation method. The coolant flow section is blocked by a flow regulating structure to achieve precise control of the coolant flow of the metal monopolar plate. This can solve the current problem of the lack of cooling chamber structures, metal monopolar plates and preparation methods that can effectively improve the end effect and enhance the performance of fuel cells.
[0006] The technical solutions provided in this application are as follows:
[0007] On the one hand, the present application provides a cooling cavity structure, wherein the cooling cavity structure is located in a metal monopolar plate, and the cooling cavity structure includes a cooling cavity body and a flow regulating structure;
[0008] The cooling cavity body is a closed structure, comprising a cooling liquid flow section and a plurality of cavity sections, wherein the cooling liquid flow section and the plurality of cavity sections are sequentially connected to form the closed structure;
[0009] The flow regulating structure is located on the inner side of the coolant flow section, and the shape of the flow regulating structure matches the shape of the inner side of the coolant flow section;
[0010] Both ends of the flow regulating structure form liquid inlets with the adjacent cavity segments respectively, and the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure to the length of the coolant flow segment is 1:10-9:10.
[0011] In some optional embodiments, the flow regulating structure is a flange structure, the metal monopolar plate includes a first functional layer and a second functional layer, and the flange structure includes a first flange layer and a second flange layer;
[0012] The first flanging layer and the second flanging layer are symmetrically arranged, the first flanging layer and the first functional layer are integrally formed, and the second flanging layer and the second functional layer are integrally formed.
[0013] In some optional embodiments, the first flanging layer includes a first inclined surface and a first parallel surface, the second flanging layer includes a second inclined surface and a second parallel surface, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface intersect at an inclined surface connecting line, and the widths of the first parallel surface and the second parallel surface match.
[0014] In some optional embodiments, the angles between the first inclined plane, the second inclined plane and the horizontal plane are 40°-60°.
[0015] In some optional embodiments, a distance between the inclined plane connecting line and the side of the first parallel plane away from the coolant flow section is a first preset distance, and the first preset distance is 1 mm-2 mm.
[0016] In some optional embodiments, a welding line is provided on the first parallel surface, and the first flanging layer and the second flanging layer are fixedly connected by the welding line. The distance between the welding line and the side of the first parallel surface away from the coolant flow section is a second preset distance, and the second preset distance is 0.5 mm-1 mm.
[0017] In some optional embodiments, the flow regulating structure is a blocking structure, which is embedded between the first functional layer and the second functional layer, and is fixedly connected to the first functional layer and the second functional layer respectively.
[0018] In some optional embodiments, the width of the overlapping area of the blocking structure and the first functional layer and the second functional layer is 1mm-1.5mm, the width of the blocking structure is 1.5mm-1.8mm, and the thickness of the blocking structure is 0.8mm-1mm.
[0019] On the other hand, the present application provides a metal monopolar plate, which includes a cooling cavity structure as described in any one of the above embodiments.
[0020] In another aspect, the present application provides a method for preparing a cooling cavity structure, the method comprising:
[0021] A cooling cavity body is formed by stamping, wherein the cooling cavity body is a closed structure, and comprises a cooling liquid flow section and a plurality of cavity sections, wherein the cooling liquid flow section and the plurality of cavity sections are sequentially connected to form the closed structure;
[0022] A flow regulating structure is provided on the inner side of the cooling liquid flow section, wherein the shape of the flow regulating structure matches the shape of the inner side of the cooling liquid flow section to obtain a cooling cavity structure;
[0023] Both ends of the flow regulating structure form liquid inlets with the adjacent cavity segments respectively, and the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure to the length of the coolant flow segment is 1:10-9:10.
[0024] The present application provides a cooling cavity structure comprising a cooling cavity body and a flow regulating structure. The cooling cavity body is a closed structure comprising a coolant flow section and a plurality of cavity sections, which are sequentially connected to form the closed structure. The flow regulating structure is located inside the coolant flow section, and its shape matches the shape of the inner side of the coolant flow section. The two ends of the flow regulating structure form liquid inlets with adjacent cavity sections, and the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure to the length of the coolant flow section is 1:10-9:10. By placing the flow regulating structure inside the coolant flow section, the coolant flow section is blocked, thereby achieving precise control of the coolant flow of the metal unipolar plate, effectively improving the end effect and enhancing fuel cell performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.
