Fuel cell testing device

Abstract

The utility model provides a fuel cell testing device which comprises a collector plate, a current density acquisition plate, a first polar plate, a membrane electrode, a second polar plate and a transparent plate which are arranged in sequence, the first polar plate, the membrane electrode and the second polar plate form a single cell, and the current density acquisition plate is used for acquiring the current density of current generated when the single cell reacts; one side, facing the membrane electrode, of the second polar plate is provided with a second gas flow channel, and an inlet distribution area, a second activation area and an outlet distribution area which are sequentially arranged; at least in the second activation region, the second gas flow channel penetrates through the second polar plate along the thickness direction of the second polar plate. In the scheme, the distribution condition of the current density can be tested through the current density acquisition plate, and the distribution condition of liquid water generated during the reaction of the single battery can be observed through the transparent plate. According to the scheme, the current density and the liquid water distribution of the fuel cell are tested at the same time, so that two sets of devices do not need to be used for testing respectively, and the cost of the testing device is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of fuel cells, in particular to a fuel cell testing device. Background Art

[0002] Liquid water is produced during the operation of the fuel cell, which is generated disorderly in the activated area of ​​the plate. The presence of liquid water will block the reaction gas from reaching the catalyst, increase mass transfer losses, and cause a decrease in current density. In severe cases, local water flooding will cause a series of fault phenomena such as reverse polarity, coating shedding, and platinum dissolution, thereby reducing battery performance.

[0003] Currently, the tests on fuel cell current density and liquid water distribution are conducted separately. There is currently no test device that unifies the two tests. This will, on the one hand, result in high cost of the test device, and on the other hand, it is not easy to study the correlation between current density and liquid water distribution. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model provides a fuel cell testing device to achieve the purpose of testing the current density and liquid water distribution of the fuel cell at the same time.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides a fuel cell testing device, comprising a current collecting plate, a current density collecting plate, a first electrode plate, a membrane electrode, a second electrode plate and a transparent plate arranged in sequence, wherein the first electrode plate, the membrane electrode and the second electrode plate constitute a single cell, the current density collecting plate is used to collect the current density of the current generated during the reaction of the single cell, and the second electrode plate is provided with a second gas flow channel on the side facing the membrane electrode, as well as an inlet distribution area, a second activation area, and an outlet distribution area arranged in sequence; at least in the second activation area, the second gas flow channel penetrates the second electrode plate along the thickness direction of the second electrode plate.

[0006] Furthermore, the first electrode plate includes a first plate body and a second plate body which are stacked, the first plate body has a first gas flow channel on the side facing the membrane electrode, the first plate body and the second plate body are sealed and connected at their peripheries, a cooling flow channel for cooling liquid to flow is provided between the first plate body and the second plate body, and the second plate body is bonded to and electrically connected to the current density collection plate.

[0007] Furthermore, the current density collection board includes a support board and a current data collection surface arranged in the middle of the support board, the support board is made of insulating material, the current data collection surface is made of conductive material, and the current data collection surface is divided into a plurality of current collection areas.

[0008] Furthermore, the second gas flow channel located in the second activation zone includes at least one of a straight flow channel and a curved flow channel.

[0009] Furthermore, the ends of the current collecting plate and the second electrode plate are provided with lugs, and the lugs are used to connect to an electrical load.

[0010] Furthermore, the membrane electrode comprises a membrane assembly and a frame, the membrane assembly has a first activation area, the frame is arranged around the first activation area, and the frame is made of an insulating material.

[0011] Furthermore, the fuel cell testing device also includes a gas port end plate, which is located on the side of the transparent plate away from the second electrode plate, and an observation port is provided in the middle of the gas port end plate, which corresponds to the second activation area.

[0012] Furthermore, the fuel cell testing device further comprises a blind end plate, which is located on a side of the current collecting plate away from the current density collecting plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the fuel cell testing device further comprises an insulating plate, and the insulating plate is located between the current collecting plate and the blind end plate.

[0014] Furthermore, the fuel cell testing device also includes an imaging magnification structure, and an observation port of the imaging magnification structure faces a position of the transparent plate corresponding to the second activation area.

