Stack assembly method, stack assembly structure, and fuel cell module
By controlling the stack height and using pre-pressing technology, the problem of existing press-fitting equipment being unable to assemble ultra-high power fuel cell stacks has been solved, achieving efficient and precise fuel cell stack assembly, which is suitable for fuel cell systems in large commercial vehicles.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2024/135540
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-08-29
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing press-fitting equipment cannot assemble ultra-high power fuel cell stacks because the stack height exceeds the maximum stroke of the press-fitting equipment, leading to assembly failure.
By sequentially stacking battery pack components within the positioning space, controlling the stack height to not exceed the maximum stroke of the pressing equipment, maintaining the compressed state after pre-pressing for a set time, repeating the pre-pressing and maintaining the compressed state multiple times until all components are stacked, then securing them with fastening components and removing them from the pressing equipment.
It enables the assembly of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks using existing short-stroke press-fit equipment, improving assembly efficiency and precision, and meeting the installation space requirements of large commercial vehicles.
Smart Images

Figure CN2024135540_05032026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
fuel cell stack assembly method, fuel cell stack assembly structure and fuel cell module Technical Field
[0001] This application belongs to the field of fuel cell stack assembly technology, specifically relating to a fuel cell stack assembly method, fuel cell stack assembly structure, and fuel cell module. Background Technology
[0002] With the rapid development of the fuel cell industry, the application scenarios of fuel cell systems are becoming increasingly diverse, leading to broader demands on the output power range of fuel cell systems. Currently, fuel cell systems are gradually being adopted in large commercial vehicles, which places higher requirements on the output power of fuel cell electric systems.
[0003] High-power fuel cell systems typically generate electricity using a single or multiple stack assembly. Systems using a single stack have fewer components and higher space utilization, resulting in higher power density. However, the size of the single stack also increases, placing greater demands on stack design capabilities. Due to vehicle installation space limitations, single-stack fuel cell systems with higher power density are clearly more suitable for large commercial vehicles. Ultra-high-power stacks are constructed by stacking hundreds of individual cells, with stack heights approaching 1 meter, which imposes greater travel requirements on the stack assembly equipment.
[0004] In related technologies, the assembly process of a fuel cell stack is usually divided into three steps: first, all individual cells are stacked to form a stack body; then, the press head of the press-fitting equipment compresses the stack body to a certain height; and finally, the compressed stack body is locked by a fastening structure to complete the press-fitting of the fuel cell stack.
[0005] The height of the stack will be about 20% higher than the height after pressing, while the compression stroke of the pressing equipment is usually around 1m. This means that conventional pressing equipment cannot achieve the assembly of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks. Summary of the Invention
[0006] To address the technical problem that conventional press-fitting equipment cannot achieve the assembly of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks, this application provides a fuel cell stack assembly method, a fuel cell stack assembly structure, and a fuel cell module.
[0007] In a first aspect of this application, a method for assembling a fuel cell stack is provided, comprising:
[0008] The components of the fuel cell stack are stacked sequentially in the positioning space to form a stack. When the height of the stack reaches a first set height H1, the stacking is stopped. The stack in the positioning space is pre-pressed by a pressing device to keep the stack in a compressed state for a set time, and then the pressure on the stack is removed. The first set height H1 is not greater than the height Hmax of the pressing head when the pressing device is at its maximum stroke.
[0009] Repeat the above steps to continue stacking the remaining parts of the fuel cell stack within the positioning space until all parts of the fuel cell stack are stacked within the positioning space;
[0010] The stack of all parts in the positioning space is pressed to the target height H by a press-fitting device. The stack is then fastened by fastening components to transfer the pressing force of the press-fitting device. The press-fitting device is then removed to complete the assembly of the fuel cell stack.
[0011] In some embodiments, keeping the stack in a compressed state specifically includes: keeping the stack compressed to a second predetermined height H2.
[0012] In some implementations, the second set height H2 is set to H2=H; the first set height H1 is set to H
[0013] In some embodiments, keeping the stack in a compressed state specifically includes compressing the stack with a set holding pressure.
[0014] In some embodiments, the set holding pressure is 0.4F to 0.6F, where F represents the design clamping force of the fuel cell stack.
[0015] In some embodiments, the pre-compression pressure is 0.4F to 0.6F, where F represents the design clamping force of the fuel cell stack.
[0016] In some implementations, the set time is 2 to 4 hours.
[0017] In a second aspect of this application, a fuel cell stack assembly structure is provided, applicable to the fuel cell stack assembly method of the first aspect, the fuel cell stack assembly structure comprising:
[0018] The positioning mechanism includes a plurality of spaced positioning rods, the plurality of positioning rods surrounding the outside of the fuel cell stack to provide positioning space;
[0019] A fastening assembly is used to keep the stack in a compressed state for a set time and to fasten the stack to transfer the pressing force of the pressing device; the fastening assembly is provided with a positioning through slot for mounting a plurality of the positioning rods.
[0020] In some embodiments, the fastening assembly includes a housing, insulating support rods, and multiple crossbeams. The housing has a first opening, and multiple insulating support rods are provided, spaced apart and located on the inner wall of the housing. Each insulating support rod has a positioning slot. The crossbeams are detachably connected to the first opening of the housing. The multiple crossbeams are spaced apart and abut against the stack. The lower part of the positioning rod is located inside the housing, and at least two positioning rods are located in the positioning slots of the insulating support rods. The positioning rods are staggered from the crossbeams.
[0021] In some embodiments, the housing includes a frame and a cover plate, the frame having a first opening and a second opening, the cover plate being connected to the frame and covering the second opening; the sides of the frame are each provided with an operating port, the two ends of the crossbeam abutting against the opening wall of the operating port and the frame respectively, and the insulating support rod being attached to the inner wall of the frame.
[0022] In some embodiments, the positioning mechanism further includes a fixing bracket connected to the frame and the portion of the positioning rod located outside the housing, such that the end face of the positioning rod facing the fuel cell stack protrudes outside the positioning through slot;
[0023] The assembly structure also includes a contouring tooling, the outer or inner envelope surface of which is the same as the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core.
[0024] In some embodiments, the fastening assembly includes a first pressure plate, a second pressure plate, and a plurality of spaced connecting rods, the connecting rods being connected to the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate, and the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate having positioning slots on their sides; two end plates located at both ends of the fuel cell stack respectively constitute the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate.
[0025] In some embodiments, the positioning rod is connected to the worktable of the pressing equipment, and the worktable and the plurality of positioning rods together form the positioning space.
