SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) system electric pile single cell sealing structure, single cell and electric pile
By employing a symmetrical clamping design and groove structure with dual-plate components, the sealing failure problem caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of SOFC electrolyte sheets is solved, achieving sealing stability and long battery life.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 福赛尔(武汉)集成有限公司
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
In traditional SOFC sealing processes, the shear stress and excessive compression caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of the electrolyte sheets can lead to seal failure, affecting battery performance and lifespan.
The design employs a symmetrical clamping design with double-plate components. Pressure is transmitted to the contact area between the pad and the electrolyte plate through the vertical clamping force of the fuel cell stack. Grooves are provided to absorb thermal expansion and deformation, preventing the electrolyte plate from being directly compressed.
Eliminate the risk of shear stress failure, ensure sealing, prevent electrolyte sheet deformation and cracking, and extend battery life.
Smart Images
Figure CN224248612U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of solid oxide fuel cell technology, and in particular to a sealed structure for a single cell in an SOFC system stack. Background Technology
[0002] Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have garnered significant attention in the energy sector due to their outstanding advantages such as high efficiency and environmental friendliness. In SOFC systems, the sealing performance of individual cells within the stack is crucial, directly impacting the overall performance, stability, and lifespan of the fuel cell.
[0003] Traditional SOFC sealing processes typically employ either sealant or pressure sealing. In the first method, sealant is applied to the edges of the electrolyte sheet and sintered at high temperature to form a sealing layer. However, due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the electrolyte material and the bipolar plates, the sealant is difficult to perfectly match. During thermal cycling, this difference in thermal expansion coefficients can easily lead to shear stress at the sealing interface, causing microcracks or even seal failure. In the pressure method, the electrolyte expands at high temperatures, and without sufficient expansion space, it is subjected to excessive compression. This not only causes deformation or even cracking of the electrolyte sheet, compromising the battery's structural integrity, but also subjects the sealing gasket to excessive pressure, accelerating its elastic fatigue, shortening its lifespan, and similarly leading to seal failure. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This application provides a single-cell sealing structure for an SOFC system stack to solve the problem in related technologies where the electrolyte expands at high temperatures without reserved space and is excessively squeezed, causing the electrolyte sheet to deform and crack, leading to sealing failure.
[0005] In a first aspect, a sealed structure for a single cell in an SOFC system stack is provided, comprising:
[0006] Electrolyte tablets;
[0007] Two symmetrically arranged plate-shaped assemblies are located on both sides of the electrolyte sheet. Each plate-shaped assembly includes a bipolar plate, a first sealing gasket, and a gasket stacked sequentially. The gasket is located between the electrolyte sheet and the first sealing gasket. A groove is formed between the gaskets of the two plate-shaped assemblies. The electrolyte sheet is held between the gaskets, and its edge extends into the groove.
[0008] The second sealing gasket is sandwiched between the gaskets of the two plate-shaped components and is located within the groove.
[0009] In some embodiments, a gap exists between the second sealing gasket and the edge of the electrolyte sheet.
[0010] In some embodiments, the bipolar plate includes a support frame and a flow guiding body;
[0011] The support frame is provided with two sets of air inlets and air outlets;
[0012] The second sealing gasket is provided with a second through hole corresponding to the two sets of air inlets and outlets;
[0013] The gasket is provided with a third through hole corresponding to the two sets of air inlets and outlets.
[0014] In some embodiments, the first sealing gasket is provided with a first reaction chamber;
[0015] The second sealing gasket is provided with a second reaction chamber;
[0016] The gasket is provided with a third reaction chamber.
[0017] In some embodiments, the first sealing gasket is provided with a first through hole, which is connected to one of a set of air inlets and air outlets.
[0018] The first through holes of the first sealing gaskets of adjacent plate-shaped assemblies are located on opposite sides of the first sealing gaskets.
[0019] In some embodiments, the first and second sealing gaskets are high-temperature resistant silicone sealant.
[0020] In some embodiments, the gasket is made of metal or ceramic material.
[0021] In some embodiments, the cross-section of the groove is trapezoidal, U-shaped, or V-shaped.
[0022] Secondly, a single cell of an SOFC system stack is provided, including the sealed structure of the single cell of the SOFC system stack.
[0023] Thirdly, an SOFC system stack is provided, including the SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure.
[0024] This application provides a single-cell sealing structure for an SOFC system fuel cell stack, along with the single cell and the stack itself. It employs a symmetrical clamping design with dual-plate components. Pressure is transmitted to the contact area between the gasket and the electrolyte sheet via a vertical stack locking force. Sufficient pressure applied to the gasket vertically ensures a tight seal. This structure eliminates the risk of shear stress failure due to differences in material thermal expansion coefficients, abandoning traditional sealant solutions. Furthermore, by optimizing the force path, it ensures that the sealing pressure acts only on a specific area of the gasket, preventing direct pressure on the electrolyte sheet. Simultaneously, grooves are provided at the outer ends of the opposite surfaces of the gaskets, suspending the edges of the electrolyte sheet and effectively absorbing thermal expansion deformation under high-temperature conditions, preventing excessive compression damage. Attached Figure Description
[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0026] Figure 1 An exploded view of the sealed structure of a single cell in an SOFC system stack provided in this application embodiment;
[0027] Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of the sealed structure of a single cell in an SOFC system stack provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the BB section structure;
[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged structural diagram at point C.