[0015] The technical scheme of the utility model is applied to provide a fuel cell testing device, including a collector plate, a current density collection plate, a first electrode plate, a membrane electrode, a second electrode plate and a transparent plate arranged in sequence, wherein the first electrode plate, the membrane electrode and the second electrode plate constitute a single cell, the current density collection plate is used to collect the current density of the current generated when the single cell reacts, and the second electrode plate is provided with a second gas flow channel on the side facing the membrane electrode, as well as an inlet distribution area, a second activation area and an outlet distribution area arranged in sequence; at least in the second activation area, the second gas flow channel penetrates the second electrode plate along the thickness direction of the second electrode plate. In this scheme, the single cell generates current and liquid water during the reaction, and the current is transmitted to the power load through the current density collection plate and the collector plate. The distribution of the current density can be tested through the current density collection plate. At the same time, the distribution of the liquid water generated during the reaction of the single cell in the second activation area can be observed through the transparent plate and the second gas flow channel penetrating the second activation area. A fuel cell is composed of multiple single cells. Through this solution, the current density and liquid water distribution of the fuel cell can be tested simultaneously. This eliminates the need to use two sets of equipment for separate testing. On the one hand, this reduces the cost of the testing equipment, and on the other hand, it is conducive to studying the correlation between current density and liquid water distribution, and then optimizing the fuel cell by analyzing the situation to improve performance.

[0016] This device is designed based on fuel cell products. The end adopts a visual structure and simultaneously measures the liquid water distribution and current density distribution in the reaction channel. According to the test parameters, it is helpful to establish the correlation between the liquid water distribution and the current density distribution in the activation zone, so as to achieve the purpose of simultaneous testing of current density and liquid water distribution. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The drawings constituting part of the present application are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present invention. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a fuel cell testing device provided by an embodiment of the utility model is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the current density acquisition board;

[0020] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the membrane electrode;

[0021] Figure 4 Shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second electrode plate;

[0022] Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 Another view of the second plate in FIG.

[0023] The above drawings include the following reference numerals:

[0024] 10. Collector plate;

[0025] 20. Current density collection board;

[0026] 21. Support plate;

[0027] 22. Current data collection interface;

[0028] 30. a first electrode plate;

[0029] 31. a first gas flow channel;

[0030] 40. Membrane electrode;

[0031] 41. The first activation zone;

[0032] 42. Border;

[0033] 50. second plate;

[0034] 51. a second gas flow channel;

[0035] 521, entrance distribution area;

[0036] 522, second activation zone;

[0037] 523. Export distribution area;

[0038] 60. Transparent plate;

[0039] 70. Gas port end plate;

[0040] 71. Observation port;

[0041] 80. Blind end plate;

[0042] 90. Insulation board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] 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. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is by no means a limitation on the utility model and its application or use. Based on the embodiments in the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, an embodiment of the utility model provides a fuel cell testing device, comprising a current collecting plate 10, a current density collecting plate 20, a first electrode plate 30, a membrane electrode 40, a second electrode plate 50 and a transparent plate 60 arranged in sequence, wherein the first electrode plate 30, the membrane electrode 40 and the second electrode plate 50 constitute a single cell, the current density collecting plate 20 is used to collect the current density of the current generated during the reaction of the single cell, and the second electrode plate 50 is provided with a second gas flow channel 51 on the side facing the membrane electrode 40, as well as an inlet distribution area 521, a second activation area 522, and an outlet distribution area 523 arranged in sequence; at least in the second activation area 522, the second gas flow channel 51 penetrates the second electrode plate 50 along the thickness direction of the second electrode plate 50.

[0045] In this scheme, the fuel cell is composed of a plurality of single cells, which generate electric current and liquid water during the reaction. The first electrode plate 30, the membrane electrode 40 and the second electrode plate 50 form a single cell. The first electrode plate 30, the membrane electrode 40 and the second electrode plate 50 are respectively provided with three flow ports at both ends for circulating hydrogen, air, coolant, etc., which is a conventional single cell design. Optionally, the two ends of the transparent plate 60 and the second electrode plate 50 are also correspondingly designed with three flow ports to facilitate the injection of hydrogen, air and coolant. In addition, the transparent plate 60 can also be a closed plate without a flow port, and hydrogen, air, coolant, etc. are introduced through an external pipeline or other conventional methods. For details, refer to the prior art, and this embodiment will not be listed one by one.

[0046] When the single cell is running, the current is transmitted to the power load through the current density collection plate 20 and the current collecting plate 10. The distribution of the current density can be tested through the current density collection plate 20. At the same time, the second gas flow channel 51 flows through the inlet distribution area 521, the second activation area 522 and the outlet distribution area 523. The distribution of the liquid water generated during the reaction of the single cell in the second activation area 522 can be observed through the transparent plate 60 and the second gas flow channel 51 running through the second activation area 522. Through this scheme, the current density and liquid water distribution of the fuel cell are tested simultaneously, so there is no need to use two sets of equipment for separate testing. On the one hand, the cost of the test equipment is reduced, and on the other hand, it is conducive to studying the correlation between the current density and the liquid water distribution, and then optimizing the fuel cell by analyzing the situation to improve the performance.

