Fuel cell current extraction device and fuel cell module

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells. Disclosed are a fuel cell current extraction device and a fuel cell module. The fuel cell current extraction device is adapted to be connected to current collecting components of the fuel cell module, and comprises flexible wires, current extraction rods, and fixing assemblies; the current collecting components and the flexible wires are arranged in a housing of the fuel cell module; one end of each flexible wire is connected to the corresponding current collecting component, and the other end of the flexible wire is connected to one end of the corresponding current extraction rod; the housing is provided with through holes corresponding to the current extraction rods, and the other end of each current extraction rod passes through the corresponding through hole and extends to the outside of the housing; the detachable fixing assemblies are sleeved over the current extraction rods; and the fixing assemblies are used for fixing the current extraction rods to the housing and sealing the through holes. The present invention has the beneficial effects of facilitating adjusting the positions of the current extraction rods relative to the current collecting components, and improving the sealing effect between the current extraction rods and the housing.

Description

A fuel cell power supply device and a fuel cell module Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a fuel cell power supply device and a fuel cell module. Background Technology

[0002] After generating electricity, fuel cells need to connect the generated current to an external conductive structure through a current-leading device. Common current-leading devices typically use a metal rod as the current-leading rod. One end of the metal rod extends into the housing of the fuel cell stack to connect to the current-collecting components, while the other end passes through a through-hole in the housing to connect to the external conductive structure and lead out the current generated by the fuel cell.

[0003] In existing technologies, the metal rod is rigidly connected to the current collector during use, and its position cannot be adjusted after installation. When the metal rod deforms due to assembly errors or high temperatures, misalignment between the current collector rod and the through-hole can occur, leading to contact between the current collector rod and the housing and causing insulation abnormalities. Furthermore, because the position of the current collector rod cannot be adjusted, the sealing structure between the current collector rod and the housing cannot be adjusted accordingly, making it prone to failure and resulting in decreased fuel cell performance or even complete failure and scrapping. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fuel cell power supply device and a fuel cell module, which facilitates the adjustment of the position between the power supply rod and the current collector, while improving the sealing effect between the power supply rod and the housing.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a fuel cell current-leading device for connecting to the current-collecting component of a fuel cell module. The device includes a flexible wire, a current-leading rod, and a fixing assembly. Both the current-collecting component and the flexible wire are disposed within the housing of the fuel cell module. One end of the flexible wire is connected to the current-collecting component, and the other end of the flexible wire is connected to one end of the current-leading rod. A through hole corresponding to the current-leading rod is provided on the housing. The other end of the current-leading rod passes through the through hole and extends outside the housing. The fixing assembly is fitted onto the current-leading rod, and the fixing assembly is used to fix the current-leading rod to the housing and close the through hole.

[0006] Furthermore, the fixing component is detachably mounted on the power supply pole.

[0007] Furthermore, the fixing assembly includes a first seal, a second seal, and a locking nut. The first seal is sleeved on the lead rod and located inside the housing, abutting against the inner wall of the housing. The second seal and the locking nut are sleeved on the lead rod and located outside the housing. The outer wall of the lead rod is provided with an external thread corresponding to the locking nut. The locking nut fixes the second seal to the outer wall of the housing.

[0008] Furthermore, the first sealing element includes a first metal sheet and a first sealing ring sleeved on the lead rod. The first metal sheet is connected to the lead rod and is disposed close to the flexible wire. One end face of the first metal sheet is fitted to the first sealing ring. The first sealing ring is slidably connected to the lead rod, and the other end face abuts against the inner wall of the housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the second sealing element includes a second metal sheet and a second sealing ring sleeved on the lead rod. The second sealing ring is slidably connected to the lead rod, and one end face abuts against the outer wall of the housing. One end face of the second metal sheet is fitted with the other end face of the second sealing ring, and the other end face of the second metal sheet abuts against the locking nut.

[0010] Furthermore, the electric lead rod includes an optical axis section and a threaded section, the first seal and the second seal are sleeved on the optical axis section, and the locking nut is threadedly connected to the threaded section.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a receiving block located inside the housing for connecting the flexible wire to the lead rod, the receiving block being connected to one end of the lead rod located inside the housing.

[0012] Furthermore, the receiving block is fixed to the flexible conductor and the lead rod by welding.