[0026] Figure 1 2. It is a schematic diagram of the cooling chamber structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of a fuel cell stack;
[0028] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a metal monopolar plate;
[0029] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the flow direction of the coolant in the cooling cavity of the metal monopolar plate;
[0030] Figure 5 2. It is a top view of a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a flange structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 6 2. It is a cross-sectional view of a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a flange structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 7 2. It is a top view of a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a blocking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figure 8 2. It is a cross-sectional view of a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a blocking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] Figure 9 This is a flow chart for preparing a cooling cavity structure with a flanging structure as a flow regulating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] Figure 10 This is a flow chart for preparing a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a blocking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] The following is a supplementary description of the accompanying drawings:
[0037] 1-cooling cavity body; 101-cooling liquid flow section; 102-cavity section;
[0038] 2-flow regulating structure; 21-first flanging layer; 22-second flanging layer; 23-welding line; 211-first inclined surface; 212-first parallel surface; 221-second inclined surface; 222-second parallel surface;
[0039] 4-blocking structure; 5-first functional layer; 6-second functional layer; 7-anode end plate; 8-cathode end plate; 9-current collecting plate; 10-blind bipolar plate; 11-pseudo-membrane electrode; 12-metal unipolar plate; 121-air inlet; 122-air outlet; 123-coolant inlet; 124-coolant outlet; 125-hydrogen outlet; 126-hydrogen inlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0041] References to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" herein refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics that may be included in at least one implementation of the present application. Throughout the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "top," and "bottom," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely for ease of description and simplification. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation, and are therefore not to be construed as limiting the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features referred to. Thus, a feature designated "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequential sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, such that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.
[0042] When a numerical range is disclosed herein, the above range is considered to be continuous and includes the minimum and maximum values of the range, as well as every value between such minimum and maximum values. Further, when a range refers to an integer, every integer between the minimum and maximum values of the range is included. In addition, when multiple ranges are provided to describe a feature or characteristic, the ranges can be merged. In other words, unless otherwise indicated, all ranges disclosed herein should be understood to include any and all subranges included therein. For example, a specified range from "1 to 10" should be considered to include any and all subranges between a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 10. Exemplary subranges of the range 1 to 10 include, but are not limited to, 1 to 6.1, 3.5 to 7.8, 5.5 to 10, etc.
[0043] Since current methods for mitigating the end effect of fuel cell stacks increase the number of plate types and membrane electrode types, increasing the cost of plate types and molds, or requiring additional heating systems, increasing system complexity and energy consumption, and reducing overall efficiency, this application provides a cooling chamber structure, a metal unipolar plate, and a preparation method to precisely control the coolant flow rate of the metal unipolar plate, thereby effectively improving the end effect and enhancing fuel cell performance.
[0044] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a cooling chamber structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. On the one hand, the present application provides a cooling chamber structure, which includes a cooling chamber body 1 and a flow regulating structure 2;
[0045] The cooling cavity body 1 is a closed structure, comprising a cooling liquid flow section 101 and a plurality of cavity sections 102, wherein the cooling liquid flow section 101 and the plurality of cavity sections 102 are sequentially connected to form the closed structure;
[0046] The flow regulating structure 2 is located inside the coolant flow section 101 , and the shape of the flow regulating structure 2 matches the shape of the inside of the coolant flow section 101 ;
[0047] Both ends of the flow regulating structure 2 form liquid inlets 3 with the adjacent cavity segments 102 , respectively. The ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure 2 to the length of the coolant flow segment 101 is 1:10-9:10.
