Open air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of hydrogen fuel cell stack, specifically to an open air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function. It comprises a shell and a cell stack, the cell stack is composed of two side end plates and a plurality of bipolar plates, a cathode flow channel is formed between every two adjacent bipolar plates, and a cooling fan is installed on one side of the shell, the shell is provided with a mounting frame and two side guide rods at the corresponding position, the guide rods are arranged through the two side end plates along the stacking direction of the cell stack, an elastic layer is sleeved on the outer periphery of each guide rod, a vibration mechanism is arranged on the mounting frame, the vibration mechanism comprises a vibration generator and a vibration transmission structure connected with the vibration generator, and a water collecting tank. The airflow generated by the cooling fan drives the vibration generator, and the high-frequency micro-amplitude vibration self-cleaning of each bipolar plate is realized by combining the vibration transmission structure, the water film and particulate matter in the cathode flow channel are effectively stripped, and are collected by the bottom water collecting tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of hydrogen fuel cell stacks, specifically to an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function. Background Technology

[0002] In the actual operation of open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stacks, liquid water is continuously generated on the cathode side due to electrochemical reactions. Lacking an active drainage mechanism, this water easily accumulates in the low-velocity regions, corners, or bottom of the bipolar cathode flow channels, forming water plugs or films, causing localized flow channel blockage and severely hindering the effective transport of oxygen to the catalyst layer. The resulting reduction in reactive surface area and intensified concentration polarization often leads to a sudden drop in battery voltage and fluctuations in output power, affecting the stability and durability of the stack.

[0003] Existing open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stacks generally lack effective self-cleaning mechanisms, mainly relying on natural airflow to purge and remove liquid water generated on the cathode side, making it difficult to cope with water management issues under dynamic operating conditions.

[0004] Therefore, improvements are needed to the current open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stacks to effectively address water management issues under dynamic operating conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function is provided. The airflow generated by the cooling fan drives the vibration generator, and combined with the vibration transmission structure, it realizes high-frequency micro-amplitude vibration self-cleaning of each bipolar plate, effectively stripping water film and particulate matter in the cathode channel, which is then collected by the bottom water collection tank.

[0006] To address the problems of existing technologies, this invention provides an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function, comprising a housing and a battery stack disposed therein. The battery stack consists of two end plates and multiple bipolar plates stacked at equal intervals between the end plates. A cathode flow channel is formed between every two adjacent bipolar plates. A cooling fan is also included, installed on one side of the housing, to guide external airflow through the cathode flow channel. A mounting frame for fixing the cooling fan is provided at a corresponding position on the housing. Guide rods on both sides are disposed between the end plates of the battery stack along the stacking direction. Each guide rod is fitted with an elastic layer on its outer periphery. Each bipolar plate is engaged between two elastic layers on both sides, forming a micro-vibration limit along the wind direction in conjunction with the guide rod. A vibration mechanism is located between the cooling fan and the battery stack to transmit high-frequency micro-vibrations to the bipolar plates. The vibration mechanism includes a vibration generator and a vibration transmission structure connected to it. The vibration generator is arranged facing the air inlet side of the cooling fan. The vibration transmission structure is in contact with the edges of all bipolar plates. A water collection tank is located at the bottom of the outer casing to collect liquid water and particulate matter that has detached from the wall due to vibration but has not been completely carried out by the airflow.

[0007] Preferably, the vibration generator is a wind-induced self-excited structure, including a movable shaft and a vibration spring. The central axis of the movable shaft is arranged along the wind direction. A support plate is provided inside the mounting frame. One end of the movable shaft extends through the support plate towards the battery stack and slides with the support plate. The vibration spring is sleeved on the movable shaft. The end of the vibration spring away from the battery stack is fixedly connected to the movable shaft, and the end closer to the battery stack is fixedly connected to the support plate.

[0008] Preferably, the vibration generator further includes two wind-induced vibration plates, which are thin sheet structures. The two wind-induced vibration plates are symmetrically arranged on the windward end face of the movable shaft, and cooperate with the movable shaft and the vibration spring to form an aeroelastic flutter effect.

