Unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate and fuel cell

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air-cooled bipolar plate of an unmanned aerial vehicle and a fuel cell. The unmanned aerial vehicle air cooling bipolar plate comprises a polar plate body, a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a plurality of gas flow channels, the gas inlet and the gas outlet are formed in the same side of the polar plate body, and a preset distance is kept between the gas inlet and the gas outlet; the gas flow channel is arranged on the polar plate body, and two ends of the gas flow channel are respectively connected with the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The gas inlet and the gas outlet are formed in the same side of the polar plate body, so that the area (length direction) of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be reduced, the weight of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be reduced, and when the air-cooled bipolar plate of the unmanned aerial vehicle is used for preparing a fuel cell, the power density of the fuel cell can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of fuel cells, in particular to an air-cooled bipolar plate for an unmanned aerial vehicle and a fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell is an efficient, clean, and renewable energy conversion device, which has the advantages of high efficiency, environmental friendliness, renewable energy utilization, and quiet operation. Applying fuel cells to unmanned aerial vehicles can greatly broaden the scope of use of unmanned aerial vehicles and has the following benefits:

[0003] 1. High power density: Fuel cell unmanned aerial vehicles have a higher energy density than traditional lithium battery unmanned aerial vehicles, which means that fuel cells can provide a longer endurance time under the same volume or weight;

[0004] 2. Low-temperature resistance performance: Fuel cell unmanned aerial vehicles perform better than lithium battery unmanned aerial vehicles in low-temperature environments, which enables them to be used under a wider range of climatic conditions;

[0005] 3. Long life and low maintenance: Fuel cell systems usually have a longer service life and lower maintenance requirements, which can reduce long-term operating costs;

[0006] 4. Extended application fields: The long endurance of fuel cell unmanned aerial vehicles greatly expands the application fields and scope of use of unmanned aerial vehicles, especially in industries and agriculture that require long-time aerial operations.

[0007] For an unmanned aerial vehicle using a fuel cell as a power system, the higher the power density of the fuel cell, the greater the energy release speed and flow rate, and thus the longer the flight time can be provided.

[0008] However, the weight of the fuel cell itself also determines the energy density of the fuel cell. If the weight is too large, it will affect the power density of the fuel cell. Therefore, how to propose a fuel cell with a lighter weight is one of the key points to improve its power density. Summary of the Utility Model

[0009] The purpose of the utility model is to provide an air-cooled bipolar plate for an unmanned aerial vehicle and a fuel cell to improve the power density of the fuel cell.

[0010] To solve the above technical problems, on the one hand, the utility model provides an air-cooled bipolar plate for an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a plate body, a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a plurality of gas flow channels;

[0011] The gas inlet and the gas outlet are arranged on the same side of the plate body, and a predetermined distance is maintained between the gas inlet and the gas outlet;

[0012] The gas flow channel is arranged on the plate body, and both ends of the gas flow channel are respectively connected to the gas inlet and the gas outlet.

[0013] Furthermore, an opening is provided between the gas inlet and the gas outlet.

[0014] Furthermore, the plate body is provided with a first gas flow channel surface and a second gas flow channel surface arranged opposite to the first gas flow channel surface; a plurality of first gas flow channels are provided on the first gas flow channel surface; and a plurality of second gas flow channels are provided on the second gas flow channel surface.

[0015] Furthermore, both the gas inlet and the gas outlet are connected to the second gas flow channel.

[0016] Furthermore, the first gas flow channels are a plurality of strip-shaped channels arranged at intervals.

[0017] Furthermore, circular chamfers are provided at both ends of the first gas flow channels.

[0018] Furthermore, the second gas flow channels are a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged at intervals; and the second gas flow channels include a plurality of first-width flow channels and a plurality of second-width flow channels.

[0019] The first-width flow channels and the second-width flow channels are arranged at intervals, and the opening directions of the first-width flow channels and the second-width flow channels are opposite; the width of the first-width flow channels is less than or equal to the width of the second-width flow channels.

[0020] Furthermore, fine grooves are provided at the ends of the first-width flow channels and the second-width flow channels away from the openings, and the size of the fine grooves is 1 / 4 to 1 / 3 of the width of the first-width flow channels.

[0021] Furthermore, the second gas flow channels are a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged horizontally at intervals or a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged vertically at intervals.

[0022] In addition, on the other hand, the present invention further provides a fuel cell, which further includes carbon paper, a gasket, and a proton exchange membrane; the carbon paper covers both surfaces of the proton exchange membrane respectively, the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate covers the carbon paper respectively, and different gases are introduced into the opposite gas flow channels between adjacent unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plates; the gasket is arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate for isolating different gases.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0024] In the drone air-cooled bipolar plate proposed in this embodiment, the gas inlet and the gas outlet are arranged on the same side of the plate body, thereby reducing the area (length direction) of the drone air-cooled bipolar plate and reducing the weight of the drone air-cooled bipolar plate. When the drone air-cooled bipolar plate of the utility model is used to prepare a fuel cell, the power density of the fuel cell can be improved.