[0013] Furthermore, the electric lead rod is coaxially arranged with the through hole, and the distance between the outer wall of the electric lead rod and the inner wall of the through hole is greater than 25mm.

[0014] Furthermore, an insulating sleeve is fitted onto one end of the electric lead rod outside the housing, and the bottom of the insulating sleeve is fitted into the fixing component.

[0015] The present invention also provides a fuel cell module, including the fuel cell power supply device described in any of the above claims.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the fuel cell power supply device and fuel cell module of this invention have the following advantages: They include a flexible wire, a power supply rod, and a fixing assembly. One end of the flexible wire is connected to a current collector, and the other end is connected to one end of the power supply rod. A through hole corresponding to the power supply rod is provided on the housing. The other end of the power supply rod passes through the through hole and extends outside the housing. A detachable fixing assembly is fitted over the power supply rod for fixing and sealing it to the housing. Because the flexible wire connects the power supply rod and the current collector, the positions of the power supply rod and the current collector can be adjusted, ensuring that the power supply rod and the through hole are always coaxial, avoiding eccentricity and increasing insulation reliability. Furthermore, the fixing assembly is detachably connected to the housing. The fixing assembly is used to fix the power supply rod to the housing and seal the through hole. It can be adjusted synchronously with the power supply rod, improving the sealing effect between the power supply rod and the housing. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fuel cell power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the components of the fuel cell power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] In the figure, 1 is the shell; 11 is the through hole; 2 is the flexible conductor; 3 is the lead rod; 4 is the fixing component; 5 is the receiving block; 6 is the insulating sleeve; 31 is the optical axis section; 32 is the threaded section; 41 is the first seal; 411 is the first metal sheet; 412 is the first sealing ring; 42 is the second seal; 421 is the second metal sheet; 422 is the second sealing ring; 43 is the locking nut; a is the current collector component; b is the fuel cell stack. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "inner," and "outer," etc., used in this invention to indicate orientation or positional relationships are based on the positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device and element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various types of information, but these terms are not limited to them; they are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this invention, "first" information may also be referred to as "second" information, and similarly, "second" information may also be referred to as "first" information.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a fuel cell current-generating device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to connect to the current-collector component a of the fuel cell module. It includes a flexible wire 2, a current-collector rod 3, and a fixing assembly 4. Both the current-collector component a and the flexible wire 2 are disposed within the housing 1 of the fuel cell. The purpose of placing the current-collector component a within the housing 1 is that, in the fuel cell, the current-collector component requires a high-temperature reaction to generate electricity. Therefore, the housing 1 is sealed and insulated to keep the current-collector component a in a high-temperature environment, preventing heat loss and reducing the power generation efficiency of the current-collector component, and also preventing flammable gases from entering the high-temperature environment and causing an explosion. The flexible wire 2 does not extend beyond the housing 1 because its flexibility makes it difficult to form a seal with the housing 1.

[0025] To facilitate the connection between the lead rod 3 and the conductive structure outside the housing 1, and to transmit the electrical energy inside the fuel cell to the outside for utilization, a through hole 11 corresponding to the lead rod 3 is provided on the housing 1. One end of the flexible wire 2 is connected to the current collector a, and the other end of the flexible wire 2 is connected to one end of the lead rod 3. The other end of the lead rod 3 passes through the through hole 11 and extends outside the housing 1. Since the lead rod 3 and the current collector a are flexibly connected by the flexible wire 2, the position between the lead rod 3 and the current collector a can be adjusted so that the lead rod 3 is located in the center of the through hole 11. To facilitate sealing at the connection between the lead rod 3 and the through hole 11, a fixing component 4 is fitted onto the lead rod 3 on the inner and outer walls of the housing 1 near the through hole 11 for fixing it to the housing 1 and sealing the through hole 11, isolating the inside of the housing 1 from the external environment and maintaining the sealing effect inside the housing 1.

[0026] Furthermore, the fixing component 4 is detachably sleeved on the lead rod 3, facilitating the replacement and disassembly of the fixing component 4. In some other embodiments, based on the above-mentioned sealing conditions, the fixing component 4 and the lead rod 3 can be welded together according to actual assembly requirements.