[0048] Optionally, see Figure 2 , Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell stack. As can be seen from the figure, the anode end plate 7 and cathode end plate 8 of the fuel cell stack are located on both sides of the stack, respectively, and play the role of pressing the core cells to ensure close contact between the components inside the stack and maintain good electrical and thermal conductivity. The core cells are composed of multiple layers of alternating membrane electrodes and bipolar plates, which are the core reaction area of the stack. Hydrogen and oxygen undergo electrochemical reactions at the membrane electrodes to generate electricity. The main function of the current collecting plate 9 is to output the current generated by the core, collect the current generated by multiple single cells together and guide it to the external circuit to achieve efficient transmission of electricity. The blind bipolar plate 10 is set at the end. The blind bipolar plate 10 does not participate in the electrochemical reaction. Its main function is to improve the temperature distribution of the core. Due to the end gas cooling and the large specific heat capacity of the end plate, the temperature on both sides of the core is relatively low. The blind bipolar plate 10 can play a certain role in insulation and buffering. The dummy membrane electrode 11, used in combination with the blind bipolar plate, also improves the core temperature distribution. It does not participate in the actual electrochemical reaction, but it can simulate the thermal characteristics of a real membrane electrode, making the core temperature distribution more uniform. The metal unipolar plate 12 is flanked by a dummy membrane electrode and a real membrane electrode. Since it generates only half the heat, two process solutions are used to control the flow rate entering the metal unipolar plate 12. This effectively manages the heat distribution within the core, ensuring that the stack operates at an appropriate temperature and improving its overall performance and stability.
[0049] Optionally, see Figure 3 、 Figure 4 , Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of a metal monopolar plate. Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the flow direction of the coolant in the cooling cavity of the metal unipolar plate. As can be seen from the figure, the metal unipolar plate includes an air inlet 121, an air outlet 122, a coolant inlet 123, a coolant outlet 124, a hydrogen inlet 126, and a hydrogen outlet 125. The coolant enters the cooling cavity through the coolant flow section 101 on the metal unipolar plate. After entering the interior of the unipolar plate, the coolant begins to cool the unipolar plate and takes away the heat generated by the unipolar plate during operation. After absorbing the heat of the unipolar plate, the coolant temperature rises and flows out through the coolant outlet of the unipolar plate to enter the next cooling cycle stage. The metal bipolar plate includes inlet and outlet channels for hydrogen, air, and coolant. This embodiment is aimed at the inlet and outlet structure of the coolant, that is, the cooling cavity structure.
[0050] Optionally, the cooling cavity body 1 is a quadrilateral closed structure, including a cooling liquid flow section 101 and three cavity sections 102. The cooling liquid flow section 101 is curved, and the three cavity sections 102 are straight. The cooling liquid flow section 101 and the three cavity sections 102 are connected in sequence to form the closed structure.
[0051] Optionally, both ends of the flow regulating structure 2 form liquid inlets 3 with the adjacent cavity segments 102 , respectively, and the coolant enters the metal monopolar plate through the liquid inlets 3 on both sides.
[0052] Optionally, the length of the flow regulating structure 2 can be set according to actual business needs, and is not limited here. The ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure 2 to the length of the coolant circulation section 101 corresponds to the blocking amount of the coolant circulation section 101. For example, when the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure 2 to the length of the coolant circulation section 101 is 1:10, the blocking amount of the coolant circulation section 101 is 10%; when the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure 2 to the length of the coolant circulation section 101 is 9:10, the blocking amount of the coolant circulation section 101 is 90%.
[0053] By setting up the flow regulating structure 2, the coolant flow can be effectively controlled. By blocking a certain proportion of the coolant flow section 101, the coolant flow resistance can be changed, so that the flow distribution of the coolant in the length direction of the stack can be readjusted, reducing the coolant flow at the end, thereby reducing the heat loss at the end, and inhibiting the excessive decrease in the end temperature, making its performance closer to that of the middle battery, reducing the stack deviation, improving the fuel cell performance, and enhancing reliability and service life.
[0054] In an optional embodiment, the flow regulating structure 2 is a flange structure, the metal monopolar plate includes a first functional layer 5 and a second functional layer 6, and the flange structure includes a first flange layer 21 and a second flange layer 22;
[0055] The first flanging layer 21 and the second flanging layer 22 are symmetrically arranged. The first flanging layer 21 and the first functional layer 5 are integrally formed, and the second flanging layer 22 and the second functional layer 6 are integrally formed.
[0056] In an optional embodiment, the first flanging layer 21 includes a first inclined surface 211 and a first parallel surface 212, and the second flanging layer 22 includes a second inclined surface 221 and a second parallel surface 222. The first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 intersect at an inclined surface connecting line, and the width of the first parallel surface 212 matches the width of the second parallel surface 222.