[0026] In a third aspect of this application, a fuel cell module is provided, assembled using the stack assembly structure of the second aspect, the fuel cell module comprising:
[0027] A housing and a packaging plate, wherein the housing has a first opening, and the packaging plate is connected to the housing and covers the first opening;
[0028] Multiple crossbeams are spaced apart and are detachably connected to the housing and are located close to the first opening;
[0029] The fuel cell stack is located within the housing and abuts against the crossbeam;
[0030] Multiple insulating support rods are spaced apart and located between the housing and the fuel cell stack. Each insulating support rod has a positioning slot for mounting the positioning rod. The housing, the multiple insulating support rods, and the multiple crossbeams together apply a fastening force to the fuel cell stack along the stacking direction.
[0031] According to the embodiments of this application, the fuel cell stack assembly method includes: sequentially stacking fuel cell stack components in a positioning space to form a stack; stopping stacking when the height of the stack reaches a first set height H1; pre-pressing the stack in the positioning space using a pressing device to keep the stack in a compressed state for a set time; and then removing the pressure on the stack; wherein the first set height H1 is not greater than the height Hmax of the pressing head when the pressing device is at its maximum stroke; repeating the above steps to continue stacking the remaining fuel cell stack components in the positioning space until all components of the fuel cell stack are stacked in the positioning space; pressing the stack formed by all components in the positioning space to a target height H using a pressing device; fastening the stack using a fastening assembly to transfer the pressing force of the pressing device; removing the pressing device; and completing the assembly of the fuel cell stack.
[0032] This application controls the height of the stack before each pre-compression during the assembly process to be no higher than the height Hmax of the pressure head when the pressing equipment is at its maximum stroke. This allows the existing pressing equipment to pre-compress the stack, and then maintain the stack in a compressed state for a set time after pre-compression, causing the stack to spring back. However, the height after springback is less than the set height H1. At this point, other parts of the fuel cell stack can be added until they do not exceed the height Hmax of the pressure head when the pressing equipment is at its maximum stroke. By performing multiple pre-compressions and maintaining the compressed state for a set time, the assembly of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks using existing short-stroke pressing equipment can be achieved. Attached Figure Description
[0033] Figure 1 shows the process steps of the fuel cell stack assembly method.
[0034] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a single cell in one or more embodiments of this application.
[0035] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the positioning mechanism in one or more embodiments of this application.
[0036] Figure 4 shows a structural schematic diagram of the positioning rod fine-tuning process of this application.
[0037] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the stack before pre-compression using the positioning mechanism shown in Figure 4.
[0038] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the alignment of the positioning rod, the insulating support rod, and the housing during the assembly process of one or more embodiments of this application.
[0039] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the stacked body in a compressed state using the positioning mechanism shown in Figure 4.
[0040] Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of the positioning mechanism in one or more embodiments of this application.
[0041] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of the stack before pre-compression using the positioning mechanism shown in Figure 8.
[0042] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of the stacked body in a compressed state using the positioning mechanism shown in Figure 8.
[0043] Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of the stacked body in a fastened state using the positioning mechanism shown in Figure 8.
[0044] Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the fuel cell module.
[0045] Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module of Figure 12.
[0046] Figure 14 shows a schematic diagram of the side support rod in Figure 13.
[0047] Figure 15 shows a schematic diagram of the corner support rod in Figure 13.
[0048] Figure 16 shows another cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module of Figure 12.
[0049] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0050] 110 - Positioning rod, 120 - Fixed bracket, 130 - Contouring tooling.
[0051] 260 - First pressure plate, 270 - Second pressure plate, 280 - Connecting rod.
[0052] 310 - Workbench.
[0053] 400-Fuel cell module, 410-Housing, 411-Frame, 411a-First opening, 411b-Operating port, 411c-Boss, 412-Cover plate, 413-Encapsulation plate, 414-Operating plate, 415-Longitudinal beam, 420-Insulating support rod, 421-Side support rod, 422-Corner support rod, 423-Ridge, 424-Positioning slot, 431-Disc spring support plate, 431a-Limiting slot, 432-Blind end plate, 433-Single cell, 433a-Electric plate, 433b-Sealant, 433c-Carbon paper, 434-Core, 435-Inlet end plate, 440-Crossbeam, 450-Stacked body. Detailed Implementation
[0054] To enable those skilled in the art to more clearly understand this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0055] The fuel cell stack includes multiple alternately stacked membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and bipolar plates 433a. A seal is installed between the MEAs and bipolar plates 433a. Insulating plates, current collectors, and end plates are installed at both ends of the stack core formed by the MEAs and bipolar plates 433a. These components are used to isolate high voltage, collect output energy, and provide clamping force. The end plates are fastened together using straps, tie rods, screws, or by a pressurizing force provided by the casing. Inside the MEAs, under the action of catalysts on both sides of the proton exchange membrane at the cathode and anode, an electrochemical reaction occurs in the cathode and anode reaction media, converting chemical energy into electrical energy.
[0056] In a fuel cell, the end closest to the reaction medium input is defined as the inlet end, and the end furthest from the reaction medium input is defined as the blind end. Correspondingly, the endplate located at the inlet end is defined as the inlet end plate, and the endplate located at the blind end is defined as the blind end plate. In a conventional fuel cell stack, the inlet end plate, the inlet end insulating plate, the inlet end current collector, the core, the blind end current collector, the blind end insulating plate, and the blind end end plate are stacked sequentially. The stacking direction of the components is defined as the stacking direction.
[0057] The specific definitions of concepts such as "intake end", "blind end", and "stack direction" in this application are as described above. For ease of expression, the abbreviations of each definition are used in the following embodiments.
[0058] The first aspect of this application provides a method for assembling a fuel cell stack. This method is applicable to assembling both general power fuel cell stacks and ultra-high power fuel cell stacks using short-stroke press-fitting equipment in related technologies, thereby not affecting the development process of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks.
[0059] Please refer to Figure 1. The fuel cell stack assembly method provided in this embodiment includes the following steps:
[0060] S1. Stack the components of the battery pack sequentially in the positioning space to form a stack. When the height of the stack reaches a first set height H1, the stacking is stopped. The stack in the positioning space is pre-pressed by a pressing device to keep the stack 450 in a compressed state for a set time, and then the pressure on the stack is released. The first set height H1 is not greater than the height Hmax of the pressing head when the pressing device is at its maximum stroke.
