A vanadium flow battery stack structure facilitating maintenance

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of automobile field, a kind of full vanadium flow battery stack structure of being convenient for maintenance, including bottom plate and slot, the inner wall of bottom plate is processed with slot, the surface of bottom plate is movably connected with bipolar plate, the outer wall of bipolar plate is attached with ion exchange membrane. Through its bottom plate and top plate inner wall all have same processing slot, fixed sealing gasket in slot, sealing is more reliable when bipolar plate assembly, avoid leakage, without additional in polar plate opening and install sealing element, reduce operation difficulty, the outer frame of shell mechanism is additionally reinforced strip, the bottom plate and top plate are screwed by the upper and lower ends of connecting rod, can be disassembled and assembled quickly, it is convenient to overhaul bipolar plate, ion exchange membrane, the positive liquid inlet and negative liquid inlet of outer frame are all equipped with cover, idle time can prevent dust and prevent electrolyte evaporation, when using, it is convenient to butt joint external pipeline, maintenance efficiency is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of automotive engineering, specifically to a vanadium redox flow battery stack structure that is easy to maintain. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, common chemical energy storage methods mainly include lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, and vanadium redox flow batteries. Compared with other chemical batteries, vanadium redox flow batteries have advantages such as large scale, long life, safety and reliability, and the ability to be deeply charged and discharged. They play an important role in balancing loads, peak shaving and valley filling, improving grid quality, and suppressing the impact of distributed power generation fluctuations on the grid, thus becoming one of the ideal choices for large-scale energy storage devices.

[0003] For example, the vanadium redox flow battery stack structure with authorization announcement number "CN215933654U" solves the problem of increased operational difficulty caused by opening holes and assembling sealing materials on bipolar plates in existing vanadium redox flow battery stack structures. However, the existing vanadium redox flow battery stack structure requires bipolar plate fixing rings for installation, and the connection of the middle frame plate, left frame plate, etc., relies on silicone seals and fluororubber seals. During maintenance, the silicone seal layer must be treated first, and multiple components such as the stacked left end plate and inlet plate must be disassembled. The component disassembly steps are numerous, and the flow channel alignment needs to be recalibrated after the seals are replaced, which increases the difficulty and time consumption of maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of existing vanadium redox flow battery stack structures, which involve multiple disassembly steps and require recalibration of flow channel alignment after seal replacement, increasing maintenance difficulty and time consumption. Therefore, this invention proposes a vanadium redox flow battery stack structure that is easy to maintain.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a vanadium redox flow battery stack structure that is easy to maintain, comprising a base plate and a slot, wherein the inner wall of the base plate is machined with a slot, the surface of the base plate is movably connected to a bipolar plate, the outer wall of the bipolar plate is attached to an ion exchange membrane, the inner wall of the slot is fixedly connected to a sealing gasket, and the outer wall of the slot is connected to a shell mechanism.

[0006] This feature: By machining a slot on the inner wall of the base plate and fixing the sealing gasket to the inner wall of the slot, an effective seal can be formed when the bipolar plate is installed with the base plate, preventing electrolyte leakage.

[0007] Preferably, the housing mechanism includes an outer frame, the lower end of which is fixedly connected to a slot, the outer wall of which is fixedly connected to a reinforcing strip, and the outer wall of which is threadedly connected to a connecting rod.

[0008] This feature: The outer frame of the housing mechanism is fixedly connected to the slot, and the reinforcing strip enhances the overall structural strength. The connecting rod is threaded to the reinforcing strip and the bottom plate and top plate to achieve a stable assembly of each component. At the same time, the threaded connection method facilitates disassembly, making it convenient to inspect and replace core components such as bipolar plates and ion exchange membranes.

[0009] Preferably, the end of the connecting rod is threaded to the base plate, and the upper end of the outer frame is connected to an external mechanism.

[0010] Preferably, the external connection mechanism includes a top plate, the inner wall of which is inserted into the external connection mechanism, the outer wall of which is fixedly connected to a fixing sleeve, and the fixing sleeve is threadedly connected to the external connection end by bolts.

[0011] This feature: The top plate of the external connection mechanism is connected to the external end via a fixing sleeve and bolts, facilitating the connection of the fuel cell stack with external pipelines and circuits.

[0012] Preferably, the other end of the connecting rod is threaded to the top plate.

[0013] This feature involves connecting rods that pass through the reinforcing strips and are threaded to the bottom and top plates respectively, forming a continuous fixed structure. This ensures a tight fit between the outer frame and the bottom and top plates, and allows for quick disassembly of various components by rotating the connecting rods, improving the ease of maintenance.

[0014] Preferably, the outer wall of the outer frame is machined with a positive electrode liquid inlet and a negative electrode liquid inlet.

