Lightweight composite end plate
Through the combined structure of the aluminum alloy outer plate and the high-strength flame-retardant plastic insulated inner plate, the integrated injection molding technology and sealing connection design are used to solve the problem of sealing fuel cell end plates in low temperature environments, and the end plates are lightweight and structurally stable.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421522913.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-20
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-28
AI Technical Summary
The sealing ring shrinks in low-temperature environments, resulting in seal damage, and current leakage or short circuit may occur, affecting system efficiency and safety. At the same time, traditional end plates are relatively heavy and it is difficult to achieve a lightweight design.
The combined structure of an aluminum alloy outer plate and a high-strength flame-retardant plastic insulated inner plate is adopted. Through the integrated injection molding technology, the sealing connection and the sealing fitting are used to realize sealing connection, reducing dependence on the sealing ring, and improving structural strength by strengthening the connection and reinforcement ribs.
It realizes the maintenance of seal reliability in low-temperature environments, avoids the risk of current leakage and short circuit, and greatly reduces the weight of the end plate, promoting the lightweight and structural stability of the fuel cell stack.
Smart Images
Figure CN223006795U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly relates to a lightweight composite end plate. Background Art
[0002] A fuel cell is a device that directly converts fuel into electrical energy using chemical energy. It is similar to a battery, but different from a traditional battery that needs to be charged and then releases the stored electrical energy. A fuel cell can continuously generate electrical energy when fuel and oxygen are continuously supplied. A fuel cell can use a variety of fuels, such as hydrogen, methanol, natural gas, etc. Among them, hydrogen is one of the most commonly used fuels because only water is produced in the oxidation reaction of hydrogen and there is no pollutant emission, so it has been continuously promoted and developed in practical applications.
[0003] As one of the important components of the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell end plate needs to undertake the functions of both conducting electricity and insulating. The electrode reaction area is usually made of a metal material and has good electrical conductivity. However, due to the electrochemical reaction and the presence of moisture inside the fuel cell, the end plate may be exposed to a humid environment, so it is necessary to ensure its electrical insulation performance. To achieve this, an insulating plastic material is usually set on the surface of the electrode reaction area, which can prevent current from passing through the metal material of the end plate and reduce the risk of current leakage and short circuit. To ensure the sealing between the electrode reaction area and the insulating plastic material, prevent hydrogen or oxygen from leaking in the electrode reaction area, and prevent the moisture generated in the fuel cell from leaking out through the defects or leakage points of the insulating plastic, currently, the sealing reliability is generally achieved by adding a sealing ring at the installation interface between the insulating plate and the metal plate. However, in a low-temperature environment, the sealing ring or the plastic insulating plate may shrink, thus destroying the seal of the electrode reaction area, and current leakage or short circuit may occur in the electrode reaction area, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of the fuel cell system, fuel waste, and safety risks.
[0004] In addition, with the further development of fuel cell technology and considering the actual needs during the application process, the lightweight design of fuel cells has attracted more and more attention. As an important component of the fuel cell stack, the lightweight design of the end plate has also been increasingly emphasized. Summary of the Utility Model
[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a lightweight composite end plate to solve the problem that the use of a sealing ring to seal the insulating plate and the metal plate in the common end plate of a fuel cell is likely to damage the sealing reliability due to the shrinkage of the sealing ring in a low-temperature environment, and to ensure the structural strength of the end plate while realizing the lightweight of the end plate, thereby ensuring the structural stability of the fuel cell stack.
[0006] To achieve the above object, the present utility model provides a lightweight composite end plate, which includes an alloy outer plate and a plastic insulating inner plate. The alloy outer plate and the plastic insulating inner plate are integrally formed by injection molding. The alloy outer plate has a sealed connection part, and the plastic insulating inner plate has a sealed mating part corresponding to and mating with the sealed connection part. On the side of the alloy outer plate facing the plastic insulating inner plate, there is a support part, and the support part is provided with a reinforcing connection part. The plastic insulating inner plate has a reinforcing mating part corresponding to and mating with the reinforcing connection part.