[0009] Preferably, multiple vibration generators are provided, evenly distributed on one side of the mounting frame facing the battery stack, and the movable shaft of each vibration generator is fixedly connected to the vibration transmission structure.

[0010] Preferably, the vibration transmission structure includes a vibration frame plate and an adhesive strip detachably connected thereto. The vibration frame plate is fixedly connected to the extension end of each movable shaft, and the adhesive strip extends along the battery stacking direction and is abutted against the edge of each bipolar plate.

[0011] Preferably, two adhesive strips are symmetrically arranged in the vertical direction within the mounting frame, and each adhesive strip is connected to the vibration frame plate.

[0012] Preferably, the vibrating frame plate is provided with stop members at both ends to lock the vibrating frame plate in non-clean working conditions.

[0013] Preferably, the stop element is an elastic stop block, the end of the vibration frame plate is provided with a wedge block that fits with the contact surface of the elastic stop block, the outer side of the mounting frame is provided with a guide rail for the elastic stop block to slide on it, and the guide rail is provided with a linear driver for driving the elastic stop block to move outward and disengage from the wedge block.

[0014] Preferably, elastic connectors are provided on both sides of the movable shaft. One end of the elastic connector is connected to the movable shaft, and the other end is connected to the support plate, so as to provide axial floating support for the movable shaft.

[0015] Preferably, the elastic connector includes a sleeve and a connecting rod with one end inserted therein. The free end of the sleeve is hinged to the support plate, and the free end of the connecting rod is hinged to the movable shaft. The support plate and the movable shaft are respectively provided with corresponding hinge parts. A return spring is provided between the connecting rod and the sleeve. One end of the return spring is fixedly connected to the end of the movable shaft away from the corresponding hinge part, and the other end is fixedly connected to the end of the sleeve away from the corresponding hinge part.

[0016] The advantages of this application compared to the prior art are:

[0017] 1. This invention directly uses the airflow from the cooling fan to drive a wind-induced self-excited vibration generator, achieving high-frequency, low-amplitude vibration self-cleaning simultaneously during battery stack operation without additional energy. Multiple vibration generators are evenly distributed and the energy is uniformly transmitted to all bipolar plates through a vibration transmission structure, effectively stripping liquid water and dust particles adhering to the cathode channel, and combining with the bottom water collection tank to achieve centralized collection of pollutants.

[0018] Meanwhile, the elastic layer limits and controls the vibration amplitude, maintains the stability of the battery stack, alleviates the mass transfer deterioration problem caused by cathode flow channel blockage in open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stacks, and improves its operational reliability and durability in complex environments.

[0019] 2. This invention arranges multiple wind-induced self-excited vibration generators on the side of the mounting frame facing the battery stack. The airflow from the cooling fan drives the movable shaft to generate high-frequency micro-amplitude vibrations. The vibration energy is then uniformly and stably transmitted to all bipolar plates via a rigidly connected vibration frame plate and symmetrically arranged flexible rubber strips, achieving efficient stripping of water film and particulate matter from the cathode channel wall.

[0020] The electromagnetically controlled stop device can lock the vibration frame plate under non-clean operating conditions to prevent ineffective vibration from interfering with the operation of the battery stack. It can be released only when needed, thereby achieving a high-coverage and controllable self-cleaning function while ensuring structural reliability, and improving the long-term operational stability of the open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack.

[0021] 3. The present invention provides coordinated support for the movable shaft by symmetrically arranging elastic connecting parts consisting of sleeves, connecting rods and return springs on both sides of the movable shaft, thereby providing axial freedom and radial constraint along the wind direction.

