A single-bridge structure for metal bipolar plates in fuel cells

Abstract

This utility model relates to a single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate, comprising: a metal anode plate, one side of which has a hydrogen flow field and the other side has an anode cooling flow field; the metal anode plate has an anode sealing groove; a metal cathode plate, one side of which has an air flow field and the other side has a cathode cooling flow field, the anode cooling flow field and the cathode cooling flow field being connected; the metal cathode plate has a cathode sealing groove, the cathode sealing groove corresponding to the anode sealing groove when the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate are stacked; and a metal gasket, located between the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate, the metal gasket having a certain thickness and having channels for fluid flow. This utility model improves the uniformity and efficiency of fluid distribution by introducing a metal gasket of a certain thickness between the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate, with channels for fluid flow on the metal gasket.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a single-bridge structure for a metal bipolar plate in a fuel cell. Background Technology

[0002] Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are highly efficient and clean energy conversion devices with advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, fast start-up speed, and zero emissions. They are widely used in automobiles, distributed power generation, and other fields. The fuel cell stack is the core component of a PEMFC. Its structure typically includes end plates, insulating plates, current collectors, the core, lower current collectors, lower insulating plates, lower end plates, and fasteners. The stack can directly convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy. The core is formed by stacking a certain number of bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies.

[0003] Bipolar plates are key components in fuel cell stacks, with primary functions including: providing mechanical support for the stack; distributing gases (hydrogen, air) and coolant; isolating adjacent membrane electrode units; and conducting current. Currently, the main types of bipolar plates on the market are metal bipolar plates and graphite bipolar plates. Metal bipolar plates are gradually becoming the mainstream choice due to their high strength, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and lower cost. However, traditional metal bipolar plates have some structural defects, especially in terms of sealing performance and stacking efficiency.

[0004] Traditional metal bipolar plates are typically formed by welding metal cathode and anode plates. These bipolar plates contain two bridging zones at the inlet and outlet, requiring the gas to tumble twice during flow, increasing flow resistance and sealing difficulty. Furthermore, the staggered sealing strips of traditional bipolar plates necessitate a 180° rotation between adjacent plates during stacking, aligning the adhesive lines. This structure subjects the bipolar plates to significant shear forces within the core, easily leading to seal failure and hydrogen leakage. This not only poses safety hazards but also shortens the stack's lifespan. Utility Model Content

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a single-bridge structure for metal bipolar plates in fuel cells.

[0006] Firstly, to solve the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate, comprising: A metal anode plate has a hydrogen flow field on one side and an anode cooling flow field on the other side; the metal anode plate is provided with several anode sealing grooves; A metal cathode plate has an airflow field on one side and a cathode cooling flow field on the other side, with the anode cooling flow field connected to the cathode cooling flow field; the metal cathode plate has a plurality of cathode sealing grooves, and when the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate are stacked, the cathode sealing grooves correspond to the anode sealing grooves. A metal gasket is located between the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate. The metal gasket has a certain thickness and is provided with channels for fluid flow.

[0007] In one embodiment of this utility model, the depth of the anode sealing groove is less than the depth of the anode cooling flow field, and the depth of the cathode sealing groove is less than the depth of the cathode cooling flow field.

[0008] In one embodiment of this utility model, the sum of the depth of the anode sealing groove, the thickness of the metal gasket, and the depth of the cathode sealing groove is the same as the sum of the depth of the anode cooling flow field and the depth of the cathode cooling flow field.

[0009] In one embodiment of this utility model, an anode sealing strip is provided in the anode sealing groove.

[0010] In one embodiment of this utility model, a cathode sealing strip is provided in the cathode sealing groove, and the projections of the anode sealing strip and the cathode sealing strip overlap in the vertical direction.

[0011] In one embodiment of this utility model, the thickness of the metal gasket is in the range of 0.2-0.6 mm.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel includes a hydrogen flow channel, a coolant flow channel, and an air flow channel, wherein the hydrogen flow channel and the air flow channel are symmetrically arranged on the coolant flow channel.

[0013] In one embodiment of this utility model, the hydrogen flow channel and the air flow channel are each composed of a plurality of grooves parallel to each other in one direction, and the coolant flow channel is composed of a plurality of grooves parallel to each other in two directions.

[0014] In one embodiment of this utility model, the width between adjacent grooves ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 mm.