[0061] The components of a fuel cell stack generally refer to the endplate assemblies and multiple individual cells. There are two endplate assemblies: one is a blind-end endplate assembly, including a blind-end current collector, a blind-end insulating plate, and a blind-end endplate; the other is an air-intake endplate assembly, including an air-intake endplate, an air-intake insulating plate, and an air-intake current collector. In step S1, stacking the fuel cell stack components in the positioning space can be done by first defining the positioning space and then placing the fuel cell stack components into it, or by first placing some fuel cell stack components to form the positioning space and then placing the remaining components into it. In practice, the fuel cell stack components can be placed into the positioning space manually or by using a robotic arm.
[0062] It should also be noted that the height of the stack reaching the first set height H1 can be achieved by one endplate assembly and multiple individual cells located within the positioning space. In this case, the pressure head directly applies pressure to the individual cells during pre-pressing. Alternatively, it can be achieved by one endplate assembly, multiple individual cells, and another endplate assembly stacked sequentially within the positioning space, all reaching the first set height H1 together. In this case, the pressure head directly applies pressure to the endplate assembly during pre-pressing, which improves pressure uniformity and prevents individual cells from bending.
[0063] The stacking process must be stopped before the height of the stack reaches the set height H1, which is the height of the pressure head when the pressing equipment is at its maximum stroke. This allows the pressing equipment to pre-press the stack. If the height of the stack exceeds the height of the pressure head when the pressing equipment is at its maximum stroke Hmax, the pressing equipment will be unable to pre-press the stack.
[0064] Since the single cell 433 consists of a membrane electrode and a plate 433a (see Figure 2), the membrane electrode is mainly composed of sealant 433b, a frame, a proton exchange membrane, and carbon paper 433c. Therefore, the thickness of the membrane electrode is mainly determined by the sealant 433b and the carbon paper 433c. The height of the sealant 433b is generally greater than the thickness of the carbon paper 433c. Because the sealant 433b is a polymer material with a small cross-sectional size, it will undergo a certain degree of permanent deformation after compression, resulting in a reduction in the height of the stack after compression. The carbon paper 433c is a porous fibrous material that forms the skeleton of the membrane electrode. It supports the catalyst layer structure, conducts electricity, transfers heat, removes reaction water, and ensures the supply of reactant gas to the catalyst layer. Due to the structural characteristics of the carbon paper 433c, it will undergo a certain degree of plastic deformation after compression, resulting in a reduction in thickness.
[0065] During the stacking and pre-compression process, the sealant 433b first comes into contact with the electrode plate 433a, and then the sealant 433b deforms to a certain extent. The electrode plate 433a then comes into contact with the carbon paper 433c on the membrane electrode. As the pre-compression proceeds, the height of the stack 450 decreases. Since the membrane electrode and carbon paper 433c undergo both permanent deformation and some plastic deformation after compression, the stack height will rebound after the pressure is removed from the stacked state for a certain period of time. However, the rebounded height is still less than the first set height H1.
[0066] The pressing equipment in step S1 can be a press in the prior art, which uses hydraulic pressure to make the press head reciprocate along the height direction, thereby pre-pressing the stack 450.
[0067] S2. Repeat the above steps to continue stacking the remaining parts of the fuel cell stack in the positioning space until all parts of the fuel cell stack are stacked in the positioning space.
[0068] In step S2, the remaining parts are placed in the positioning space. If the pressure applied directly to the end plate assembly when the stack was kept in a compressed state in the previous step, the end plate assembly must be removed from the positioning space before placing the remaining parts and the end plate assembly in, followed by a second pre-compression. If the pressure applied directly to the single cell 433 when the stack was kept in a compressed state in the previous step, the remaining single cell 433 can be placed directly in the positioning space.
[0069] S3. Press the stack of all parts in the positioning space to the target height H using a pressing device, fasten the stack with fastening components to transfer the pressing force of the pressing device, remove the pressing device, and complete the assembly of the fuel cell stack.
[0070] Once all the individual 433 cells and endplate assemblies are placed in the positioning space, step S3 directly performs a press-fit operation on the stack, that is, using a press-fitting device to press all the parts to the target height H, and then tightening them, without the need for pre-pressing, saving procedures.
[0071] This application controls the height of the stack before each pre-compression during the assembly process to be no higher than the height Hmax of the pressure head when the press-fitting equipment is at its maximum stroke. Then, after pre-compression, the stack is kept in a compressed state for a set time, causing the stack to spring back, but the height after springback is less than the set height H1. At this time, other parts of the fuel cell stack can be added. Multiple pre-compressions and holding the compressed state for a set time are performed, thereby realizing the assembly of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks using existing short-stroke press-fitting equipment.
[0072] For the pre-compression step, in some embodiments, the pre-compression pressure can be 0.4F to 0.6F, such as 0.42F, 0.43F, 0.44F, 0.45F, 0.46F, 0.47F, 0.48F, 0.49F, 0.5F, 0.51F, 0.52F, 0.53F, 0.54F, 0.55F, 0.56F, 0.57F, 0.58F, or 0.59F, where F represents the design clamping force of the fuel cell stack. In other words, the press-fitting equipment pre-compresses the stack with a pressure of 0.4F to 0.6F, which achieves pre-compression of the stack while saving energy and ensuring efficiency. In other embodiments, the pre-compression pressure can also be 0.65F or 0.7F, which also achieves pre-compression of the stack.
[0073] To keep the stack in a compressed state, it can be achieved through either constant-size compression or constant-pressure compression. The following sections will explain constant-size compression and constant-pressure compression in detail.
[0074] For constant-size compression, meaning the stack is compressed at the same height each time, the holding pressure gradually increases with the number of fuel cell components. Maintaining the stack in a compressed state can specifically include keeping it compressed to a second predetermined height H2, where H2 can be the same as the target height H of the fuel cell. This can be achieved by directly using the fastening components of the fuel cell in a housing-encapsulated form to maintain the stack in a compressed state. In other embodiments, the second predetermined height H2 can be less than the target height H, still allowing for the assembly of ultra-high power fuel cell stacks using short-stroke press-fit equipment.
[0075] Furthermore, the first set height H1 is set to H < H1 < Hmax, which means that the height of the stack before pre-compression is higher than the target height of the fuel cell stack, and the height of the stack before pre-compression is less than the height Hmax of the pressure head when the pressing equipment is at its maximum stroke.
[0076] For constant pressure compression, that is, each time the stack is compressed with a set holding pressure, the set holding pressure is the same each time. This set holding pressure can be the same as the pre-compression pressure or different from the pre-compression pressure.
