A carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt

Abstract

This invention provides a carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt, comprising: a carbonization bed and a needle holder. The carbonization bed includes a base and a top cover; the top cover is adapted to engage with the base and form a space for clamping the fiber felt; the needle holder includes a seat body and flow channel constructing needles; the flow channel constructing needles are fixed to the seat body; the flow channel constructing needles are adapted to be inserted into the fiber felt clamped by the carbonization bed to construct flow channels within the fiber felt, and the seat body is engaged with the edge of the carbonization bed. The carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt of this invention utilizes the carbonization stage of the fiber felt to construct macroscopic flow channels within the fiber felt, resulting in graphite felt with these macroscopic flow channels. When used as an electrode, this can reduce flow resistance and improve the performance of the electrode stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of flow battery technology, and in particular to a carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt. Background Technology

[0002] Flow batteries, as a highly efficient and renewable energy storage system, have attracted much attention in recent years. Flow batteries primarily achieve energy storage and release by converting electrical energy into chemical energy through chemical reactions between ions of different valence states in the electrolyte at the electrode surface. The electrodes are the core component of a flow battery, and their performance directly affects the overall performance of the battery. Graphite felt, due to its excellent conductivity, chemical stability, and high specific surface area, is mainly used as an electrode in flow batteries.

[0003] Fiber mat is an important raw material for the preparation of graphite mat. Fiber mat typically requires a series of treatments, including high-temperature carbonization and high-temperature graphitization, to become graphite mat. High-temperature carbonization involves placing the fiber mat in a carbonization furnace or other heat treatment equipment for heat treatment, typically at temperatures exceeding 300°C. The purpose is to carbonize the fiber filaments. During this stage, the molecular chains of the fibers break and rearrange, accompanied by volume shrinkage. The macroscopic shape of the fiber mat changes due to the decomposition of some organic matter, but the basic morphology of the carbon skeleton is initially fixed.

[0004] In existing technologies, when graphite felt made from fiber felt that has undergone the aforementioned high-temperature carbonization is used as an electrode, the electrolyte has a relatively long flow path on its surface, typically flowing through the length or width of the graphite felt. Due to the excessive flow distance of the electrolyte in the graphite felt, with a constant porosity, the larger the specific surface area of ​​the graphite felt, the greater the flow pressure drop, resulting in greater flow resistance. This greater flow resistance leads to poorer performance of the fuel cell stack using this graphite felt in terms of current density parameters and DC-side energy conversion efficiency based on pump consumption, resulting in a decrease in fuel cell stack performance. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a carbonization device for constructing flow channels of fiber felt, in order to solve the problem that the graphite felt made of fiber felt has large flow resistance, resulting in poor fuel cell performance.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0007] A carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels in fiber felt, comprising:

[0008] A carbonization bed, the carbonization bed including a base and a top cover; the top cover is adapted to engage with the base and form a space for clamping fiber felt;

[0009] The needle holder includes a seat body and a flow channel construction needle; the flow channel construction needle is fixed to the seat body; the flow channel construction needle is adapted to be inserted into the fiber felt held by the carbonization bed, to construct a flow channel in the fiber felt, and to make the seat body snap into the edge of the carbonization bed.

[0010] Preferably, the needle holder includes a first seat body, a second seat body, and a fastener;

[0011] The first seat and the second seat are detachably connected by the fastener, which is suitable for fixing the flow channel construction pin between the first seat and the second seat.

[0012] Preferably, the upper surface of the first seat and the lower surface of the second seat are provided with needle grooves, which fit together to form fixing holes for fixing the flow channel structure needles.

[0013] Preferably, there are multiple flow channel construction pins, which are evenly spaced on the base.

[0014] Preferably, there are two needle holders, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the carbonization bed.

[0015] Preferably, the flow channel construction needles on the two needle seats are arranged crosswise, which is suitable for forming the flow channels in an alternating pattern on the fiber felt.

[0016] Preferably, the spacing between two adjacent flow channel construction needles on each needle hub is 10-40 mm; and / or,

[0017] The length of the flow channel construction needle is 50-680 mm; and / or,

[0018] The diameter of the flow channel construction needle is 0.15mm-7mm; and / or,

[0019] The cross-section of the flow channel construction needle is one of the following: circular, elliptical, polygonal, rounded polygonal, or chamfered polygonal.

