Stack module for fuel cell system and fuel cell system
By arranging the holders between the cells and supporting them in the housing, the stack collapse problem is solved, the stability and performance improvement of the stack module is achieved, and the manufacturing process is simplified.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422197994.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-29
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-09
AI Technical Summary
In existing fuel cell systems, the stack is prone to collapse under vibration and gravity, resulting in cell misalignment and leakage, affecting performance and life.
Arrange holders between the cells to ensure that the core does not collapse, support the holders in the housing to prevent the cell from being misaligned, adopt a conductive and insulating design to avoid short circuits, and optimize gas and cooling medium flow through the fluid channel design.
Effectively prevent stack collapse, reduce leakage risks, improve the performance and reliability of stack modules, extend service life, and simplify manufacturing and assembly processes.
Smart Images
Figure CN223285007U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and more particularly to a fuel cell stack module for a fuel cell system. Furthermore, the present application relates to a fuel cell system having such a fuel cell stack module. Background Art
[0002] With the development of new energy vehicles, fuel cell systems as the power source of new energy vehicles have advantages in environmental protection and energy density.
[0003] A fuel cell stack typically consists of multiple stacked cells, each composed of a membrane electrode, bipolar plates, and seals. These cells are compressed on both sides of the stack by end plates, along the stacking direction, using insulating plates and current collecting plates.
[0004] In the existing technology, fuel cell stacks usually use pull rods, screws or steel belts, as well as elastic elements such as disc springs or springs to provide tightening force, which may cause problems such as uneven compression force distribution and tightening force attenuation, which may affect the performance and consistency of the fuel cell stack.
[0005] During installation, a tightening force is applied along the stacking direction on both end plates to clamp the stack's cells together, preventing them from shifting. The tightening force should be neither too strong to prevent damage to the cells nor too weak to prevent some cells, particularly those in the center of the core, from shifting downward due to gravity, potentially causing leakage during operation.
[0006] However, in the case of a very long core structure, for example, one comprising hundreds of stacked cells, the complex operating conditions of fuel cell vehicles can generate vibrations during operation, particularly high-frequency vibrations in the vertical direction. Consequently, the core may be affected by these operating conditions and collapse in the direction of gravity. Specifically, cells located in the middle region of the core may shift downward relative to cells located at the end regions. This poses a risk of leakage, thereby affecting the performance and service life of the fuel cell stack. Furthermore, it can damage the cells.
[0007] Therefore, in view of the many deficiencies in the existing technology, there is still a need for improvement of the above technical solutions. Utility Model Content
[0008] In order to overcome one of the above-mentioned shortcomings and / or possible other shortcomings of the prior art not mentioned herein, the purpose of the present application is to provide an improved stack module for a fuel cell system and a corresponding improved fuel cell system.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the present application, a fuel cell stack module for a fuel cell system is provided, the fuel cell stack module comprising:
[0010] housing, and
[0011] A stack assembly is housed in the housing and includes a plurality of battery cells stacked on each other in a stacking direction to form a core, the core being compressed together along the stacking direction by end plates located at both ends, wherein when the stack assembly is housed in the housing, the core does not contact the inner wall of the housing,
[0012] Wherein, a retaining member suitable for preventing the core from collapsing is arranged between at least two adjacent battery cells among the plurality of battery cells.
[0013] The basic concept of this application is to arrange a retaining member between at least two battery cells to ensure that the fuel cell core does not collapse in the direction of gravity due to vibration during operation, thereby reducing or even eliminating the risk of leakage caused by relative misalignment of the battery cells. This ensures the performance of the fuel cell stack module and improves its operational reliability. Furthermore, this embodiment has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture and assemble.
[0014] Advantageous configurations of the technical solution of the present application can be obtained from the following optional embodiments.
[0015] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the first end portion of the retaining member extends beyond the bottom side of the core and is supported on the bottom wall of the housing when the fuel cell stack assembly is accommodated in the housing.
[0016] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, when the fuel cell stack assembly is accommodated in the housing, the retaining member can be displaced relative to the housing in a stacking direction within the housing.
[0017] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the retaining members are arranged so that the length of the core along the stacking direction is evenly divided.
[0018] According to an optional embodiment of the battery stack module of the present application, the holding member is electrically conductive and is respectively electrically conductively connected to the two adjacent battery cells.
[0019] According to an optional embodiment of the battery stack module of the present application, an electrical insulation layer for electrically insulating the retaining member from the shell is provided on the portion of the first end portion of the retaining member that contacts the bottom wall of the shell.