[0022] While allowing the movable shaft to reciprocate at high frequency and small amplitude, it effectively suppresses its circumferential deflection and non-axial offset, and absorbs the airflow impact through the elastic buffer of the return spring, ensuring that the movable shaft always moves stably along the predetermined axis. As a result, the vibration generator operates more smoothly and responds more reliably during wind-induced self-excitation, improving the durability and consistency of the overall self-cleaning effect. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a partial three-dimensional structural cross-sectional view of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the vibration mechanism of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a planar sectional view of the vibration mechanism of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the bipolar plate and elastic layer of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cooling fan and vibration mechanism of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the vibration mechanism and stop component of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the vibration generator of an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0032] Figure 10 This is a planar cross-sectional view of a vibration generator for an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to the present invention.

[0033] The following are the labels in the diagram: 1. Outer shell; 11. Hydrogen inlet; 12. Hydrogen outlet; 2. Battery stack; 21. End plate; 22. Bipolar plate; 3. Cooling fan; 31. Mounting frame; 311. Support plate; 4. Guide rod; 41. Elastic layer; 5. Vibration mechanism; 51. Vibration generator; 511. Movable shaft; 512. Vibration spring; 513. Wind-driven vibrating plate; 52. Vibration transmission structure; 521. Vibration frame plate; 5211. Wedge block; 522. Rubber strip; 53. Elastic stop block; 531. Guide rail; 532. Electromagnet; 54. Elastic connector; 541. Sleeve; 542. Connecting rod; 543. Return spring; 6. Water collection tank. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To further understand the features, technical means, and specific objectives and functions achieved by the present invention, the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] See Figures 1 to 6As shown, an open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function includes a shell 1 and a battery stack 2 disposed therein. The battery stack 2 consists of two end plates 21 and multiple bipolar plates 22 stacked at equal intervals between the end plates 21. A cathode flow channel is formed between every two adjacent bipolar plates 22. A cooling fan 3 is also included, installed on one side of the shell 1, for guiding external airflow through the cathode flow channel. A mounting frame 31 for fixing the cooling fan 3 is provided at a corresponding position on the shell 1. Two guide rods 4 are disposed between the end plates 21 on both sides of the battery stack 2 along the stacking direction. Each guide rod 4 has an elastic layer 41 sleeved on its outer periphery. Each bipolar plate 22 is engaged between two elastic layers 41 on both sides, and together with the guide rods 4, forms a micro-vibration limit along the wind direction. A vibration mechanism 5, disposed between the cooling fan 3 and the battery stack 2, is used to transmit high-frequency micro-amplitude vibrations to the bipolar plates 22. The vibration mechanism 5 includes a vibration generator 51 and a vibration transmission structure 52 connected thereto. The vibration generator 51 is arranged facing the air inlet side of the cooling fan 3, and the vibration transmission structure 52 is in contact with the edges of all the bipolar plates 22. A water collection tank 6, disposed at the bottom of the outer casing 1, is used to collect liquid water and particulate matter that has detached from the wall due to vibration but has not been completely carried away by the airflow.

[0036] The elastic layer 41 can be made of fluororubber, silicone, or thermoplastic polyurethane, which is resistant to moisture and heat, anti-aging, and has stable elasticity, to buffer vibration and maintain the small movement gap between the bipolar plates 22.

[0037] During operation, external air is drawn in by a cooling fan 3 installed on one side of the casing 1 and forced through the interior of the battery stack 2. The air flows through the cathode channel, providing oxygen for the cathode reaction and carrying away the heat generated by the electrochemical reaction, thus achieving air cooling.

[0038] The end plate 21 is provided with a hydrogen inlet 11 and a hydrogen outlet 12. Hydrogen enters the anode side through the hydrogen inlet 11 on the end plate 21 to participate in the reaction. The unconsumed hydrogen, generated water vapor, and waste heat are discharged through the hydrogen outlet 12, completing the gas supply and product discharge cycle on the anode side.

[0039] To maintain the stability of the stacked structure and control vibration behavior, the guide rods 4 on both sides penetrate the end plates 21 along the stacking direction. Each guide rod 4 is surrounded by a continuous elastic layer 41. Each bipolar plate 22 is clamped between the elastic layers 41 on both sides, forming a micro-amplitude vibration limit along the wind direction, i.e. the direction of airflow in. This allows the bipolar plate 22 to generate controllable high-frequency micro-displacement when excited, while preventing it from having excessive amplitude or unexpected shaking, thereby ensuring the integrity and contact reliability of the battery stack 2.