[0057] In an optional embodiment, the angles between the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 and the horizontal plane are 40°-60°.
[0058] See also Figure 5 、 Figure 6 , Figure 5 This is a top view of a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a flange structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6This figure shows a cross-sectional view of a cooling chamber structure in which a flow regulating structure is configured as a flanged structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, the metal monopolar plate is welded from a first functional layer 5 and a second functional layer 6. The thickness of the first and second functional layers 5 and 6 can be adjusted based on actual application needs. For example, the thickness of the first and second functional layers 5 and 6 can be 0.1 mm. When the flow regulating structure 2 is configured as a flanged structure, each functional layer is integrally formed with a flanged layer, namely, a first flanged layer 21 and a second flanged layer 22. These two flanged layers are symmetrically arranged, forming the core of the flow regulating structure.
[0059] Optionally, the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 are arranged opposite each other and intersect at a connecting line of inclined surfaces. The angles between the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 and the horizontal plane can be set according to actual business needs and are not limited here. It is sufficient to ensure that the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 are symmetrically arranged and the widths of the first parallel surface 212 and the second parallel surface 222 match.
[0060] Optionally, the first bevel 211 is an inclined surface integrally formed with the first functional layer 5, used to guide the coolant flow direction and preliminarily regulate the flow rate. The first parallel surface 212 is a horizontal or nearly horizontal surface connected to the first bevel 211, providing a stable welding area and forming a seal with adjacent structures. The second bevel 221 is an inclined surface integrally formed with the second functional layer 6, symmetrically arranged with the first bevel 211, together forming a change in the flow channel cross-section. The second parallel surface 222 is a horizontal or nearly horizontal surface connected to the second bevel 221, and its width matches that of the first parallel surface 212, ensuring alignment accuracy and sealing during welding.
[0061] Optionally, the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 intersect on the inner side of the coolant flow section to form an inclined surface connection line, and the position of the inclined surface connection line determines the overall height of the flanging structure.
[0062] The flange structure achieves sealing through symmetrical welding, eliminating the need for additional molds or complex processes. It is compatible with existing production processes and significantly reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the flange layer design allows for flexible adjustment of the coolant inlet flow by controlling the amount of sealing, optimizing the temperature distribution at the end of the stack. Therefore, the flange structure design effectively regulates the coolant flow rate and ensures uniform distribution of the coolant within the metal monopolar plate, thereby improving the performance and stability of the fuel cell.
[0063] In an optional embodiment, the distance between the inclined plane connecting line and the side of the first parallel surface 212 away from the coolant flow section 101 is a first preset distance, and the first preset distance is 1 mm-2 mm.
[0064] In an optional embodiment, a welding line 23 is provided on the first parallel surface 212, and the first flanging layer 21 and the second flanging layer 22 are fixedly connected by the welding line 23. The distance between the welding line 23 and the side of the first parallel surface 212 away from the coolant flow section 101 is a second preset distance, and the second preset distance is 0.5 mm-1 mm.
[0065] Optionally, the welding line is composed of a plurality of welding points, and is used to fixedly connect the first flanging layer 21 and the second flanging layer 22 at the welding line.
[0066] Optionally, the first preset distance can be set according to actual business needs and is not limited here. For example, the first preset distance can be 1.5 mm, that is, the distance between the inclined connection line and the first parallel surface 212 away from the side of the coolant flow section 101 is 1.5 mm.
[0067] Optionally, the second preset distance can be set according to actual business needs and is not limited here. For example, the second preset distance can be 0.7 mm, that is, the distance between the welding line 23 and the first parallel surface 212 away from the side of the coolant flow section 101 is 0.7 mm.
[0068] By connecting the first flange layer 21 and the second flange layer 22 at the welding line 23, a strong connection can be formed, which effectively prevents interlayer separation or displacement caused by factors such as vibration and pressure changes during use, thereby improving the overall strength and stability of the metal monopolar plate.
[0069] In an optional embodiment, the flow regulating structure 2 is a blocking structure 4, which is embedded between the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6, and the blocking structure 4 is fixedly connected to the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 respectively.
