Manifold for solid oxide fuel cell and solid oxide electrolysis cell and fuel cell stack including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack, and a fuel cell stack including the same. The manifold may include a flow path receiving member having at least one folded portion and a flow path into which a raw material is introduced and gasified, and a gas discharge member disposed on the upper surface of the flow path receiving member and having a discharge port through which gasified from the flow path is discharged.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a manifold, and more specifically, to a gas manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and a high-temperature water electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack, and relates to a gas manifold for an SOFC / SOEC capable of forming various flow paths and a fuel cell stack including the same. Background Technology

[0002] As environmental problems such as global warming arise due to exhaust gases from the combustion of fossil fuels during the process of converting them into energy, interest in research for the development of eco-friendly alternative energy is increasing.

[0003] As part of the development of the aforementioned eco-friendly alternative energy, research utilizing hydrogen energy is actively underway. Hydrogen is an inexhaustible resource that produces electricity and water (H2O) when it reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell. By utilizing the reverse reaction of a fuel cell to electrolyze water, it is possible to generate high-purity hydrogen and oxygen; such a device is called a Solid Oxide Electrolyte Cell (SOEC). Fuel cells that use hydrogen as fuel differ in name and operating temperature depending on the electrolyte material, and among them, the fuel cell with the highest electrical conversion efficiency is the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC).

[0004] The above-mentioned solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) primarily serves to generate power, and to increase the power generation capacity, a plurality of layers are stacked as a single bundle comprising a separator that holds a plurality of SOFC cells, a current collector that connects electricity, and a sealant that serves to seal each layer, and this is called a stack.

[0005] In addition, the stack includes a metal block called a gas manifold at the bottom, top, or top and bottom, and the gas manifold serves to distribute fuel gas and air required for power generation inside the stack. Specifically, among the fuel gas introduced through the inlet, H2 / H2O reacts at a high temperature of 750 to 850°C, so even if the stack is placed in a furnace at approximately 850°C, if steam at a low temperature of 100 to 200°C does not reach the cell placed inside the stack, the performance is significantly degraded.

[0006] To this end, in order to maximize the temperature of the fuel gas, a separate heater is installed to apply heat of 450°C or higher from the outside, or pipes are coiled inside the furnace to extend the distance of the fuel's movement so that heat exchange is performed while the furnace is at a high temperature.

[0007] However, in such cases, there is a problem that causes an economic burden by increasing the internal volume of the furnace through the separate installation of the heater or by excessively extending the piping within the existing furnace. The problem to be solved

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a manifold for a fuel cell provides a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack that can increase the efficiency of converting the liquid phase in the raw material into the gas phase by designing a long flow path through which a raw material including a gaseous and liquid phase supplied to the fuel cell passes.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell stack includes a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack having the aforementioned advantages. means of solving the problem

[0010] A manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack according to one embodiment of the present invention is a manifold for use in a fuel cell stack and may include a flow channel receiving member having at least one bend and a flow channel into which a raw material is introduced and gasified, and a gas discharge member disposed on the upper surface of the flow channel receiving member and having a discharge port for discharging gas gasified from the flow channel. In one embodiment, the flow channel may have at least one L-shape, Z-shape, O-shape, or a combination thereof.

[0011] In one embodiment, the fluid channel includes at least one bent portion having a U-shape, a V-shape, and a combination thereof, and may be bent. In one embodiment, the fluid channel may be composed of a plurality of layers.

[0012] In one embodiment, the bend may have an angle of 45° or less. In one embodiment, the raw material may include a fuel comprising gas and liquid. In one embodiment, the raw material passes through a flow path, and at least some of the raw material may be converted into gas.