[0020] Preferably, the base includes a base plate and first limiting portions disposed at both ends of the base plate; the upper cover includes a top plate and second limiting portions disposed at both ends of the top plate;

[0021] The first limiting part and the second limiting part can be fastened together, and a gap is formed between the bottom plate and the top plate to hold the fiber felt.

[0022] Preferably, the first limiting part is a boss, and the boss is provided with a slot; the second limiting part is a slot, which is suitable for being embedded in the slot.

[0023] Preferably, the bottom plate and / or the top plate are provided with through holes.

[0024] The above-described solution of this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0025] (1) The carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt according to the present invention includes: a carbonization bed and a needle holder. The carbonization bed includes a base and a top cover. The top cover is adapted to be fastened to the base and form a space for clamping the fiber felt. The needle holder includes a seat body and a flow channel constructing needle. The flow channel constructing needle is fixed on the seat body. The flow channel constructing needle is adapted to be inserted into the fiber felt clamped by the carbonization bed to construct a flow channel in the fiber felt, and to make the seat body snap into the edge of the carbonization bed. The carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt according to the present invention utilizes the carbonization stage of the fiber felt to construct a macroscopic flow channel in the fiber felt, so that the obtained graphite felt has the macroscopic flow channel. When it is used as an electrode, the flow resistance can be reduced and the performance of the fuel cell stack can be improved.

[0026] Specifically, the carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt according to this invention places the fiber felt inside the device and then performs carbonization treatment. This carbonization treatment allows the fiber felt to form a carbon skeleton with macroscopic flow channels, resulting in graphite felt with macroscopic flow channels. When used as an electrode, these flow channels can change the local flow direction of the electrolyte. The electrolyte flow direction within the graphite felt changes to seep from the flow channels to the side channels, greatly shortening the electrolyte flow length, significantly improving mass transfer efficiency, reducing flow resistance, and enhancing stack performance.

[0027] (2) The carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt according to this utility model comprises multiple flow channel construction needles, which are equally spaced on the base. Through uniform spacing design, the constructed macroscopic flow channels are evenly distributed on the obtained graphite felt, ensuring that when the graphite felt is used as an electrode, the electrolyte flows along the same path and experiences the same pressure drop, thus satisfying the requirement for uniform electrolyte flow and allowing the electrochemical reaction at each point on the electrode to proceed sufficiently and uniformly, thereby satisfying the requirement for potential balance at each point. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt according to this utility model;

[0029] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt according to this utility model;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the carbonization bed of this utility model;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a structural perspective view of existing channelless fiber felt;

[0032] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the electrolyte flow direction in existing channelless fiber felt technology;

[0033] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the fiber felt obtained by carbonization treatment using the carbonization device for constructing flow channels of the fiber felt according to this utility model.

[0034] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the flow direction of the electrolyte in the fiber felt;

[0035] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the electrolyte flow direction in section A of the diagram;

[0036] Among them, 1. carbonization bed; 11. base; 111. bottom plate; 112. boss; 113. slot; 12. top cover; 121. top plate; 122. slot; 13. through hole; 2. needle seat; 21. seat body; 211. first seat body; 212. second seat body; 213. fastener; 214. fixing hole; 22. flow channel construction needle; 3. fiber felt; 31. flow channel; 4. flow channelless fiber felt. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0038] Embodiments of this utility model propose a carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt, such as... Figure 1-3 As shown in Figures 6-8, it includes: a carbonization bed 1 and a needle holder 2;

[0039] The carbonization bed 1 includes a base 11 and an upper cover 12; the upper cover 12 is adapted to be fastened to the base 11 and form a space for holding the fiber felt 3.

[0040] The needle holder 2 includes a seat body 21 and a flow channel construction needle 22; the flow channel construction needle 22 is fixed on the seat body 21; the flow channel construction needle 21 is adapted to be inserted into the fiber felt 3 held by the carbonization bed 1, to construct a flow channel 31 in the fiber felt 3, and to make the seat body 21 snap into the edge of the carbonization bed 1.

[0041] To facilitate the fixing and adjustment of the flow channel construction pin 22, the pin holder 2 includes a first seat 211, a second seat 212, and a fastener 213. The first seat 211 and the second seat 212 are detachably connected by the fastener 213, which is suitable for fixing the flow channel construction pin 22 between the first seat 211 and the second seat 212. Specifically, when the first seat 211 and the second seat 212 are fixed by the fastener 213, the flow channel construction pin 22 can be fixed between the first seat 211 and the second seat 212; when the fastener 213 is removed, the first seat 211 and the second seat 212 are separated, and the flow channel construction pin 22 is separated from the first seat 211 and the second seat 212. With this configuration, the flow channel construction needle 22 can be fixed or removed from the first seat 211 and the second seat 212 by installing or removing the fastener 213, and the flow channel construction needle 22 can be replaced according to the different specifications of the fiber felt 3.