[0077] In constant pressure compression, the set holding pressure can be 0.4F to 0.6F, where F represents the design clamping force of the fuel cell stack. That is, using 40% to 60% of the design clamping force of the fuel cell stack as the set holding pressure ensures that the stack 450 is held in a compressed state for a set time without crushing the individual cells 433, thus saving energy. In other embodiments, the set holding pressure can also be 0.7F or 0.75F, which also achieves the goal of holding the stack 450 in a compressed state.
[0078] Regarding the duration of the compressed state of the stack, in some embodiments, the set time for the compressed state can be 2-4 hours, such as 2.1h, 2.2h, 2.3h, 2.4h, 2.5h, 2.6h, 2.7h, 2.8h, 2.9h, 3h, 3.1h, 3.2h, 3.3h, 3.4h, 3.5h, 3.6h, 3.7h, 3.8h, or 3.9h. The set time for the minimum set pressure is 2-4 hours, allowing the 433 cell to undergo a certain degree of permanent deformation while also exhibiting some elastic deformation, while also maintaining assembly efficiency. In other embodiments, the set time can also be 1.8h, 4.3h, or 4.5h, which also allows for a certain degree of rebound of the stack after the pressure is removed.
[0079] A second aspect of this application provides a fuel cell stack assembly structure applicable to the fuel cell stack assembly method of any embodiment of the first aspect.
[0080] The fuel cell stack assembly structure provided in this application includes a positioning mechanism and fastening components.
[0081] A positioning mechanism is used to form a positioning space. Referring to Figure 3, the positioning mechanism includes multiple spaced positioning rods 110. The number of positioning rods 110 can be, for example, four, six, or eight. These positioning rods 110 surround the outside of the fuel cell stack to provide the positioning space. In specific implementations, at least four positioning rods 110 are provided. Generally, the fuel cell stack is rectangular, and at least one positioning rod 110 is provided on each of the four sides of the stack. The positioning rods 110 extend along the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack to improve the stacking accuracy.
[0082] The fastening assembly is used to keep the stack 450 in a compressed state for a set time, and to fasten the stack 450 to transfer the pressing force of the pressing equipment. The fastening assembly is provided with a positioning through slot 424 for mounting multiple positioning rods 110. That is to say, in addition to compressing the stack 450, the fastening assembly is also provided with a structure that cooperates with the positioning mechanism, providing the installation position of the positioning mechanism, thereby ensuring the stability of the positioning rods 110, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the fuel cell stack, and the structure is simple.
[0083] The following sections will further explain the fuel cell stack assembly structure in two cases: fixed-size compression stack 450 and fixed-pressure compression stack 450.
[0084] When using a fixed-size compression stack 450 to keep the stack 450 in a compressed state, please refer to Figures 4, 6 and 7. The fastening assembly may include a housing 410, an insulating support rod 420 and multiple crossbeams 440.
[0085] Please refer to Figure 4. The housing 410 has a first opening 411a so that the components of the fuel cell stack can be stacked inside the housing 410 through the first opening 411a. The lower part of the positioning rod 110 is located inside the housing 410, and the upper part of the positioning rod 110 extends out of the housing 410. At least four positioning rods 110 are distributed on the four sides of the housing 410 to form a positioning space.
[0086] Please refer to Figure 6. Multiple insulating support rods 420 are provided, such as four, six, eight, or ten. Each insulating support rod 420 has a certain rigidity, and at least the surface of its outer surface in contact with the fuel cell stack and the housing 410 is made of insulating material. For example, the insulating support rod 420 can be made of rigid plastic or metal with an insulating layer attached to its outer surface. The material of the insulating support rod 420 must meet the requirements of high hardness, high strength, high insulation, and low moisture absorption. Multiple insulating support rods 420 are spaced apart on the inner wall of the housing 410 to separate the fuel cell stack from the metal housing 410. Each insulating support rod 420 is provided with a positioning slot 424. During the assembly of the fuel cell stack, at least two insulating support rods 420 can be set on two adjacent sides of the housing 410. The remaining insulating support rods 420 can be assembled after the fastening assembly fastens the stack body 450. The positioning rods 110 located on two adjacent sides of the housing 410 can be located in the corresponding positioning slots 424. That is to say, the positioning rods 110 are limited by the positioning slots 424 of the insulating support rods 420, which improves the stability of the positioning rods 110.
[0087] Referring to Figure 7, the crossbeam 440 is detachably connected to the first opening 411a of the housing 410. This allows the crossbeam 440 to be connected to the housing 410 when the stack 450 needs to be compressed, and to be separated from the housing 410 when further stacking of the fuel cell components is required. Two, three, or four crossbeams 440 can be provided, spaced apart and pressed against the stack 450 to maintain the stack 450 in a compressed state for a set time, and to work with the housing 410 to secure the stack 450. The crossbeams 440 are staggered from the positioning rod 110 to avoid interference. Because the crossbeams 440 are spaced apart, the gaps between them allow the press head of the press to pass through without affecting the press operation.
[0088] In some embodiments, the housing 410 can be a split structure. Referring to Figure 4, the housing 410 includes a frame 411 and a cover plate 412. The frame 411 has a first opening 411a and a second opening, which are arranged opposite to each other along the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack. The frame 411 allows for weight reduction while maintaining good strength. The cover plate 412 is connected to the frame 411 and covers the second opening. The cover plate 412 cooperates with the crossbeam 440 to limit the stack body 450 on both sides of the stacking direction, thereby compressing the stack body 450. In specific implementations, the cover plate 412 can be one of the end plates of the fuel cell stack, such as the end plate of the air inlet, to simplify the fuel cell stack structure. It can also be a separately provided cover plate 412; this application does not impose any limitations. When the cover plate 412 is one of the end plates of the fuel cell stack, during assembly, the end plate must first be connected to the frame 411 before the insulating support rod 420 is inserted.
[0089] Please refer to Figure 4. An operation opening 411b is provided on the side of the frame 411. However, the provision of the operation opening 411b will reduce the structural strength of the side with the operation opening 411b. In order to improve the strength of the frame 411, in some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6, the frame 411 is provided with one or more longitudinal beams 415. All of the longitudinal beams 415 are located in the operation opening 411b. The longitudinal beams 415 and the crossbeams 440 are staggered. The crossbeams 440 are inserted into the frame 411 from the space in the operation opening 411b that is not occupied by the longitudinal beams 415.
