A stack assembly, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a kind of electric pile assembly, fuel cell system and vehicle, electric pile assembly includes: box, box is used to accommodate electric pile, the side wall of box is equipped with first assembly hole;Manifold assembly, manifold assembly is connected with box, one end of manifold assembly extends to box inside through first assembly hole, and is connected with electric pile, the other end of manifold assembly is used to connect external pipeline.The electric pile assembly in the embodiment of the application, by directly integrating manifold assembly with box, reduce the assembly interface of each component, reduce assembly difficulty, make the structure of electric pile assembly more compact, reduce the external space requirement of electric pile assembly, simultaneously, interface reduction is advantageous to improve the sealing of box, solve the technical problems of complex assembly, poor sealing of electric pile assembly in the prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of fuel cell stack packaging technology, and more specifically, to a fuel cell stack assembly, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, fuel cell stacks are typically composed of independently manufactured components such as housings, manifolds, and valves. These components are connected through separate assembly steps, which increases the overall complexity of the fuel cell stack packaging and raises manufacturing costs. At the same time, the gaps between components also increase the difficulty of sealing, affecting the stability and safety of fuel cell stack operation.

[0003] There is currently no effective solution to the aforementioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a fuel cell stack assembly, a fuel cell system, and a vehicle, aiming to improve the problems of complex assembly and poor sealing of fuel cell stack assemblies in the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a fuel cell stack assembly is provided, including: a housing for accommodating the fuel cell stack, the housing having a first mounting hole on its side wall; and a manifold assembly connected to the housing, one end of the manifold assembly extending through the first mounting hole into the housing and connected to the fuel cell stack, the other end of the manifold assembly being used to connect to an external pipe.

[0006] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the housing can be used to tightly encapsulate the fuel cell stack; the external pipes can be used to transport gases such as hydrogen and air, or liquids such as coolant; the manifold assembly is connected to the fuel cell stack through the first assembly hole, ensuring that the gas can be accurately delivered to the individual cells of the fuel cell stack for electrochemical reaction. In this embodiment, the fuel cell stack assembly, by directly integrating the manifold assembly with the housing, reduces the assembly interfaces of each component, reduces the assembly difficulty, makes the structure of the fuel cell stack assembly more compact, reduces the external space requirements of the fuel cell stack assembly, and at the same time, the reduction of interfaces helps to improve the sealing performance of the housing, solves the technical problems of complex assembly and poor sealing performance of fuel cell stack assemblies in the prior art, and improves the stability and safety of fuel cell stack operation.

[0007] Furthermore, the enclosure includes: an enclosure body having an assembly opening for assembling the power stack into the enclosure body, and a first assembly hole on the side wall of the enclosure body opposite to the assembly opening; a rear cover plate detachably connected to the enclosure body, and when the rear cover plate is connected to the enclosure body, the rear cover plate blocks the assembly opening, and the rear cover plate has a second assembly hole; wherein, during the process of installing the power stack into the enclosure body, the second assembly hole is used for the pressure rod of the press to pass through.

[0008] The optional embodiments described above achieve the following technical effects: the assembly opening allows the fuel cell stack to be smoothly assembled into the housing; the detachable rear cover facilitates the installation and disassembly of the fuel cell stack; and the rear cover sealing the assembly opening ensures the airtightness of the housing. During assembly, the second assembly hole serves as a channel for the press rod, ensuring that the press rod can directly contact the fuel cell stack, precisely controlling the compression height of the fuel cell stack, thereby ensuring a uniform pressure distribution inside the fuel cell stack. In this embodiment, the assembly opening and rear cover simplify the assembly process of the fuel cell stack assembly, improve assembly efficiency, and simultaneously ensure the assembly quality of the fuel cell stack and the airtightness of the housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the rear cover plate also has multiple stop holes, and a stop locking element is installed inside the stop holes. Along the assembly direction of the fuel cell stack, the stop locking element is movable relative to the rear cover plate and is used to abut against the fuel cell stack inside the enclosure.

[0010] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the stop through hole can be used to install the stop locking component and provide adjustment space for the stop locking component. The movable setting of the stop locking component allows the stop locking component to be adjusted in position according to the assembly requirements of the fuel cell stack. The position of the stop locking component can be flexibly adjusted according to the compression height of the fuel cell stack, so as to achieve precise control of the compression height of the fuel cell stack, ensure uniform pressure distribution inside the fuel cell stack, solve the problem of uneven pressure distribution inside the fuel cell stack, and improve the assembly efficiency and stability of the fuel cell stack.

[0011] Furthermore, the box body also has a side opening, and the box also includes a side cover plate. The side cover plate is detachably connected to the box body, and when the side cover plate is connected to the box body, the side cover plate blocks the side opening.

