Fuel cell electrode signal leading-out structure
By using a multi-layered FPC design, combined with curved wiring and electromagnetic shielding, the accuracy and stability issues of the signal extraction method for individual electrodes in fuel cell stacks were resolved, reducing costs and improving the reliability and adaptability of the system.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423281059.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for extracting signals from individual electrodes in fuel cell stacks suffer from low accuracy, poor stability, high cost, and difficult maintenance, which affect the reliability and safety of fuel cell systems.
The FPC employs a multi-layer structure, combined with curved traces, elastic conductive materials, and electromagnetic shielding design. Through sealed connections and integrated signal conditioning circuitry, it achieves stable signal transmission and improved reliability.
It improves signal extraction accuracy and stability, reduces system costs, and enhances the FPC's adaptability and overall performance in complex environments.
Smart Images
Figure CN223842902U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell electrode signal extraction, and specifically to a fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure. Background Technology
[0002] With the escalating global energy crisis and heightened environmental awareness, fuel cells, as a highly efficient and clean energy conversion technology, have received widespread attention and research in recent years. Fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy in fuel into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions, offering advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, zero emissions, and low operating noise, and are widely used in transportation, energy, and military fields. In a fuel cell system, the individual electrode of the stack is one of the core components, and its performance directly affects the overall performance and lifespan of the fuel cell. The signal extraction method for the series-connected electrodes of the stack is crucial for connecting the electrodes to external monitoring and control systems, and is essential for ensuring the stable operation of the core fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system.
[0003] Currently, significant progress has been made in signal extraction methods for individual series electrodes in fuel cell stacks. However, problems such as low accuracy and poor stability still exist: 1. Insufficient signal extraction accuracy: Current signal extraction methods for individual electrodes in fuel cell stacks cannot accurately reflect the true state of the electrodes in certain situations. Due to the complexity of the internal environment of the fuel cell and the special nature of the electrode materials, signals are subject to interference or attenuation during transmission, leading to a decrease in the accuracy of the extracted signals. 2. Poor signal extraction stability: Fuel cells experience various operating conditions during operation, such as temperature fluctuations and pressure changes. These changes affect the stability of the electrode signal extraction methods, causing signal fluctuations or distortion, thereby affecting the reliability and safety of the fuel cell system. 3. High cost: Traditional fuel cell electrode signal extraction methods may require expensive materials and complex processes, resulting in high overall costs and limiting their application in certain fields. 4. Difficult maintenance: Maintaining fuel cell electrode signal extraction methods is also a major challenge. Due to the complexity of the fuel cell system and the special nature of the electrode materials, maintenance requires specialized skills and equipment, increasing the difficulty and cost of maintenance.
[0004] In conclusion, developing a signal extraction structure for fuel cell electrodes to address the problems existing in current technologies is of significant practical importance for improving fuel cell performance and promoting industry development. Utility Model Content
[0005] The present invention aims to provide a signal output structure for fuel cell electrodes to solve the problems of complex wiring, low reliability and high cost in the prior art.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
[0007] A fuel cell electrode signal lead-out structure includes an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), which has a multi-layer structure and employs a curved wiring method. The FPC has redundant circuitry. An elastic conductive material serves as the connection medium between the FPC and the electrode, and this material is installed at the connection pins of the FPC. The circuitry on the FPC is connected to the individual electrodes of the fuel cell stack via contact points, and the connection is sealed. The FPC is connected to an external control system using a dedicated FPC connector. The FPC is electromagnetically shielded and equipped with protective devices.
[0008] The principles and advantages of this solution are as follows: In practical applications, the FPC used for electrode signal extraction has a multi-layer structure, which not only provides more circuit layers for complex signal processing and transmission but also increases the overall strength of the circuit board. Bending traces are used on the FPC to increase the flexibility and tensile strength of the lines. Redundant lines are incorporated into the FPC to provide backup paths in case of failure in certain lines, thereby improving the reliability of the entire system. For the connection between the FPC and the electrodes, an elastic conductive material is used as the connection medium, achieving good contact with the electrodes through elastic deformation. The connection between the FPC and the electrode stack is sealed to prevent the ingress of moisture, gas, and other external substances, thus ensuring stable signal transmission. For the connection between the FPC and the external control system, electromagnetic shielding isolates the signal lines from the external electromagnetic environment. Protective devices are installed to protect the FPC from static electricity and lightning strikes, effectively improving the adaptability and stability of the FPC under various environmental conditions.
[0009] Preferably, as an improvement, the elastic conductive material includes one of a spring needle and conductive rubber.
[0010] Technical effect: Elastic deformation achieves good contact with the electrode.
[0011] Preferably, as an improvement, the sealing material used includes either polyimide or polyester.
[0012] Technical benefits: The material has good insulation, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance.
[0013] Preferably, as an improvement, the contact points include gold-plated or silver-plated contact points.
[0014] Technical benefits: It facilitates the assurance of good electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance.
[0015] Preferably, as an improvement, the electromagnetic shielding includes covering the surface of the FPC with an electromagnetic shielding film or adding a shielding layer to the FPC.