[0015] Secondly, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a fuel cell stack core sealing structure, including a plurality of fuel cell metal bipolar plate structures as described in the first aspect, with membrane electrode assemblies provided between adjacent fuel cell metal bipolar plate structures.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model has the following beneficial effects: The present invention discloses a single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate. By introducing a metal gasket of a certain thickness between the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate, and providing channels for fluid flow on the metal gasket, the uniformity and efficiency of fluid distribution are improved. The anode sealing groove and the cathode sealing groove are aligned, so that when the bipolar plates composed of the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate are stacked, adjacent bipolar plates do not need to be rotated 180° during stacking, which simplifies the stacking process, reduces the difficulty of operation, improves the stacking efficiency, and reduces the risk of seal failure due to misalignment of the sealing groove, thereby improving the sealing performance of the fuel cell stack. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To make the content of this utility model easier to understand, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the single-bridge structure of the fuel cell metal bipolar plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 The exploded view of a single bridge in a fuel cell metal bipolar plate is shown. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the metal gasket of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell stack core sealing structure of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the metal gasket of this utility model; Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partial structural diagram of the channel of the metal gasket; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell stack core sealing structure of this utility model; Explanation of reference numerals in the accompanying drawings: 20, metal gasket; 21, air circulation channel; 22, coolant circulation channel; 23, hydrogen circulation channel; 211, groove; 30, metal anode plate; 301, anode sealing groove; 32, metal cathode plate; 321, cathode sealing groove; 33, anode sealing strip; 34, cathode sealing strip. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0019] Reference Figure 1-4 As shown, this utility model discloses a single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate, comprising: The metal anode plate 30 has a hydrogen flow field on one side and an anode cooling flow field on the other side; the metal anode plate 30 is provided with a plurality of anode sealing grooves 301; The metal cathode plate 32 has an air flow field on one side and a cathode cooling flow field on the other side; the anode cooling flow field is connected to the cathode cooling flow field; the metal cathode plate 32 is provided with a plurality of cathode sealing grooves 321, and when the metal anode plate 30 and the metal cathode plate 32 are stacked, the cathode sealing grooves 321 correspond to the positions of the anode sealing grooves 301. A metal gasket 20 is located between the metal anode plate 30 and the metal cathode plate 32. The metal gasket 20 has a certain thickness and is provided with channels for fluid flow.

[0020] By introducing a metal gasket 20 between the metal anode plate 30 and the metal cathode plate 32, a bipolar plate single-bridge structure is formed, optimizing fluid distribution and eliminating the need for the gas to flip twice during flow, thus improving the uniformity and efficiency of fluid distribution. The anode sealing groove 301 and the cathode sealing groove 321 are aligned, reducing the risk of seal failure due to misalignment and improving the sealing performance of the fuel cell stack. Adjacent bipolar plates do not require rotation during stacking, simplifying the stacking process, reducing operational difficulty, and improving stacking efficiency.

[0021] For ease of description, the single-bridge structure of the fuel cell metal bipolar plate is referred to as a bipolar plate in this embodiment.

[0022] In this embodiment, the depth of the anode sealing groove 301 is less than the depth of the anode cooling flow field, and the depth of the cathode sealing groove 321 is less than the depth of the cathode cooling flow field. By optimizing the depth of the sealing grooves, the risk of fluid leakage caused by excessively deep sealing grooves is reduced, and the sealing performance is enhanced.

[0023] The sum of the depth of the anode sealing groove 301, the thickness of the metal gasket 20, and the depth of the cathode sealing groove 321 is the same as the sum of the depths of the anode cooling flow field and the cathode cooling flow field. This design ensures consistent flatness on both sides of the bipolar plate, further improving sealing performance and the uniformity of fluid distribution.

[0024] An anode sealing strip 33 is provided within the anode sealing groove 301; a cathode sealing strip 34 is provided within the cathode sealing groove 321, and the projections of the anode sealing strip 33 and the cathode sealing strip 34 overlap in the vertical direction. The design of the anode sealing strip 33 and the cathode sealing strip 34 further enhances the sealing performance, reduces the possibility of fluid leakage, and improves the safety and reliability of the fuel cell stack. Since both the anode sealing strip 33 and the cathode sealing strip 34 are in the same vertical direction, the sealing effect is better. Compared with traditional metal bipolar plates, this reduces the impact of sealing shear forces on the bipolar plates, lowers the risk of sealing leakage, and improves the lifespan of the fuel cell stack.