[0042] It should be noted that the structural design of the first seat 211 and the second seat 212 is not unique. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the first seat 211 and the lower surface of the second seat 212 are provided with needle grooves, which fit together to form a fixing hole 214 for fixing the flow channel structure needle 22.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the flow channel construction needle 22 can be T-shaped, meaning that a fixing plate is provided at the needle shank end, and the needle grooves on the upper surface of the first base 211 and the lower surface of the second base 212 are also T-shaped, so that the fixing plate is suitable for embedding into the needle groove. This configuration makes the installation, disassembly, and replacement of the flow channel construction needle 22 more convenient.

[0044] In order to ensure that the macroscopic flow channels constructed by the flow channel construction pins 22 are evenly distributed, there are multiple flow channel construction pins 22, which are evenly arranged on the base body 21.

[0045] It should be noted that, for the purpose of achieving the present invention, the distribution pattern, size, and other parameters of the flow channel constructing needles 22 are not unique, as long as they can be used to needle-punch and construct flow channels on the fiber felt 3. In this embodiment, there are two needle seats 2, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the carbonization bed 1. The flow channel constructing needles 22 on the two needle seats 2 are arranged crosswise, which is suitable for forming the staggered flow channels 31 on the fiber felt 3.

[0046] like Figure 6-7The image shows a perspective view of the fiber felt obtained by carbonization treatment using the carbonization device for constructing the fiber felt flow channel. It should be noted that the flow channel 31 is a continuous flow channel within the fiber felt 3; the image shows its internal structure in perspective, represented by discontinuous dashed lines.

[0047] In this embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent flow channel construction pins 22 on each pin holder 2 is, but not limited to, 10-40 mm; the length of the flow channel construction pin 22 is, but not limited to, 50-680 mm; and the diameter of the flow channel construction pin 22 is, but not limited to, 0.15 mm-7 mm. The material of the flow channel construction pin 22 can be one of a metal alloy, ceramic, or graphite; wherein the metal alloy is a molybdenum-based alloy; the ceramic is one of an oxide ceramic, carbide ceramic, or nitride ceramic; and the graphite is sintered graphite. More specifically, the nitride ceramic is one of silicon carbide or boron carbide; the oxide ceramic is one of zirconium oxide or alumina; and the nitride ceramic is one of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, or boron nitride. The cross-section of the flow channel construction pin 22 is, but not limited to, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a rounded polygon, or a chamfered polygon. The cross-section refers to the cross-section along the length direction perpendicular to the flow channel construction pin 22. Those skilled in the art can also select or replace the distribution, size, shape, and material of the flow channel construction needles 22 according to the size, shape, and specifications of the fiber felt.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the base 11 includes a base plate 111 and first limiting portions disposed at both ends of the base plate 111; the top cover 12 includes a top plate 121 and second limiting portions disposed at both ends of the top plate 121; the first limiting portions and the second limiting portions are snap-fitted together, and a gap is formed between the base plate 111 and the top plate 121 to hold the fiber felt 3.

[0049] The design of the first limiting part and the second limiting part is not unique, as long as it can achieve the snap-fit ​​connection between the base 11 and the upper cover 12. In this embodiment, the first limiting part is a boss 112, and the boss 112 is provided with a slot 113; the second limiting part is a slot 122, which is suitable for being embedded in the slot 113.

[0050] Since the fiber felt 3 generates gas during high-temperature carbonization, through holes 13 are provided on the bottom plate 111 and / or the top plate 121 to facilitate gas escape and exhaust. In this embodiment, the through holes 13 are evenly distributed on the bottom plate 111 and the top plate 121. This structure facilitates the full exhaust of gas.

[0051] The carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt described in this embodiment is used as follows:

[0052] The fiber felt 3 is placed on the base 11, and the upper cover 12 is fastened to the base 11, so that the clamping platform 122 is embedded in the clamping groove 113, forming the carbonization bed 1 that holds the fiber felt 3; then the flow channel construction needles 22 of the two needle seats 2 are inserted into the fiber felt 3 held by the carbonization bed 1 from both sides. At this time, the seat body 21 is embedded at the edge of the carbonization bed 1, and the carbonization device for constructing flow channels of fiber felt is obtained after installation.