[0016] Technical benefits: It facilitates the isolation of signal lines from the external electromagnetic environment.
[0017] Preferably, as an improvement, the FPC integrates a signal amplifier and a filter.
[0018] Technical benefits: It facilitates the enhancement of signal strength and the reduction of noise interference.
[0019] Preferably, as an improvement, the protective device includes a diode and a varistor.
[0020] Technical benefits: It effectively improves the adaptability and stability of FPC in various environmental conditions.
[0021] Preferably, as an improvement, the multilayer structure includes a signal layer, a power layer, and a ground layer.
[0022] Technical benefits: It facilitates meeting diverse electrical requirements. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the FPC and the fuel cell stack. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method:
[0025] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: 1. FPC curved trace; 2. Fuel cell stack internal signal integration acquired by FPC; 3. Fuel cell stack composed of multiple stack units.
[0026] The basic implementation examples are as follows: Figure 1 As shown:
[0027] A fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure includes an FPC (flexible printed circuit board). The FPC is used for extracting signals from individual electrodes in the fuel cell stack. By utilizing the flexibility, bendability, and foldability of the FPC, it can perfectly fit the complex internal structure of the fuel cell stack and the deformation that occurs during operation. It can adapt to various complex working environments. With a reasonable design of the FPC layout and innovative connection methods, it solves the problems of complex wiring, low reliability, and high cost of current fuel cell electrode signal extraction methods, and effectively improves the overall performance and reliability of the system.
[0028] Specifically, environmentally friendly and recyclable materials are selected to manufacture the FPC to reduce its negative impact on the environment. To enhance signal stability and reliability, the FPC is designed with a multi-layer structure based on the number and complexity of the electrode signals. This multi-layer structure includes signal layers, power layers, ground layers, etc., to meet different electrical requirements. The multi-layer structure not only provides more circuit layers for complex signal processing and transmission but also increases the overall strength of the circuit board.
[0029] The FPC uses a curved routing method, such as meandering or zigzag routing, to increase the flexibility and tensile strength of the circuit.
[0030] The FPC is equipped with redundant lines to provide backup paths in case of failure of certain lines, thereby improving the reliability of the entire system, optimizing circuit design, and reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
[0031] The FPC and the electrode use an elastic conductive material as the connection medium. The elastic conductive material includes one of spring pins and conductive rubber. The elastic conductive material is made into a bipolar plate connector and installed at the connection pin of the FPC. The elastic deformation of the elastic conductive material achieves good contact with the electrode, which can adapt to the vibration and impact of the fuel cell stack during operation, effectively improving the conductivity and shock resistance.
[0032] The FPC's shape is micro-processed to fit the installation space and shape of the fuel cell stack. Connection pins are fabricated using a stamping process; the shape, size, and position of these pins are precisely designed according to specific requirements to ensure good contact and electrical performance. Soldering points are pre-set on the stack electrodes to match the FPC's connection pins. Elastic conductive material is then installed at the FPC's connection pins and mated with the stack electrodes. After mating, inspection and testing are performed, including vibration tests and other reliability experiments, to verify the stability and reliability of the elastic contact connection under different operating conditions.
[0033] The circuitry on the FPC is connected to the individual electrodes of the fuel cell stack via a special connection structure. In this embodiment, gold-plated or silver-plated contact points are preferred to ensure good conductivity and corrosion resistance.
[0034] The connection between the FPC and the fuel cell stack is sealed to prevent the entry of external substances such as moisture and gas, thereby ensuring stable signal transmission. The sealing material used includes either polyimide or polyester, which have good insulation, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance, and can protect the FPC from the influence of the internal environment of the fuel cell stack.
[0035] Connect the connector pins to the FPC's circuitry, then perform a power-on test to check the acquisition of electrode signals and whether the external system can obtain the electrode signals in real time to assess system operation. In this embodiment, a dedicated FPC connector is used to connect the FPC to the external control system. Various types and specifications of connectors are available, selected according to specific requirements. The new dedicated FPC connector utilizes high-performance materials and innovative design to ensure high-speed, stable signal transmission. This new dedicated FPC connector is continuously evolving towards miniaturization and lightweighting, employing precision machining and integrated design to reduce connector size and weight while maintaining excellent electrical performance. It also uses environmentally friendly materials and green manufacturing processes to reduce energy consumption and emissions during production, while improving product recyclability and biodegradability.
[0036] Pre-defined signal conditioning circuits are integrated onto the FPC to improve signal quality and adaptability, meeting the signal requirements of external control systems. These signal conditioning circuits are designed based on the characteristics of the electrode signals and the needs of the control system. Electromagnetic shielding measures are employed on the FPC, including covering its surface with an electromagnetic shielding film or incorporating a shielding layer into the FPC design, to isolate the signal lines from the external electromagnetic environment.
[0037] Signal amplifiers and filters are integrated on the FPC to enhance signal strength and reduce noise interference; high-speed transmission technologies, such as differential signal transmission or fiber optic transmission, are used to improve signal transmission rate and stability; overcurrent protection components are installed on the FPC to prevent excessive current from damaging the circuit or electrodes; an integrated fault diagnosis system monitors the circuit status in real time and issues alarm signals when a fault occurs.