[0012] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: During the assembly process, the side opening facilitates the observation of the fuel cell stack installation inside the enclosure, ensuring the smooth installation of the fuel cell stack. After assembly, the side cover plate is connected to the side opening of the enclosure body, ensuring the sealing of the side wall of the enclosure and preventing the intrusion of external gases and liquids. At the same time, it provides installation positions for other components of the fuel cell stack assembly. In addition, the detachable connection of the side cover plate facilitates subsequent maintenance and repair of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0013] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes a waterproof and breathable valve, which is connected to the housing through a second mounting hole and is used to allow gas exchange between the housing and the external environment.

[0014] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: The waterproof and breathable valve is connected to the housing through the second assembly hole, which can be used to discharge excess gas inside the housing. At the same time, the waterproof function of the waterproof and breathable valve can prevent external liquid from entering and protect the internal fuel cell stack. The waterproof and breathable valve is directly integrated with the housing, reducing the assembly interfaces of each component, reducing the assembly difficulty, making the structure of the fuel cell stack assembly more compact, and reducing the external space requirements of the fuel cell stack assembly. At the same time, the reduction of interfaces helps to improve the sealing performance of the housing, solving the technical problems of complex assembly and poor sealing performance of fuel cell stack assembly in the prior art, and further improving the stability and safety of fuel cell stack operation. In addition, during the assembly process, the second assembly hole is used for the pressure rod to pass through. After the assembly is completed, the second assembly hole is used to install the waterproof and breathable valve, realizing full utilization of the second assembly hole, reducing the number of openings in the rear cover plate, and ensuring structural strength.

[0015] Furthermore, the enclosure body also has a top opening, and the enclosure also includes a top cover plate. The top cover plate is detachably connected to the enclosure body, and when the top cover plate is connected to the enclosure body, the top cover plate blocks the top opening. The top cover plate has an electrical connection port, and the electrical connector extends to the enclosure body through the electrical connection port.

[0016] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: During the assembly process, the top opening facilitates observation of the fuel cell stack installation inside the enclosure, ensuring smooth installation of the fuel cell stack. After assembly, the top cover plate is connected to the top opening of the enclosure body, ensuring the enclosure is sealed and preventing the intrusion of external gases and liquids. The electrical connection port on the top cover plate allows the electrical connectors to extend, enabling electrical connection between the electrical connectors and external loads. At the same time, the detachable connection of the top cover plate facilitates subsequent maintenance and repair of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0017] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes limiting rods, which are disposed inside the housing and connected to the housing. There are multiple limiting rods, all of which extend along the assembly direction of the fuel cell stack.

[0018] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the setting of the limiting rod can ensure that the fuel cell stack can be accurately limited during the stacking and compression process in the housing. The setting of multiple limiting rods can limit the fuel cell stack at multiple positions along the circumference of the fuel cell stack, ensuring the accurate position of the fuel cell stack during the stacking and compression process, avoiding the problem of uneven pressure distribution inside the fuel cell stack. The setting of the limiting rod improves the assembly efficiency and stability of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0019] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes an exhaust valve connected to the housing. The exhaust valve has an open state and a closed state. When the exhaust valve is in the open state, the gas inside the housing can be discharged to the outside of the housing through the exhaust valve. The side wall of the housing is also provided with multiple air holes for gas exchange between the inside of the housing and the external environment.

[0020] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: The exhaust valve ensures that the gas inside the enclosure can be discharged in a timely manner. By controlling the opening and closing state of the exhaust valve, it can be switched to the open state in time when the gas pressure inside the enclosure is too high to discharge the gas inside the enclosure, and switched to the closed state when the gas pressure inside the enclosure is normal to prevent impurities from entering. The control of the opening and closing state of the exhaust valve ensures the controllability and safety of the gas emission inside the enclosure, improves the safety and reliability of the fuel cell stack assembly, and simplifies the control process of gas emission inside the enclosure. The vent design can balance the gas emission demand inside the enclosure and the gas entry demand of the external environment, realize the exchange of gases inside and outside the enclosure, maintain the normal gas pressure inside the enclosure, and improve the safety of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0021] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a fuel cell system is provided, including the above-described stack assembly.

[0022] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: by directly connecting the housing to the manifold assembly, the gaps and number of interfaces between various components of the fuel cell stack are effectively reduced, and the spatial volume of the fuel cell stack assembly is reduced, thereby making the structure of the fuel cell system more compact and improving space utilization. At the same time, the integrated manifold assembly simplifies the gas delivery path, ensures uniform gas distribution inside the fuel cell stack assembly, makes the pressure of the fuel cell stack assembly more balanced, thereby improving the operational stability of the fuel cell system and extending the service life of the fuel cell system.

[0023] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a vehicle is provided, including the above-described fuel cell stack assembly.