[0013] In one embodiment, the flow path may be manufactured using a 3D printer. In one embodiment, the gas exhaust member may include at least one exhaust port. In one embodiment, the gas exhaust member may be arranged in opposite directions and may be arranged in at least one pair.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell stack may include at least one unit cell comprising an air electrode, an electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode, a separator plate provided between the unit cells, a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack disposed at at least one of the top and bottom of the fuel cell stack, a flow channel receiving member having at least one folded portion and a flow channel into which a raw material is introduced and gasified, and a gas discharge member disposed on the upper surface of the flow channel receiving member and having a discharge port for discharging gas gasified from the flow channel.

[0015] In one embodiment, the flow path of the manifold may have at least one L-shape, Z-shape, O-shape, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the flow path of the manifold may include at least one bent portion having a U-shape, V-shape, or a combination thereof, and may be bent.

[0016] In one embodiment, the flow path of the manifold may be composed of a plurality of layers. In one embodiment, the fold portion of the manifold may have an angle of 45° or less. In one embodiment, the raw material may include gas and liquid. Effects of the invention

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack has at least one fold and includes a long flow path, thereby providing a fuel cell manifold that can increase the efficiency of converting a liquid phase in a raw material into a gaseous phase.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell stack comprises a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack having the aforementioned advantages. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of a fuel cell stack according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0020] Terms such as first, second, and third are used to describe various parts, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, but are not limited thereto. These terms are used solely to distinguish one part, component, region, layer, or section from another part, component, region, layer, or section. Accordingly, the first part, component, region, layer, or section described below may be referred to as the second part, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0021] The technical terms used herein are for the reference of specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms used herein include plural forms unless phrases clearly indicate otherwise. As used in the specification, the meaning of "comprising" specifies certain characteristics, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements, and / or components, and does not exclude the presence or addition of other characteristics, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements, and / or components.

[0022] When it is stated that one part is "above" or "on" another part, it may be directly above or on the other part, or other parts may be involved in between. In contrast, when it is stated that one part is "directly above" another part, no other parts are interposed in between.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are further interpreted to have meanings consistent with relevant technical literature and the present disclosure, and are not interpreted in an ideal or highly formal sense unless otherwise defined.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, these are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims set forth below.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a manifold (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is a means for supplying gas to a fuel cell stack and includes a flow path receiving member (110) into which a raw material is introduced and a gas discharge member (120). The manifold (100) may be positioned at the top or bottom of the fuel cell stack to gasify and supply the raw material.

[0027] The Euro receiving member (110) may have at least one bend (CUR) and may include a flow path (1101) into which a raw material is introduced and gasified. The raw material may be a raw material composed of a gaseous phase and a liquid phase. For example, the raw material may include hydrogen (H2) gas or H2O liquid. The raw material composed of the gaseous phase and the liquid phase may form hydrogen gas as it passes through the flow path (1101), and the hydrogen gas generated from the flow path (1101) may be supplied to a fuel cell stack.

[0028] The flow path (1101) may include an inlet (1101_I) into which a raw material having a mixture of gaseous and liquid phases is introduced, and an outlet (1101_O) into which the gas converted from the raw material introduced through the inlet (1101_I) is discharged. The raw material may be introduced through the separator plate inlet (1101_I) and discharged through the flow path (1101) to the separator plate outlet (1101_O). Although FIG. 1 illustrates the outlet (1101_0) being positioned on the same plane as the inlet (1101_I), this is a non-limiting example and may be positioned on a different side or facing the top surface.

[0029] The Euro (1101) may have at least one bend (CUR). The Euro (1101) may have a plurality of bends (CUR) as illustrated in FIG. 1. The shape of the bend (CUR) may be, for example, U-shaped, V-shaped, O-shaped, and a combination thereof. For example, if there are multiple bends (CUR), they may have only a U-shape, only a V-shape, only an O-shape, or a mixture of U-shape, V-shape, and O-shape. The Euro (1101) may include various shapes manufactured from a 3D printer.

[0030] Accordingly, the flow path (1101) of the manifold (100) includes at least one bend (CUR), thereby increasing the time required for the raw material to be introduced and discharged, which can easily convert the liquid in the raw material into gas, thereby increasing the content and purity of the gas introduced into the stack.

