Infiltration device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plate

Abstract

The utility model discloses an infiltration device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates, which comprises an infiltration tank, a liquid storage tank, a vacuum pump and an air compressor, the infiltration tank is connected with the liquid storage tank through a return pipeline and an infiltration pipeline, the vacuum pump is used for vacuumizing the infiltration tank, so that pressure difference exists between the infiltration tank and the liquid storage tank, and the air compressor is connected with the infiltration tank. The pressure difference enables the resin in the liquid storage tank to enter the infiltration tank through the infiltration pipeline; the air compressor injects compressed air into the infiltration tank through the pipeline after the infiltration pipeline is closed, so that the pressure in the infiltration tank is increased, and the impregnation between the resin and the graphite polar plate in the infiltration tank is promoted; after the impregnation of the graphite polar plate in the impregnation tank is completed, the air compressor stops working, the return pipeline is opened, and unconsumed resin in the impregnation tank enters the liquid storage tank through the return pipeline. By increasing the impregnation pressure in the impregnation tank, the impregnation time of the flexible graphite bipolar plate can be shortened, and the batch production efficiency of the PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plate is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of graphite bipolar plate preparation, in particular to an impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates. Background Art

[0002] The bipolar plate is an important component of PEMFC. Its main functions are to isolate and distribute oxidants and fuels, conduct current, support membrane electrodes, and regulate the internal temperature of the fuel cell stack. It needs to meet performance requirements in terms of conductivity, bending strength, and corrosion resistance.

[0003] Fuel cell bipolar plates are mainly made of graphite and metal materials. Metal bipolar plates have excellent mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, but poor corrosion resistance, which seriously restricts the practical application of metal bipolar plates. Graphite bipolar plates mainly include hard graphite bipolar plates prepared by mechanical engraving and flexible graphite bipolar plates prepared by molding and impregnation.

[0004] At present, flexible graphite bipolar plates are prepared by molding and impregnation. The flexible graphite plate raw material must first be molded by a press, then impregnated with resin through an impregnation device, and then cleaned, cured, dried, and bonded to the plates.

[0005] The main problem in the production process of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates is the relatively long impregnation time. It usually takes several hours or even longer to completely infiltrate the resin into the pores of the flexible graphite bipolar plates.

[0006] Therefore, the existing graphite bipolar plate impregnation process is not only time-consuming, but also has low efficiency in mass production. Utility Model Content

[0007] The utility model aims to provide an impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates, so as to solve the technical problems in the prior art that the impregnation process of graphite bipolar plates is not only time-consuming, but also has low efficiency in batch production and low performance of the obtained graphite bipolar plates.

[0008] In order to solve the above technical problems, the utility model specifically provides the following technical solutions:

[0009] An impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates, comprising:

[0010] Impregnation tank, used to place graphite plates;

[0011] A liquid storage tank, wherein a preset amount of resin solution is stored in the liquid storage tank, and the liquid storage tank is connected to the liquid storage tank and the impregnation tank through an impregnation pipeline and a reflux pipeline, respectively; the impregnation pipeline is used to form a passage for the resin solution from the liquid storage tank to the impregnation tank; the reflux pipeline is used to form a passage for the resin solution from the impregnation tank to the liquid storage tank;

[0012] A vacuum pump connected to the liquid storage tank and the impregnation tank, and used to evacuate the impregnation tank after placing a graphite electrode plate in the impregnation tank, so that there is a pressure difference between the impregnation tank and the liquid storage tank;

[0013] The impregnation pipeline is opened, the reflux pipeline is closed, the resin solution in the liquid storage tank enters the impregnation tank under the negative pressure in the impregnation tank, and then the impregnation pipeline is closed;

[0014] An air compressor is connected to the impregnation tank through a pipeline, and the air compressor pumps gas into the impregnation tank to make the pressure in the impregnation tank reach a preset value, so as to carry out the resin impregnation process of the graphite plate.

[0015] As a preferred solution of the utility model, the two ends of the return pipeline are respectively connected to the two ends of the impregnation pipeline, and the end of the return pipeline is connected to the impregnation pipeline through a three-way valve;

[0016] A filtering device is provided on the reflux pipeline;

[0017] After the graphite plate in the impregnation tank is impregnated, the three-way valve closes the impregnation pipeline, so that the unconsumed resin solution in the impregnation tank is filtered by the filtering device on the reflux pipeline and then enters the liquid storage tank.