[0040] When the cooling fan 3 is running, the airflow directly impacts the vibration generator 51, exciting it to generate high-frequency micro-amplitude vibrations. This vibration is transmitted towards the battery stack 2 through the vibration transmission structure 52, which is rigidly connected to it. The vibration transmission structure 52 is in close contact with one edge of all bipolar plates 22, ensuring that the vibration energy is evenly distributed throughout the battery stack 2.

[0041] Under vibration, the liquid water film or droplets adhering to the cathode channel wall are detached from the wall due to inertial force overcoming surface tension and adhesion, and the dust particles mixed in are also simultaneously detached. The detached water droplets and particles are then carried out of the battery stack 2 by the airflow continuously flowing through the cathode channel. For residual moisture or heavier particles that cannot be completely carried away by the airflow, they settle downwards due to gravity and fall into the water collection tank 6 located at the bottom of the outer casing 1, achieving centralized collection and isolation, and avoiding secondary blockage or contamination.

[0042] By utilizing the airflow inevitably generated during the operation of the cooling fan 3 as a driving source, the self-cleaning mechanism can be triggered without additional energy, effectively solving the problem of cathode flow channel blockage and mass transfer deterioration that easily occurs in open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stacks.

[0043] See Figures 7 to 10 As shown, the vibration generator 51 is a wind-induced self-excited structure, including a movable shaft 511 and a vibration spring 512. The central axis of the movable shaft 511 is arranged along the wind direction. A support plate 311 is provided inside the mounting frame 31. One end of the movable shaft 511 extends through the support plate 311 toward the battery stack 2 and slides with the support plate 311. The vibration spring 512 is sleeved on the movable shaft 511. The end of the vibration spring 512 away from the battery stack 2 is fixedly connected to the movable shaft 511, and the end closer to the battery stack 2 is fixedly connected to the support plate 311.

[0044] When the cooling fan 3 is running, the airflow blows along the axial direction of the movable shaft 511 toward the vibration generator 51, causing the airflow to exert a force on the windward end face of the vibration generator 51. The vibration generator 51 is a wind-induced self-excited structure. When the airflow continuously impacts the windward end of the movable shaft 511, the fluid force overcomes the preload of the vibration spring 512 and pushes the movable shaft 511 to move toward the battery stack 2.

[0045] Once the movable shaft 511 moves, causing a change in the windward area or airflow state, the aerodynamic force weakens accordingly. Under the restoring force of the vibration spring 512, the movable shaft 511 quickly rebounds. This process repeats, and under the coupling effect of airflow excitation and the restoring force of the vibration spring 512, the movable shaft 511 continuously performs high-frequency, small-amplitude axial reciprocating vibration. It can stably output mechanical vibration energy without an external power supply, which is used to drive the bipolar plate 22 to achieve its self-cleaning function.

[0046] See Figures 7 to 10As shown, the vibration generator 51 also includes two wind-induced vibration plates 513. The wind-induced vibration plates 513 are thin sheet structures. The two wind-induced vibration plates 513 are symmetrically arranged on the windward end face of the movable shaft 511, and cooperate with the movable shaft 511 and the vibration spring 512 to form an aeroelastic flutter effect.

[0047] The shape of the wind-induced vibration plate 513 can be streamlined, such as fan-shaped, bow-shaped, wave-shaped, trapezoidal, or airfoil-shaped. Its material can be selected from materials with high fatigue strength, good elasticity, and resistance to damp heat, such as beryllium bronze, phosphor bronze, stainless steel foil, polyimide film, polyetheretherketone, or carbon fiber reinforced composite sheet, etc., which are elastic or tough materials.