[0031] Specifically, the flow path (1101) may have various shapes. The various shapes may be structures formed to evenly transfer heat across the entire separator plate. For example, the various shapes may be designed to have a shape capable of distributing heat over the entire surface area of ​​the separator plate. More specifically, the flow path (1101) within the manifold (100) may have a plurality of bends (CUR) and may be bent in a winding manner. For example, the flow path (1101) may be designed such that the flow path (1101) has an extended streamline shape with an "L" shape, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] The gas discharge member (120) may be disposed on the upper surface of the flow channel receiving member (110) and may have an outlet (120_O) through which gasified gas is discharged from the flow channel (1101). Various members capable of supplying the gas discharged from the flow channel receiving member (110) to the stack may be utilized for the gas discharge member (120). Additionally, since the gas discharge member (120) may be disposed in contact with the stack, various members capable of supplying gas while minimizing damage to the stack may be utilized.

[0033] In one embodiment, the gas discharge member (120) may include at least one discharge port (120_O) for discharging gas. The discharge port (120_O) may be a member in which a raw material containing gas and liquid passes through a flow path (1101), is vaporized, and supplied to a stack.

[0034] In one embodiment, the gas discharge members (120) may be arranged in opposite directions and arranged in at least one pair. By arranging the gas discharge members (120) symmetrically in opposite directions, there is an advantage in that the gas supplied to the stack can be discharged more easily, thereby increasing the cell efficiency of the stack.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a flow path (1101) within a flow path receiving member (110) may have a plurality of bending portions (CUR) and may be bent in a winding manner. For example, the flow path (1101) may be designed to be extended as an "L" shaped flow path (1101) as shown in FIG. 2.

[0037] In one embodiment, the bend portion (CUR) may have an angle of 45° or less. Specifically, by having the bend portion (CUR) have an angle of 45° or less and 30° or less, the length of the flow path (1101) can be efficiently extended, and accordingly, gasification of the raw material can be easily performed.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a flow path (1101) within a flow path receiving member (110) may have a plurality of bending portions (CUR') and may be bent in a zigzag shape. For example, the flow path (1101) may be designed to be extended as a "Z" shaped flow path (1101) as shown in FIG. 2b.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 4, according to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one semicircular shape, for example, a U-shape, may be formed to form a pair of “O” shaped channels (1101). In one embodiment, the “O” shaped channels (1101) may be composed of at least one “O” shaped member or a plurality of “O” shaped members. The channels (1101) within the channel receiving member (110) may have a shape in which at least one circular shape is connected.

[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a manifold (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 5, the flow path (1101) within the manifold (100) may be composed of multiple layers. Specifically, the multiple layers may be composed of multiple layers, such as double layers or triple layers. As the flow path (1101) is arranged in multiple layers, the length of the flow path (1101) is extended to promote the gasification of the raw material, thereby increasing the purity of the gas in the raw material supplied to the stack and increasing the cell efficiency.

[0044] In one embodiment, the temperature at the inlet of the manifold (100) can be maintained at a temperature of 700 to 900 ℃. Specifically, the temperature at the inlet of the manifold (100) can be maintained at a temperature of 750 to 850 ℃. By satisfying the aforementioned range, the inlet temperature of the manifold (100) can control a uniform heat distribution within the stack when applied to the stack.

[0045] In one embodiment, the manifold (100) may be manufactured by 3D printing. By manufacturing the internal flow path (1101) of the manifold (100), specifically the flow path receiving member (110), by 3D printing, the interior of the manifold (100) can be freely designed, thereby increasing the length of the flow path (1101) within the manifold (100) to increase the gas conversion rate from raw materials containing gaseous or liquid phases, and increasing the gas content supplied to the fuel cell.

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of a fuel cell stack (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] A fuel cell stack (1000) may include a separator (200), at least one unit cell (300) among an air electrode, an electrolyte, and a fuel electrode, a sealing portion (400), and a manifold (100T, 100B) for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack disposed at at least one of the top and bottom of the fuel cell stack. For a detailed description of the manifold (100T, 100B), refer to FIGS. 1 to 5 described above.