[0053] The carbonization apparatus for constructing the flow channels of the fiber felt is placed at a carbonization temperature (e.g., in a carbonization furnace or other heat treatment apparatus for carbonization) for carbonization treatment. After carbonization treatment, the needle seat 2 is removed, the upper cover 12 is opened, and the fiber felt 3 is taken out. The carbonized fiber felt 3 forms a structure with the flow channels 31, thereby enabling the graphite felt prepared therefrom to have the macroscopic flow channels.

[0054] like Figure 4-5 As shown, this is a fiber felt obtained through carbonization using existing technology, namely, channelless fiber felt 4. When it is made into graphite felt and used as an electrode, the flow direction of the electrolyte on its surface is as follows: Figure 5 As indicated by the middle arrow, the electrolyte seeps from one end to the other.

[0055] like Figure 6-8 As shown, the fiber felt 3 obtained by the carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt described in this embodiment has the flow channel 31. After being prepared as graphite felt, it also has the structure of the flow channel 31. When this graphite felt is used as an electrode, the direction of electrolyte flow on its surface is... Figure 7 The directions shown, from a microscopic perspective, are as follows: Figure 8 As shown, the electrolyte enters from the inlet direction of the flow channel 31, seeps outwards from the inside of the flow channel 31 to both sides, and finally flows out from the outlet direction of each flow channel 31. Compared with the flow-free fiber felt 4, the fiber felt 3 obtained by the carbonization device for constructing the flow channel of the fiber felt described in this embodiment greatly reduces the flow resistance, improves the mass transfer efficiency, and shortens the flow length of the electrolyte seepage.

[0056] The above description is the preferred embodiment of this utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A carbonization device for constructing flow channels in fiber felt, characterized in that, include: A carbonization bed (1) includes a base (11) and a top cover (12); the top cover (12) is adapted to engage with the base (11) and form a space for holding the fiber felt (3); The needle holder (2) includes a seat body (21) and a flow channel construction needle (22); the flow channel construction needle (22) is fixed on the seat body (21); the flow channel construction needle (22) is adapted to be inserted into the fiber felt (3) held by the carbonization bed (1), to construct a flow channel (31) in the fiber felt (3), and to make the seat body (21) snap into the edge of the carbonization bed (1).

2. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 1, characterized in that, The needle seat (2) includes a first seat body (211), a second seat body (212), and a fastener (213); The first seat (211) and the second seat (212) are detachably connected by the fastener (213), which is suitable for fixing the flow channel construction pin (22) between the first seat (211) and the second seat (212).

3. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper surface of the first seat (211) and the lower surface of the second seat (212) are provided with needle grooves, which fit together to form a fixing hole (214) for fixing the flow channel structure needle (22).

4. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flow channel construction pins (22) are multiple and are evenly spaced on the seat (21).

5. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 4, characterized in that, There are two needle seats (2), which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the carbonization bed (1).

6. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 5, characterized in that, The flow channel construction needles (22) on the two needle seats (2) are arranged crosswise to form the flow channels (31) in an alternating pattern on the fiber felt (3).

7. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 6, characterized in that, The spacing between two adjacent flow channel construction needles (22) on each needle holder (2) is 10-40 mm; and / or, The length of the flow channel construction needle (22) is 50-680 mm; and / or, The diameter of the flow channel construction needle (22) is 0.15mm-7mm; and / or, The cross-section of the flow channel construction needle (22) is one of the following: circular, elliptical, polygonal, rounded polygonal, or chamfered polygonal.

8. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (11) includes a base plate (111) and first limiting portions disposed at both ends of the base plate (111); the upper cover (12) includes a top plate (121) and second limiting portions disposed at both ends of the top plate (121); The first limiting part and the second limiting part can be fastened together, and a gap is formed between the bottom plate (111) and the top plate (121) to hold the fiber felt (3).

9. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first limiting part is a boss (112), and the boss (112) is provided with a slot (113); the second limiting part is a slot (122), which is suitable for being embedded in the slot (113).

10. The carbonization apparatus for constructing flow channels of fiber felt according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom plate (111) and / or the top plate (121) are provided with through holes (13).

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