[0015] This feature: The positive and negative electrolyte inlets machined on the outer wall of the frame are connected to the external electrolyte circulation system, which can precisely guide vanadium ion solutions of different valence states into the stack, where redox reactions occur in the reaction chamber formed by the bipolar plates and the ion exchange membrane.

[0016] Preferably, the end of the positive electrode liquid inlet is threadedly connected to the cap.

[0017] This feature: The cap is threaded onto the positive electrolyte inlet. When the fuel cell stack is idle or under maintenance, the cap can be tightened to prevent dust and impurities from entering the channel and clogging the flow path. It also prevents residual electrolyte from evaporating and causing pollution. When needed, simply unscrew the cap to quickly connect to the external pipeline. The operation is simple and efficient.

[0018] The present invention proposes a vanadium redox flow battery stack structure that is easy to maintain. The advantages are as follows: Both the bottom and top plates have identically machined slots on their inner walls, with sealing gaskets fixed within the slots. This ensures more reliable sealing during bipolar plate assembly, preventing leakage and eliminating the need for additional sealing elements in the plates, thus reducing operational difficulty. The outer frame of the outer casing is connected to reinforcing strips, and the bottom and top plates are threaded together by connecting rods, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly, facilitating the inspection and maintenance of bipolar plates and ion exchange membranes. Both the positive and negative electrode inlets of the outer frame are equipped with caps, preventing dust and electrolyte evaporation when not in use, and facilitating connection to external pipelines during operation, significantly improving maintenance efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the outer frame;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the mid-base plate structure;

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the inner and outer shell structure;

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the external connection mechanism;

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the connecting rod structure.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Base plate, 2. Slot, 3. Bipolar plate, 4. Ion exchange membrane, 5. Sealing gasket, 6. Outer shell mechanism, 601. Outer frame, 602. Reinforcing strip, 603. Connecting rod, 7. External connection mechanism, 701. Top plate, 702. Fixing sleeve, 703. External connection end, 8. Positive electrode liquid inlet, 9. Negative electrode liquid inlet, 10. Cover. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Please see Figure 1-6In this embodiment, a vanadium redox flow battery stack structure that is easy to maintain includes a base plate 1 and a slot 2. The inner wall of the base plate 1 is machined with the slot 2. The surface of the base plate 1 is movably connected to a bipolar plate 3. The outer wall of the bipolar plate 3 is attached to an ion exchange membrane 4. The ion exchange membrane 4 can selectively allow vanadium ions of a specific valence state to pass through, thereby forming a positive electrode reaction zone and a negative electrode reaction zone on both sides of the bipolar plate 3, providing a key ion conduction path for the efficient electrochemical reaction. The inner wall of the slot 2 is fixedly connected to a sealing gasket 5. The sealing gasket 5 is made of corrosion-resistant and aging-resistant fluororubber material, which can maintain stable elasticity and sealing performance in the environment of long-term contact with strong acid electrolyte. Its fixed connection with the inner wall of the slot 2 is integral injection molding, avoiding the problem of easy detachment of traditional adhesive sealing gaskets, further improving the sealing reliability after assembly, and effectively extending the service life of the stack. The outer wall of the slot 2 is connected to a shell mechanism 6.

[0028] The outer casing mechanism 6 includes an outer frame 601, the lower end of which is fixedly connected to the slot 2, the outer wall of which is fixedly connected to the reinforcing strip 602, and the outer wall of the reinforcing strip 602 is threadedly connected to the connecting rod 603.

[0029] Both the bottom plate 1 and the top plate 701 have identically machined slots 2 on their inner walls. The slots 2 are fitted with sealing gaskets 5, which makes the bipolar plates 3 more reliably sealed during assembly, preventing leakage. There is no need to install additional seals in the plates, reducing the difficulty of operation. The outer frame 601 of the outer shell mechanism 6 is connected to the reinforcing strip 602, and the bottom plate 1 and the top plate 701 are connected by threads at the upper and lower ends of the connecting rod 603. This allows for quick disassembly and assembly, facilitating the maintenance of the bipolar plates 3 and the ion exchange membrane 4. The positive electrode liquid inlet 8 and the negative electrode liquid inlet 9 of the outer frame 601 are equipped with caps 10, which can prevent dust and electrolyte evaporation when not in use, and facilitate connection to external pipelines when in use, greatly improving maintenance efficiency.