[0020] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, a through-hole is formed in the retaining member, and the through-hole is fluidically connected to a fluid channel formed in the stack core along the stacking direction.
[0021] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the second end of the retaining member away from the first end extends beyond the top side of the core and is supported on the top wall of the shell when the fuel cell stack assembly is accommodated in the shell.
[0022] According to an optional embodiment of the battery stack module of the present application, an electrical insulation layer for electrically insulating the retaining member from the shell is provided at the portion of the second end portion of the retaining member that contacts the bottom wall of the shell.
[0023] According to an optional embodiment of the stack module of the present application, the electrical insulation layer is made of a material with a low friction coefficient. Alternatively, the electrical insulation layer includes an anti-wear layer made of a material with a low friction coefficient.
[0024] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the retaining member is configured as a rectangular support plate.
[0025] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the support plate has a thickness of 1 mm to 10 mm.
[0026] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the support plate is made of metal.
[0027] According to an optional embodiment of the fuel cell stack module of the present application, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes current collecting plates and insulating plates located at both ends of the core and includes fastening elements, and the end plates clamp the core, the retaining member, the current collecting plates and insulating plates located at both ends of the core along the stacking direction with the help of the fastening elements.
[0028] According to an optional embodiment of the battery stack module of the present application, the battery cell includes a bipolar plate, a membrane electrode and a seal.
[0029] According to an optional embodiment of the battery stack module of the present application, the shell includes a shell body and a cover, the shell body includes an opening along the stacking direction, the cover is configured to be suitable for being fixed on the opening and closing the opening, the battery stack assembly is accommodated in the shell body along the stacking direction and one end plate of the battery stack assembly is fixed on the side wall of the shell body and the other end plate is arranged on the cover.
[0030] According to a second aspect of the present application, a fuel cell system is provided, comprising a fuel cell stack module according to one of the above embodiments.
[0031] Further features of the present application become apparent from the claims, the drawings and the description of the drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the above description and the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the drawings and / or shown only in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the present application. Therefore, the following contents are also regarded as being covered and disclosed by the present application: these contents are not explicitly shown in the drawings and are not explicitly explained, but are derived from combinations consisting of separate features from the explained contents and are produced by these combinations. The following contents and feature combinations are also regarded as being disclosed: they do not have all the features of the originally drafted independent claims. In addition, the following contents and feature combinations are regarded as being disclosed in particular by the above contents: they exceed or deviate from the feature combinations defined in the reference relationship of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Further optional details and features of the present application result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments which are schematically illustrated in the drawings.
[0033] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a battery stack module in the prior art is shown;
[0034] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A front view of a stack assembly of a stack module;
[0035] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 Another front view of the stack assembly of the stack module;
[0036] Figure 4 A schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a stack module of the present application is shown;
[0037] Figure 5 Shown Figure 4 A front view of the stack module;
[0038] Figure 6 Shown Figure 4 A front view of an embodiment of a stack assembly of a stack module;
[0039] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 A top view of the stack assembly;
[0040] Figure 8 Shown Figure 6 A schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a holder of a stack assembly;
[0041] Figure 9 Shown Figure 8 AA cross-sectional view of the retaining member;
[0042] Figure 10 A'-A' cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the retaining member;
[0043] Figure 11 shows a front view of another embodiment of a stack module; and
[0044] Figure 12 Shown Figure 11 A three-dimensional view of another embodiment of a retainer for a stack assembly of a stack module.
[0045] Reference Signs List
[0046] 1 stack module
[0047] 10 Housing
[0048] 11 Shell body
[0049] 12 Cover
[0050] 13 bottom wall
[0051] 14 Top wall
[0052] 15 sidewall
[0053] 16 fluid connectors
[0054] 20 stack components
[0055] 21 cells
[0056] 22 core
[0057] 23 End Plate
[0058] 24 retaining parts
[0059] 25 Fastening elements
[0060] 111 Opening
[0061] 121 connecting column
[0062] 221 bottom side
[0063] 222 top side
[0064] 241 First End
[0065] 242 Second End
[0066] 243 Electrical insulation layer
[0067] 244 vents
[0068] 245 anti-wear layer
[0069] 2441 Air vent
[0070] 2442 Cooling medium port
[0071] 2443 Hydrogen port
[0072] XYZ XYZ coordinate system
[0073] AA AA section
[0074] A'-A'A'-A' section DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0075] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial technical effects to be solved by this application more clearly understood, this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and multiple exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.
[0076] The features of the embodiments of the present application may be combined with each other unless they conflict. In different drawings, identical components are denoted by identical reference numerals, and other components are omitted for brevity. This does not imply that the technical solution of the present application cannot include other components. It should be understood that the dimensions, proportional relationships, and number of components in the drawings are not intended to limit the present application.