[0070] In an optional embodiment, the width of the overlapping area between the blocking structure 4 and the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 is 1mm-1.5mm, the width of the blocking structure 4 is 1.5mm-1.8mm, and the thickness of the blocking structure 4 is 0.8mm-1mm.
[0071] See also Figure 7 、 Figure 8 , Figure 7 This is a top view of a cooling cavity structure in which a flow regulating structure is a blocking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8This is a cross-sectional view of a cooling chamber structure in which a flow regulating structure is a blocking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, flow regulating structure 2 may also be a blocking structure 4, which may be rectangular in shape. The length of blocking structure 4 can be adjusted based on actual business needs and is not limited here. By adjusting the length of blocking structure 4, the amount of blockage in coolant flow section 101 can be controlled, thereby controlling the flow of coolant.
[0072] Optionally, the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 are first prepared by stamping and cutting processes, and then the blocking structure 4 is embedded between the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 and fixed by welding.
[0073] Optionally, the width of the overlapping area between the blocking structure 4 and the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 is the length of the blocking structure 4 embedded in the coolant flow section 101, which can be set according to actual business needs and is not limited here. For example, the width of the overlapping area between the blocking structure 4 and the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 is 1.2 mm.
[0074] Optionally, the width of the blocking structure 4 can be determined based on actual business needs and is not limited here. The thickness of the blocking structure 4 matches the distance between the inner sides of the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6.
[0075] By providing a blocking structure 4 inside the coolant flow section 101, the flow of coolant into the metal unipolar plate can be precisely controlled. The presence of blocking structure 4 allows for flexible adjustment of the coolant flow rate based on the actual operating requirements of the fuel cell, ensuring that the operating state of the unipolar plate matches that of the fuel cell. This helps maintain the fuel cell's operating temperature within a suitable range, avoiding problems such as decreased electrochemical reaction efficiency and increased polarization losses caused by excessively high or low temperatures, thereby improving the overall performance and stability of the fuel cell.
[0076] On the other hand, the present application provides a metal unipolar plate, which includes a cooling cavity structure as described in any one of the above embodiments.
[0077] In another aspect, the present application provides a method for preparing a cooling cavity structure, the method comprising:
[0078] The cooling cavity body 1 is formed by stamping. The cooling cavity body 1 is a closed structure. The cooling cavity body 1 includes a cooling liquid flow section 101 and a plurality of cavity sections 102. The cooling liquid flow section 101 and the plurality of cavity sections 102 are sequentially connected to form the closed structure.
[0079] A flow regulating structure 2 is provided on the inner side of the cooling liquid flow section 101. The shape of the flow regulating structure 2 matches the shape of the inner side of the cooling liquid flow section 101 to obtain a cooling cavity structure.
[0080] Both ends of the flow regulating structure 2 form liquid inlets 3 with the adjacent cavity segments 102 , respectively. The ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure 2 to the length of the coolant flow segment 101 is 1:10-9:10.
[0081] Alternatively, after simulation analysis, the plate water side flow rate is 0.009647 kg / s under a pressure difference of 41 kPa without blocking. The blocking amount of the coolant flow section 101 is increased from 10% to 90%, with an interval of 10% as a unit. Multiple rounds of simulation are performed. When the blocking amount is 90%, the water side flow rate is reduced to 0.004789 kg / s, a reduction of 49.6%. It can be seen that blocking 90% can effectively reduce the flow rate by 49.6%. In order to select the 90% blocking scheme for the trial production of the single-pole plate, it is assembled into a short stack to test its performance. The results show that the mean deviation of the battery cell is reduced from 73 mV to 23 mV, which indicates that setting a flow regulating structure 2 in the cooling cavity structure of the metal single-pole plate can effectively improve the performance of the stack.
[0082] Optionally, the above two flow regulating structures 2 do not change the overall process route, and only partial changes are made in the cutting and welding processes to achieve the desired effect, thereby avoiding the need for specially customized anode and cathode monopolar plates and saving costs.