[0090] In some embodiments, the frame 411 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 411c spaced apart along the distribution direction of the crossbeams 440. The protrusions 411c are grouped in pairs, and the two protrusions 411c in a group form a groove structure. Each crossbeam 440 is sandwiched between two adjacent protrusions 411c, which enables the crossbeams 440 to be fixed without bolts, while preventing the crossbeams 440 from shifting during vibration and impact. The height of the protrusions 411c is not greater than the thickness of the crossbeams 440, ensuring that the crossbeams 440 can abut against the blind end plate 432 assembly of the fuel cell stack.
[0091] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 4, the positioning mechanism further includes a fixing bracket 120 for assisting in fixing the positioning rod 110, so that the end face of the positioning rod 110 located in the positioning slot 424 protrudes out of the positioning slot 424. This ensures that the assembly base for each side of the fuel cell stack is the positioning rod 110, resulting in a consistent assembly base for the fuel cell stack. Furthermore, the positioning rod 110, as a tooling component, has high manufacturing precision, further guaranteeing the consistency of the fuel cell stack during assembly. The structure of the fixing bracket 120 can be designed according to its installation position and the structure of the housing 410, and this application does not impose any limitations. During assembly, the first opening 411a is opened as the assembly entry point for the fuel cell stack components. The fixed bracket 120 is installed at the first opening 411a of the housing 410. The part of the positioning rod 110 extending outside the frame 411 is connected to the fixed bracket 120 so that the positioning rod 110 moves slightly toward the center of the frame 411 (in order to avoid excessive differences between the assembly datum and the usage datum, the thickness difference between the positioning rod 110 and the positioning through groove 424, the size of the positioning rod 110 protruding from the positioning through groove 424, and the displacement of the positioning rod 110 generally do not exceed 1mm, for example, 0.1mm). The positioning rod 110 located in the positioning through groove 424 protrudes partially from the through groove, and the area enclosed by each positioning rod 110 completely matches the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core and the various components of the blind end. During assembly, the fixed bracket 120 can be pre-connected to the positioning rod 110 and the frame 411. Then, the position of the positioning rod 110 can be finely adjusted until it reaches the target position. Finally, the fixed bracket 120, the positioning rod 110, and the frame 411 can be connected. The fixed bracket 120 can be connected to the positioning rod 110 and the frame 411 using bolts to facilitate the pre-connection and fixation of the fixed bracket 120, the positioning rod 110, and the frame 411.
[0092] In some embodiments, the positioning mechanism may further include a contouring fixture 130. Referring to Figure 4, the outer envelope of the contouring fixture 130 is the same as the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core, or the inner envelope of the contouring fixture 130 is the same as the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core. In this case, the positioning rod 110 can be fixed by the contouring fixture 130 so that the area enclosed by the positioning rod 110 completely matches the outer contour of each component of the fuel cell stack. Referring to Figure 4, the contouring fixture 130 can be used in conjunction with the fixing bracket 120. Through the contouring fixture 130 and the fixing bracket 120, together with the positioning rod 110 and the insulating support, the fuel cell stack core is made to contact the same component and the same surface as much as possible during the fuel cell stack pressing process. The outer envelope of the contour tooling 130 is the same as the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core, serving as a fuel cell stack simulator. This facilitates the adjustment of the position of the positioning rods 110 by the fixed bracket 120. The contour tooling 130 is installed on the side of the first opening 411a of the frame 411, located within the area enclosed by each positioning rod 110. After each positioning rod 110 is in contact with the outer envelope of the contour tooling 130, it can be fixedly connected to the fixed bracket 120.
[0093] In other embodiments, the contouring fixture 130 can also be used independently, and the inner envelope surface of the contouring fixture 130 is the same as the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core. Several fixing slots are provided on the inner side of the contouring fixture 130. The contouring fixture 130 is fitted onto the outer side of each positioning rod 110, with each positioning rod 110 embedded in its respective fixing slot and flush with the inner envelope surface of the contouring fixture 130. Then, each positioning rod 110 is fixed to the contouring fixture 130.
[0094] During the assembly process, after the fixed bracket 120, the positioning rod 110 and the frame 411 are pre-connected, the position of the positioning rod 110 can be finely adjusted by the contouring tool 130 until the positioning rod 110 is adjusted to the target position. Then the fixed bracket 120, the positioning rod 110 and the frame 411 are connected, and then the contouring tool 130 is taken out to form a stable positioning space.
[0095] For the case where a constant pressure is applied to keep the stack 450 in a compressed state, please refer to Figure 10. The fastening assembly includes a first pressure plate 260, a second pressure plate 270, and multiple spaced connecting rods 280. The connecting rods 280 can be pull rods or screws of the fuel cell stack. The first pressure plate 260 and the second pressure plate 270 have positioning slots 424 on their sides. The connecting rods 280 are connected to the first pressure plate 260 and the second pressure plate 270 and are located in the corresponding positioning slots 424. The connecting rods 280 and the positioning rods 110 are staggered to avoid interference. The two end plates located at both ends of the fuel cell stack respectively constitute the first pressure plate 260 and the second pressure plate 270. During assembly, the first pressure plate 260, which is one end plate of the fuel cell stack, is first placed in the positioning space, and the positioning rod 110 is embedded in the positioning slot 424 of the first pressure plate 260. Then, other end plate assemblies and multiple single cells 433 of the fuel cell stack are stacked sequentially in the positioning space. Finally, the second pressure plate 270, which is the other end plate of the fuel cell stack, is placed in, and the set height is reached. The pressure head of the pressing equipment is used to apply pressure to the second pressure plate 270. The first pressure plate 260 and the second pressure plate 270 are then connected by the connecting rod 280. The pressure head rises, and the pressure is transferred to the connecting rod 280 and the two end plates of the fuel cell stack, keeping the stack 450 in a compressed state for a set time. Then, the connecting rod 280 is separated from the first pressure plate 260 and the second pressure plate 270, the pressure on the stack 450 is released, the second pressure plate 270 is removed, and the above steps are repeated. Multiple single cells 433 and the second pressure plate 270 are then added sequentially for pre-compression and pressure holding.
[0096] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 8. The positioning rod 110 is connected to the worktable 310 of the pressing equipment. The worktable 310 and the multiple positioning rods 110 together form a positioning space. In specific implementation, the same number of mounting positions as the positioning rods 110 can be set on the worktable 310 of the pressing equipment. The positioning rods 110 are installed in the corresponding mounting positions. The connection between the positioning rods 110 and the worktable 310 can be bolted or snap-fitted.
[0097] An embodiment of the third aspect of this application provides a fuel cell module 400, which is assembled using the stack assembly structure of the second aspect.
