Fuel cell bipolar plate structure with Y-shaped baffle structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of fuel cell bipolar plate structures, and discloses a fuel cell bipolar plate structure with a Y-shaped baffle structure, which comprises a bipolar plate main body, the bipolar plate main body is provided with a flow channel, and the flow channel is uniformly provided with a plurality of Y-shaped baffles along the flow direction. And the bottom end of each Y-shaped baffle plate is fixedly connected with the bottom end of the inner wall of the flow channel. The structure disclosed by the utility model improves the performance and the mass transfer capability of the fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell bipolar plate structures, specifically a fuel cell bipolar plate structure with a Y-shaped baffle structure. Background Technology

[0002] The flow channels of a bipolar plate serve as both the flow path for the reactant gases and the outlet for the water produced in the reaction. The distribution of gas in each region is determined by both the gas flow rate and the flow channel structure. If the gas flow rate is too slow and fails to carry away the produced water in time, it will further impede gas flow, eventually leading to localized flooding. Therefore, the gas supply typically uses a higher pressure to maintain the gas flow rate. Ensuring sufficient gas supply to each region for the reaction at a higher flow rate relies on a well-designed flow channel structure.

[0003] Currently, the conventional bipolar plate flow channel structures used are generally straight flow channels and serpentine flow channels. Common bipolar plate flow fields are mainly parallel flow fields and serpentine flow fields. The advantage of serpentine flow fields is that they have good water management and high battery performance. The disadvantage is that the gas distribution is uneven and the pressure drop is too large. Parallel flow fields can improve the disadvantages of large gas pressure drop and uneven distribution, but they have poor water management capabilities and are prone to flooding inside the battery. Therefore, this application proposes a fuel cell bipolar plate structure with a Y-shaped baffle structure to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a bipolar plate structure for a fuel cell with a Y-shaped baffle structure to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a bipolar plate structure for a fuel cell with a Y-shaped baffle structure, comprising a bipolar plate body, wherein the bipolar plate body is provided with a flow channel, and a plurality of Y-shaped baffles are uniformly arranged along the flow direction in the flow channel, wherein the bottom end of each Y-shaped baffle is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the inner wall of the flow channel.

[0006] Preferably, the Y-shaped baffle includes a baffle root that is arranged parallel to the sidewall of the flow channel.

[0007] Preferably, two baffle tails are symmetrically connected to one side of the root of the baffle.

[0008] Preferably, the obtuse angle between the tail and root of each baffle is 146.2°.

[0009] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows:

[0010] This invention, by incorporating a Y-shaped baffle within the flow channel, compresses the channel volume and generates internal disturbances and secondary flow phenomena during gas flow, thereby improving mass transfer performance. Simultaneously, the Y-shaped baffle increases local resistance within the flow channel, and secondary flow phenomena occur at the tail end of the baffle. Furthermore, the addition of a Y-shaped baffle in the front of the flow channel forces the gas to adjust its transport path, thus mitigating direct reactions in the initial region and promoting the diffusion of more reactants to the middle and rear regions of the flow channel. This forced gas redistribution mechanism... The design significantly enhances the mass transfer efficiency under the ribs in the middle and end regions, effectively alleviating the common problems of excessive front-end reaction and insufficient end-end reaction in traditional flow fields. Specifically, when the reactant gas passes through the Y-shaped baffle, it is forced to pass through the gap between the Y-shaped baffle and the flow channel sidewall, forming a vortex flow between two adjacent Y-shaped baffles, resulting in secondary flow and a pressure gradient. This allows it to participate more fully in the electrochemical reaction. Due to the Y-shaped baffle design, oxygen conduction to the outlet is hindered, allowing more oxygen to enter the membrane electrode and participate in the reaction. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0012] Figure 2 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A of this utility model;

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model;

[0014] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0015] In the diagram: 1. Bipolar plate body; 2. Y-shaped baffle; 3. Flow channel; 21. Baffle root; 22. Baffle tail; 31. Inlet end; 32. Outlet end. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0017] Please see Figure 1Figure 1 illustrates a bipolar plate structure for a fuel cell with a Y-shaped baffle structure. The bipolar plate body 1 includes a flow channel 3, and several Y-shaped baffles 2 are uniformly arranged along the flow direction in the flow channel 3. The bottom end of each Y-shaped baffle 2 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the inner wall of the flow channel 3. The Y-shaped baffle 2 includes a baffle root 21 arranged parallel to the side wall of the flow channel 3. Two baffle tails 22 are symmetrically connected to one side of the baffle root 21. The obtuse angle between each baffle tail 22 and the baffle root 21 is 146.2°.

