Electric pile
By designing drainage channels and negative pressure suction mechanisms in the fuel cell stack, the problem of easy clogging of the manifold channels is solved, ensuring reliable startup and stable performance of the stack.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422610147.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-28
AI Technical Summary
During the use of the fuel cell stack, the manifold flow channel is prone to blockage, especially in winter, which is prone to freezing, making it difficult to start.
A fuel cell stack is designed, which has a drainage channel and interconnected intake manifold and outlet manifold channels. The accumulated water is sucked into the second sub-channel from the outlet manifold channel through negative pressure and discharged with the gas. Combined with the flow area design of the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel, the effective discharge of the accumulated water is achieved.
It effectively avoids the blockage of the manifold flow channel, ensures the reliable start-up of the battery stack, and improves the battery performance.
Smart Images

Figure CN223363173U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and in particular to a fuel cell stack. Background Art
[0002] During the use of the fuel cell stack, water is easily discharged from the manifold flow channel due to the tilt angle of the stack, and is difficult to accumulate in the manifold flow channel of the stack and block the manifold flow channel of the stack (especially in the winter season when ice is prone to form), making it impossible to start smoothly when restarting. Utility Model Content
[0003] The utility model provides a fuel cell stack to solve the problem in the prior art that a flow channel of a fuel cell stack manifold is easily clogged.
[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the utility model provides a fuel cell stack, which has a drainage flow channel and an intake manifold flow channel and an outlet manifold flow channel that are interconnected. The fuel cell stack has a blind end side. The drainage flow channel includes a first sub-flow channel and a second sub-flow channel. One end of the first sub-flow channel is connected to an end of the intake manifold flow channel located on the blind end side, and the other end of the first sub-flow channel is connected to the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel. One end of the second sub-flow channel is connected to the first sub-flow channel, and the other end of the second sub-flow channel is connected to an end of the outlet manifold flow channel located on the blind end side. The flow area of the first sub-flow channel becomes smaller at the intersection with the second sub-flow channel.
[0005] Furthermore, the first sub-flow path includes a first necking section, a throat section and a flaring section connected in sequence at its intersection with the second sub-flow path, the direction of the first necking section toward the flaring section is the fluid direction, the flow area of the first necking section gradually decreases in the fluid direction, the flow area of the flaring section gradually increases in the fluid direction, and the second sub-flow path is connected to the throat section.
[0006] Furthermore, the first sub-flow path also includes an inlet section and an outlet section, the two ends of the inlet section are respectively connected to one end of the intake manifold flow channel located on the blind end side and the first necking section, and the two ends of the outlet section are respectively connected to the flaring section and the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel; the inlet section, the first necking section, the throat section, the flaring section, and the outlet section are connected as a whole, or at least one of them is detachably connected to the fuel cell stack.
[0007] Furthermore, the flow area of the second sub-flow path becomes smaller at the intersection with the first sub-flow path.
[0008] Furthermore, the second sub-flow path includes a second constricted section at the intersection with the first sub-flow path, and the flow area of the second constricted section gradually decreases in the direction from the second sub-flow path toward the first sub-flow path.
[0009] Furthermore, the second sub-flow path also includes a drainage section, and the two ends of the drainage section are respectively connected to one end of the outlet manifold flow channel located on the blind end side and the second necking section; the drainage section, the second necking section, and the first sub-flow path are connected as a whole, or at least one of them is connected detachably.
[0010] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack includes a core and an end plate assembly, the core has an intake manifold flow channel and an outlet manifold flow channel, the intake manifold flow channel and the outlet manifold flow channel extend along the stacking direction of the core, the end plate assembly is arranged at the end in the stacking direction of the core, and the end plate assembly forms at least a blind end side, which blocks the same-side openings of the intake manifold flow channel and the outlet manifold flow channel.
[0011] Furthermore, the end plate assembly includes a blind end plate group and an air inlet end plate group, the blind end plate group is arranged on one side of the core along its stacking direction to form a blind end side, and the air inlet end plate group is arranged on the other side of the core along its stacking direction, the air inlet end plate group has an inlet corresponding to the intake manifold flow channel and an outlet corresponding to the outlet manifold flow channel, one end of the first sub-flow path passes through the blind end plate group and is connected to the end of the intake manifold flow channel, one end of the second sub-flow path passes through the blind end plate group and is connected to the end of the outlet manifold flow channel, and the other end of the first sub-flow path is connected to the outlet located on the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel.