[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, on the side of the alloy outer plate facing the plastic insulating inner plate, there is an installation area. The installation area has the same shape as the plastic insulating inner plate, and the edge of the installation area is provided with the sealed connection part, and the edge of the plastic insulating inner plate is provided with the sealed mating part.
[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the sealed connection part is a T-shaped groove arranged along the contour of the installation area and surrounding the installation area, and the sealed mating part is a T-shaped protrusion adapted to the T-shaped groove.
[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the inner wall of the T-shaped groove is provided with a sealing protrusion, and the outer wall of the T-shaped protrusion has a sealing groove corresponding to the sealing protrusion.
[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the installation area is provided with a plurality of flow channel through holes, and there are a plurality of support parts. The plurality of support parts are arranged at the edges of the flow channel through holes.
[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the reinforcing connection part is a plurality of T-shaped blind holes arranged on the support part. The diameter of the open end of the T-shaped blind hole is smaller than that of the closed end. The reinforcing mating part is a T-shaped convex column corresponding to the shape of the T-shaped blind hole.
[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, on the side of the plastic insulating inner plate away from the alloy outer plate, there are reinforcing ribs.
[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the reinforcing ribs include transverse reinforcing ribs and vertical reinforcing ribs. There are a plurality of transverse reinforcing ribs and a plurality of vertical reinforcing ribs. The transverse reinforcing ribs and the vertical reinforcing ribs are arranged in a staggered manner, and are arranged in parallel between two adjacent transverse reinforcing ribs or between two adjacent vertical reinforcing ribs.
[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the reinforcing ribs are arranged on the plastic insulating inner plate outside the range of the flow channel through holes.
[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the alloy outer plate is an aluminum alloy outer plate, and the plastic insulating inner plate is a high-strength flame-retardant plastic inner plate.
[0016] Due to the adoption of the above technical solutions, the beneficial effects obtained by the present application are as follows:
[0017] 1. In the composite end plate of the present application, a combined structure of an aluminum alloy outer plate and a plastic insulating inner plate is selected. Compared with the traditional steel end plate, the weight of the end plate is greatly reduced, which is beneficial to the lightweight of the entire fuel cell stack.
[0018] 2. In the present application, the alloy outer plate and the plastic insulating inner plate adopt an injection-molded integral structure. Through the cooperation of the sealing connection part and the sealing cooperation part, a sealed connection can be achieved without using a sealing ring, saving materials and reducing costs. It can avoid the generation of gaps at the edges of the plastic insulating inner plate and the aluminum plate, which may lead to current leakage or short-circuit safety risks; at the same time, the number of end plate components is also reduced, which is beneficial to further weight reduction.
[0019] 3. In the present application, the alloy outer plate and the plastic insulating inner plate are respectively provided with a strengthening connection part and a strengthening cooperation part. Through the cooperation of the strengthening connection part and the strengthening cooperation part, the connection strength between the alloy outer plate and the plastic insulating inner plate is improved; at the same time, one side of the plastic insulating inner plate is also provided with a reinforcing rib to improve the structural strength of the plastic insulating inner plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and form a part of the present invention. The schematic embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present invention. In the drawings:
[0021] Figure 1 is a front view structural schematic diagram of a lightweight composite end plate in an example;
[0022] Figure 2 is a rear view structural schematic diagram of a lightweight composite end plate in an example;
[0023] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a lightweight composite end plate in an example;
[0024] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the alloy outer plate from the inner side view in an example;
[0025] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the plastic insulating inner plate from the inner side view in an example;
[0026] Figure 6 For Figure 2Partial sectional structure schematic diagram of the lightweight composite end plate in the direction indicated by the arrow.
[0027] List of components and reference numerals:
[0028] 1 Alloy outer plate, 11 Installation area, 111 Sealing connection part, 112 Support part, 1121 Reinforcing connection part, 13 Flow channel through hole;
[0029] 2 Plastic insulating inner plate, 21 Sealing mating part, 22 Reinforcing rib, 221 Horizontal reinforcing rib, 222 Vertical reinforcing rib. Detailed implementation manners
[0030] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of the present utility model, the following will be further described in detail by way of examples in combination with the accompanying drawings of the specification.
