Pressure monitoring device for fuel cell assembly and operation process

Abstract

The utility model discloses a pressure monitoring device for fuel cell assembly and operation processes. The pressure monitoring device comprises a flexible circuit board; the flexible circuit board is arranged between two adjacent single batteries; a plurality of acquisition units are embedded in the flexible circuit board, and the two ends of the flexible circuit board deform in a stress state to drive the acquisition units to deform and send electric signals; the acquisition unit is connected with the monitoring assembly and sends an electric signal to the monitoring assembly for pressure display; according to the device, the flexible circuit board is designed to be connected with the monitoring assembly, so that the flexible circuit board can be arranged at a position between any two adjacent single batteries on the inner side of a galvanic pile, the consistency of the pressure and the position between the two single batteries is monitored, and the monitoring assembly is used for displaying; and the pressure distribution condition of the fuel cell equipment and the operation process can be monitored in real time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of fuel cells, in particular to a pressure monitoring device during the assembly and operation of a fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] During the entire life cycle of a fuel cell stack, the stack assembly force plays a very important role in the stack performance. During the stack assembly process, if the assembly force is too small, the sealing ring and the gas diffusion layer are not compressed enough, gas leakage and excessive contact resistance will occur; if the assembly force is too large, the gas diffusion layer can easily invade the flow channel, affecting the gas flow resistance, and even destroying the structure of the gas diffusion layer, affecting mass transfer. During the operation of the stack, the material will also change due to thermal expansion and contraction, as well as plastic deformation. Therefore, timely response according to the changes in assembly force plays a very important role in improving the performance of the stack.

[0003] Currently, the battery pressure is detected online by installing pressure sensors at locations such as mounting brackets and end plates outside the battery stack. However, this method can only detect the pressure of the entire battery stack and cannot reflect the pressure values ​​and consistency of each single battery area inside the battery stack. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model aims to solve the shortcomings in the prior art and proposes a pressure monitoring device for the assembly and operation process of a fuel cell.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solution: a pressure monitoring device for the assembly and operation process of a fuel cell, comprising:

[0006] Flexible circuit boards;

[0007] The flexible circuit board is arranged between two adjacent single cells;

[0008] The flexible circuit board is embedded with a plurality of collection units, and both ends of the flexible circuit board are deformed under stress, driving the collection units to deform and send electrical signals;

[0009] The acquisition unit is connected to the monitoring component and sends an electrical signal to the monitoring component to display the pressure.

[0010] As a further description of the above technical solution: the single cell includes a membrane electrode, bipolar plates are arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode, the flexible circuit board is clamped and installed by the bipolar plates, and is packaged by end plates on the outer side of the bipolar plates.

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution: the acquisition unit includes a sensor, and the sensor is located on the inner side of the flexible circuit board.

[0012] As a further description of the above technical solution: conductive layers are arranged on both sides of the sensor, and the size of the conductive layers is larger than the size of the sensor, so as to limit the sensor.

[0013] As a further description of the above technical solution: the conductive layer is deformed under stress, squeezing the sensor, and the pressure is collected by the sensor to generate an electrical signal.

[0014] As a further description of the above technical solution: the conductive layer is coplanar with the end surface of the flexible circuit board and is bonded to the bipolar plate.

[0015] As a further description of the above technical solution: an insulating layer is provided on at least one side between the sensor and the conductive layer.

[0016] As a further description of the above technical solution: one side of the flexible circuit board extends outward to form a connector, which is connected to the monitoring component through the connector.

[0017] As a further description of the above technical solution: both sides of the flexible circuit board are set as hollow structures.

[0018] As a further description of the above technical solution: the monitoring component is an I-Scan pressure distribution measurement system.

[0019] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. By designing a connection between a flexible circuit board and a monitoring component, the flexible circuit board can be set between any two adjacent cells inside the fuel cell stack to monitor the consistency of pressure and position between the two cells and display it through the monitoring component. The pressure distribution during the operation of the fuel cell equipment can be monitored in real time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the pressure monitoring device proposed by the utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the flexible circuit board in the utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of the flexible circuit board in the utility model.

[0024] Legend:

[0025] 1. Flexible circuit board; 11. Membrane electrode; 12. Bipolar plate; 13. Connector; 14. End plate; 2. Collection unit; 21. Sensor; 22. Conductive layer; 23. Insulating layer; 3. Monitoring component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0027] Reference Figure 1-Figure 3 The utility model provides an embodiment: a pressure monitoring device for the assembly and operation process of a fuel cell, comprising: a flexible circuit board 1; the flexible circuit board 1 is arranged between two adjacent single cells; a plurality of collection units 2 are embedded in the flexible circuit board 1, and both ends of the flexible circuit board 1 are deformed under stress, driving the collection units 2 to deform and send electrical signals; the collection units 2 are connected to the monitoring component 3, and send the electrical signals to the monitoring component 3 for pressure display.

[0028] In this embodiment, the material of the flexible circuit board 1 is a printed circuit board made of polyimide or polyester film as a substrate, which has excellent characteristics such as light weight, thin thickness, and free bending and folding. The flexible circuit board 1 is placed between the single cells, the pressure between two adjacent single cells is monitored, and the installation consistency between the two single cells is monitored. During the assembly process, the flexible circuit board 1 installed between the two single cells can monitor the clamping force generated during assembly. In the working state, the pressure of the single cell is monitored under the diffusion of gas in the fuel cell stack. The flexible circuit board 1 is deformed by force, and then the collection unit 2 embedded above is deformed, so that the electrical signal generated by the monitoring changes and is sent to the monitoring component 3 for display.

[0029] The single cell includes a membrane electrode 11 , and bipolar plates 12 are arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode 11 . The flexible circuit board 1 is clamped and installed by the bipolar plates 12 , and is packaged by end plates 14 on the outer sides of the bipolar plates 12 .