[0030] In the diagram: 1. Electrolyte plate; 2. Bipolar plate; 201. Support frame; 202. Flow guide body; 203. Air inlet; 204. Air outlet; 3. Gasket; 301. Third through hole; 302. Third reaction chamber; 303. Groove; 4. First sealing gasket; 401. First through hole; 402. First reaction chamber; 5. Second sealing gasket; 501. Second through hole; 502. Second reaction chamber; 7. Gap. Detailed Implementation
[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0032] This application provides a single-cell sealing structure for an SOFC system stack, which can solve the problem in related technologies where the electrolyte expands at high temperatures without reserved space and is excessively squeezed, causing the electrolyte sheet to deform and crack, and the sealing gasket to become fatigued, leading to sealing failure.
[0033] This application provides a sealed structure for a single cell in an SOFC system stack, such as... Figures 1 to 4 As shown, it includes:
[0034] Electrolyte tablet 1;
[0035] Two plate-shaped assemblies are located on both sides of the electrolyte sheet 1. The plate-shaped assemblies include bipolar plates 2, a first sealing gasket 4 and a gasket 3 arranged sequentially and in layers. The gasket 3 is located between the electrolyte sheet 1 and the first sealing gasket 4. A groove 303 is formed between the gaskets 3 of the two plate-shaped assemblies. The electrolyte sheet 1 is clamped between the gaskets 3 and its edge extends into the groove 303.
[0036] The second sealing gasket 5 is sandwiched between the gaskets 3 of the two plate-shaped components and is located in the groove 303.
[0037] This application employs a symmetrical clamping design with double-plate components for its sealing structure. Pressure is transmitted to the contact area between the gasket and the electrolyte plate through a vertically applied locking force of the fuel cell stack. Sufficient pressure applied to the gasket vertically ensures a tight seal. This structure eliminates the risk of shear stress failure due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the materials, abandoning traditional sealant solutions. Furthermore, by optimizing the force path, it ensures that the sealing pressure acts only on a specific area of the gasket, preventing direct pressure on the electrolyte plate. Simultaneously, grooves are provided at the outer ends of the opposite surfaces of the gaskets, suspending the edges of the electrolyte plate and effectively absorbing thermal expansion deformation under high-temperature conditions, preventing excessive compression damage.
[0038] Furthermore, to ensure that the electrolyte sheet 1 has sufficient room for expansion and contraction, and to further ensure that the electrolyte is not excessively compressed during thermal expansion, such as... Figure 4 As shown, there is a gap 7 between the second sealing gasket 5 and the edge of the electrolyte sheet 1.
[0039] In this embodiment, the cross-section of the groove 303 is L-shaped.
[0040] In some alternative embodiments, the cross-section of the groove 303 may also be trapezoidal, U-shaped, or V-shaped.
[0041] Furthermore, the depth of the groove 303 is related to the deformation of the electrolyte sheet 1 and the gasket 3. The specific value needs to be given according to the actual deformation amount. The depth of the groove 303 needs to be greater than the sum of the deformation amounts of the electrolyte sheet 1 and the gasket 3.
[0042] Furthermore, the width of the gap 7 is related to the expansion dimensions of the electrolyte sheet 1 and the second sealing gasket 5. The specific value needs to be calculated based on the specific dimensions and the expansion coefficient at the highest operating temperature. The width of the gap 7 must be greater than the sum of the expansion dimensions of the electrolyte sheet 1 and the second sealing gasket 5.
[0043] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the bipolar plate 2 includes a support frame 201 and a flow guiding body 202;
[0044] The support frame 201 is provided with two sets of air inlets 203 and air outlets 204. One set of air inlets 203 and air outlets 204 is used for hydrogen gas to enter and exit, and the other set is used for air / oxygen gas to enter and exit.
[0045] In this embodiment, one set of air inlets 203 and air outlets 204 are arranged along the length of the support frame 201, and another set is arranged along the width of the support frame 201. The flow guide body 202 is provided with flow guide grooves, and the flow guide grooves on the two sides of the bipolar plate 2 are arranged vertically.
[0046] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, assuming the bipolar plate 2 has an anode on the top and a cathode on the back, and the guide grooves on the top of the bipolar plate 2 are arranged along its length, then the inlet 203 and outlet 204 at the horizontal ends are used to transport hydrogen. The guide grooves on the back of the bipolar plate 2 are arranged perpendicular to the anode surface, then the inlet 203 and outlet 204 at the vertical ends are used to transport air / oxygen. The bipolar plates 2 of two adjacent plate-shaped assemblies are arranged opposite each other, that is, the anode of one bipolar plate 2 faces the cathode of the other bipolar plate 2.