[0012] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack further includes an outlet manifold disposed at the outlet, the outlet manifold having a confluence channel connected to an outlet manifold flow channel away from the outlet, and the other end of the first sub-flow path is connected to the confluence channel.
[0013] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack also includes a shell, and the core is arranged in the shell.
[0014] By applying the technical solution of the present utility model, a fuel cell stack is provided, which has a drainage flow channel and an intake manifold flow channel and an outlet manifold flow channel that are interconnected. The fuel cell stack has a blind end side. The drainage flow channel includes a first sub-flow channel and a second sub-flow channel. One end of the first sub-flow channel is connected to an end of the intake manifold flow channel located on the blind end side, and the other end of the first sub-flow channel is connected to the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel. One end of the second sub-flow channel is connected to the first sub-flow channel, and the other end of the second sub-flow channel is connected to an end of the outlet manifold flow channel located on the blind end side. The flow area of the first sub-flow channel becomes smaller at the intersection with the second sub-flow channel.
[0015] With this solution, during the use of the fuel cell stack, part of the gas entering from the intake manifold flow channel will enter the first sub-flow channel. Negative pressure will occur at the intersection of the first and second sub-flow channels as the gas flows through. Under the action of this negative pressure, the accumulated water at one end of the blind end of the outlet manifold flow channel will be drawn into the second sub-flow channel and discharged from the first sub-flow channel along with the gas. The fluid (water and gas) discharged through the first sub-flow channel will merge with the gas discharged from the outlet manifold flow channel. This arrangement drains the accumulated water inside the fuel cell stack through the combination of the drainage channel and the existing fuel cell stack, avoiding the problem of water in the manifold flow channel being difficult to drain and prone to clogging in the existing technology, and ensuring the reliability of the fuel cell stack restart. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The drawings constituting part of this application are provided to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are provided to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. In the drawings:
[0017] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a fuel cell stack provided by an embodiment of the present utility model is shown;
[0018] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A magnified view of position A in the middle;
[0019] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 Side view of the core of the fuel cell stack.
[0020] The above drawings include the following reference numerals:
[0021] 10. Battery stack;
[0022] 101, drainage channel; 1011, first sub-channel; 1012, second sub-channel; 102, intake manifold channel; 103, outlet manifold channel;
[0023] 11. Drainage pipe; 111. Inlet section; 112. Throat section; 113. Outlet section; 114. First constricted section; 115. Expanding section; 116. Second constricted section; 117. Drainage section;
[0024] 12. Blind end plate assembly; 13. Gas port end plate assembly; 131. Inlet; 132. Outlet; 14. Core; 15. Outlet manifold; 151. Manifold channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and in no way serves as any limitation on the present invention and its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0026] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a fuel cell stack 10, which has a drainage channel 101 and an intake manifold channel 102 and an outlet manifold channel 103 that are interconnected. The fuel cell stack has a blind end side, and the drainage channel 101 includes a first sub-channel 1011 and a second sub-channel 1012. One end of the first sub-channel 1011 is connected to an end of the intake manifold channel 102 located on the blind end side, and the other end of the first sub-channel 1011 is connected to the outlet side of the outlet manifold channel 103. One end of the second sub-channel 1012 is connected to the first sub-channel 1011, and the other end of the second sub-channel 1012 is connected to an end of the outlet manifold channel 103 located on the blind end side. The flow area of the first sub-channel 1011 becomes smaller at the intersection with the second sub-channel 1012.