[0098] Please refer to Figures 12 and 13. The fuel cell module 400 includes a housing 410, an encapsulation plate 413, a crossbeam 440, a fuel cell stack, and an insulating support rod 420.
[0099] The housing 410 has a first opening 411a, which serves as an assembly port for assembling the various components of the fuel cell stack. An encapsulation plate 413 is connected to the housing 410 and covers the first opening 411a to encapsulate the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is located inside the housing 410 and abuts against the crossbeam 440. Multiple insulating support rods 420 are provided, spaced apart and located between the housing 410 and the fuel cell stack. Each insulating support rod 420 has a positioning slot 424 for mounting a positioning rod 110. The housing 410, the multiple insulating support rods 420, and the crossbeam 440 together apply a fastening force along the stacking direction to the fuel cell stack. Multiple crossbeams 440, spaced apart, can apply a fastening force to the entire surface of the blind end plate 432 assembly, achieving a uniform distribution of pressing force and effectively reducing the problem of plate deformation caused by high pressing force in high-power fuel cell stacks. The crossbeam 440 is detachably connected to the housing 410 and is close to the first opening 411a, which facilitates connecting the crossbeam 440 to the housing 410 while keeping the stack 450 in a compressed state, and separating the crossbeam 440 from the housing 410 after the pressure holding is completed.
[0100] The insulating support rod 420 is a component independent of the housing 410 and the fuel cell stack. Multiple independent insulating support rods 420 facilitate installation and reduce the difficulty of fuel cell stack assembly. The insulating support rod 420 is in direct contact with the fuel cell stack, serving both as an insulator due to its material and as a means of transmitting and transferring external excitations. When external vibrations or impacts act on the fuel cell stack, they can be transferred to the housing 410 through the fully enclosed insulating support.
[0101] Multiple insulating support rods 420 are distributed on at least each side of the fuel cell stack. That is, the number of insulating support rods 420 is sufficient to provide one or more insulating support rods 420 on each side of the fuel cell stack. These multiple insulating support rods 420 can fully enclose the fuel cell stack from all directions, achieving a core-wide anti-slip effect. In some embodiments, in addition to providing one or more insulating support rods 420 on each side of the fuel cell stack, multiple insulating support rods 420 can also be arranged at at least one corner of the fuel cell stack, for example, one or more insulating support rods 420 can be arranged at each corner. The multiple insulating support rods 420 distributed at the corners of the fuel cell stack simultaneously contact two adjacent sides of the fuel cell stack.
[0102] Taking a rectangular electrode plate with two sides of different lengths as an example, the number of insulating support rods 420 can be four, with the four insulating support rods 420 arranged on the four sides of the fuel cell stack; the number of insulating support rods 420 can be six, with four insulating support rods 420 arranged on the four sides of the fuel cell stack, and the remaining two insulating support rods 420 arranged at two opposite corners of the fuel cell stack; the number of insulating support rods 420 can be eight, with four insulating support rods 420 arranged at the four corners of the fuel cell stack, and the remaining four insulating support rods 420 arranged on the long side and short side of the fuel cell stack. For ease of description, the insulating support rods 420 distributed at the corners of the fuel cell stack will be referred to as corner support rods 422, and the insulating support rods 420 distributed on the sides of the fuel cell stack will be referred to as side support rods 421.
[0103] Ten insulating support rods 420 are provided, as shown in Figure 13. Four corner support rods 422 are respectively arranged at the four corners of the fuel cell stack. Four side support rods 421 are distributed in pairs on each long side of the fuel cell stack, and the remaining two side support rods 421 are distributed one-to-one on each short side of the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the positions of the four side support rods 421 located on the two long side sides of the fuel cell stack can correspond one-to-one or be staggered along the long sides; the positions of the two side support rods 421 located on the two short side sides of the fuel cell stack can correspond or be staggered along the short sides.
[0104] In the fuel cell module 400, as shown in Figure 14, the side support rod 421 is provided with a positioning groove 424. The opening of the positioning groove 424 faces the fuel cell stack. The contact surface between the positioning groove 424 and the fuel cell stack is the end face of the groove wall, rather than the entire end face of the side support rod 421 facing the fuel cell stack. This reduces the contact area between the insulating support rod 420 and the fuel cell stack, ensuring that it does not exceed the projected area of the groove wall end face. After the insulating support rod 420 is manufactured, only the contact surface needs to be precision machined. This facilitates achieving high flatness in a limited area, improves the surface quality of the contact surface with the fuel cell stack, and reduces the overall manufacturing difficulty of the insulating support rod 420.
[0105] The positioning slot 424 can be a slot structure formed by removing a portion of material from the insulating support rod 420, or it can be a slot structure formed by providing at least two spaced ridges 423 on the surface of the insulating support rod 420. The insulating support rod 420 has two parallel ridges 423 on its side facing the fuel cell stack. These two ridges 423, together with the body of the insulating support rod 420 and the outer surface of the fuel cell stack, form a channel. This channel is open along the stacking direction and serves not only as an airflow channel but also as a positioning rod 110 used during fuel cell stacking. This ensures that the positioning rod 110 used during fuel cell stacking can be installed using the positioning slot 424 of the side support rod 421, eliminating the need for additional positioning rod 110 fixing fixtures, reducing the number of fixture parts, and facilitating operation.
[0106] In some embodiments, the insulating support rods 420 have chamfered ends and rounded corners at the sharp edges of the chamfers, and the edges of the ridges 423 are also rounded. This facilitates the movement of the single cell 433 during the pressing and disassembly processes, while preventing damage to the single cell 433 or the housing 410 during the stack assembly process, and preventing scratches on the surface of the single cell 433. In some embodiments, positioning slots 424 can be provided on both sides of each insulating support rod 420, so that airflow channels are formed between the insulating support rod 420 and the housing 410, and between the insulating support rod 420 and the stack. This also reduces the weight of the insulating support rods 420, thereby reducing the weight of the entire fuel cell module 400.
[0107] Referring to Figure 14, each side of the side support rod 421 has two ridges 423, each ridge 423 being perpendicular to its corresponding side surface, making the cross-section of the side support rod 421 approximately H-shaped. The corner support rod 422 has an approximately L-shaped cross-section, and the corner support rod 422 contacts both sides at the corner of the fuel cell stack, automatically limiting its position in the long / short side direction of the electrode plate. In some embodiments, referring to Figure 15, the inner and outer sides of the corner support rod 422 each have three or more spaced ridges 423, each ridge 423 being perpendicular to its corresponding side surface. The ridges 423 located on the outer side of the corner support rod 422 are in contact with the housing 410.