[0024] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the battery stack assembly achieves stable internal operation of the battery stack and gas exchange in the housing by directly integrating the manifold assembly. The battery stack assembly has higher assembly efficiency, better assembly sealing, and a more compact device structure. When the above-mentioned battery stack assembly is applied to a vehicle, the battery stack assembly occupies less space, saving more space for the vehicle. Moreover, the good sealing of the battery stack assembly can improve the safety of the vehicle, reduce the harm caused by battery leakage, improve the performance and safety of the vehicle, and achieve efficient and safe operation of the vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rear cover plate of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fuel cell stack of an embodiment of the fuel cell stack assembly provided in this application;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing body of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the packaging process of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the packaging process of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the manifold assembly of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell stack assembly provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] 1. Rear cover plate; 101. Stop through hole; 102. Bolt hole; 103. Second assembly hole;

[0036] 2. Locking and stopping components;

[0037] 3. Fuel cell stack; 31. Pressure plate assembly; 32. Insulation plate; 33. Current collector plate; 34. Core;

[0038] 4. Box body; 41. Top opening; 42. Side opening; 43. Assembly opening; 401. First assembly hole; 402. Vent hole;

[0039] 5. Limit rod;

[0040] 6. Top cover plate;

[0041] 7. Side cover plate;

[0042] 8. Manifold assembly; 81. First port; 82. Second port; 83. Third port;

[0043] 9. Exhaust valve;

[0044] 10. Waterproof and breathable valve. Detailed Implementation

[0045] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0046] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0047] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0048] Exemplary embodiments according to this application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application is thorough and complete, and that the concept of these exemplary embodiments is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, for clarity, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated, and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same devices, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0049] Combination Figures 1 to 8 As shown, according to a specific embodiment of this application, a fuel cell stack assembly is provided.

[0050] The fuel cell stack assembly includes a housing and a manifold assembly 8. The housing is used to house the fuel cell stack 3. The side wall of the housing has a first mounting hole 401 and a second mounting hole 103. The manifold assembly 8 is connected to the housing. One end of the manifold assembly 8 extends through the first mounting hole 401 into the housing and is connected to the fuel cell stack 3. The other end of the manifold assembly 8 is used to connect to an external pipe.

[0051] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the housing can be used to tightly encapsulate the fuel cell stack 3, the external pipes can be used to transport gases such as hydrogen and air, or liquids such as coolant, and the manifold assembly 8 is connected to the fuel cell stack 3 through the first assembly hole 401 to ensure that the gas can be accurately delivered to the single cell of the fuel cell stack 3 for electrochemical reaction. In this embodiment, the fuel cell stack assembly, by directly integrating the manifold assembly 8 with the housing, reduces the assembly interfaces of each component, reduces the assembly difficulty, makes the structure of the fuel cell stack assembly more compact, reduces the external space requirement of the fuel cell stack assembly, and at the same time, the reduction of interfaces helps to improve the sealing performance of the housing, solves the technical problems of complex assembly and poor sealing performance of fuel cell stack assemblies in the prior art, and improves the stability and safety of fuel cell stack operation.

[0052] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, such as Figure 7 As shown, the manifold assembly 8 has a first port 81, a second port 82, and a third port 83. The first port 81, the second port 82, and the third port 83 can be used to flow hydrogen, air, and coolant, respectively. The fuel cell stack assembly is provided with two manifold assemblies 8, such that one manifold assembly 8 serves as a flow inlet and the other manifold assembly 8 serves as a flow outlet.

[0053] Furthermore, the enclosure includes an enclosure body 4 and a rear cover plate 1. The enclosure body 4 has an assembly opening 43 for assembling the power stack 3 into the enclosure body 4. A first assembly hole 401 is provided on the side wall of the enclosure body 4 opposite to the assembly opening 43. The rear cover plate 1 is detachably connected to the enclosure body 4. When the rear cover plate 1 is connected to the enclosure body 4, the rear cover plate 1 blocks the assembly opening 43. The rear cover plate 1 has a second assembly hole 103. During the process of installing the power stack 3 into the enclosure body 4, the second assembly hole 103 is used for the press rod of the press to pass through.

[0054] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the assembly opening 43 allows the fuel cell stack 3 to be smoothly assembled into the housing body 4; the detachable design of the rear cover plate 1 facilitates the installation and disassembly of the fuel cell stack 3; and the rear cover plate 1 seals the assembly opening 43, ensuring the airtightness of the housing. During the assembly process, the second assembly hole 103 serves as a channel for the press rod, ensuring that the press rod can directly contact the fuel cell stack 3, precisely controlling the compression height of the fuel cell stack 3, thereby ensuring a uniform distribution of internal pressure in the fuel cell stack 3. In this embodiment, the assembly opening 43 and the rear cover plate 1 simplify the assembly process of the fuel cell stack assembly, improve assembly efficiency, and simultaneously ensure the assembly quality of the fuel cell stack 3 and the airtightness of the housing.