[0027] In this embodiment, during the use of the fuel cell stack 10, part of the gas entering from the intake manifold flow channel 102 will enter the first sub-flow channel 1011. When the gas flows through the intersection of the first sub-flow channel 1011 and the second sub-flow channel 1012, negative pressure will appear. The accumulated water in the blind end of the outlet manifold flow channel 103 will be sucked into the second sub-flow channel 1012 under the action of the negative pressure and discharged from the first sub-flow channel 1011 along with the gas. The fluid (water and gas) discharged through the first sub-flow channel 1011 will converge with the gas discharged from the outlet manifold flow channel 103. With this arrangement, the accumulated water inside the fuel cell stack 10 can be discharged through the combination of the drainage channel 101 and the existing fuel cell stack 10, thereby avoiding the problem in the prior art that the water in the manifold channel is difficult to be discharged and is easy to be blocked, ensuring the reliability of the fuel cell stack 10 restart, and improving the battery low problem (wherein, the battery low problem usually refers to the situation in the fuel cell stack where the performance of some single-chip batteries (single cells) is significantly lower than that of other batteries, resulting in a decline in the performance of the entire fuel cell stack. This situation may be caused by a variety of reasons, including but not limited to impure hydrogen, flooding, excessive pressure and temperature, excessive humidity, improper coolant flow rate, etc.).
[0028] It should be noted that the fuel cell stack 10 in this embodiment includes a drainage pipeline 11 for forming a drainage channel 101. The flow area of the sub-flow path mentioned in this embodiment is the area of the radial cross section of the sub-flow path at the corresponding position.
[0029] Specifically, if Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first sub-flow path 1011 includes a first contraction section 114, a throat section 112 and a flare section 115 connected in sequence at the intersection with the second sub-flow path 1012. The direction of the first contraction section 114 toward the flare section 115 is the fluid direction. The flow area of the first contraction section 114 gradually decreases in the fluid direction, and the flow area of the flare section 115 gradually increases in the fluid direction. The second sub-flow path 1012 is connected to the throat section 112.
[0030] In this embodiment, the flow area of the first sub-flow path 1011 at the intersection first becomes smaller and then becomes larger. Through the first constricted section 114 and the expanded section 115, the gas can be gradually accelerated to flow to the throat section 112 and gradually decelerated after passing through the throat section 112, which is beneficial to reducing turbulence and energy loss.
[0031] Furthermore, the first sub-flow path 1011 also includes an inlet section 111 and an outlet section 113. The two ends of the inlet section 111 are respectively connected to one end of the intake manifold flow channel 102 located on the blind end side and the first contraction section 114, and the two ends of the outlet section 113 are respectively connected to the expansion section 115 and the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel 103; the inlet section 111, the first contraction section 114, the throat section 112, the expansion section 115, and the outlet section 113 are connected as a whole, or at least one of them is connected in a detachable manner. Compared to pipelines with constant radial dimensions and internal fluid pressure, the fluid pressure within the inlet section 111, throat section 112, and outlet section 113 of the drainage pipeline 11 (drainage channel 101) in this embodiment decreases in the throat section 112, forming a negative pressure zone. This creates a pressure differential with the second sub-channel 1012, causing the fluid in the second sub-channel 1012 to move toward the negative pressure zone, thereby achieving suction of the fluid in the outlet manifold channel 103. This arrangement facilitates the configuration of the drainage channel 101 and ensures the stability and reliability of drainage. In this embodiment, the inlet section 111, first constricted section 114, throat section 112, flared section 115, and outlet section 113 are interconnected, which helps ensure the continuity and sealing of the first sub-channel 1011.
[0032] Preferably, the flow area of the second sub-flow path 1012 becomes smaller at the intersection with the first sub-flow path 1011. This configuration is conducive to improving the negative pressure suction effect on the second sub-flow path 1012, improving drainage performance, and facilitating the flow of fluid (acceleration or deceleration).
[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the second sub-flow path 1012 includes a second constricted section 116 at its intersection with the first sub-flow path 1011. The flow area of the second constricted section 116 gradually decreases in the direction from the second sub-flow path 1012 to the first sub-flow path 1011. This arrangement allows the fluid to gradually accelerate to flow to the throat section 112 through the second constricted section 116, thereby improving the negative pressure drainage efficiency. Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, a transition section with a constant flow area is provided between the second constricted section 116 and the throat section 112 to ensure reliability of the transition between the second constricted section 116 and the throat section 112 .
[0034] Specifically, the second sub-flow path 1012 further includes a drainage section 117, the ends of which are connected to the blind-end end of the outlet manifold flow channel 103 and the second constricted section 116, respectively. The drainage section 117, the second constricted section 116, and the first sub-flow path 1011 are integrally connected, or at least one of them is detachably connected. In this embodiment, the integral connection between the drainage section 117, the second constricted section 116, and the first sub-flow path 1011 facilitates ensuring continuity between the first sub-flow path 1011 and the second sub-flow path 1012 and the sealing of the drainage flow path 101.