[0031] It should be noted that many specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present utility model. However, the present utility model can also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited by the specific implementation manners disclosed below.
[0032] As Figures 1-6 shown, the present application provides a lightweight composite end plate, which includes an alloy outer plate 1 and a plastic insulating inner plate 2. The alloy outer plate 1 and the plastic insulating inner plate 2 are integrally formed by injection molding; the alloy outer plate 1 has a sealing connection part 111, and the plastic insulating inner plate 2 has a sealing mating part 21 corresponding to and mating with the sealing connection part 111; on the side of the alloy outer plate 1 facing the plastic insulating inner plate 2, there is provided a support part 112, and the support part 112 is provided with a reinforcing connection part 1121, and the plastic insulating inner plate 2 has a reinforcing mating part corresponding to and mating with the reinforcing connection part 1121. As a preferred implementation manner of the present application, the alloy outer plate 1 is an aluminum alloy outer plate 1, and the plastic insulating inner plate 2 is a high-strength flame-retardant plastic inner plate.
[0033] In the above solution, the light weight of the aluminum alloy meets the requirements of lightweight, and at the same time, it can also ensure the strength of the end plate and the firmness of installation. The insulating plate of the plastic part has natural insulation, toughness, and lightweight, and the advantages of the two materials are well utilized to meet the product requirements.
[0034] Continue to refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, on the side of the alloy outer plate 1 facing the plastic insulating inner plate 2, there is provided an installation area 11. The installation area 11 has the same shape as the plastic insulating inner plate 2. The edge of the installation area 11 is provided with a sealing connection part 111, and the edge of the plastic insulating inner plate 2 is provided with a sealing mating part 21.
[0035] In one example, refer to Figure 4 andFigure 6 As shown, the sealing connection part 111 is a T-shaped groove arranged around the installation area 11 along the contour of the installation area 11, and the sealing cooperation part 21 is a T-shaped protrusion adapted to the T-shaped groove. Preferably, continue to refer to Figure 6 As shown, sealing protrusions are provided on the inner wall of the T-shaped groove, and sealing grooves corresponding to the sealing protrusions are provided on the outer wall of the T-shaped protrusion.
[0036] During the injection molding process, the plastic material will shrink during the cooling and shaping process. During the shrinking process, the T-shaped protrusion will be tightly fitted with the T-shaped groove. In this way, under the action of the plastic shrinkage force, the T-shaped structure will tightly connect the two, playing a sealing role. There is no need to use a sealing ring, saving materials and reducing costs. It can avoid the generation of gaps at the edges of the plastic insulating inner plate 2 and the aluminum plate, which may cause current leakage or short-circuit safety risks. At the same time, through the cooperation between the above-mentioned sealing protrusions and sealing grooves, the sealing cooperation area between the T-shaped groove and the T-shaped protrusion can be further expanded, improving the sealing performance and the strength and connection stability of the connection structure.
[0037] It should be noted here that the above example is only a preferred example of the present application. The sealing connection part 111 and the sealing cooperation part 21 in the present application are not limited to the above example, and they can also adopt other more different setting methods. The present application does not make specific limitations on this.
[0038] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1-4 As shown, a plurality of flow channel through holes 13 are provided in the installation area 11, and a plurality of support parts 112 are provided. The plurality of support parts 112 are arranged at the edges of the flow channel through holes 13. The setting of the support parts 112 facilitates the positioning and shaping of the flow channels and can provide support for the formed flow channel structure; at the same time, the setting of the support parts 112 also facilitates the setting of the strengthening connection part 1121. In one example, continue to refer to Figure 4 As shown, the strengthening connection part 1121 is a plurality of T-shaped blind holes provided on the support part 112, and the diameter of the open end of the T-shaped blind hole is smaller than that of the closed end; the strengthening cooperation part is a T-shaped convex column corresponding to the shape of the T-shaped blind hole. Similarly, using the action of the plastic shrinkage force, the T-shaped blind hole and the T-shaped convex column are tightly fitted to improve the connection strength between the alloy outer plate 1 and the plastic insulating inner plate 2.