[0038] Adding protective devices to the FPC, such as ESD protection diodes and varistors, provides protection against static electricity and lightning strikes, effectively improving the FPC's adaptability and stability under various environmental conditions. Varistors are connected in series with the FPC's power and signal lines to protect the circuit from damage.
[0039] This solution employs a highly integrated FPC structure, integrating the internal signals of the fuel cell stack acquired by the FPC onto a single circuit board. The fuel cell stack consists of multiple individual stack units. Furthermore, the FPC's flexible circuit board possesses excellent flexibility and bendability, enabling it to adapt to the complex shapes and spatial layouts of individual fuel cell stack units, thus improving the system's flexibility and adaptability. The limited space between the fuel cell stack plates makes designing matching connectors for signal extraction complex, and also incurs high mold costs and processing precision requirements. This embodiment utilizes the flexibility, thinness, and ease of crimping of FPC to solve the challenge of extracting signals from individual fuel cell stack core units.
[0040] In this embodiment, an intelligent monitoring method is also adopted for the fuel cell voltage module. The voltage of each cell (two single cells share one cell voltage) is monitored in real time and fed back. The control system controls the fuel cell system based on the feedback results to achieve a closed-loop control, ensuring the efficient operation of the fuel cell system. At the same time, the operation of the fuel cell system is observed in real time to detect operational faults in a timely manner, effectively prevent faults, and allow for timely shutdown and maintenance, thereby reducing maintenance costs.
[0041] Finally, structural testing and verification are conducted, including signal transmission quality testing, fuel cell performance testing, reliability testing, and result analysis and optimization. Specifically:
[0042] 1. Signal Transmission Quality Test: A signal generator is used to generate simulated electrode signals, which are then input to the electrode terminals of the fuel cell stack and led out through the FPC to a signal analyzer. At different frequencies, amplitudes, and signal types, parameters such as signal attenuation, distortion, and noise are measured during transmission to evaluate the FPC's transmission quality of the electrode signals. Long-term signal transmission stability tests are conducted to observe signal changes during continuous operation and check for issues such as signal drift and interruption. Simultaneously, the signal transmission performance of the FPC is tested under different temperature, humidity, and vibration environments to verify its reliability under complex operating conditions.
[0043] 2. Fuel Cell Stack Performance Testing: The fuel cell stack with FPC-embedded electrode signals is assembled onto the test platform for performance testing. Test items include: output voltage, current, power density, efficiency, and other parameters of the stack. These are compared with stacks using traditional signal extraction methods to evaluate the impact of the FPC extraction method on the overall stack performance. During stack operation, changes in electrode signals are monitored to analyze the internal reaction state and consistency of the stack.
[0044] 3. Reliability Testing: Reliability testing is conducted on the FPC lead-out system, including mechanical reliability, environmental reliability, and electrical reliability. Mechanical reliability testing mainly includes vibration testing, shock testing, and insertion / removal testing to simulate the mechanical stress that the FPC may experience during actual use, checking whether its connections are secure and whether there is any damage or failure. Environmental reliability testing includes high and low temperature cycling testing, damp heat aging testing, and salt spray corrosion testing, placing the FPC under different harsh environmental conditions to observe changes in its performance and reliability. Electrical reliability testing includes insulation resistance testing, withstand voltage testing, and long-term power-on aging testing to ensure that the FPC meets design requirements in terms of electrical performance and can operate stably for a long time.
[0045] 4. Test Result Analysis and Optimization: Based on the test results, the performance and reliability of the FPC take-up method are analyzed and evaluated. Through continuous testing and optimization, the solution is improved, and finally, the optimal performance and reliability level is obtained.
[0046] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this utility model. Commonly known technical solutions and / or characteristics are not described in detail here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical solution of this utility model. These modifications and improvements should also be considered within the scope of protection of this utility model, and will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of this utility model or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.
Claims
1. A signal extraction structure for a fuel cell electrode, characterized in that: The system includes an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), which has a multi-layer structure and employs a curved wiring method. Redundant circuitry is provided on the FPC. An elastic conductive material serves as the connection medium between the FPC and the electrodes, and this material is installed at the connection pins of the FPC. The circuitry on the FPC is connected to the individual electrodes of the fuel cell stack via contact points, with the connection sealed. The FPC is connected to an external control system using a dedicated FPC connector. The FPC is electromagnetically shielded and equipped with protective devices.
2. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic conductive material includes one of spring needles and conductive rubber.
3. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing material used includes either polyimide or polyester.
4. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The contact points include gold-plated or silver-plated contact points.
5. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electromagnetic shielding includes covering the surface of the FPC with an electromagnetic shielding film or adding a shielding layer to the FPC.
6. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The FPC integrates a signal amplifier and a filter.
7. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The protective devices include diodes and varistors.
8. The fuel cell electrode signal extraction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multi-layer structure includes a signal layer, a power layer, and a ground layer.