[0035] It should be noted that the inlet section 111, the outlet section 113, and the drainage section 117 in this embodiment are all pipe sections with constant radial dimensions. The radial dimension of the throat section 112 is smaller than the radial dimension of the drainage section 117, and the radial dimension of the outlet section 113 is larger than the radial dimension of the inlet section 111, which is larger than the radial dimension of the drainage section 117.
[0036] It is understood that in other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the drainage section 117 may be directly communicated with the throat section 112 .
[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the fluid pressures on both sides of the intersection in the first sub-flow path 1011 are P1 and P0 respectively (wherein P1 is the fluid pressure on the side where the first contraction section 114 is located, and P0 is the fluid pressure on the side where the expansion section 115 is located), and the fluid pressure in the second sub-flow path 1012 is P2. The water converging in the outlet manifold flow channel 103 is discharged under the action of the pressure difference (P1-P2>0, P2-P0>0) and the Venturi effect.
[0038] It can be understood that the drainage pipe 11 in this embodiment is an integrated pipe, while in other embodiments not shown in the figure, the drainage pipe 11 can be a split structure to facilitate replacement, maintenance, adjustment, etc. of the drainage pipe 11 according to actual conditions.
[0039] like Figure 1As shown, the fuel cell stack 10 includes a core 14 and an end plate assembly. The core 14 has an intake manifold flow channel 102 and an outlet manifold flow channel 103. The intake manifold flow channel 102 and the outlet manifold flow channel 103 extend along the stacking direction of the core 14. The end plate assembly is arranged at the end of the core 14 in the stacking direction. The end plate assembly forms at least a blind end side, which blocks the same-side openings of the intake manifold flow channel 102 and the outlet manifold flow channel 103. This arrangement can support the core 14 and assist and guide fluid flow through the end plate assembly. On the other hand, it also provides a certain sealing and insulation effect to prevent failure of the fuel cell stack 10.
[0040] Specifically, the end plate assembly includes a blind end plate group 12 and a gas outlet end plate group 13. The blind end plate group 12 is arranged on one side of the core 14 along its stacking direction to form a blind end side, and the gas outlet end plate group 13 is arranged on the other side of the core 14 along its stacking direction. The gas outlet end plate group 13 has an inlet 131 corresponding to the inlet manifold flow channel 102 and an outlet 132 corresponding to the outlet manifold flow channel 103. One end of a first sub-flow path 1011 passes through the blind end plate group 12 and communicates with the end of the inlet manifold flow channel 102. One end of a second sub-flow path 1012 passes through the blind end plate group 12 and communicates with the end of the outlet manifold flow channel 103. The other end of the first sub-flow path 1011 communicates with the outlet 132 located on the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel 103. This arrangement facilitates fixed support and flow channel design on both sides of the core 14 along its stacking direction, thereby achieving both protection of the core 14 and gas distribution design.
[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the fuel cell stack 10 further includes a casing, and the core 14 is disposed in the casing.
[0042] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack 10 also includes an outlet manifold 15 disposed at the outlet 132. The outlet manifold 15 has a converging channel 151 that communicates with the outlet 132, away from the outlet manifold flow channel 103. The other end of the first sub-flow path 1011 is connected to the converging channel 151. This arrangement allows the fluid (water and gas) discharged through the first sub-flow path 1011 to converge with the gas discharged from the outlet manifold flow channel 103 at the outlet manifold 15, facilitating centralized processing of the discharged fluids.
[0043] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.
[0044] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of the parts and steps, the numerical expressions and the numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. The techniques, methods and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the techniques, methods and equipment should be considered as part of the authorization specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific values should be interpreted as being merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar numbers and letters represent similar items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent figures.
[0045] In the description of the present invention, it needs to be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention; the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.
[0046] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature to other devices or features as shown in the figures. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figures. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.
[0047] In addition, it should be noted that the use of words such as "first" and "second" to limit components is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above words have no special meaning and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.