[0018] As a preferred solution of the utility model, a gas booster device is provided on the pipeline, and the gas booster device is used to adjust the pressure of the compressed air injected into the impregnation tank by the air compressor device within a preset pressure range;

[0019] As a preferred solution of the utility model, the preset pressure adjustment range of the gas booster device is 0.8-1.5Mpa.

[0020] As a preferred solution of the utility model, the impregnation tank and the liquid storage tank are both provided with a pressure relief valve and a safety valve;

[0021] The safety valve opens to release pressure when the pressure of the impregnation tank or the liquid storage tank exceeds 1.5 MPa.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] The utility model reduces the impregnation time of the flexible graphite bipolar plate by increasing the impregnation pressure in the impregnation tank, thereby improving the batch production efficiency of the PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the implementation of the utility model or the technical solution in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for the implementation or the prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only exemplary, and for ordinary technicians in this field, other implementation drawings can be derived from the provided drawings without creative work.

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the utility model.

[0026] The numbers in the figure represent the following:

[0027] 1-Impregnation tank; 2-Liquid storage tank; 3-Vacuum pump; 4-Air compressor; 5-Impregnation pipeline; 6-Return pipeline; 7-Pipeline; 8-Three-way valve; 9-Filter device; 10-Gas booster device; 11-Pressure relief valve; 12-Safety valve; 13-First valve; 14-Second valve; 15-Third valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] 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.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides an impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates, comprising:

[0030] An impregnation tank 1 is used to place graphite plates;

[0031] A liquid storage tank 2 stores a preset amount of resin solution. The liquid storage tank 2 is connected to the liquid storage tank 2 and the impregnation tank 1 through an impregnation pipeline 5 and a reflux pipeline 6 respectively; the impregnation pipeline 5 is used to form a passage for the resin solution from the liquid storage tank 2 to the impregnation tank 1; the reflux pipeline 6 is used to form a passage for the resin solution from the impregnation tank 1 to the liquid storage tank 2.

[0032] When the device is working, the liquid storage tank 2 and the impregnation tank 1 are connected through the vacuum pump 3. The vacuum pump 3 is used to evacuate the impregnation tank 1 after placing the graphite plate in the impregnation tank 1, so that there is a pressure difference between the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2.

[0033] Then, the impregnation pipeline 5 is opened, the reflux pipeline 6 is closed, and the resin solution in the liquid storage tank 2 enters the impregnation tank 1 under the negative pressure in the impregnation tank 1, and then the impregnation pipeline 5 is closed.

[0034] The air compressor 4 is connected to the impregnation tank 1 through a pipeline 7. The air compressor 4 pumps gas into the impregnation tank 1 so that the pressure in the impregnation tank 1 reaches a preset value, so as to perform the resin impregnation process of the graphite plate.

[0035] In the implementation of the present device, the air compressor 4 is mainly used to pump gas into the impregnation tank 11, so that the graphite plates in the impregnation tank 1 are impregnated with resin under a certain pressure, which can greatly reduce the time required for the impregnation of the graphite bipolar plates and improve the bending strength of the finished graphite bipolar plates.

[0036] In the implementation of the device, compressed air is used as the boosting working fluid, which has a low cost and can avoid the problem of complex overall system structure caused by the need to provide and connect other working fluid supply equipment when using other working fluids.

[0037] In the above-mentioned resin supply method, it is generally not necessary to add a pump body for conveying the resin solution to provide power for the delivery of the resin solution, which is beneficial to reducing the structure of the entire system and reducing costs. By constructing a pressure conversion method between the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2, the problem of the system failing to work due to the failure of the conveying pump body is avoided, which is more conducive to the stability of the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2 system based on this method.

[0038] In the device, the liquid storage tank 2 and the impregnation tank 1 are connected through the main and branch pipes of the vacuum pump 3, so as to complete the positive and negative pressure control between the liquid storage tank 2 and the impregnation tank 1.

[0039] Of course, positive pressure can be applied to the impregnation tank 1 by using the air compressor 4. When the resin impregnation of the graphite plate is completed, the reflux line 6 is opened, and the resin in the impregnation tank 1 will flow into the liquid storage tank 2 under the action of the positive pressure, completing the one-way transportation of the resin solution between the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2.