[0018] Furthermore, the Y-shaped baffle 2 installed in the flow channel 3 compresses the channel volume of the flow channel 3 and generates internal disturbances and secondary flow phenomena during gas flow, improving mass transfer performance. Simultaneously, the installation of the Y-shaped baffle 2 increases local resistance within the flow channel 3, and secondary flow phenomena occur at the tail end 22 of the Y-shaped baffle 2. Moreover, the addition of the Y-shaped baffle 2 in the front section of the flow channel 3 forces the gas to adjust its transport path, thereby mitigating the direct reaction in the front region of the flow channel 3 and promoting the diffusion of more reactants to the middle and rear regions of the flow channel 3. This forced gas re-entry... The new distribution mechanism significantly enhances the mass transfer efficiency under the ribs in the middle and end regions, effectively alleviating the common problems of excessive front-end reaction and insufficient end-end reaction in traditional flow fields. Specifically, when the reactant gas passes through the Y-shaped baffle 2, the gas is forced to pass through the gap between the Y-shaped baffle 2 and the side wall of the flow channel 3, forming a vortex flow between two adjacent Y-shaped baffles 2, resulting in secondary flow and forming a pressure gradient, which allows it to participate more fully in the electrochemical reaction. Due to the setting of the Y-shaped baffle 2, the conduction of oxygen to the outlet is hindered, allowing more oxygen to enter the membrane electrode and participate in the reaction.

[0019] Example 1

[0020] See Figure 3 In one embodiment of this utility model, parallel air inlet end 31 and air outlet end 32 are respectively opened on both sides of the bipolar plate body 1, and several parallel flow channels 3 are opened between the air inlet end 31 and the air outlet end 32. Several Y-shaped baffles 2 are evenly arranged in each flow channel 3 along the gas flow direction. The width of the flow channel 3 is 1mm, the gap between the baffle root 21 of the Y-shaped baffle 2 and the side wall of the flow channel 3 is 0.15mm, a Y-shaped baffle 2 is arranged every 5mm, and the width dimension of the baffle root 21 of the Y-shaped baffle 2 in the horizontal direction is 0.24mm, the length dimension of the baffle root 21 in the horizontal direction is 1.87mm, and the obtuse angle between the tail end 22 of each baffle and the baffle root 21 is 146.2°.

[0021] Example 2

[0022] See Figure 4In another embodiment of this utility model, the flow channel 3 inside the bipolar plate body 1 is configured as a serpentine structure, and an air inlet end 31 and an air outlet end 32 are respectively provided on both sides of the flow channel 3. Gas enters from the air inlet end 31 and flows along the flow channel 3. Several Y-shaped baffles 2 are evenly arranged along the gas flow direction. The width of the flow channel 3 is 1 mm. The gap between the baffle root 21 of the Y-shaped baffle 2 and the side wall of the flow channel 3 is 0.15 mm. A Y-shaped baffle 2 is provided every 5 mm. The width dimension of the baffle root 21 of the Y-shaped baffle 2 in the horizontal direction is 0.24 mm, the length dimension of the baffle root 21 in the horizontal direction is 1.87 mm, and the obtuse angle between the tail 22 of each baffle and the baffle root 21 is 146.2°.

[0023] The working principle and process of this utility model are as follows: The Y-shaped baffle 2 installed in the flow channel 3 compresses the channel volume of the flow channel 3 and generates internal disturbances and secondary flow phenomena during gas flow, improving mass transfer performance. Simultaneously, the installation of the Y-shaped baffle 2 increases local resistance within the flow channel 3, and secondary flow phenomena occur at the tail end 22 of the Y-shaped baffle 2. Furthermore, the addition of the Y-shaped baffle 2 in the front end of the flow channel 3 forces the gas to adjust its transport path, thereby slowing down the direct reaction in the front region of the flow channel 3 and promoting the diffusion of more reactants to the middle and rear regions of the flow channel 3. This strong... The controlled gas redistribution mechanism significantly enhances the mass transfer efficiency under the ribs in the middle and end regions, effectively alleviating the common problems of excessive front-end reaction and insufficient end-end reaction in traditional flow fields. That is, when the reacting gas passes through the Y-shaped baffle 2, the gas is forced to pass through the gap between the Y-shaped baffle 2 and the side wall of the flow channel 3, forming a vortex flow between two adjacent Y-shaped baffles 2, resulting in secondary flow and forming a pressure gradient, thus allowing it to participate more fully in the electrochemical reaction. Due to the setting of the Y-shaped baffle 2, the conduction of oxygen to the outlet is hindered, allowing more oxygen to enter the membrane electrode and participate in the reaction.

[0024] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0025] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bipolar plate structure for a fuel cell with a Y-shaped baffle structure, comprising a bipolar plate body (1), characterized in that: The bipolar plate body (1) is provided with a flow channel (3), and the flow channel (3) is uniformly provided with a number of Y-shaped baffles (2) along the flow direction. The bottom end of each Y-shaped baffle (2) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the inner wall of the flow channel (3).

2. The fuel cell bipolar plate structure with a Y-shaped baffle structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Y-shaped baffle (2) includes a baffle root (21) that is arranged parallel to the side wall of the flow channel (3).

3. The fuel cell bipolar plate structure with a Y-shaped baffle structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: Two baffle tails (22) are symmetrically connected to one side of the root (21) of the baffle.

4. The fuel cell bipolar plate structure with a Y-shaped baffle structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The obtuse angle between the tail (22) and the root (21) of each baffle is 146.2°.

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