[0108] In some embodiments, to improve uniformity, several crossbeams 440 are arranged at intervals along the long side of the electrode plate. The number and arrangement of the crossbeams 440 are determined comprehensively based on factors such as the long side dimension of the blind end plate 432 assembly and the pressing force of the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the number of crossbeams 440 is 3 to 5. The crossbeams 440 can be evenly distributed at equal intervals or unevenly distributed. In some embodiments, the distance between two adjacent crossbeams 440 located in the middle is less than or equal to the distance between two adjacent crossbeams 440 located at the edge, so that the distribution of the crossbeams 440 presents a state of being dense in the middle and sparse at both ends. The relatively dense crossbeams 440 in the middle can provide a larger pressing force to the central region of the fuel cell stack. Combined with the shell 410 located at the edge of the fuel cell stack, the pressing force can be evenly distributed across the entire end face.
[0109] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 16, the crossbeam 440 is parallel to the short side of the electrode plate, the insulating support rod 420 is parallel to the stacking direction, and the crossbeam 440 is perpendicular to the insulating support rod 420. The crossbeams 440 and the insulating support rods 420 can be staggered; alternatively, the ends of some insulating support rods 420 can be pressed against the corresponding crossbeams 440, thereby reducing the size of the housing 410 in the distribution direction of the crossbeams 440. Because the crossbeams 440 are spaced apart, the gaps between them can be used for the press head to pass through without affecting the press pressing operation.
[0110] In some embodiments, please continue referring to Figure 16. The outer end face of the disc spring support plate 431 of the fuel cell stack is provided with a limiting groove 431a. The limiting groove 431a is the same in position and number as the crossbeam 440. The crossbeams 440 are correspondingly arranged in the corresponding limiting grooves 431a. The limiting grooves 431a further restrict the crossbeams 440 from moving during vibration and impact. The depth of the limiting groove 431a is not greater than the thickness of the crossbeam 440, ensuring that the crossbeam 440 can be pressed against the frame 411. Each side of the frame 411 is provided with an operating port 411b, which allows the crossbeam 440 to extend into the housing 410 and embed into the limiting groove 431a. After the pressure head leaves the end plate of the blind end, the thickness increases under the action of the rebound force of the fuel cell stack, so that the two ends of the crossbeam 440 abut against the wall of the operating port 411b and the frame 411 respectively, thereby making the crossbeam 440 stably abut against the stack body 450 and the frame 411. The insulating support rod 420 is attached to the inner wall of the frame 411, that is, the insulating support rod 420 is located between the fuel cell stack and the frame 411, realizing the physical isolation between the fuel cell stack and the frame 411.
[0111] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 12, the housing 410 also includes an operation panel 414, which covers the operation port of the frame 411. The fuel cell stack includes an air inlet end plate 435, a core 434, a blind end current collector, a blind end insulation plate, a blind end plate 432, and a disc spring support plate 431 arranged sequentially along the stacking direction. The crossbeam 440 and the air inlet end plate 435 abut against the other structures of the fuel cell stack.
[0112] The following section uses the housing 410 of the fuel cell module 400, which includes a frame 411, an air inlet end plate (cover plate 412), and an encapsulation plate 413, as an example to describe in detail the assembly method of the fuel cell stack.
[0113] (1) Connect the air inlet plate 435 of the fuel cell stack to the frame 411 so that the air inlet plate 435 covers the second opening of the frame 411 and is placed on the workbench 310 of the pressing equipment with the air inlet plate 435 facing down and the first opening 411a of the frame 411 facing up.
[0114] (2) Several insulating support rods 420 are placed at intervals along two adjacent sides within the frame 411. The insulating support rods 420 include both corner support rods 422 and side support rods 421. The insulating plate and the current collector plate of the fuel cell stack at the air inlet end are placed into the inner cavity. During the process of placing this part into the inner cavity, it moves down along the surface of the insulating support rods 420 that have already been placed into the inner cavity until it is stacked on the air inlet end plate 435. Some of the fuel cell stack components placed into the inner cavity will contact the insulating support components placed into the inner cavity, blocking part of the slot opening of the positioning through groove 424 of the side support rod 421.
[0115] (3) Referring to Figure 3, all positioning rods 110 are placed at intervals along each side of the housing 410 in the inner cavity, with the lower part of the positioning rod 110 located in the inner cavity and the upper part extending out of the frame 411. At least two positioning rods 110 extend into the positioning slots 424 corresponding to the side support rods 421, and the remaining positioning rods 110 are placed on the remaining two adjacent sides, avoiding the installation positions of the insulating support rods 420 on the remaining two adjacent sides. The positioning rods 110 inserted into the positioning slots 424 are blocked by the already added end plate assemblies and will be stably set in the positioning slots 424, and will not slide out of the slots 424.
[0116] (4) After each positioning rod 110 is placed in place, please refer to Figure 3. The fixing bracket 120 is placed at the first opening 411a outside the frame 411. The fixing bracket 120, positioning rod 110 and frame 411 are pre-tightened by bolts. Then, the contouring fixture 130 is placed in the area enclosed by each positioning rod 110. Please refer to Figure 4. The size of the contouring fixture 130 is the same as the outer contour size of the core. The position of the positioning rod 110 and the insulating support rod 420 is finely adjusted to ensure that the positioning rod 110 slightly exceeds the positioning through groove 424 of the insulating support rod 420. The positioning rod 110 fits against the outer contour surface of the contouring fixture 130. Then, the bolts are tightened to fix the position of each positioning rod 110. The contouring fixture 130 is taken out and multiple positioning rods 110 form a stable positioning space.
[0117] (5) In the positioning space, multiple single cells 433 and blind end plate 432 components of the stack are manually stacked in sequence. Please refer to Figure 5. When the height of the stack 450 reaches the first set height H1, the stacking is stopped. The stack 450 in the positioning space is pre-pressed by the pressing equipment. Then, the crossbeam 440 is inserted into the frame 411 through the operation port 411b and embedded in the limiting groove 431a of the blind end plate 432. The pressure head rises. Please refer to Figure 7. The crossbeam 440 abuts against the stack 450 and the frame 411. The pressure is transferred to the crossbeam 440, the frame 411 and the air inlet end plate 435 of the stack. The stack 450 is kept in a compressed state for a set time. Then, all the crossbeams 440 are removed through the operation port 411b on the frame 411 to release the pressure on the stack 450. The stack 450 rebounds to a certain extent.