[0047] In this solution, the current density collection plate 20 is a common component in this field. Its structure and specific principle can refer to the existing technology, and this embodiment will not elaborate on it.

[0048] Among them, the first electrode plate 30 includes a first plate body and a second plate body stacked, and the first plate body has a first gas flow channel 31 on the side facing the membrane electrode 40 for inputting the reaction gas, and the periphery of the first plate body and the second plate body is sealed and connected, and a cooling flow channel is provided between the first plate body and the second plate body, and the second plate body and the current density collection plate 20 are fitted and electrically connected. Cooling liquid is input into the cooling flow channel to cool the reaction area so that it is kept at a suitable temperature. Moreover, through the above arrangement, the cooling liquid will not leak and will not contact the membrane electrode 40 and the current density collection plate 20. The first electrode plate 30 can specifically adopt a bipolar plate commonly used in the art. The cooling liquid can be a liquid used for cooling, such as cooling water.

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, the current density acquisition board 20 includes a support plate 21 and a current data acquisition surface 22 disposed in the middle of the support plate 21. The support plate 21 is made of insulating material, and the current data acquisition surface 22 is made of conductive material, such as a copper surface gold-plated material. The current data acquisition surface 22 is divided into a plurality of current acquisition areas. The current in each acquisition area is collected separately to obtain the current density distribution. The current data acquisition surface 22 corresponds to the reaction area of ​​the fuel cell.

[0050] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, there are multiple second gas flow channels 51, and the second activation area 522 corresponds to the first activation area 41 of the membrane electrode 40. This area is the liquid water production area. Therefore, the parts of the multiple second gas flow channels 51 located in the second activation area 522 are set to pass through the second electrode plate 50, and the second electrode plate 50 and the transparent plate 60 are tightly fitted, so that both gas transportation can be realized and the produced liquid water can be observed.

[0051] The second gas flow channel 51 located in the second activation zone 522 includes at least one of a straight flow channel and a curved flow channel. Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment, the plurality of second gas flow channels 51 in the second activation zone 522 are arranged side by side, and the second gas flow channels 51 are straight flow channels. In other embodiments not shown in the figure, the second gas flow channels 51 can also be arranged as curved flow channels, such as wavy flow channels. The specific shape of the second gas flow channels 51 is selected according to actual needs.

[0052] The second gas flow channel 51 located in the second activation zone 522 can be a single straight flow channel, a single curved flow channel, or a section of a straight flow channel and a section of a curved flow channel, which are arranged in an orderly or disorderly alternating manner.

[0053] Specifically, the reaction gases flowing through the first electrode plate 30 and the second electrode plate 50 are air and hydrogen respectively, so that the first electrode plate 30 is used as a cathode plate and the second electrode plate 50 is used as an anode plate, and the water distribution state on the anode plate side is observed. In addition, the first electrode plate 30 can also be used as an anode plate (the reaction gas flowing through is hydrogen) and the second electrode plate 50 can be used as a cathode plate (the reaction gas flowing through is oxygen), and a suitable membrane electrode 40 can be selected to observe the water distribution state on the cathode plate side.

[0054] The ends of the current collecting plate 10 and the second electrode plate 50 are both provided with lugs, and the lugs are used to connect the electrical load. Thus, the second electrode plate 50 is both an anode plate and a current collecting plate.

[0055] like Figure 3 As shown, the membrane electrode 40 includes a membrane assembly and a frame 42, the membrane assembly has a first activation area 41, the frame 42 is arranged around the first activation area 41, the frame 42 is made of insulating material, and oxygen and hydrogen react in the first activation area 41 of the membrane assembly. The transparent plate 60 is an acrylic plate, which is low in cost and has an insulating effect. Of course, other materials can also be selected as needed.

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, the fuel cell test device further includes a gas port end plate 70, which is located on the side of the transparent plate 60 away from the second electrode plate 50, and an observation port 71 is provided in the middle of the gas port end plate 70, and the observation port 71 corresponds to the second activation area 522 of the second electrode plate 50. The gas port end plate 70 protects the end of the fuel cell test device. The gas port end plate 70 can be made of stainless steel, or other materials can be selected as needed.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, the fuel cell test device further includes a blind end plate 80, which is located on the side of the current collecting plate 10 away from the current density collecting plate 20. The blind end plate 80 protects the end of the fuel cell test device. The side where the blind end plate 80 is located does not need to flow medium, so a whole plate without holes is used.