[0039] Similarly, it should be noted that the above example is only a preferred example of the present application. The strengthening connection part 1121 and the strengthening cooperation part in the present application are not limited to the above example, and they can also adopt other more different setting methods. The present application does not make specific limitations on this.
[0040] As a preferred implementation manner of the present application, referring to Figure 5 As shown, reinforcing ribs 22 are provided on the side of the plastic insulating inner plate 2 away from the alloy outer plate 1. Preferably, continue to refer to Figure 5As shown, the reinforcing ribs 22 are provided on the plastic insulating inner plate 2 outside the range of the runner through holes 13, and include transverse reinforcing ribs 221 and vertical reinforcing ribs 222. A plurality of transverse reinforcing ribs 221 are provided, and a plurality of vertical reinforcing ribs 222 are provided. The transverse reinforcing ribs 221 and the vertical reinforcing ribs 222 are arranged in an alternating manner, and are arranged in parallel between two adjacent transverse reinforcing ribs 221 or between two adjacent vertical reinforcing ribs 222. By providing the reinforcing ribs 22, the structural strength of the plastic insulating inner plate 2 can be enhanced, and compared with the overall filling and strengthening of the plastic insulating inner plate 2, providing the reinforcing ribs 22 is also beneficial to weight reduction on the premise of ensuring its structural strength.
[0041] The technical solution protected by the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. It should be noted that the combination of the technical solution of any one embodiment with the technical solutions of one or more other embodiments is within the protection scope of the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, modifications or improvements can be made to it on the basis of the present utility model, which is obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, these modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of the present utility model all belong to the scope required to be protected by the present utility model.
Claims
1. A lightweight composite end plate, characterized in that: It comprises an alloy outer plate and a plastic insulating inner plate, wherein the alloy outer plate and the plastic insulating inner plate are integrally formed by injection molding; the alloy outer plate has a sealing connection portion, and the plastic insulating inner plate has a sealing matching portion corresponding to the sealing connection portion; a supporting portion is provided on the side of the alloy outer plate facing the plastic insulating inner plate, the supporting portion is provided with a reinforcing connection portion, and the plastic insulating inner plate has a reinforcing matching portion corresponding to the reinforcing connection portion.
2. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: A mounting area is provided on one side of the alloy outer plate facing the plastic insulating inner plate. The mounting area has the same shape as the plastic insulating inner plate. The sealing connection portion is provided at an edge of the mounting area. The sealing fitting portion is provided at an edge of the plastic insulating inner plate.
3. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sealing connection portion is a T-shaped groove arranged along the contour of the installation area and surrounding the installation area, and the sealing matching portion is a T-shaped protrusion adapted to the T-shaped groove.
4. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the T-shaped groove is provided with a sealing protrusion, and the outer wall of the T-shaped protrusion has a sealing groove corresponding to the sealing protrusion.
5. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The installation area is provided with a plurality of flow channel through holes, and the support portion is provided with a plurality of support portions, and the plurality of support portions are arranged at the edges of the flow channel through holes.
6. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 5, characterized in that: The reinforcing connection part is a plurality of T-shaped blind holes arranged on the supporting part, and the diameter of the open end of the T-shaped blind hole is smaller than the diameter of the closed end; the reinforcing matching part is a T-shaped protrusion corresponding to the shape of the T-shaped blind hole.
7. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 5, characterized in that: A reinforcing rib is arranged on a side of the plastic insulating inner plate away from the alloy outer plate.
8. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 7, characterized in that: The reinforcing ribs include transverse reinforcing ribs and vertical reinforcing ribs. There are multiple transverse reinforcing ribs and multiple vertical reinforcing ribs. The transverse reinforcing ribs and the vertical reinforcing ribs are staggered and arranged in parallel between two adjacent transverse reinforcing ribs or between two adjacent vertical reinforcing ribs.
9. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 7, characterized in that: The reinforcing ribs are arranged on the plastic insulating inner plate outside the range of the flow channel through hole.
10. The lightweight composite end plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The alloy outer plate is an aluminum alloy outer plate, and the plastic insulating inner plate is a high-strength flame-retardant plastic inner plate.