[0048] The wind-induced vibration plate 513, as a thin plate structure, primarily functions to provide sufficient frontal area to effectively capture the axial airflow generated by the cooling fan 3 and convert the dynamic pressure of the airflow into axial thrust acting on the movable shaft 511. Due to the turbulent fluctuations and flow separation at the blade trailing edge in the actual airflow, this thrust is not constant but exhibits small-amplitude, high-frequency fluctuation characteristics. The movable shaft 511 is constrained by the support plate 311 and can only slide axially, forming a vibration system with the vibration spring 512, without relying on the Karman vortex street or transverse vortex shedding mechanism.

[0049] When the cooling fan 3 starts, the airflow blows axially, i.e., in the direction of wind force, towards the windward end face of the vibration generator 51, impacting two thin, aerodynamically driven vibrating plates 513 symmetrically arranged at the front end of the movable shaft 511. Under the action of the incoming airflow, the aerodynamic resistance on the surface of the aerodynamically driven vibrating plates 513, due to their flexible support characteristics, fluctuates periodically as the vortex detaches. Since the movable shaft 511 is restricted by the support plate 311 to slide only axially, this pulsating resistance directly drives the movable shaft 511 to perform axial reciprocating micro-vibrations, forming a self-excited oscillation system through the vibration spring 512. This induces self-excited aeroelastic flutter, rather than the lateral lift vibration caused by the classical Karman vortex street.

[0050] The movable shaft 511 slides within the guide hole of the support plate 311, simultaneously compressing or stretching the connected vibration spring 512. The vibration spring 512 provides a linear restoring force, forming a closed-loop feedback with the aerodynamic force, enabling the system to enter a stable, self-sustaining axial flutter state.

[0051] Under the continuous interaction of aerodynamic force and elastic restoring force, the entire vibration generator 51 enters the aeroelastic flutter state, realizing high-frequency micro-amplitude axial vibration without the need for other external energy input except for the cooling fan 3, and the vibration is introduced into the bipolar plate 22 through the subsequent vibration transmission structure 52 to peel off the water film and particulate matter attached in the cathode channel.

[0052] See Figures 7 to 10As shown, there are multiple vibration generators 51, which are evenly distributed on one side of the mounting frame 31 facing the battery stack 2. The movable shaft 511 of each vibration generator 51 is fixedly connected to the vibration transmission structure 52.

[0053] The mounting frame 31 is equipped with two cooling fans 3. Each cooling fan 3 has two vibration generators 51 symmetrically arranged at its air outlet. The wind-driven vibration plates 513 of each fan face the air outlet of the corresponding cooling fan 3, ensuring that each vibration generator 51 is under highly consistent airflow conditions.

[0054] Because the airflow generated by the cooling fan 3 has good uniformity and stability in the outlet area, the wind speed, direction, and pulsation characteristics experienced by each vibration generator 51 are basically the same. In addition, the structural parameters are consistent and the installation is symmetrical. That is, the key physical and assembly parameters such as the geometric dimensions of the wind-induced vibration plate 513, the mass and length of the movable shaft 511, and the stiffness and preload of the vibration spring 512 of each vibration generator 51 are exactly the same, ensuring that they generate synchronous self-excited vibration under the same airflow conditions. This causes each movable shaft 511 to naturally tend to vibrate at the same frequency and phase under the action of pneumatic excitation and the restoring force of the vibration spring 512, avoiding the occurrence of jamming of the vibration frame plate 521.

[0055] Specifically, when the cooling fan 3 is running, the airflow spreads outward from the center and impacts the vibration generators 51 at various locations, causing the wind-induced vibration plates 513 at the windward end to be excited by aeroelastic flutter under the action of the wind, which drives their respective movable shafts 511 to perform high-frequency micro-amplitude reciprocating motion along the wind direction.

[0056] Since the end of the movable shaft 511 of each vibration generator 51 away from the wind-induced vibration plate 513 is rigidly connected to the same vibration transmission structure 52, the vibrations generated at each point are synchronously incorporated into the vibration transmission structure 52, forming a coordinated excitation input. This multi-point evenly distributed and synchronously driven method effectively avoids uneven local vibrations, ensuring that vibration energy can be stably and evenly transmitted to all bipolar plates 22 in the entire battery stack 2, thereby improving the coverage and reliability of the self-cleaning effect.