[0083] The following is an overall description of the preparation method of the cooling cavity structure proposed in this application:
[0084] See also Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a flow chart for preparing a cooling cavity structure in which the flow regulating structure is a flange structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the flow regulating structure 2 is a flange structure, the preparation method of the cooling cavity structure specifically includes the following steps:
[0085] Using a cutting device to cut the metal substrate into blanks of predetermined sizes;
[0086] The cut metal blank is subjected to flow channel forming processing, which is achieved by stamping, etching or other forming processes to form the flow channel structure required for the bipolar plate; additional cutting is performed on the edge of the coolant flow section 101 to reserve excess metal parts for forming the flange, the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 221 are at an angle of 40°-60° with the horizontal plane, the distance between the inclined surface connection line and the side of the first parallel surface 212 away from the coolant flow section 101 is 1.5 mm, the welding line 23 is set at a distance of 0.7 mm from the side of the first parallel surface 212 away from the coolant flow section 101, and the flange structure is fixedly connected to the first flange layer 21 and the second flange layer 22 at the welding line 23 by welding;
[0087] Perform air tightness testing on the semi-finished products after welding to ensure that there are no leaks at all welding points and flange structures; clean the bipolar plates to remove metal debris, oil stains and other impurities that may remain during the manufacturing process; coat the surface of the cleaned bipolar plates; add sealing materials to the edges of the bipolar plates and necessary locations to ensure that the bipolar plates can effectively prevent gas and liquid leakage in the fuel cell stack; and perform a comprehensive air tightness test on the final metal bipolar plates to ensure their reliability and safety in actual applications.
[0088] See also Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a flow chart for preparing a cooling cavity structure in which the flow regulating structure is a blocking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the flow regulating structure 2 is a blocking structure 4, the preparation method of the cooling cavity structure specifically includes the following steps:
[0089] Using a cutting device to cut the metal substrate into blanks of predetermined sizes;
[0090] The cut metal blank is subjected to flow channel forming processing, which is achieved by stamping, etching or other forming processes to form the flow channel structure required for the bipolar plate;
[0091] Cut the edge of the coolant flow section 101 to reserve space and position for subsequent welding of the plugging piece; process the metal plugging piece separately, and the outer dimensions of the plugging piece should match the shape of the plate water cavity inlet to ensure that it can be accurately installed in the specified position. The width of the plugging piece structure 4 is 1.5mm-1.8mm, the thickness of the plugging piece structure 4 is 0.8mm-1mm, and the width of the overlapping area of the plugging piece structure 4 and the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6 is 1.2mm; weld the processed plugging piece structure 4 to the inner side of the coolant flow section 101 of the bipolar plate, between the first functional layer 5 and the second functional layer 6;
[0092] Perform air tightness testing on the semi-finished products after welding to ensure that there are no leaks at all welding points and flange structures; clean the bipolar plates to remove metal debris, oil stains and other impurities that may remain during the manufacturing process; coat the surface of the cleaned bipolar plates; add sealing materials to the edges of the bipolar plates and necessary locations to ensure that the bipolar plates can effectively prevent gas and liquid leakage in the fuel cell stack; and perform a comprehensive air tightness test on the final metal bipolar plates to ensure their reliability and safety in actual applications.
[0093] The present application provides a cooling cavity structure, which is located in a metal unipolar plate. The cooling cavity structure includes a cooling cavity body and a flow regulating structure. The cooling cavity body is a closed structure, which includes a coolant flow section and a plurality of cavity sections. The coolant flow section and the plurality of cavity sections are connected in sequence to form the closed structure. The flow regulating structure is located on the inner side of the coolant flow section, and the shape of the flow regulating structure matches the shape of the inner side of the coolant flow section. The two ends of the flow regulating structure form liquid inlets with the adjacent cavity sections, respectively. The ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure to the length of the coolant flow section is 1:10-9:10. By arranging the flow regulating structure on the inner side of the coolant flow section, the coolant flow section is blocked, thereby achieving precise control of the coolant flow of the metal unipolar plate, effectively improving the end effect, and enhancing the performance of the fuel cell. The cooling cavity structure provided in the present application has the following beneficial effects:
[0094] (1) By improving the cutting and welding processes, the cathode and anode unipolar plates can be manufactured without increasing the number of molds, effectively reducing mold costs. In large-scale production, the reduction in mold costs can significantly reduce production costs and improve the economic efficiency and market competitiveness of products;
[0095] (2) The coolant flow rate is controlled by welding the flange structure and adding a plug structure. These two solutions can be selected and applied according to different production requirements, equipment conditions and product specifications. The flow rate is controlled by the external dimensions and adjustable length of the flow regulating structure, which realizes the precise adjustment of the coolant flow rate, provides more options for actual production, and increases the flexibility and adaptability of the process.