[0077] Below, embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0078] Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional diagram of a fuel cell stack module 1 in the prior art is shown. Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A front view of the fuel cell assembly 20 of the fuel cell module 1 in FIG. Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 Another front view of the stack assembly 20 of the stack module 1 in FIG.
[0079] The stack module 1 includes a housing 10 and a stack assembly 20. The figure schematically shows an XYZ coordinate system, wherein the X axis represents the length direction of the stack module 1, the Y axis represents the width direction of the stack module 1, and the Z axis represents the height direction of the stack module 1.
[0080] The battery stack assembly 20 is housed in the housing 10 and includes a plurality of battery cells 21 stacked on each other in a stacking direction X (corresponding to the direction of the X axis) to form a stack core 22. Figure 2 and Figure 3For simplicity, only four of the multiple cells 21 are labeled with reference numerals. The stack assembly 20 also includes current collecting plates, insulating plates, and end plates 23 located at both ends of the core 22, and includes fastening elements 25. The end plates 23 clamp the core 22, the retaining members 24, the current collecting plates and insulating plates located at both ends of the core 22 along the stacking direction X by means of the fastening elements 25. Generally, the fastening elements 25 can include tie rods, screws, or steel strips to provide the fastening force. Of course, other forms of fastening elements 25 are also contemplated. The fastening force applied by the end plates 23 via the fastening elements 25 should neither be too large, otherwise the cells 21 may be damaged due to the excessive fastening force, nor too small, otherwise gaps may exist between the cells 21 along the stacking direction X and relative misalignment may occur along the Z direction, which may cause leakage in the stack assembly 20 and seriously affect the performance and safety of the fuel cell system.
[0081] The housing 10 is generally made of metal and includes a housing body 11 and a cover 12. The housing body 11 includes an opening 111 along the stacking direction X. The stack assembly 20 can be loaded into the housing body 11 through the opening 111 along the stacking direction X. The cover 12 is used to be fixed to the opening 111 and close the opening 111. An end plate 23 of the stack assembly 20 is fixed to the side wall 15 of the housing body 11 (see also Figure 5 ), the other end plate 23 is arranged on the cover 12 by means of a connecting column 121 fastened to the cover 12.
[0082] To prevent the stack assembly 20 from short-circuiting, when the stack assembly 20 is housed in the casing 10 , the core 22 is not allowed to contact the inner wall, especially the top and bottom walls, of the casing 10 , which is generally made of metal.
[0083] In static state, Figure 2 As shown, the individual cells 21 of the core 22 of the stack assembly 20 are clamped to each other and are not misaligned relative to each other in the Z direction. However, in the dynamic operation state of the fuel cell system, especially under strong vibration conditions, the individual cells 21 may be misaligned relative to each other in the Z direction due to vibration and gravity (e.g., Figure 3 This may cause leakage in the stack assembly 20 and affect the efficiency of the fuel cell system. In addition, if the stack assembly 20 is in vibration for a long time, the battery cells 21 may be damaged and the service life of the stack assembly 20 and the operational safety of the fuel cell system may be affected.
[0084] In view of at least some of the above problems in the prior art, Figures 4 to 12 Various embodiments of the present application are described in detail.
[0085] Figure 4 A schematic three-dimensional diagram of an embodiment of a fuel cell stack module 1 of the present application is shown. Figure 5 Shown Figure 4 Front view of the fuel cell stack module 1. Figure 6 Shown Figure 4 A front view of an embodiment of a stack assembly 20 of a stack module 1 in FIG. Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 A top view of the fuel cell stack assembly 20. Figure 8 Shown Figure 6 Schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a holder 24 of a stack assembly 20 . Figure 9 Shown Figure 8 AA cross-sectional view of the retaining member 24.
[0086] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the stack module 1 includes a housing 10 and a stack assembly 20. The stack assembly 20 is accommodated in the housing 10. Two sets of fluid connections 16 are configured at the end of the housing 10 along the stacking direction X. These fluid connections 16 are used to introduce and remove reactant gases and cooling media.
[0087] In this embodiment, the stack module 1 is used in a hydrogen fuel cell system. Therefore, the reactant gases are air and hydrogen, and the cooling medium is, for example, water. Because the operating principle of the stack module 1 is well known in the art and not the focus of this application, a detailed description of the operating principle of the stack module 1 is omitted here.