[0055] In this embodiment, when the fuel cell stack is packaged through the assembly opening 43, the fuel cell stack 3 enters the interior of the housing body 4 along the assembly opening 43, and the assembly direction is the core thickness direction of the fuel cell stack 3.

[0056] Furthermore, the rear cover plate 1 also has multiple stop through holes 101, and a stop locking member 2 is inserted into the stop through hole 101. Along the assembly direction of the fuel cell stack 3, the stop locking member 2 is movably set relative to the rear cover plate 1, and the stop locking member 2 is used to abut against the fuel cell stack 3 inside the housing.

[0057] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the stop through hole 101 can be used to install the stop locking member 2 and provide adjustment operation space for the stop locking member 2. The movable setting of the stop locking member 2 allows the stop locking member 2 to be adjusted in position according to the assembly requirements of the fuel cell stack 3, and the position of the stop locking member 2 can be flexibly adjusted according to the compression height of the fuel cell stack 3, so as to achieve precise control of the compression height of the fuel cell stack 3, ensure the uniform distribution of internal pressure of the fuel cell stack 3, solve the problem of uneven internal pressure distribution of the fuel cell stack 3, and improve the assembly efficiency and stability of the fuel cell stack 3.

[0058] Among them, the stop locking component 2 can be a stop bolt, or it can be an elastic locking component, a pneumatic locking structure, or other structures that can adjust the locking pressure according to the specific height of the fuel cell stack 3.

[0059] Furthermore, the box body 4 also has a side opening 42, and the box also includes a side cover 7. The side cover 7 is detachably connected to the box body 4, and when the side cover 7 is connected to the box body 4, the side cover 7 blocks the side opening 42.

[0060] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: During the assembly process, the side opening 42 facilitates the observation of the fuel cell stack installation inside the box, ensuring the smooth installation of the fuel cell stack 3. After assembly, the side cover 7 is connected to the side opening 42 of the box body 4, which ensures the sealing of the side wall of the box and prevents the intrusion of external gas and liquid. At the same time, it provides installation positions for other components of the fuel cell stack assembly. In addition, the detachable connection of the side cover 7 facilitates the subsequent maintenance and repair of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0061] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes a waterproof and breathable valve 10, which is connected to the housing through a second mounting hole 103. The waterproof and breathable valve 10 is used to allow the housing to exchange gases with the external environment.

[0062] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: The waterproof and breathable valve 10 is connected to the housing through the second assembly hole 103, which can be used to discharge excess gas inside the housing. At the same time, the waterproof function of the waterproof and breathable valve 10 can prevent external liquid from entering and protect the internal fuel cell stack 3. The waterproof and breathable valve 10 is directly integrated with the housing, reducing the assembly interfaces of each component, reducing the assembly difficulty, making the structure of the fuel cell stack assembly more compact, reducing the external space requirements of the fuel cell stack assembly. At the same time, the reduction of interfaces is conducive to improving the sealing performance of the housing, solving the technical problems of complex assembly and poor sealing performance of fuel cell stack assembly in the prior art, and further improving the stability and safety of fuel cell stack operation. In addition, during the assembly process, the second assembly hole 103 is used for the pressure rod to pass through. After the assembly is completed, the second assembly hole 103 is used to install the waterproof and breathable valve 10, realizing the full utilization of the second assembly hole 103, reducing the number of openings in the rear cover plate 1, and ensuring structural strength.

[0063] It should be understood that the vent of the waterproof and breathable valve 10 is equipped with a waterproof membrane to allow for the exchange of internal and external gases while preventing external liquids from entering the chamber. The vent does not restrict the direction of gas flow; internal gas can flow to the external environment through the vent, and external gas can also flow to the chamber through the vent.

[0064] Furthermore, the housing body 4 also has a top opening 41, and the fuel cell stack integration device also includes an electrical connector. The current collector 33 of the fuel cell stack 3 is electrically connected to the electrical connector, and the electrical connector extends to the outside of the housing body 4 through the top opening 41.

[0065] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the electrical connector is connected to the current collector plate 33 of the fuel cell stack 3 through the top opening 41, which can realize the electrical connection between the fuel cell stack 3 and the external load, thereby realizing the efficient connection between the fuel cell stack integrated device and the external load. By adjusting the size and shape of the top opening 41 and the structure of the electrical connector, the electrical connection between the fuel cell stack integrated device and the external load can be realized while ensuring the sealing of the inside of the housing.

[0066] Preferably, the enclosure also includes an upper cover plate 6, which is detachably connected to the enclosure body 4. When the upper cover plate 6 is connected to the enclosure body 4, the upper cover plate 6 blocks the top opening 41. The upper cover plate 6 has an electrical connection port, through which the electrical connector extends to the outside of the enclosure body 4.