[0096] (3) By precisely controlling the flow rate of the single plate, the operating temperature of the end plate and membrane electrode is increased. This precise temperature control helps improve the hydrothermal management of the fuel cell stack, reduce the negative impact of the end effect, and thus improve the performance of the fuel cell stack.
[0097] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.
Claims
1. A cooling chamber structure, characterized in that: The cooling cavity structure is located in the metal monopolar plate, and the cooling cavity structure comprises a cooling cavity body (1) and a flow regulating structure (2); The cooling cavity body (1) is a closed structure, comprising a cooling liquid flow section (101) and a plurality of cavity sections (102), wherein the cooling liquid flow section (101) and the plurality of cavity sections (102) are connected in sequence to form the closed structure; The flow regulating structure (2) is located on the inner side of the coolant circulation section (101), and the shape of the flow regulating structure (2) matches the shape of the inner side of the coolant circulation section (101); The two ends of the flow regulating structure (2) respectively form liquid inlets (3) with the adjacent cavity sections (102), and the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure (2) to the length of the cooling liquid flow section (101) is 1:10-9:
10.
2. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow regulating structure (2) is a flange structure, the metal monopolar plate comprises a first functional layer (5) and a second functional layer (6), and the flange structure comprises a first flange layer (21) and a second flange layer (22); The first flanging layer (21) and the second flanging layer (22) are symmetrically arranged; the first flanging layer (21) and the first functional layer (5) are integrally formed; and the second flanging layer (22) and the second functional layer (6) are integrally formed.
3. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first flanging layer (21) comprises a first inclined surface (211) and a first parallel surface (212); the second flanging layer (22) comprises a second inclined surface (221) and a second parallel surface (222); the first inclined surface (211) and the second inclined surface (221) intersect at an inclined surface connection line; and the widths of the first parallel surface (212) and the second parallel surface (222) match.
4. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The included angles between the first inclined surface (211), the second inclined surface (221) and the horizontal plane are 40°-60°.
5. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between the inclined plane connection line and the first parallel plane (212) away from the cooling liquid flow section (101) is a first preset distance, and the first preset distance is 1 mm to 2 mm.
6. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: A welding line (23) is provided on the first parallel surface (212), and the first flanging layer (21) and the second flanging layer (22) are fixedly connected via the welding line (23). The distance between the welding line (23) and the side of the first parallel surface (212) away from the coolant flow section (101) is a second preset distance, and the second preset distance is 0.5 mm-1 mm.
7. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow regulating structure (2) is a blocking structure (4), the blocking structure (4) is embedded between the first functional layer (5) and the second functional layer (6), and the blocking structure (4) is fixedly connected to the first functional layer (5) and the second functional layer (6), respectively.
8. The cooling chamber structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The width of the overlapping area between the blocking structure (4) and the first functional layer (5) and the second functional layer (6) is 1 mm to 1.5 mm, the width of the blocking structure (4) is 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm, and the thickness of the blocking structure (4) is 0.8 mm to 1 mm.
9. A metal monopolar plate, characterized in that: The metal monopolar plate includes the cooling cavity structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. A method for preparing a cooling cavity structure, characterized in that: The preparation method of the cooling cavity structure comprises: A cooling cavity body (1) is formed by stamping, wherein the cooling cavity body (1) is a closed structure, and the cooling cavity body (1) comprises a cooling liquid flow section (101) and a plurality of cavity sections (102), wherein the cooling liquid flow section (101) and the plurality of cavity sections (102) are connected in sequence to form the closed structure; A flow regulating structure (2) is provided on the inner side of the cooling liquid circulation section (101), wherein the shape of the flow regulating structure (2) matches the shape of the inner side of the cooling liquid circulation section (101), thereby obtaining a cooling cavity structure; The two ends of the flow regulating structure (2) respectively form liquid inlets (3) with the adjacent cavity sections (102), and the ratio of the length of the flow regulating structure (2) to the length of the cooling liquid flow section (101) is 1:10-9:10.