[0088] This embodiment is different from the battery stack module 1 in the prior art in that a retaining member 24 for preventing the battery core 22 from collapsing is arranged between at least two adjacent battery cores 21 among the plurality of battery cores 21 .
[0089] Here, two retaining members 24 are shown as an example. These two retaining members 24 are configured as support plates and have the same structure. The retaining members 24 have a thickness of 1 mm to 10 mm, for example, 5 mm. Each retaining member 24 is clamped between two adjacent battery cells 21 and is electrically conductively connected to these two battery cells 21.
[0090] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the two retaining members 24 are arranged so that the length of the core 22 along the stacking direction X is equally divided into three parts. Of course, the retaining member 24 can also be arranged in the middle area of the core 22.
[0091] exist Figure 6, viewed along the Z direction, the first end 241 of the retaining member 24 extends beyond the bottom side 221 of the core 22, and the second end 242 of the retaining member 24 extends beyond the top side 222 of the core 22. Therefore, when the stack assembly 20 is accommodated in the casing 10, the first end 241 of the stack assembly 20 is supported on the bottom wall 13 of the casing 10, and the second end 242 is supported on the top wall 14 of the casing 10, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the core 22 is supported along the Z direction by the retaining member 24, thereby reducing or even preventing the core 22 from collapsing due to vibration and its own gravity.
[0092] In this embodiment, the holder 24 is exemplarily made of metal and can therefore establish an electrically conductive connection with two adjacent battery cells 21. This ensures an electrically conductive connection between the plurality of battery cells 21, in particular between two adjacent battery cells 21.
[0093] In order to avoid short circuit of the stack assembly 20 due to the conductive connection between the retaining member 24 and the bottom wall 13 and the top wall 14 of the housing 10, in this embodiment, see also Figure 5 、 Figure 8 and Figure 9 An electrically insulating layer 243 is provided at the portion of the first end 241 of the retaining member 24 that contacts the bottom wall 13 of the housing 10 to electrically insulate the retaining member 24 from the housing 10. An electrically insulating layer 243 is also provided at the portion of the second end 242 of the retaining member 24 that contacts the bottom wall 13 of the housing 10 to electrically insulate the retaining member 24 from the housing 10. The electrically insulating layer 243 can be applied to the first end 241 and the second end 242 of the retaining member 24 using a corresponding coating process. This reliably prevents conductive connection between the metal retaining member 24 and the bottom wall 13 and the top wall 14 of the housing 10.
[0094] According to one embodiment, Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the two ends of the holder 24 in the Y direction are flush with the two end faces of the core 22 in the Y direction. This ensures that the two ends of the holder 24 never come into contact with the inner wall of the metallic housing 10. Therefore, there is no need to apply an electrically insulating layer to these two ends.
[0095] like Figure 8 As shown, the holder 24 is configured as a rectangular support plate. A through-opening 244 is formed in each of the two end regions of the support plate in the Y direction. The through-opening 244 is fluidically connected to a fluid channel (not shown in detail) configured in the core 22 in the stacking direction X, so that reactant gas and coolant can flow through the through-opening 244.
[0096] exist Figure 8, a group of openings 244 is shown as an example in each of the two end regions of the support plate along the Y direction. Each group of openings 244 includes an air opening 2441, a coolant opening 2442, and a hydrogen opening 2443. Coolant opening 2442 is located between air opening 2441 and hydrogen opening 2443 along the Y direction. Thus, air, hydrogen, and coolant can flow through the corresponding openings in the fluid channel (not shown in detail) in the core 22.
[0097] Figure 10 Another embodiment of the retaining member 24 is shown in a cross-sectional view taken along line A′-A′.
[0098] In this embodiment, when the stack assembly 20 is housed in the housing 10, the retaining member 24 can be displaced relative to the housing 10 in the stacking direction X. Therefore, when the hydrogen fuel cell system is in operation, the slight displacement of the retaining member 24 in the X direction can be used to compensate for gaps that may be generated due to slight movement between the battery cells 21 in the X direction, thereby reliably avoiding leakage of the stack cores 22 and improving the operational reliability of the stack module 1.
[0099] The retaining element 24 thus forms a slide-like retaining element.
[0100] In order to reduce the friction between the contact parts of the retaining member 24 and the bottom wall 13 and the top wall 14 of the housing 10 during displacement, according to one embodiment, the electrical insulating layer 243 is made of a material with a low friction coefficient. Alternatively, the electrical insulating layer 243 may also include an anti-wear layer 245 made of a material with a low friction coefficient, such as Figure 10 shown.