[0057] See Figures 7 to 10 As shown, the vibration transmission structure 52 includes a vibration frame plate 521 and an adhesive strip 522 detachably connected thereto. The vibration frame plate 521 is fixedly connected to the extension end of each movable shaft 511. The adhesive strip 522 extends along the stacking direction of the battery stack 2 and is attached to the edge of each bipolar plate 22.

[0058] The high-frequency micro-amplitude vibrations generated by multiple vibration generators 51 are transmitted to the commonly connected vibration frame plate 521 through their respective movable shafts 511. The vibration frame plate 521, as the main vibration transmission component, is rigidly fixed to the extension ends of all movable shafts 511 to achieve synchronous integration of multi-point vibrations.

[0059] The adhesive strip 522 can be made of a flexible material that combines high elasticity, aging resistance, moisture and heat resistance and good damping properties, such as silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, EPDM rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane or hydrogenated nitrile rubber.

[0060] When the vibrating frame plate 521 is excited to vibrate, the vibration energy is efficiently and evenly transmitted to all bipolar plates 22 through the rubber strip 522 in a surface contact manner, causing the walls of each cathode flow channel to generate micro-vibrations synchronously. At the same time, the flexible characteristics of the rubber strip 522 can not only alleviate the impact and avoid rigid wear, but also facilitate maintenance and replacement, ensuring the stability and reliability of vibration transmission during long-term operation.

[0061] See Figures 7 to 10 As shown, two adhesive strips 522 are symmetrically arranged in the vertical direction inside the mounting frame 31, and each adhesive strip 522 is connected to the vibration frame plate 521.

[0062] When the vibration frame plate 521 is driven by the vibration generator 51 to generate high-frequency micro-amplitude motion, the upper and lower rubber strips 522 synchronously transmit the vibration energy to all bipolar plates 22, forming a symmetrical excitation mode.

[0063] This dual-sided symmetrical vibration transmission structure not only improves the uniformity of vibration in the height direction of the battery stack 2 and effectively avoids the weakening of local response, but also enhances the stability of the bipolar plate 22 in the direction of wind force vibration, ensuring reliable operation of the self-cleaning effect.

[0064] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the two ends of the vibration frame plate 521 are respectively provided with stop members that cooperate with it, which are used to lock the vibration frame plate 521 in non-clean working conditions.

[0065] In non-clean operating conditions, such as when the battery stack 2 is in normal power generation, clean environment or low humidity operation, in order to avoid unnecessary vibration interference with the electrical contact stability of the battery stack 2, both ends of the vibration frame plate 521 are respectively locked with corresponding stop components.

[0066] Specifically, the stop component firmly fixes the vibration plate 521 in a stationary position. Even if the cooling fan 3 continues to run and the airflow impacts the vibration generator 51, the vibration plate 521 cannot generate displacement or transmit vibration, thereby effectively cutting off the trigger path of the self-cleaning function. Only during regular maintenance will the stop component actively release, allowing the vibration plate 521 to move freely and start the vibration self-cleaning process, realizing on-demand and controllable cleaning operation.

[0067] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the stopper is an elastic stop 53, and the end of the vibration frame plate 521 is provided with a wedge 5211 that fits with the contact surface of the elastic stop 53. The outer side of the mounting frame 31 is provided with a guide rail 531 for the elastic stop 53 to slide on it. The guide rail 531 is provided with a linear driver for driving the elastic stop 53 to move outward and disengage from the wedge 5211.

[0068] The elastic stop 53 can be made of materials with high resilience, wear resistance and fatigue resistance, such as polyurethane, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, silicone rubber or fluororubber.

[0069] When the wedge 5211 is clamped between the elastic stop 53 and the support plate 311, the vibration frame plate 521 is in a locked state.

[0070] The linear actuator can be an electromagnetic actuator, including an electromagnet 532, and the elastic stop 53 includes a ferromagnetic material or a metallic material that can be attracted by the electromagnet 532.