[0025] Furthermore, removing excess material between the gas inlet and outlet further reduces the weight and volume of the plate, enabling a higher power density for the fuel cell. Furthermore, rounded chamfers are provided at both ends of the first gas flow channel to facilitate smooth air flow, providing air-cooling functionality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the first gas flow channel surface of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the UAV in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the bipolar plate structure in the prior art;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the second gas flow path surface of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the UAV in the first embodiment of the present utility model;

[0029] Figure 4 This is another structural schematic diagram of the second gas flow path surface of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the UAV in the first embodiment of the present utility model;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of a second gas flow path surface of an air-cooled bipolar plate of a UAV in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 6 This is another structural schematic diagram of the second gas flow path surface of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the UAV in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the structure of the fuel cell in the third embodiment of the present utility model;

[0033] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fuel cell in the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The bipolar plate and fuel cell of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to schematic diagrams, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that those skilled in the art may modify the present invention described herein while still achieving the beneficial effects of the present invention. Therefore, the following description should be understood as a general guide for those skilled in the art and not as a limitation of the present invention.

[0035] The present utility model will be described more specifically by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following paragraphs. The advantages and features of the present utility model will become clearer according to the following description and claims. It should be noted that the drawings are all in a very simplified form and use non-precise scales, only for conveniently and clearly assisting in explaining the purpose of the embodiments of the present utility model.

[0036] Embodiment 1

[0037] As Figure 1 shown, this embodiment provides an air-cooled bipolar plate for a drone, including a plate body 1, a gas inlet 2, a gas outlet 3, and multiple gas flow channels 4; the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3 are arranged on the same side of the plate body 1, and a predetermined distance is maintained between the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3; the gas flow channels 4 are arranged on the plate body 1, and both ends of the gas flow channels 4 are respectively connected to the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3, and an opening 5 is provided between the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3.

[0038] In this embodiment, the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3 are arranged on the same side, and the redundant part between the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3 is directly cut off to form the opening 5. Compared with the bipolar plate of the prior art (as Figure 2 shown), the air-cooled bipolar plate for the drone in this embodiment has a shorter length, a smaller area, and a lighter weight. Specifically, as Figure 2 shown, since in the prior art, the gas inlet 2 is arranged on one side of the plate body 1 and the gas outlet 3 is arranged on the other side of the plate body 1, a predetermined width needs to be reserved on both sides of the plate body 1 to arrange the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3. Therefore, the bipolar plate in the prior art will be longer, while the air-cooled bipolar plate for the drone proposed in this embodiment is shorter than the bipolar plate in the prior art. In addition, since the opening 5 is formed between the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3, the weight can be further reduced. It can be seen that the fuel cell composed of the air-cooled bipolar plate for the drone in this embodiment has a higher power density than the fuel cell composed of the bipolar plate of the prior art.

[0039] In a specific example, the plate body 1 is provided with a first gas flow channel surface and a second gas flow channel surface opposite to the first gas flow channel surface; the first gas flow channel surface is provided with multiple first gas flow channels; the second gas flow channel surface is provided with multiple second gas flow channels; both the gas inlet 2 and the gas outlet 3 are connected to the second gas flow channels.

[0040] In this embodiment, a blower can be used to directly blow air to the first gas flow channel surface to provide air for the first gas flow channels, and hydrogen gas is introduced into the second gas flow channels through the gas inlet 2 on the second gas flow channel surface, and the unreacted hydrogen gas can be discharged from the gas outlet 3.

[0041] Furthermore, the gas flow channel 4 on the first gas flow channel surface of the plate body 1 is the first gas flow channel. The first gas flow channel adopts a plurality of strip-shaped channels arranged at intervals in the transverse direction. The width of the strip-shaped channels is 1-3 mm. Preferably, it can be 1.5 mm, 2 mm or 2.5 mm. And the interval width between any two strip-shaped channels is 1.5-3.5 mm. Preferably, it can be 1.8 mm, 2 mm or 2.8 mm. And circular chamfers 6 are provided at both ends of the first gas flow channel. The circular chamfers 6 make the air flow more smoothly in the first gas flow channel, thereby being able to reduce the temperature of the plate body 1 during the reaction process. This structure has the function of air cooling.

[0042] In a specific embodiment, as Figure 3 shown, the gas flow channel 4 on the second gas flow channel surface of the plate body 1 is the second gas flow channel. The second gas flow channel selects a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged at intervals in the transverse direction. The width of the finger-shaped channels is 1-2.5 mm. Preferably, it can be 1.5 mm, 2 mm or 2.3 mm. The second gas flow channel includes a plurality of first-width flow channels 7 and a plurality of second-width flow channels 8. The opening directions of the first-width flow channels 7 and the second-width flow channels 8 are opposite. The width of the first-width flow channel 7 is less than or equal to the width of the second-width flow channel 8. The interval width between any adjacent first-width flow channel 7 and second-width flow channel 8 is 1.5-3 mm. Preferably, it can be 1.6 mm, 1.8 mm, 2 mm or 2.5 mm.