[0040] Furthermore, when the impregnation line 5 is closed and the liquid storage tank 2 is kept at normal pressure, the resin in the impregnation tank 1 can completely enter the liquid storage tank 2 when the air is delivered by the air compressor, and then the valve of the reflux line 6 is closed. When the graphite bipolar plate is placed in the impregnation tank 1 next time, the valve of the reflux line 6 is first opened to connect the reflux line 6 to the liquid storage tank 2 to increase the pressure in the liquid storage tank 2, and then the valve on the reflux line is closed, and then the valve on the impregnation line 5 is opened to connect the impregnation line 5. At this time, the resin will enter the impregnation tank 1 through the impregnation line 5, and the pressure of the impregnation tank 1 has been released until it is in a negative pressure state.

[0041] In the above manner, the resin can be circulated in the two tanks through the air compressor, the impregnation pipeline 5 and the return pipeline 6, that is, it is not necessary to rely on additional vacuum equipment and gas pumping equipment, but to use the vacuum requirements required for the original impregnation and the existing negative pressure conditions generated by the air pressure impregnation to complete the flow of the resin solution.

[0042] Obviously, the operation steps are too complicated and require a larger resin pumping pressure, which places high demands on the structural performance of the liquid storage tank 2 and the impregnation tank 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2 are connected by the same vacuum pump 3 to adjust and convert the negative pressure difference between the two.

[0043] Furthermore, in the method provided in this embodiment, after each impregnation process is completed once or several times, when the resin solution flows back to the liquid storage tank 2 , the resin solution can be replenished into the liquid storage tank 2 .

[0044] Taking into account that the pressure in the impregnation tank 1 is set according to the impregnation needs, there is a situation where the air pressure in the impregnation tank 1 cannot meet the requirements for the resin solution to completely reflux to the liquid storage tank 2. The present embodiment can further add a vacuum pump 3. Before the reflux pipeline between the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2 is opened, part of the gas in the liquid storage tank 2 is extracted or the liquid storage tank 2 is evacuated to a vacuum state through the vacuum pump 3.

[0045] Considering that the pressure in the liquid storage tank 2 and the impregnation tank 1 may exceed the maximum pressure value or the target pressure value, thereby affecting the preparation of the graphite bipolar plate, this embodiment further provides the following examples:

[0046] The impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2 are both provided with a pressure relief valve 11 and a safety valve 12. The safety valve 12 is opened to release the pressure when the pressure of the impregnation tank 1 or the liquid storage tank 2 exceeds 1.5 MPa.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two ends of the return line 6 are respectively connected to the two ends of the impregnation line 5, and the end of the return line 6 is connected to the impregnation line 5 through the three-way valve 8. The return line 6 is not directly connected to the tank body on the impregnation tank 1 and the liquid storage tank 2, so that the structure of the tank body can be prevented from being excessively damaged, and the structural performance requirements of the tank body are relatively small.

[0048] A filtering device 9 is provided on the reflux pipeline 6; after the graphite plate in the impregnation tank 1 is impregnated, the three-way valve 8 closes the impregnation pipeline 5, so that the unconsumed resin solution in the impregnation tank 1 is filtered through the filtering device 9 on the reflux pipeline 6 and enters the liquid storage tank 2, and the graphite carbon powder particles contained in the impregnation resin in the impregnation tank 1 are filtered.

[0049] Of course, in order to facilitate the disassembly of the return pipe 6 and the cleaning of the filter device 9, the return pipe 6 and the impregnation pipe 5 can also be connected by a quick release.

[0050] A gas booster 10 is provided on the pipeline 7, and the gas booster 10 is used to adjust the pressure of the compressed air injected into the impregnation tank 1 by the air compressor device within a preset pressure range. The preset pressure adjustment range of the gas booster 10 is 0.8-1.5Mpa. Its purpose is to provide a dynamically adjustable pressure range in the impregnation tank 1 for gypsum bipolar plates with different performances, so that it can increase the pressure in the impregnation tank 1 to improve the impregnation efficiency while ensuring that the graphite bipolar plate is not subjected to excessive pressure to cause structural damage to the graphite bipolar plate.