[0071] When the electromagnet 532 is energized, it generates a magnetic force that pulls the elastic stop 53 along the guide rail 531 toward the outside of the mounting frame 31, disengaging it from the wedge block 5211 and thus releasing the vibration frame plate 521. After the power is turned off, the elastic stop 53 moves back under its own elastic force, re-clamping the wedge block 5211 and locking the vibration frame plate 521.

[0072] Of course, the linear actuator can also be a pneumatic actuator or an electric actuator. For example, when a miniature cylinder is used as a pneumatic actuator, compressed air is introduced to push the piston rod, causing the elastic stop 53 to move outward along the guide rail 531. If an electric actuator is used, precise displacement control is achieved by driving a lead screw or rack and pinion mechanism through a built-in motor. The above driving methods can be flexibly selected according to system integration requirements, response speed, and safety. Combined with the reset force of the elastic stop 53, reliable locking and rapid release of the vibration frame 521 can be achieved.

[0073] See Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, elastic connectors 54 are provided on both sides of the movable shaft 511. One end of the elastic connector 54 is connected to the movable shaft 511, and the other end is connected to the support plate 311, which is used to provide axial floating support for the movable shaft 511.

[0074] During operation, the movable shaft 511 needs to reciprocate freely along the wind direction to achieve self-excited vibration, while avoiding circumferential deflection or swaying. To this end, elastic connectors 54 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the movable shaft 511. These elastic connectors 54 constrain the radial displacement of the movable shaft 511 while allowing it to slide smoothly along the axial direction, and provide flexible support through their own elastic deformation, forming a floating support effect.

[0075] When the airflow pushes the movable shaft 511 to move axially, the elastic connector 54 expands, contracts or deforms slightly, which does not hinder its vibration stroke, but also absorbs off-center load and impact, ensuring that the movable shaft 511 always moves stably along the predetermined axis, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the vibration generator 51.

[0076] See Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the elastic connector 54 includes a sleeve 541 and a connecting rod 542 with one end inserted therein. The free end of the sleeve 541 is hinged to the support plate 311, and the free end of the connecting rod 542 is hinged to the movable shaft 511. The support plate 311 and the movable shaft 511 are respectively provided with corresponding hinge parts. A return spring 543 is provided between the connecting rod 542 and the sleeve 541. One end of the return spring 543 is fixedly connected to the end of the movable shaft 511 away from the corresponding hinge part, and the other end is fixedly connected to the end of the sleeve 541 away from the corresponding hinge part.

[0077] When the movable shaft 511 reciprocates axially under the action of airflow, the connecting rod 542 slides within the sleeve 541, and the return spring 543 provides a restoring force in real time. The elastic connector 54 both restricts the non-axial displacement of the movable shaft 511 and allows it to vibrate freely in the axial direction. While ensuring the stable movement of the movable shaft 511, the elastic buffer of the return spring 543 effectively absorbs the impact and suppresses the shaking, making the wind-induced vibration process smoother and more controllable.

[0078] This invention utilizes the airflow generated by the cooling fan 3 to directly drive multiple wind-induced self-excited vibration generators 51 installed on the side of the mounting frame 31 facing the battery stack 2, synchronously triggering high-frequency micro-amplitude vibrations during the operation of the battery stack 2 without the need for additional energy. This vibration is uniformly transmitted to all bipolar plates 22 via a rigidly connected vibration frame plate 521 and symmetrically arranged flexible adhesive strips 522, efficiently stripping liquid water and dust particles adhering to the cathode flow channel, and collecting contaminants through the bottom water collection tank 6.

[0079] The elastic connectors 54 on both sides of the movable shaft 511 ensure axial free vibration while effectively suppressing radial offset and swaying, ensuring stable and reliable vibration. The elastic layer 41 on the guide rod 4 provides micro-amplitude vibration limit for the bipolar plate 22, and the electromagnetically controlled stop device enables on-demand start and stop. Under non-clean operating conditions, it locks the vibration frame plate 521 to avoid interfering with normal power generation, and only releases it during maintenance to initiate self-cleaning. This alleviates the mass transfer deterioration problem caused by cathode flow channel blockage in open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stacks.