[0067] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: During the assembly process, the top opening 41 facilitates the observation of the fuel cell stack installation inside the box, ensuring the smooth installation of the fuel cell stack 3. After assembly, the top cover 6 is connected to the top opening 41 of the box body 4, which ensures the sealing of the box and prevents external gas and liquid from entering. At the same time, the electrical connection port on the top cover 6 allows the electrical connector to extend, realizing the electrical connection between the electrical connector and the external load. In addition, the detachable connection of the top cover 6 facilitates the subsequent maintenance and repair of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0068] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes a limiting rod 5, which is disposed inside the housing and connected to the housing. There are multiple limiting rods 5, all of which extend along the assembly direction of the fuel cell stack 3.

[0069] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the setting of the limiting rod 5 can ensure that the fuel cell stack 3 can be accurately limited during the stacking and compression process in the box. The setting of multiple limiting rods 5 can limit the fuel cell stack 3 at multiple positions along the circumference of the fuel cell stack 3, ensuring the accurate position of the fuel cell stack 3 during the stacking and compression process, avoiding the problem of uneven pressure distribution inside the fuel cell stack 3. The setting of the limiting rod 5 improves the assembly efficiency and stability of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0070] Furthermore, the fuel cell stack assembly also includes an exhaust valve 9, which is connected to the housing. The exhaust valve 9 has an open state and a closed state. When the exhaust valve 9 is in the open state, the gas inside the housing can be discharged to the outside of the housing through the exhaust valve 9.

[0071] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: The exhaust valve 9 ensures that the gas inside the chamber can be discharged in a timely manner. By controlling the opening and closing state of the exhaust valve 9, it can be switched to the open state in time when the gas pressure inside the chamber is too high to discharge the gas inside the chamber, and switched to the closed state when the gas pressure inside the chamber is normal to prevent impurities from entering. The control of the opening and closing state of the exhaust valve 9 ensures the controllability and safety of the gas emission inside the chamber, improves the safety and reliability of the fuel cell stack assembly, and simplifies the control process of gas emission inside the chamber.

[0072] In this embodiment, the exhaust valve 9 is preferably a valve body structure that only allows unidirectional flow, that is, when opened, it only allows gas to flow from the inside of the box to the external environment, so as to increase the exhaust volume of the box and quickly discharge the gas inside the box.

[0073] In other embodiments, an airflow acceleration device, such as a fan, can be integrated into the exhaust valve 9 to accelerate the airflow speed and improve exhaust efficiency.

[0074] Furthermore, the side wall of the enclosure is provided with multiple air holes 402, which are used for gas exchange between the inside of the enclosure and the external environment.

[0075] The above-mentioned optional embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: the setting of the vent 402 can balance the emission demand of the gas inside the box and the entry demand of the gas in the external environment, realize the exchange of gas inside and outside the box, maintain the normal air pressure inside the box, and improve the safety of the fuel cell stack assembly.

[0076] This application also provides a preferred embodiment of a fuel cell stack assembly.

[0077] To facilitate the explanation of the technical effects of the fuel cell stack assembly in this embodiment, the existing fuel cell stack assemblies are described below: Traditional fuel cell stack packaging technologies, such as those using straps, screws, or bolts for fixing, have many technical limitations and challenges. These packaging methods typically require multiple layers of components, such as independent end plates, insulating plates, and fasteners, to encapsulate the fuel cell stack. This not only increases the size of the fuel cell stack, reducing space utilization and volumetric power ratio, but the presence of redundant structures often affects the fuel cell stack's resistance to vibration and shock, reducing the overall system efficiency.

[0078] Specifically, the fuel cell stack assembly in this embodiment includes a rear cover plate 1, a stop bolt (i.e., the aforementioned stop locking component 2), a bare fuel cell stack (i.e., the aforementioned fuel cell stack 3), a housing body 4, a limiting rod 5, a top cover plate 6, and side cover plates 7, among other components. The bare fuel cell stack is integrated into a single enclosure using the housing body 4 and the rear cover plate 1, and the assembly pressure uniformity and stacking height of the bare fuel cell stack are adjusted using the stop bolt and other components. This structure is simple and reliable, and can significantly improve the integrated level and assembly efficiency of the fuel cell stack.

[0079] Among them, such as Figure 2 As shown, the rear cover plate 1 is a plate with certain reinforcing ribs and a certain number of threaded through holes (i.e., the aforementioned stop through holes 101) distributed on its surface to facilitate the installation and adjustment of the stop bolts. Bolt holes 102 are distributed around the outer periphery of the rear cover plate 1 for fastening to the housing body 4. The surface of the rear cover plate 1 has at least one second mounting hole 103 with a relatively large diameter. During the press-fitting stage, the second mounting hole 103 facilitates the passage of the pressure rod, allowing it to directly contact the core 34 of the fuel cell stack 3. Simultaneously, the second mounting hole 103 can ultimately accommodate components such as a waterproof vent valve 10, ensuring the discharge of gas from the housing body 4 and controlling the entry of external liquids.