[0058] Furthermore, the blind end plate 80 is made of stainless steel to ensure structural strength, and other materials may be selected as needed. The fuel cell testing device also includes an insulating plate 90, which is located between the current collecting plate 10 and the blind end plate 80. This ensures insulation and avoids leakage.

[0059] Furthermore, the fuel cell testing device further includes an imaging magnification structure, the observation port of which faces the transparent plate 60 corresponding to the position of the second activation area 522. The imaging magnification structure can be an electron microscope or other structure, and further observation through the imaging magnification structure is clearer and more accurate than observation with the naked eye.

[0060] In this solution, different openings are provided on the gas port end plate 70, the transparent plate 60, the second electrode plate 50, the membrane electrode 40 and the first electrode plate 30 for the flow of air, hydrogen and coolant.

[0061] This device is designed based on fuel cell products. The end adopts a visual structure and measures the liquid water distribution and current density distribution in the reaction flow channel at the same time. According to the test parameters, it is helpful to establish the correlation between the liquid water distribution and the current density distribution in the activation zone. During the operation of the fuel cell stack, the distribution state of liquid water can be explained by the current density distribution state in the flow channel, and then explain abnormal conditions such as flooding, coating shedding, platinum dissolution, etc. during the operation of the large stack, and through strategy optimization, the life of the fuel cell stack can be improved.

[0062] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the utility model, and is not intended to limit the utility model. For those skilled in the art, the utility model can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the utility model shall be included in the protection scope of the utility model.

[0063] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0064] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​of the parts and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the utility model. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. The technology, method and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but in appropriate cases, the technology, method and equipment should be considered as a part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be interpreted as being only exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once a certain item is defined in an accompanying drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0065] In the description of the present utility model, it needs to be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "lateral, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present utility model and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present utility model; the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the contours of each component itself.

[0066] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used here to describe the spatial positional relationship between a device or feature and other devices or features as shown in the figure. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figure. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" may include both "above" and "below". The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.

[0067] In addition, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to limit components is only to facilitate the distinction between corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the utility model.

Claims

1. A fuel cell testing device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a current collecting plate (10), a current density collecting plate (20), a first electrode plate (30), a membrane electrode (40), a second electrode plate (50) and a transparent plate (60) which are arranged in sequence, wherein the first electrode plate (30), the membrane electrode (40) and the second electrode plate (50) constitute a single cell, the current density collecting plate (20) is used to collect the current density of the current generated during the reaction of the single cell, and the second electrode plate (50) is provided with a second gas flow channel (51) on the side facing the membrane electrode (40), as well as an inlet distribution area (521), a second activation area (522) and an outlet distribution area (523) which are arranged in sequence; at least in the second activation area (522), the second gas flow channel (51) penetrates the second electrode plate (50) along the thickness direction of the second electrode plate (50).

2. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first electrode plate (30) comprises a first plate body and a second plate body which are stacked, the first plate body having a first gas flow channel (31) on a side facing the membrane electrode (40), the first plate body and the second plate body being sealed and connected at their peripheries, a cooling flow channel for cooling liquid to flow between the first plate body and the second plate body, and the second plate body and the current density collection plate (20) being bonded and electrically connected.

3. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The current density collection plate (20) comprises a support plate (21) and a current data collection surface (22) arranged in the middle of the support plate (21); the support plate (21) is made of insulating material; the current data collection surface (22) is made of conductive material; and the current data collection surface (22) is divided into a plurality of current collection areas.

4. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second gas flow channel (51) located in the second activation zone (522) includes at least one of a straight flow channel and a curved flow channel.

5. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ends of the current collecting plate (10) and the second electrode plate (50) are both provided with lugs, and the lugs are used to connect an electrical load.

6. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The membrane electrode (40) comprises a membrane assembly and a frame (42), wherein the membrane assembly has a first activation area (41), the frame (42) is arranged around the first activation area (41), and the frame (42) is made of insulating material.

7. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fuel cell testing device further comprises a gas port end plate (70), the gas port end plate (70) being located on a side of the transparent plate (60) away from the second electrode plate (50), an observation port (71) being provided in the middle of the gas port end plate (70), the observation port (71) corresponding to the second activation area (522).

8. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fuel cell testing device further comprises a blind end plate (80), wherein the blind end plate (80) is located on a side of the current collecting plate (10) away from the current density collecting plate (20).

9. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fuel cell testing device further comprises an insulating plate (90), wherein the insulating plate (90) is located between the current collecting plate (10) and the blind end plate (80).

10. The fuel cell testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fuel cell testing device further comprises an imaging magnification structure, wherein an observation port of the imaging magnification structure faces the transparent plate (60) at a position corresponding to the second activation area (522).

Images