[0101] Figure 11 A front view of another embodiment of a fuel cell stack module 1 is shown. Figure 12 Shown Figure 11 A perspective view of another embodiment of a retaining member 24 of a fuel cell assembly 20 of a fuel cell module 1 .
[0102] and Figures 4 to 10 The difference between the embodiment of FIG2 and FIG3 is that, in this embodiment, only the first end 241 of the retaining member 24 extends beyond the bottom side 221 of the core 22 and is supported on the bottom wall 13 of the housing 10 when the stack assembly 20 is accommodated in the housing 10. The second end 242 and both ends of the retaining member 24 along the Y direction are configured flush with the corresponding end sides of the core 22. Therefore, it is only necessary to provide a corresponding electrical insulation layer 243 on the first end 241 and an anti-wear layer 245. This also simplifies the structure and reduces manufacturing costs.
[0103] The present application also protects a fuel cell system, in particular a hydrogen fuel cell system, which includes a stack module 1 according to one of the above embodiments. The fuel cell system can be used in mobile devices, such as vehicles, or in stationary devices, such as power plants.
[0104] In this specification, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "arrangement", "connection" and "coupling" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate piece, or a connection between the two elements. The expressions "first", "second" and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be understood as implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Features defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly indicate that at least one of the features is included. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the circumstances.
Claims
1. A stack module for a fuel cell system, characterized in that: The stack module (1) comprises: housing (10), and A stack assembly (20) is accommodated in the housing (10) and includes a plurality of battery cores (21) stacked on each other in a stacking direction (X) to form a core (22), wherein the core (22) is compressed along the stacking direction (X) by end plates (23) located at both ends, wherein, when the stack assembly (20) is accommodated in the housing (10), the core (22) does not contact the inner wall of the housing (10), A retaining member (24) suitable for preventing the core (22) from collapsing is arranged between at least two adjacent battery cores (21) among the plurality of battery cores (21).
2. The stack module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end portion (241) of the retaining member (24) extends beyond the bottom side (221) of the core (22) and is supported on the bottom wall (13) of the housing (10) when the stack assembly (20) is accommodated in the housing (10).
3. The stack module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: When the battery stack assembly (20) is accommodated in the housing (10), the retaining member (24) is capable of shifting relative to the housing (10) along a stacking direction (X) within the housing (10); and / or The retainers (24) are arranged so that the length of the core (22) along the stacking direction (X) is evenly divided.
4. The stack module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The retaining member (24) is electrically conductive and is respectively electrically connected to the two adjacent battery cells (21); and / or An electrical insulation layer (243) for electrically insulating the retaining member (24) from the housing (10) is provided at a portion of the first end portion (241) of the retaining member (24) that contacts the bottom wall (13) of the housing (10); and / or A through-opening (244) is formed in the holding element (24), which is in fluid communication with a fluid channel formed in the core (22) along the stacking direction (X).
5. The stack module according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that: A second end (242) of the retaining member (24) away from the first end (241) extends beyond the top side (222) of the core (22) and is supported on the top wall (14) of the shell (10) when the stack assembly (20) is accommodated in the shell (10).
6. The stack module according to claim 5, characterized in that: An electrical insulation layer (243) for electrically insulating the retaining member (24) from the housing (10) is provided at a portion of the second end portion (242) of the retaining member (24) that contacts the bottom wall (13) of the housing (10).
7. The stack module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electrical insulating layer (243) is an electrical insulating layer (243) made of a material with a low friction coefficient or includes an anti-wear layer (245) made of a material with a low friction coefficient.
8. The stack module according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7, characterized in that: The retaining member (24) is constructed as a rectangular support plate. The support plate has a thickness of 1 mm to 10 mm; and / or The support plate is a support plate made of metal.
9. The fuel cell stack module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The stack assembly (20) further comprises current collecting plates and insulating plates located at both ends of the core (22) and includes fastening elements (25), and the end plates (23) clamp the core (22), the retaining member (24), the current collecting plates and insulating plates located at both ends of the core (22) along a stacking direction (X) by means of the fastening elements (25); and / or The battery cell (21) comprises a bipolar plate, a membrane electrode and a seal; and / or The shell (10) includes a shell body (11) and a cover (12), the shell body (11) includes an opening (111) along the stacking direction (X), the cover (12) is configured to be suitable for being fixed on the opening (111) and closing the opening (111), the battery stack assembly (20) is accommodated in the shell body (11) along the stacking direction (X), and one end plate (23) of the battery stack assembly (20) is fixed on the side wall (15) of the shell body (11) and the other end plate (23) is arranged on the cover (12).
10. A fuel cell system, characterized in that: The fuel cell system includes the fuel cell stack module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.