[0118] (6) Remove the blind end plate 432 assembly from the positioning space, repeat the above steps, and continue to manually stack the remaining parts of the fuel cell stack in the positioning space until all parts of the fuel cell stack are stacked in the positioning space.
[0119] (7) Press the stack 450 formed by all the parts in the positioning space to the target height H by pressing equipment. Place the crossbeam 440 in the frame 411 through the operation port 411b of the frame 411 and in the limiting groove 431a of the blind end plate 432. The press head rises and the pressing force is removed. The crossbeam 440 abuts against the stack 450 and the frame 411. The pressing force is transferred to the crossbeam 440, the frame 411 and the air inlet end plate 435 of the fuel cell stack.
[0120] (8) Place the remaining insulating support rods 420 at intervals along the other two adjacent sides of the housing 410 in the inner cavity of the housing 410. Specifically, first install the insulating support rods 420 on the side of the operation port 411b, then install the insulating support rods 420 on the other adjacent side, then remove all the positioning rods 110, install the high-voltage component and low-voltage component of the fuel cell module 400, and then connect the encapsulation plate 413 to the frame 411 to cover the first opening 411a, thus completing the assembly of the fuel cell module 400.
[0121] This application employs a 450-stage stacking method, controlling the first set height H1 to be no higher than the height Hmax of the pressure head when the pressing equipment is at its maximum stroke, thus meeting the pressing requirements for each operation. Utilizing the compression characteristics of the film electrodes and carbon paper 433c in the fuel cell stack, it ensures that the pressing equipment can complete the assembly of fuel cell stacks exceeding its own pressing stroke by up to 10%, shortening the development cycle of high-power fuel cell stacks and ensuring the normal progress of fuel cell stack development.
[0122] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0123] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.
[0124] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0125] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0126] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A method for assembling a fuel cell stack, characterized in that, include: The components of the fuel cell stack are stacked sequentially in the positioning space to form a stack. When the height of the stack reaches a first set height H1, the stacking is stopped. The stack in the positioning space is pre-pressed by a pressing device to keep the stack in a compressed state for a set time, and then the pressure on the stack is removed. The first set height H1 is not greater than the height Hmax of the pressing head when the pressing device is at its maximum stroke. Repeat the above steps to continue stacking the remaining parts of the fuel cell stack within the positioning space until all parts of the fuel cell stack are stacked within the positioning space; The stack of all parts in the positioning space is pressed to the target height H by a press-fitting device. The stack is then fastened by fastening components to transfer the pressing force of the press-fitting device. The press-fitting device is then removed to complete the assembly of the fuel cell stack.
2. The fuel cell stack assembly method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of keeping the stack in a compressed state specifically includes: keeping the stack compressed to a second set height H2.
3. The fuel cell stack assembly method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second set height H2 is set to H2=H; the first set height H1 is set to H<H1<Hmax.
4. The fuel cell stack assembly method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of keeping the stack in a compressed state specifically includes: compressing the stack with a set holding pressure.
5. The fuel cell stack assembly method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The set holding pressure is 0.4F~0.6F, where F represents the design fastening force of the fuel cell stack.
6. The fuel cell stack assembly method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The pre-compression pressure is 0.4F~0.6F, where F represents the design clamping force of the fuel cell stack.
7. The fuel cell stack assembly method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The set time is 2-4 hours.
8. A fuel cell stack assembly structure, applicable to the fuel cell stack assembly method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack assembly structure includes: The positioning mechanism includes a plurality of spaced positioning rods, the plurality of positioning rods surrounding the outside of the fuel cell stack to provide positioning space; A fastening assembly is used to keep the stack in a compressed state for a set time and to fasten the stack to transfer the pressing force of the pressing device; the fastening assembly is provided with a positioning through slot for mounting a plurality of the positioning rods.
9. The fuel cell stack assembly structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The fastening assembly includes a housing, insulating support rods, and multiple crossbeams. The housing has a first opening. Multiple insulating support rods are provided and spaced apart on the inner wall of the housing. Each insulating support rod has a positioning slot. The crossbeams are detachably connected to the first opening of the housing. The multiple crossbeams are spaced apart and abut against the stacked body. The lower part of the positioning rod is located inside the housing. At least two positioning rods are located in the positioning slots of the insulating support rods. The positioning rods are staggered from the crossbeams.
10. The fuel cell stack assembly structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, The housing includes a frame and a cover plate. The frame has a first opening and a second opening. The cover plate is connected to the frame and covers the second opening. The sides of the frame are provided with operating ports. The two ends of the crossbeam abut against the walls of the operating ports and the frame, respectively. The insulating support rod is attached to the inner wall of the frame.
11. The fuel cell stack assembly structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, The positioning mechanism further includes a fixed bracket, which is connected to the frame and the portion of the positioning rod located outside the housing, such that the end face of the positioning rod facing the fuel cell stack protrudes outside the positioning through slot; The assembly structure also includes a contouring tooling, the outer or inner envelope surface of which is the same as the outer contour of the fuel cell stack core.
12. The fuel cell stack assembly structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, The fastening assembly includes a first pressure plate, a second pressure plate, and a plurality of spaced connecting rods. The connecting rods are connected to the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate. The first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are provided with positioning slots on their sides. Two end plates located at both ends of the fuel cell stack respectively constitute the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate.
13. The fuel cell stack assembly structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, The positioning rod is connected to the worktable of the pressing equipment, and the worktable and the multiple positioning rods together form the positioning space.
14. A fuel cell module, assembled using the stack assembly structure according to any one of claims 9-13, characterized in that, The fuel cell module includes: A housing and a packaging plate, wherein the housing has a first opening, and the packaging plate is connected to the housing and covers the first opening; Multiple crossbeams are spaced apart and are detachably connected to the housing and are located close to the first opening; The fuel cell stack is located within the housing and abuts against the crossbeam; Multiple insulating support rods are spaced apart and located between the housing and the fuel cell stack. Each insulating support rod has a positioning slot for mounting the positioning rod. The housing, the multiple insulating support rods, and the multiple crossbeams together apply a fastening force to the fuel cell stack along the stacking direction.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Electric pile assembly method
CN115295849A
Press fitting method and system for high-power fuel cell stack
CN116207321A
Assembly method of fuel cell stack and fuel cell stack
CN117638178A
Fuel cell module, high-pressure assembly method and vehicle
CN118899497A
Fastening assembly, fuel cell module and vehicle
CN118899498A