[0051] A first valve 13 is provided on the first pipe 7 between the gas booster 10 and the impregnation tank 1, and a second valve 14 and a third valve 15 are respectively provided on the pipes connecting the vacuum pump 3 to the impregnation tank 1 and the resin liquid storage tank 2. By controlling the opening and closing of the second valve 14 and the third valve 15, the vacuum pump 3 creates a pressure difference in the impregnation tank 1 and the resin liquid storage tank 2.

[0052] The present embodiment relates to the technical field of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and in particular to an impregnation device for efficiently and mass-producing PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates. By adding a gas booster device to the gas pipeline (pipeline 7), the impregnation pressure is increased, thereby enabling mass production of high-performance PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates, reducing the impregnation time of the flexible graphite bipolar plates, and improving the mass production efficiency of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates.

[0053] At the same time, a filtering device 9 is added before the transmission channel between the impregnation tank and the resin storage tank, and the resin flowing out of the impregnation tank 1 is carried out through different pipelines through the impregnation pipeline 5 and the reflux pipeline 6, and the filtering device 9 is arranged on the reflux pipeline 6, so that the graphite carbon powder particles in the resin can be filtered during the resin reflux into the storage tank, and the resin transported to the impregnation tank 1 again remains clean and free of impurities, thereby not affecting the continuous operation of the impregnation tank 1, and there is no need to remove the graphite carbon powder particles by extracting the resin from the impregnation tank or the storage tank for precipitation, so that efficient mass production of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates can be achieved.

[0054] The above embodiments are only exemplary embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. The protection scope of the present application is defined by the claims. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications or equivalent substitutions to the present application within the essence and protection scope of the present application, and such modifications or equivalent substitutions shall also be deemed to fall within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates, characterized in that: include: An impregnation tank (1) for placing graphite plates; A liquid storage tank (2), wherein a preset amount of resin solution is stored in the liquid storage tank (2), and the liquid storage tank (2) is connected to the liquid storage tank (2) and the impregnation tank (1) respectively through an impregnation pipeline (5) and a return pipeline (6); the impregnation pipeline (5) is used to form a passage for the resin solution from the liquid storage tank (2) to the impregnation tank (1); and the return pipeline (6) is used to form a passage for the resin solution from the impregnation tank (1) to the liquid storage tank (2); a vacuum pump (3), the vacuum pump (3) being connected to the liquid storage tank (2) and the impregnation tank (1), the vacuum pump (3) being used to evacuate the impregnation tank (1) after placing a graphite electrode plate in the impregnation tank (1), so that a pressure difference exists between the impregnation tank (1) and the liquid storage tank (2); The impregnation pipeline (5) is opened, the reflux pipeline (6) is closed, and the resin solution in the liquid storage tank (2) enters the impregnation tank (1) under the negative pressure in the impregnation tank (1), and then the impregnation pipeline (5) is closed; An air compressor (4), the air compressor (4) being connected to the impregnation tank (1) via a pipeline (7), the air compressor (4) pumping gas into the impregnation tank (1) so that the pressure in the impregnation tank (1) reaches a preset value, so as to carry out the resin impregnation process of the graphite plate.

2. The impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two ends of the return pipeline (6) are respectively connected to the two ends of the impregnation pipeline (5), and the end of the return pipeline (6) is connected to the impregnation pipeline (5) via a three-way valve (8); A filtering device (9) is provided on the return line (6); After the graphite electrode in the impregnation tank (1) is impregnated, the three-way valve (8) closes the impregnation pipeline (5), allowing the unconsumed resin solution in the impregnation tank (1) to be filtered through the filtering device (9) on the reflux pipeline (6) and then enter the liquid storage tank (2).

3. The impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates according to claim 2, characterized in that: A gas booster device (10) is provided on the pipeline (7), and the gas booster device (10) is used to adjust the pressure of the compressed air injected into the impregnation tank (1) by the air compressor device within a preset pressure range.

4. The impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates according to claim 3, characterized in that: The preset pressure adjustment range of the gas boosting device (10) is 0.8-1.5 MPa.

5. The impregnation device for batch preparation of PEMFC flexible graphite bipolar plates according to claim 3, characterized in that: The impregnation tank (1) and the liquid storage tank (2) are both provided with a pressure relief valve (11) and a safety valve (12); The safety valve (12) opens to release pressure when the pressure in the impregnation tank (1) or the liquid storage tank (2) exceeds 1.5 MPa.

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