[0048] The separator plate (200) may be a member disposed between unit cells (300) and having a flow path formed therein for supplying reaction gas between the unit cells (300). The unit cells (300) may prevent gas leakage by means of a sealing part (400).

[0049] In one embodiment, the separator plate (100), unit cell (200), and sealing part (300) may each include at least one or more, and are not limited to FIG. 6. By including the manifold (100) of the present invention, a stack (1000) to which high-purity gas is supplied can be provided.

[0050] In one embodiment, the stack (1000) of the present invention includes the manifold (100T, 100B) of the present invention, thereby preventing cell damage problems such as thermal shock or steam volume expansion of the manifold (100T, 100B) and supplying heat to the stack to perform the role of a preheater.

[0051] In one embodiment, the stack (1000) of the present invention includes the manifold (100T, 100B) of the present invention, and unlike conventional manifolds, includes a long flow path inside, thereby having the advantage of minimizing the volume of the manifold (100T, 100B) itself.

[0053] Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts defined in the following claims are also included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim 1 A manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack, comprising: a flow channel receiving member having a plurality of bends and a flow channel into which a raw material is introduced and gasified, for use as a preheater by supplying heat to a fuel cell stack; and a gas discharge member disposed on the upper surface of the flow channel receiving member and having a discharge port for discharging gas gasified from the flow channel. Claim 2 In claim 1, the above-mentioned flow path is a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack having at least one L-shaped, Z-shaped, O-shaped, or a combination thereof shape. Claim 3 In claim 1, the above-mentioned flow path comprises a bend having at least one shape of a U-shape, a V-shape, and a combination thereof, and is a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack that is bent. Claim 4 In claim 1, the manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack is composed of a plurality of flow path layers stacked in the thickness direction of the manifold. Claim 5 A manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack according to claim 1, wherein the bend portion has an angle of 45° or less in the inner angle of the flow path at the point where the flow direction of the incoming fluid is changed. Claim 6 In claim 1, the raw material is a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack comprising a fuel including gas and liquid. Claim 7 In claim 6, a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack, wherein the raw material passes through a flow path and at least some of the raw material is converted into gas. Claim 8 In claim 1, the above-mentioned Euro is a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack manufactured by a 3D printer. Claim 9 In claim 1, the gas discharge member comprises a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack, comprising at least one discharge port. Claim 10 In claim 9, the gas exhaust members are arranged in opposite directions and are arranged in at least one pair for a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack. Claim 11 At least one unit cell comprising an air electrode, an electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode; a separator provided between the unit cells; and a manifold for a high-temperature oxide fuel cell and a high-temperature water electrolysis stack disposed at at least one of the top and bottom of the fuel cell stack and used as a preheater by supplying heat to the fuel cell stack; a fuel cell stack comprising a flow channel receiving member having a plurality of folded portions and a flow channel into which a raw material is introduced and gasified, and a gas discharge member disposed on the upper surface of the flow channel receiving member and having an outlet for discharging gasified from the flow channel. Claim 12 In claim 11, the fluid path of the manifold has at least one L-shape, Z-shape, O-shape, or a combination thereof shape for a fuel cell stack. Claim 13 In claim 11, the fluid path of the manifold comprises at least one bent portion having a U-shape, a V-shape, and a combination thereof, and a fuel cell stack that is bent. Claim 14 In claim 11, the fluid path of the manifold is composed of a plurality of fluid path layers stacked in the thickness direction of the manifold, for a fuel cell stack. Claim 15 A fuel cell stack according to claim 11, wherein the bend portion of the manifold has an angle of 45° or less in the inner angle of the flow path at the point where the flow direction of the incoming fluid is changed. Claim 16 In claim 11, the raw material is a fuel cell stack comprising gas and liquid.

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