[0048] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A fuel cell stack, characterized in that: The fuel cell stack comprises a drainage channel (101) and an intake manifold channel (102) and an outlet manifold channel (103) that are interconnected. The fuel cell stack has a blind end side. The drainage channel (101) comprises a first sub-channel (1011) and a second sub-channel (1012). One end of the first sub-channel (1011) is connected to one end of the intake manifold channel (102) located on the blind end side, and the other end of the first sub-channel (1011) is connected to the outlet side of the outlet manifold channel (103). One end of the second sub-channel (1012) is connected to the first sub-channel (1011), and the other end of the second sub-channel (1012) is connected to one end of the outlet manifold channel (103) located on the blind end side. The flow area of the first sub-channel (1011) becomes smaller at the intersection of the first sub-channel (1011) and the second sub-channel (1012).
2. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first sub-flow path (1011) comprises a first constricted section (114), a throat section (112) and a flared section (115) which are connected in sequence at the intersection with the second sub-flow path (1012); the direction from the first constricted section (114) toward the flared section (115) is the fluid direction; the flow area of the first constricted section (114) gradually decreases in the fluid direction; the flow area of the flared section (115) gradually increases in the fluid direction; the second sub-flow path (1012) is connected to the throat section (112).
3. The fuel cell stack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first sub-flow path (1011) further comprises an inlet section (111) and an outlet section (113); the two ends of the inlet section (111) are respectively connected to one end of the intake manifold flow channel (102) located on the blind end side and the first constricted section (114); the two ends of the outlet section (113) are respectively connected to the flared section (115) and the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel (103); the inlet section (111), the first constricted section (114), the throat section (112), the flared section (115), and the outlet section (113) are connected as a whole, or at least one of them is connected in a detachable manner.
4. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow area of the second sub-flow path (1012) becomes smaller at the intersection with the first sub-flow path (1011).
5. The fuel cell stack according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second sub-flow path (1012) includes a second constricted section (116) at the intersection with the first sub-flow path (1011), and the flow area of the second constricted section (116) gradually decreases in the direction from the second sub-flow path (1012) toward the first sub-flow path (1011).
6. The fuel cell stack according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second sub-flow path (1012) further includes a drainage section (117), the two ends of which are respectively connected to one end of the outlet manifold flow channel (103) located on the blind end side and the second constricted section (116); the drainage section (117), the second constricted section (116), and the first sub-flow path (1011) are connected as a whole, or at least one of them is connected in a detachable manner.
7. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stack comprises a core (14) and an end plate assembly, The core (14) has the intake manifold flow channel (102) and the outlet manifold flow channel (103), the intake manifold flow channel (102) and the outlet manifold flow channel (103) extending along the stacking direction of the core (14), the end plate assembly being arranged at the end portion of the core (14) in the stacking direction, the end plate assembly at least forming the blind end side, the blind end side blocking the same-side openings of the intake manifold flow channel (102) and the outlet manifold flow channel (103).
8. The fuel cell stack according to claim 7, characterized in that: The end plate assembly comprises a blind end plate group (12) and an air inlet end plate group (13), wherein the blind end plate group (12) is arranged on one side of the core (14) along its stacking direction to form the blind end side, and the air inlet end plate group (13) is arranged on the other side of the core (14) along its stacking direction, and the air inlet end plate group (13) has an inlet (131) corresponding to the inlet manifold flow channel (102) and a gas outlet (131) corresponding to the outlet manifold flow channel (103). An outlet (132), one end of the first sub-flow path (1011) passes through the blind end plate group (12) and is communicated with the end of the intake manifold flow channel (102), one end of the second sub-flow path (1012) passes through the blind end plate group (12) and is communicated with the end of the outlet manifold flow channel (103), and the other end of the first sub-flow path (1011) is communicated with the outlet (132) located on the outlet side of the outlet manifold flow channel (103).
9. The fuel cell stack according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fuel cell stack further comprises an outlet busbar (15) arranged at the outlet (132), the outlet busbar (15) having a busbar channel (151) communicating with the outlet (132) away from the outlet manifold flow channel (103), and the other end of the first sub-flow path (1011) communicating with the busbar channel (151).
10. The fuel cell stack according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fuel cell stack further comprises a shell, and the core (14) is arranged in the shell.