[0043] In another specific embodiment, as Figure 4 shown, a fine groove 9 is provided at the end of the first-width flow channel 7 and the second-width flow channel 8 far from the opening. And the size of the fine groove 9 is 1 / 4-1 / 3 of the width of the first-width flow channel 7, such as 5 / 16 or 7 / 24. Compared with the second gas flow channel without the fine groove 9, the gas flow direction in the flow channel is different for the second gas flow channel with the fine groove 9, which can be applicable to different scenarios. Those skilled in the art can select the second gas flow channel with the fine groove 9 or the second gas flow channel without the fine groove 9 according to the actual situation.

[0044] In summary, in this embodiment, the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the drone are arranged on the same side of the plate body, so as to reduce the area (length direction) of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the drone, and can also reduce the weight of the air-cooled bipolar plate of the drone. In addition, cutting off the redundant part between the gas inlet and the gas outlet can further reduce the weight and volume of the plate body.

[0045] Embodiment Two

[0046] As Figure 5 And Figure 6As shown, compared with the first embodiment, the main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that multiple finger-shaped channels arranged vertically at intervals are selected for the second gas flow channel, and the rest of the features are the same as those in the first embodiment. For specific details, reference can be made to the description in the first embodiment, which will not be elaborated here.

[0047] The finger-shaped channels arranged vertically at intervals can be applied to different scenarios. Those skilled in the art can choose to adopt the multiple finger-shaped channels arranged horizontally at intervals in the first embodiment according to different scenarios, or choose to adopt the multiple finger-shaped channels arranged vertically at intervals in this embodiment.

[0048] Embodiment Three

[0049] In this embodiment, as Figure 7 and Figure 8 shown, a fuel cell is proposed, which adopts the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate as in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. The bipolar plate body 1 of the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate has a first gas flow channel surface 12 and a second gas flow channel surface 13.

[0050] Among them, the fuel cell further includes carbon paper 10, a gasket 11, and a proton exchange membrane 14; the carbon paper 10 covers both surfaces of the proton exchange membrane 14, and the first gas flow channel surface 12 or the second gas flow channel surface 13 of the bipolar plate body 1 of the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate covers the carbon paper 10 respectively. Multiple bipolar plates are stacked to form a fuel cell, and different gases are introduced into the first gas flow channel surface 12 and the second gas flow channel surface 13 of the bipolar plate; after the gases are introduced, they will diffuse on the carbon paper 10 and a chemical reaction will occur at the proton exchange membrane 14.

[0051] In this embodiment, the gasket 11 is arranged on the bipolar plate body 1. Specifically, the gasket 11 is arranged on both the first gas flow channel surface 12 and the second gas flow channel surface 13, which is used to isolate different gases and prevent gas leakage and danger.

[0052] In summary, the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate selected for the fuel cell proposed by the present invention is smaller in volume and lighter in weight compared with common bipolar plates. Since the main structure of the fuel cell is formed by stacking multiple bipolar plates, the fuel cell proposed by the present invention is smaller in volume, lighter in weight, and has a higher power density compared with common fuel cells on the market. It is suitable for application scenarios that require quick start-up and high dynamic response, and can meet the requirements of the equipment for lightweight and compact design at the same time.

[0053] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalent technologies, the present invention also intends to include these changes and modifications.

Claims

1. An air-cooled bipolar plate for a drone, characterized in that, It includes a plate body, a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a plurality of gas flow channels; The gas inlet and the gas outlet are arranged on the same side of the plate body, and a predetermined distance is maintained between the gas inlet and the gas outlet; The gas flow channels are arranged on the plate body, and two ends of the gas flow channels are respectively connected to the gas inlet and the gas outlet; an opening is provided between the gas inlet and the gas outlet; the plate body is provided with a first gas flow channel surface and a second gas flow channel surface arranged opposite to the first gas flow channel surface; a plurality of first gas flow channels are provided on the first gas flow channel surface; a plurality of second gas flow channels are provided on the second gas flow channel surface; both the gas inlet and the gas outlet are connected to the second gas flow channels; the first gas flow channels are a plurality of strip-shaped channels arranged at intervals; circular chamfers are provided at two ends of the first gas flow channels; the second gas flow channels are a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged at intervals; and the second gas flow channels include a plurality of first-width flow channels and a plurality of second-width flow channels; the first-width flow channels and the second-width flow channels are arranged at intervals, and the opening directions of the first-width flow channels and the second-width flow channels are opposite; the width of the first-width flow channels is less than or equal to the width of the second-width flow channels; fine grooves are provided at one ends of the first-width flow channels and the second-width flow channels far away from the opening, and the size of the fine grooves is 1 / 4 to 1 / 3 of the width of the first-width flow channels; the second gas flow channels are a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged horizontally at intervals or a plurality of finger-shaped channels arranged vertically at intervals.

2. A fuel cell, characterized in that, It includes a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plates as described in claim 1, and also includes carbon paper, a gasket and a proton exchange membrane; the carbon paper covers two surfaces of the proton exchange membrane respectively, the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plates cover the carbon paper respectively, and different gases are introduced into the opposite gas flow channels between adjacent unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plates; the gasket is arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle air-cooled bipolar plate for isolating different gases.

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