[0080] Fully threaded bolts are preferred for the locking bolts. The length of the locking bolt is defined as the difference between the inner height of the bare fuel cell housing 4 and the minimum height of the bare fuel cell.

[0081] like Figure 3As shown, a bare fuel cell stack generally includes a pressure plate assembly 31 (which may or may not include elastic elements), an insulation plate 32, a current collector plate 33, and a core 34, which are stacked and assembled in a certain order and form the main body of the fuel cell stack for power generation.

[0082] like Figure 4 As shown, the housing body 4 is a three-sided open main frame structure, primarily used for securing the bare fuel cell stack. Two first assembly holes 401 are pre-drilled at the front end of the housing to facilitate subsequent assembly with components such as the manifold assembly 8. The manifold material is engineering plastics such as PPS, ensuring that fluids such as hydrogen, air, oxygen, and coolant do not directly contact the housing body 4, preventing the conductivity of the fluids during operation from affecting the insulation performance of the housing body 4. Simultaneously, through holes are pre-drilled on the sides of the housing body 4 as purge holes (i.e., the aforementioned vent 402). Combined with a purge valve and a reasonable purge strategy, residual hydrogen inside the sealed housing body 4 can be effectively removed, ensuring safety. Holes are pre-drilled on the bottom plate and side plates of the housing body 4 for fixing and adjusting the limiting rod 5, and the perpendicularity between the bottom of the housing body 4 and the side plate is ≤0.5mm. Furthermore, the top opening 41 of the housing body 4 corresponds to the assembly of the upper cover plate 6, the side opening 42 corresponds to the assembly of the side cover plate 7, and the assembly opening 43 corresponds to the assembly of the rear cover plate 1.

[0083] Limiting rod 5 is an engineering plastic rod with a certain reinforcement structure, and the commonly used material is PPS, etc.

[0084] The top cover plate 6 corresponds to the top opening 41 of the enclosure body 4, and bolt holes are distributed along the edge gaps to facilitate fastening to the enclosure body 4. A certain opening may be reserved to facilitate the connection of the high-voltage copper busbar (i.e. the aforementioned electrical connector) to the outside.

[0085] The side cover 7 corresponds to the side opening 42 of the box body 4, and bolt holes are distributed in the edge gap to facilitate fastening with the box body 4. A certain opening may be reserved to facilitate the connection of other plug-ins with the outside.

[0086] The manifold assembly 8 is fastened to the front end of the housing body 4. One end is connected to an external pipe, and the other end is connected to the bare fuel cell stack through a sealing ring, etc., to ensure that external fuel (such as hydrogen), air or oxygen, and coolant enter the bare fuel cell stack directly through the manifold, avoiding direct contact with the housing body 4.

[0087] The purge valve (i.e. the aforementioned exhaust valve 9) is fastened to the side plate of the housing body 4 by a sealing ring, and is directly connected to the inside of the housing body 4 to draw out the air inside the housing and accelerate the air circulation inside the housing body 4.

[0088] The waterproof and breathable valve 10 has the same external dimensions as the second mounting hole 103 on the rear cover plate 1. It is fastened to the second mounting hole 103 on the rear cover plate 1 by a sealing ring, and goes directly into the inside of the box to draw out the air and residual hydrogen in the box body 4, so as to avoid the accumulation of hydrogen in the box body 4.

[0089] The assembly process of the fuel cell stack assembly in this embodiment is as follows:

[0090] Step 1: As Figure 4 As shown, the limiting rod 5 is fixed to the bottom plate and side plate of the box body 4 by bolts;

[0091] Step 2: The housing body 4 is placed on the press workbench. The press rod passes through the rear cover plate 1. Then, the rear cover plate 1 is fastened to the upper pressure plate of the press. The upper pressure plate of the press is then moved up to the starting position of the stacking. Using the limiting rods 5 on the bottom plate and side plate as side limits, the bare fuel cell stack materials are sequentially stacked into the housing body 4.

[0092] Step 3: As Figure 5 As shown, after the stacking materials are assembled in one go, the crossbeam and positioning rod are pre-installed. The crossbeam is fixed to the main body 4 of the container with bolts, and the positioning rod is inserted into the groove of the crossbeam. Then, the thickness of the foamed silicone pad is estimated based on the distance from the core 34 to the positioning rod, and then a suitable thickness of foamed silicone pad is selected and installed between the crossbeam and the positioning rod. This can avoid the problem of single cell deformation caused by hard connection, and also avoid problems in the installation process caused by processing errors.