[0047] Furthermore, the gasket 3 is provided with a third through hole 301 corresponding to the two sets of air inlets 203 and air outlets 204; the second sealing gasket 5 is provided with a second through hole 501 corresponding to the two sets of air inlets 203 and air outlets 204; the third through hole 301 on the gasket 3 and the second through hole 501 on the second sealing gasket 5 are connected to the two sets of air inlets 203 / air outlets 204 of the bipolar plate 2 for the entry and exit of hydrogen or oxygen / air.
[0048] Furthermore, the first through holes 401 of the first sealing gaskets 4 of the adjacent plate-shaped assemblies are located on opposite sides of the first sealing gaskets 4.
[0049] Specifically, the first sealing gasket 4 is provided with a first through hole 401, which is connected to one of the sets of air inlets 203 and outlets 204. The first through hole 401 of the first sealing gasket 4 of the upper set of plate-shaped components is arranged along the length direction to isolate the hydrogen gas at the anode, and the first reaction chamber 402 of the first sealing gasket 4 is connected to the oxygen inlet 203 and outlet 204 of the bipolar plate 2; the first through hole 401 of the first sealing gasket 4 of the lower set of plate-shaped components is arranged along the width direction to isolate the oxygen gas at the cathode, and the first reaction chamber 402 of the first sealing gasket 4 is connected to the hydrogen inlet 203 and outlet 204 of the bipolar plate 2.
[0050] Furthermore, the gasket 3, the first sealing gasket 4, and the second sealing gasket 5 are all provided with reaction chambers. The third reaction chamber 302 of the gasket 3 and the first reaction chamber 402 of the first sealing gasket 4 are used for the gas to react with the electrolyte sheet 1, and the electrolyte sheet 1 is disposed in the second reaction chamber 502 of the second sealing gasket 5.
[0051] Optionally, the first sealing gasket 4 and the second sealing gasket 5 are high-temperature resistant silicone sealant.
[0052] Optionally, gasket 3 can be made of metal or ceramic material.
[0053] In some alternative embodiments, the bipolar plate 2 adopts a diagonal flow field layout design, specifically, two sets of air inlets 203 and air outlets 204 are respectively located on opposite sides of the bipolar plate 2. In this configuration, the reactant gas enters through the air inlet 203, flows diagonally through the guide groove, and finally exits through the opposite air outlet 204. This type of diagonal flow field is a conventional technical solution and will not be described in detail here.
[0054] This application also provides a single cell of an SOFC system stack, including the sealed structure of the single cell of the SOFC system stack.
[0055] This application also provides an SOFC system stack, including the single-cell sealed structure of the SOFC system stack.
[0056] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0057] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely 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 a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
[0058] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.
Claims
1. A sealed structure for a single cell in an SOFC system stack, characterized in that, It includes: Electrolyte tablets (1); Two symmetrically arranged plate-shaped components are located on both sides of the electrolyte sheet (1). Each plate-shaped component includes a bipolar plate (2), a first sealing gasket (4), and a gasket (3) stacked in sequence. The gasket (3) is located between the electrolyte sheet (1) and the first sealing gasket (4). A groove (303) is formed between the gaskets (3) of the two plate-shaped components. The electrolyte sheet (1) is held between the gaskets (3), and its edge extends into the groove (303). The second sealing gasket (5) is sandwiched between the gaskets (3) of the two plate-shaped components and is located in the groove (303).
2. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: There is a gap (7) between the second sealing gasket (5) and the edge of the electrolyte sheet (1).
3. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bipolar plate (2) includes a support frame (201) and a flow guide body (202). The support frame (201) is provided with two sets of air inlets (203) and air outlets (204). The second sealing gasket (5) is provided with a second through hole (501) corresponding to the two sets of air inlets (203) and air outlets (204); The gasket (3) is provided with a third through hole (301) corresponding to the two sets of air inlets (203) and air outlets (204).
4. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first sealing gasket (4) is provided with a first reaction chamber (402); The second sealing gasket (5) is provided with a second reaction chamber (502); The gasket (3) is provided with a third reaction chamber (302).
5. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The first sealing gasket (4) is provided with a first through hole (401), and the first through hole (401) is connected to one of the sets of air inlets (203) and air outlets (204); The first through holes (401) of the first sealing gaskets (4) of the adjacent plate-shaped components are located on opposite sides of the first sealing gaskets (4).
6. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first sealing gasket (4) and the second sealing gasket (5) are high-temperature resistant glass glue.
7. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The gasket (3) is made of metal or ceramic material.
8. The SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the groove (303) is trapezoidal, U-shaped or V-shaped.
9. A single cell in an SOFC system stack, characterized in that: Includes the SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. A SOFC system stack, characterized in that: Includes the SOFC system stack single-cell sealed structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.