[0030] In this embodiment, at least one flexible circuit board 1 is provided. When the maximum number is one less than the number of single cells, it is arranged alternately with the single cells. The pressure of the single cells in the battery stack can be monitored at the same time, and they are clamped and installed on both sides through end plates 14. The flexible circuit board 1 can monitor the pressure between the single cells during the installation process.

[0031] The acquisition unit 2 includes a sensor 21 , which is located inside the flexible circuit board 1 . Conductive layers 22 are provided on both sides of the sensor 21 . The size of the conductive layer 22 is larger than that of the sensor 21 , so as to limit the position of the sensor 21 .

[0032] In this embodiment, the sensor 21 is a pressure sensor. Conductive layers 22 are provided on both sides of the sensor 21. The conductive layers 22 are metal conductors. The conductive layers 22 are located on both sides of the sensor 21 to limit the sensor 21 and prevent the sensor 21 from falling off.

[0033] The conductive layer 22 is deformed under stress and squeezes the sensor 21. The sensor 21 collects the pressure and generates an electrical signal.

[0034] In this embodiment, when the flexible circuit board 1 is deformed by force, the conductive layer 22 is also deformed, and the force on the two side faces of the sensor 21 can be monitored. The two sides of the sensor 21 are squeezed, and the generated pressure is monitored and then an electrical signal is generated and sent.

[0035] The conductive layer 22 is coplanar with the end surface of the flexible circuit board 1 and is bonded to the bipolar plate 12 .

[0036] In this embodiment, the conductive layer 22 is coplanar with the end surface of the flexible circuit board 1 , so as to avoid protrusions or depressions on the flexible circuit board 1 during installation, which may cause inaccurate pressure monitoring data of the sensor 21 when deformation occurs.

[0037] An insulating layer 23 is provided on at least one side between the sensor 21 and the conductive layer 22 .

[0038] In this embodiment, the insulating layer 23 is made of PTFE material and is coated on both side end surfaces of the sensor 21. It can also be used during the battery stack performance test. At the same time, it can also prevent the sensor 21 from being affected by the conductive layer 22 and causing interference to the transmitted electrical signal.

[0039] One side of the flexible circuit board 1 extends outward to form a connector 13 , which is connected to the monitoring component 3 via the connector 13 .

[0040] In this embodiment, by extending the connector 13 outward, the monitoring component 3 can be electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board 1, and the monitored electrical signal can be sent to the monitoring component 3 for display.

[0041] Both sides of the flexible circuit board 1 are configured as hollow structures to serve as a common flow channel.

[0042] Monitoring component 3 is the I-Scan pressure distribution measurement system, which uses a thin and flexible sensor sheet to accurately measure and analyze the interface pressure between two surfaces. The system consists of three parts: a data acquisition device, a sensor sheet, and software. Real-time monitoring is achieved by running the monitoring software on a computer.

[0043] In a specific embodiment,

[0044] Insert the USB interface of the data acquisition device into the computer, open the handle to 90 degrees, insert the sensor 21 into the data acquisition device to the bottom, and close the handle.

[0045] At this time, the indicator lights on the upper left corner and the lower part of the data capture device are green, indicating that the installation is successful. If they are yellow, it means that the software is installing the data capture device hardware driver.

[0046] After completion, the position of the sensor 21 is calibrated, the maximum force required for the experiment is pressed on the sensor 21, and a color level comparison chart is retrieved.

[0047] It should be noted that when pink appears, it means that the sensitivity of sensor 21 is too high and needs to be reduced; when blue appears, it means that the sensitivity of sensor 21 is too low and needs to be increased; when there are multiple colors distributed, it means that the sensitivity is appropriate.

[0048] After completing the calibration of sensor 21, a pressure test is performed. Assuming that the maximum possible force value during the test is 10000N, 10 parameters are selected for division, 1000N, 2000N... and so on. The last calibration point is 10000N. After completing the above operations, during the process of pressing the press and the entire test process, the core force will be displayed in real time on the computer operation interface.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features therein. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pressure monitoring device for the assembly and operation of a fuel cell, characterized in that: include: Flexible circuit board (1); The flexible circuit board (1) is arranged between two adjacent single batteries; The flexible circuit board (1) is embedded with a plurality of collection units (2), and both ends of the flexible circuit board (1) are deformed under stress, thereby driving the collection units (2) to deform and send electrical signals; The acquisition unit (2) is connected to the monitoring component (3) and sends an electrical signal to the monitoring component (3) for pressure display.

2. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The single cell comprises a membrane electrode (11), bipolar plates (12) are arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode (11), the flexible circuit board (1) is clamped and installed by the bipolar plates (12), and is packaged on the outer side of the bipolar plates (12) by end plates (14).

3. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The acquisition unit (2) comprises a sensor (21), and the sensor (21) is located on the inner side of the flexible circuit board (1).

4. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 3, characterized in that: Conductive layers (22) are provided on both sides of the sensor (21); the size of the conductive layer (22) is larger than the size of the sensor (21), and the sensor (21) is limited in position.

5. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The conductive layer (22) deforms under stress, compresses the sensor (21), collects the pressure received through the sensor (21), and generates an electrical signal.

6. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The conductive layer (22) is coplanar with the end surface of the flexible circuit board (1) and is bonded to the bipolar plate (12).

7. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: An insulating layer (23) is provided on at least one side between the sensor (21) and the conductive layer (22).

8. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One side of the flexible circuit board (1) extends outward to form a connector (13), which is connected to the monitoring component (3) via the connector (13).

9. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both sides of the flexible circuit board (1) are arranged as hollow structures.

10. The pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The monitoring component (3) is an I-Scan pressure distribution measurement system.

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