[0093] Step 4: Move the press head to contact the bare fuel cell stack and compress it to the target height. Remove the crossbeam and positioning rod from Step 3. Then lower the rear cover plate 1 and fasten the rear cover plate 1 to the housing body 4. Make the stop bolt contact the bare fuel cell stack through the rear cover plate 1 and adjust the torque of the stop bolt through the threaded through hole on the rear cover plate 1.

[0094] Step 5: Move the press head back to the starting position, remove the assembled integrated fuel cell stack from the press, and install components such as the manifold assembly 8, purge valve, and waterproof vent valve 10. As needed, continue assembling the low-voltage inspection components and high-voltage copper busbar components. Finally, secure the side cover plate 7 and top cover plate 6 to the main body 4. Figure 6 As shown.

[0095] After the integrated fuel cell stack is assembled, it needs to be connected to an external gas source and coolant through the manifold assembly 8. Compressed hydrogen and compressed air are delivered to each cell in the bare fuel cell stack core through the manifold. Reactions occur in the cells to generate current and water. The current is transmitted to the external load for use through the interface of components such as high-voltage copper busbars. The water is discharged from the fuel cell stack through the manifold. At the same time, the purge valve blows out the residual hydrogen in the main body 4 of the container through an appropriate purge strategy to ensure the safe hydrogen concentration in the main body 4 of the container.

[0096] Among them, the enclosure body 4, the limit rod 5, the bare fuel cell stack, the stop bolt, and the manifold assembly 8 are essential and need to cooperate with each other to ensure the consistency and sealing performance of the integrated fuel cell stack; the top cover plate 6, the side cover plate 7, the purge valve, and the waterproof and breathable valve 10 are preferred and are used to ensure the sealing of the integrated fuel cell stack enclosure body 4. If sealing is not required, they can be removed.

[0097] The fuel cell stack assembly in this embodiment has the following beneficial effects:

[0098] 1) The bare stack can be completely encapsulated by the box body 4 and the rear cover plate 1, realizing a true integrated stack box encapsulation structure. Compared with other structures that fasten the bare stack with straps or screws and then put it into the shell, it greatly reduces the redundant structure of components and avoids problems such as large stack size.

[0099] 2) The bare fuel cell stack can be directly stacked and compressed inside the housing body 4 through the limiting rod 5. Due to the presence of the top opening 41 and the side opening 42, it is easy to observe the stacking and pressing of the bare fuel cell stack, avoid abnormal squeezing and collision, and greatly improve the assembly efficiency and stability of the fuel cell stack.

[0100] 3) The engagement of the stop bolts with the rear cover plate 1 allows for flexible adjustment of the compression height and stress points of the bare fuel cell stack, facilitating the application and adjustment of the integrated fuel cell stack during R&D, fabrication, and maintenance. Through the engagement of the stop bolts and the rear cover plate 1, the stacking force is transmitted from the rear cover plate 1 through the stop bolts to the pressure plate assembly. This flexibly distributes the stress points of the stop bolts on the bare fuel cell stack, reducing the problems of uneven internal pressure distribution and insufficient stress in the central area caused by edge stress concentration, which are common with traditional encapsulation methods. Furthermore, adjusting the length of the stop bolts allows for adjustment of the compression height of the bare fuel cell stack, both of which contribute to the application and adjustment of the integrated fuel cell stack during R&D, fabrication, and maintenance.

[0101] 4) The second assembly hole on the rear cover plate 1 serves as both a clearance hole for the press rod and an installation hole for the waterproof and breathable valve 10 or the explosion-proof valve during the assembly process. This helps the press rod to accurately control the compression height of the core 34 and also helps to quickly vent residual hydrogen and water vapor from the container body 4.

[0102] 5) The front end plate of the enclosure body 4 has two first assembly holes 401 reserved, which can be matched with insulating manifolds of different specifications to ensure that fluids such as hydrogen, air, water and coolant do not directly contact the enclosure body 4, thus ensuring the insulation performance of the enclosure body 4.

[0103] This application also provides a fuel cell system including the above-described stack assembly.

[0104] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: by directly connecting the housing to the manifold assembly 8, the gaps and number of interfaces between various components of the fuel cell stack are effectively reduced, and the spatial volume of the fuel cell stack is reduced, thereby making the structure of the fuel cell system more compact and improving space utilization. At the same time, the integrated manifold assembly 8 simplifies the gas delivery path, ensures the uniform distribution of gas inside the fuel cell stack, makes the pressure of the fuel cell stack more balanced, thereby improving the operational stability of the fuel cell system and extending the service life of the fuel cell system.