[0030] The end of the connecting rod 603 is threaded to the base plate 1. The upper end of the outer frame 601 is connected to the external mechanism 7. The external mechanism 7 includes a top plate 701. The inner wall of the top plate 701 is inserted into the external mechanism 7. The outer wall of the top plate 701 is fixedly connected to the fixing sleeve 702. The fixing sleeve 702 is made of high-strength engineering plastic material. Its inner wall is provided with a slot structure that matches the upper end of the outer frame 601. It can accurately align with the outer frame 601 and form a secondary seal, further improving the overall anti-leakage performance of the fuel cell stack. The fixing sleeve 702 is threaded to the external end 703 by bolts.

[0031] The other end of the connecting rod 603 is threaded to the top plate 701. The outer wall of the outer frame 601 is machined with a positive electrode liquid inlet 8 and a negative electrode liquid inlet 9. The end of the positive electrode liquid inlet 8 is threaded to the cover 10. The inner wall of the cover 10 is provided with a rubber sealing ring. When tightened to the ends of the positive electrode liquid inlet 8 and the negative electrode liquid inlet 9, the sealing effect can be further enhanced to prevent the electrolyte from leaking due to pressure changes during the operation of the fuel cell stack.

[0032] Working principle:

[0033] When the vanadium redox flow battery stack is running, first unscrew the cover 10 from the positive electrode liquid inlet 8 and the negative electrode liquid inlet 9 on the outer wall of the outer frame 601, and connect the external electrolyte circulation pipeline to these two inlets respectively. With the help of an external power device, vanadium ion electrolytes of different valence states are injected into the stack through the positive electrode liquid inlet 8 and the negative electrode liquid inlet 9 respectively.

[0034] After the electrolyte enters, it flows within the cavity formed by the bottom plate 1, the top plate 701, and the outer frame 601, reaching the bipolar plate 3 region. The flow channels on the surface of the bipolar plate 3 guide the uniform distribution of the electrolyte. Simultaneously, the bipolar plate 3 and the ion exchange membrane 4 are tightly bonded to form a reaction zone. Under the influence of the electric field, the electrolyte on the positive electrode side undergoes an oxidation reaction, while the electrolyte on the negative electrode side undergoes a reduction reaction. The ion exchange membrane 4 allows specific vanadium ions to pass through, achieving ion migration and thus completing the generation and storage of electrical energy.

[0035] When the fuel cell stack requires maintenance, first disconnect the external piping and screw the cover 10 back onto the positive electrode liquid inlet 8 and negative electrode liquid inlet 9 to prevent dust from entering and residual electrolyte from evaporating. Next, rotate the connecting rod 603. Since the upper and lower ends of the connecting rod 603 are threaded to the bottom plate 1 and top plate 701 respectively, and the middle is threaded to the reinforcing strip 602, rotating it allows the connecting rod 603 to detach from the bottom plate 1 and top plate 701, thus allowing the top plate 701 to be removed. Afterwards, the bipolar plate 3 and ion exchange membrane 4 can be removed for inspection or replacement without needing to handle complex sealing layers and calibration channels. After maintenance, the process can be reversed to reassemble the fuel cell stack.

[0036] 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 vanadium redox flow battery stack structure that is easy to maintain, comprising a base plate (1) and slots (2), wherein the inner wall of the base plate (1) is machined with slots (2), characterized in that: The surface of the base plate (1) is movably connected to the bipolar plate (3), the outer wall of the bipolar plate (3) is attached to the ion exchange membrane (4), the inner wall of the slot (2) is fixedly connected to the sealing gasket (5), the outer wall of the slot (2) is connected to the outer shell mechanism (6), the outer shell mechanism (6) includes an outer frame (601), the lower end of the outer frame (601) is fixedly connected to the slot (2), the outer wall of the outer frame (601) is fixedly connected to the reinforcing strip (602), and the outer wall of the reinforcing strip (602) is threadedly connected to the connecting rod (603).

2. The easy-to-maintain all-vanadium redox flow battery stack structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the connecting rod (603) is threaded to the base plate (1), and the upper end of the outer frame (601) is connected to an external mechanism (7).

3. The easy-to-maintain all-vanadium redox flow battery stack structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The external mechanism (7) includes a top plate (701), the inner wall of the top plate (701) is inserted into the external mechanism (7), the outer wall of the top plate (701) is fixedly connected to the fixing sleeve (702), and the fixing sleeve (702) is threadedly connected to the external end (703) by bolts.

4. The easy-to-maintain all-vanadium redox flow battery stack structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The other end of the connecting rod (603) is threaded to the top plate (701).

5. The easy-to-maintain all-vanadium redox flow battery stack structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer wall of the outer frame (601) is processed with a positive electrode liquid inlet (8) and a negative electrode liquid inlet (9).

6. The easy-to-maintain all-vanadium redox flow battery stack structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The end of the positive electrode liquid inlet (8) is threadedly connected to the cover (10).

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