[0025] In this embodiment, the thickness of the metal gasket 20 ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 mm. This thickness range ensures both the mechanical strength of the metal gasket 20 and optimizes fluid distribution and sealing performance.

[0026] like Figure 5 and 6 As shown, the channel includes a hydrogen flow channel 23, a coolant flow channel 22, and an air flow channel 21, with the hydrogen flow channel 23 and the air flow channel 21 symmetrically arranged on the coolant flow channel 22. This channel design further optimizes fluid distribution and improves the uniformity and efficiency of fluid flow.

[0027] In this embodiment, both the hydrogen flow channel 23 and the air flow channel 21 are composed of several grooves 211 parallel to each other in one direction, and the coolant flow channel 22 is composed of several grooves 211 parallel to each other in two directions. The design of grooves 211 in the same direction in the hydrogen flow channel 23 and the air flow channel 21 allows hydrogen and air to flow uniformly along the grooves 211, covering the entire reaction area. This design reduces gas flow resistance and improves the uniformity of gas distribution. Uniform gas distribution ensures that each part of the membrane electrode receives sufficient reactive gas, thereby improving the efficiency of the electrochemical reaction and enhancing the overall performance of the stack. The design of grooves 211 in different directions on the coolant flow channel 22 allows the coolant to be more evenly distributed throughout the cooling area of ​​the bipolar plate. Compared with unidirectional grooves 211, multidirectional grooves 211 can more effectively remove heat and improve cooling efficiency.

[0028] Preferably, the width between adjacent grooves 211 ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 mm. This width range ensures both the mechanical strength of the fluid channel and optimizes fluid distribution and flow efficiency.

[0029] like Figure 7 As shown, this utility model provides a fuel cell stack core sealing structure, including several fuel cell metal bipolar plate single-bridge structures as described in Embodiment 1, with membrane electrode assemblies provided between adjacent fuel cell metal bipolar plate single-bridge structures.

[0030] All three bipolar plates have the same structure, and adjacent bipolar plates do not need to be rotated 180 degrees during stacking, making operation more convenient. The anode sealing strip 33 and the cathode sealing strip 34 are in the same vertical direction, resulting in better sealing performance. Compared with traditional metal bipolar plates, this reduces the impact of sealing shear force on the bipolar plates, lowers the risk of sealing leakage, and improves the lifespan of the fuel cell stack.

[0031] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A fuel cell metal bipolar plate single-bridge structure, characterized by: include: A metal anode plate has a hydrogen flow field on one side and an anode cooling flow field on the other side; the metal anode plate is provided with several anode sealing grooves; A metal cathode plate has an airflow field on one side and a cathode cooling flow field on the other side, with the anode cooling flow field connected to the cathode cooling flow field; the metal cathode plate has a plurality of cathode sealing grooves, and when the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate are stacked, the cathode sealing grooves correspond to the anode sealing grooves. A metal gasket is located between the metal anode plate and the metal cathode plate. The metal gasket has a certain thickness and is provided with channels for fluid flow.

2. The single-bridge structure of a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The depth of the anode sealing groove is less than the depth of the anode cooling flow field, and the depth of the cathode sealing groove is less than the depth of the cathode cooling flow field.

3. The single-bridge structure of a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sum of the depth of the anode sealing groove, the thickness of the metal gasket, and the depth of the cathode sealing groove is the same as the sum of the depths of the anode cooling flow field and the cathode cooling flow field.

4. The single-bridge structure of a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: An anode sealing strip is provided inside the anode sealing groove.

5. A single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cathode sealing groove is provided with a cathode sealing strip, and the projections of the anode sealing strip and the cathode sealing strip overlap in the vertical direction.

6. The single-bridge structure of a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the metal gasket ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 mm.

7. The single-bridge structure of a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The channel includes a hydrogen flow channel, a coolant flow channel, and an air flow channel, with the hydrogen flow channel and the air flow channel symmetrically arranged on the coolant flow channel.

8. A single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 7, characterized in that: Both the hydrogen flow channel and the air flow channel are composed of several grooves that are parallel to each other in one direction.

9. A single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 8, characterized in that: The coolant flow channel consists of several grooves that are parallel to each other in two directions.

10. A single-bridge structure for a fuel cell metal bipolar plate according to claim 9, characterized in that: The width between adjacent grooves ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 mm.

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