[0105] Specifically, in one exemplary embodiment of this application, the fuel cell system includes a hydrogen supply device, an oxygen or air supply device, a cooling system, and the aforementioned fuel cell stack assembly. The manifold assembly 8 of the fuel cell stack assembly can be connected to the hydrogen supply device, the oxygen or air supply device, and the cooling system via external pipes to deliver hydrogen, air, oxygen, and other gases, as well as coolant, to the fuel cell stack.

[0106] This application also provides a vehicle that includes the above-described fuel cell stack assembly.

[0107] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: By directly integrating the manifold assembly 8 and the waterproof and breathable valve 10, the battery stack assembly realizes stable internal operation of the battery stack 3 and gas exchange in the housing. The battery stack assembly has higher assembly efficiency, better assembly sealing, and a more compact device structure. When the above-mentioned battery stack assembly is applied to a vehicle, the battery stack assembly occupies less space, saving more space for the vehicle. Moreover, the good sealing of the battery stack assembly can improve the safety of the vehicle, reduce the harm caused by battery leakage, improve the performance and safety of the vehicle, and realize efficient and safe operation of the vehicle.

[0108] Specifically, the vehicle can be any type of vehicle, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0109] In this application, the electrode assembly is a combination of the current collector and the active material of the battery.

[0110] In this application, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0111] In this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" 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; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0112] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc., in this application (if present) are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0113] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0114] Unless otherwise specified, all steps in this application may be performed sequentially or randomly. For example, if the method includes steps A and B, it means that the method may include steps A and B performed sequentially, or it may include steps B and A performed sequentially. For example, if the method may also include step C, it means that step C may be added to the method in any order. For example, the method may include steps A, B, and C, or it may include steps A, C, and B, or it may include steps C, A, and B, etc.

Claims

1. A stack assembly, characterized by include: A housing for accommodating an electric stack (3), wherein a first assembly hole (401) is provided on the side wall of the housing. Manifold assembly (8) is connected to the housing. One end of the manifold assembly (8) extends through the first mounting hole (401) into the housing and is connected to the fuel cell stack (3). The other end of the manifold assembly (8) is used to connect to an external pipe.

2. The stack assembly of claim 1, wherein, The enclosure includes: The box body (4) has an assembly opening (43) for assembling the power supply stack (3) into the box body (4). The first assembly hole (401) is provided on the side wall of the box body (4) opposite to the assembly opening (43). The rear cover plate (1) is detachably connected to the box body (4), and when the rear cover plate (1) is connected to the box body (4), the rear cover plate (1) blocks the assembly opening (43), and the rear cover plate (1) is provided with a second assembly hole (103). During the process of installing the fuel cell stack (3) into the housing body (4), the second assembly hole (103) is used for the press rod of the press to pass through.

3. The stack assembly of claim 2, wherein, The rear cover plate (1) also has multiple stop through holes (101), and a stop locking member (2) is inserted in the stop through hole (101). Along the assembly direction of the fuel cell stack (3), the stop locking member (2) is movably arranged relative to the rear cover plate (1), and the stop locking member (2) is used to abut against the fuel cell stack (3) inside the housing.

4. The stack assembly of claim 2, wherein, The box body (4) also has a side opening (42), and the box also includes a side cover plate (7). The side cover plate (7) is detachably connected to the box body (4), and when the side cover plate (7) is connected to the box body (4), the side cover plate (7) blocks the side opening (42).

5. The stack assembly of claim 2, wherein, The fuel cell stack assembly also includes a waterproof and breathable valve (10), which is connected to the housing through the second mounting hole (103) and is used to allow the housing to exchange gases with the external environment.

6. The stack assembly of claim 2, wherein, The box body (4) also has a top opening (41). The box also includes an upper cover plate (6). The upper cover plate (6) is detachably connected to the box body (4). When the upper cover plate (6) is connected to the box body (4), the upper cover plate (6) blocks the top opening (41). The upper cover plate (6) has an electrical connection port. The electrical connector extends to the outside of the box body (4) through the electrical connection port.

7. The fuel cell stack assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The fuel cell assembly also includes a limiting rod (5), which is disposed in the housing and connected to the housing. There are multiple limiting rods (5), and all of the multiple limiting rods (5) extend along the assembly direction of the fuel cell assembly (3).

8. The fuel cell stack assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The fuel cell assembly also includes an exhaust valve (9), which is connected to the housing. The exhaust valve (9) has an open state and a closed state. When the exhaust valve (9) is in the open state, the gas inside the housing can be discharged to the outside of the housing through the exhaust valve (9). The side wall of the housing is also provided with a plurality of air holes (402), which are used for gas exchange between the inside of the housing and the external environment.

9. A fuel cell system characterized by comprising: The fuel cell assembly includes any one of claims 1-8.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: Includes the fuel cell system as described in claim 9.

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