[0080] The above embodiments only illustrate one or more implementations of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function, comprising a shell and a battery stack disposed therein, the battery stack consisting of two end plates and a plurality of bipolar plates stacked at equal intervals between the two end plates, wherein a cathode flow channel is formed between every two adjacent bipolar plates, characterized in that, Also includes: A cooling fan is installed on one side of the housing to guide external airflow through the cathode channel. The housing is provided with a mounting frame for fixing the cooling fan at a corresponding position. The two guide rods are installed between the two end plates of the battery stack along the stacking direction. Each guide rod is fitted with an elastic layer on its outer periphery. Both sides of each bipolar plate are snapped between the two elastic layers and combined with the guide rods to form a micro-vibration limit along the wind direction. A vibration mechanism is disposed between the cooling fan and the battery stack for transmitting high-frequency micro-amplitude vibrations to the bipolar plates. The vibration mechanism includes a vibration generator and a vibration transmission structure connected thereto. The vibration generator is arranged facing the air inlet side of the cooling fan, and the vibration transmission structure is in contact with the edges of all the bipolar plates. A water collection tank, located at the bottom of the outer casing, is used to collect liquid water and particulate matter that have detached from the wall due to vibration but have not been completely carried out by the airflow. The vibration generator is a wind-induced self-excited structure, including a movable shaft and a vibration spring. The central axis of the movable shaft is set along the wind direction. A support plate is provided in the mounting frame. One end of the movable shaft extends through the support plate towards the battery stack and slides with the support plate. The vibration spring is sleeved on the movable shaft. The end of the vibration spring away from the battery stack is fixedly connected to the movable shaft, and the end closer to the battery stack is fixedly connected to the support plate. The vibration generator also includes two wind-induced vibration plates, which are thin sheet structures. The two wind-induced vibration plates are symmetrically arranged on the windward end face of the movable shaft, and cooperate with the movable shaft and the vibration spring to form a pneumatic elastic flutter effect. The vibration transmission structure includes a vibration frame plate and an adhesive strip detachably connected thereto. The vibration frame plate is fixedly connected to the extension end of each movable shaft, and the adhesive strip extends along the stacking direction of the battery pack and is attached to the edge of each bipolar plate.

2. The open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple vibration generators are provided and are evenly distributed on one side of the mounting frame facing the battery stack. The movable shaft of each vibration generator is fixedly connected to the vibration transmission structure.

3. The open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two rubber strips are symmetrically arranged in the vertical direction within the mounting frame, and each rubber strip is connected to the vibration frame plate.

4. The open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to claim 3, characterized in that, The vibrating frame plate is provided with stoppers at both ends to lock the vibrating frame plate in non-clean working conditions.

5. An open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The stop element is an elastic stop block. The end of the vibration frame plate is provided with a wedge block that fits with the contact surface of the elastic stop block. The outer side of the mounting frame is provided with a guide rail for the elastic stop block to slide on. The guide rail is provided with a linear driver for driving the elastic stop block to move outward and disengage from the wedge block.

6. The open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable shaft is provided with elastic connectors on both sides. One end of the elastic connector is connected to the movable shaft and the other end is connected to the support plate, which is used to provide axial floating support for the movable shaft.

7. An open-type air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack with vibration self-cleaning function according to claim 6, characterized in that, The elastic connector includes a sleeve and a connecting rod inserted therein at one end. The free end of the sleeve is hinged to the support plate, and the free end of the connecting rod is hinged to the movable shaft. The support plate and the movable shaft are respectively provided with corresponding hinge parts. A return spring is provided between the connecting rod and the sleeve. One end of the return spring is fixedly connected to the end of the movable shaft away from the corresponding hinge part, and the other end is fixedly connected to the end of the sleeve away from the corresponding hinge part.

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