[0027] Specifically, the flexible conductor 2 serves to conduct electricity and adjust the position of the current-conducting rod 3. In some embodiments, the flexible conductor 2 is a soft metal cable, which is made of multiple steel wires wound around a fiber core, or multiple steel wires wound around a single steel wire, to meet the requirements of the fuel cell for conductivity and high temperature resistance. Since the flexible conductor 2 is connected to the current-collecting component a, when the position of the current-conducting rod 3 deviates, the position of the current-conducting rod 3 is first adjusted to keep it coaxial with the through hole 11. The flexible conductor 2 has a certain degree of flexibility to meet the position adjustment requirements. Then, the fixing component 4 is used to fix and seal it to prevent the current-conducting rod 3 from contacting the housing 1 and reduce the risk of leakage.

[0028] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the current collector a can be fixed to other connection structures (such as rigid current guide rods) as needed, and then connected to the flexible wire 2. Finally, the flexible wire 2 is connected to the current guide rod 3. In this embodiment, the connection structure can be designed to meet some specific needs, and at the same time achieve the purpose of adjusting the position of the current guide rod 3.

[0029] Furthermore, to improve the stability of the connection between the current collector a, the flexible wire 2, and the lead rod 3, the current collector a and the flexible wire 2 are fixed by welding, and the flexible wire 2 and the lead rod 3 are also fixed by welding, as shown in Figure 1. When the axes between the flexible wire 2 and the lead rod 3 are perpendicular, the contact area between the sidewalls of the flexible wire 2 and the lead rod 3 is small, making welding more difficult. Therefore, the fuel cell lead device also includes a receiving block 5, which is located inside the housing 1 and is used to connect the flexible wire 2 and the lead rod 3. The receiving block 5 is connected to one end of the lead rod 3 located inside the housing 1. To ensure the welding strength between the receiving block 5 and the lead rod 3, the end face area of ​​the receiving block 5 connected to the lead rod 3 is larger than the end face area of ​​the lead rod 3.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to reduce the risk of leakage caused by the eccentric contact between the lead rod 3 and the inner wall of the through hole 11, when the lead rod 3 and the through hole 11 are coaxially arranged, the distance between the outer wall of the lead rod 3 and the inner wall of the through hole 11 is greater than 25mm.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fixing component 4 is used to insulate the lead rod 3 from the housing 1 and to ensure the sealing effect inside the housing 1 through the closed through hole 11. To facilitate the design of the fixing component 4 while meeting the above functional requirements, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the fixing component 4 includes a first sealing element 41, a second sealing element 42, and a locking nut 43, all of which are sleeved on the lead rod 3.

[0032] Specifically, the first sealing element 41 is sleeved on the lead rod 3 and located inside the housing 1, abutting against the inner wall of the housing 1, for sealing the through hole 11 located on the inside of the housing 1. The second sealing element 42 and the locking nut 43 are sleeved on the lead rod 3 and located outside the housing 1. The outer wall of the lead rod 3 is provided with an external thread corresponding to the locking nut 43. The locking nut 43 fixes the second sealing element 42 to the outer wall of the housing 1. The second sealing element 42 is used to seal the through hole 11 located on the outside of the housing 1. By forming a double seal on both the inner and outer sides of the through hole 11, the stability of the overall sealing structure of the housing 1 is improved.

[0033] Furthermore, to facilitate adjustment of the sealing effect of the first sealing element 41 and the second sealing element 42 on the through hole 11, the first sealing element 41 and the second sealing element 42 are detachably connected to the lead rod 3 via a locking nut 43. When it is necessary to close the through hole 11, the position of the first sealing element 41 relative to the housing 1 is fixed. By tightening the locking nut 43, the second sealing element 42 moves along the axial direction of the lead rod 3 toward the outer wall of the housing 1, so that the bottom end face of the second sealing element 42 is in close contact with the outer wall of the housing 1, and the top end face of the first sealing element 41 is in close contact with the inner wall of the housing 1, thereby closing the through hole 11. The positions of the first sealing element 41 and the second sealing element 42 are simultaneously adjusted by tightening the locking nut 43 to meet the position adjustment requirements of the lead rod 3.

[0034] Furthermore, to facilitate the design of the structures of the first seal 41 and the second seal 42, and to reduce production costs, in some embodiments, the first seal 41 includes a first metal sheet 411 and a first sealing ring 412 sleeved on the lead rod 3. In this embodiment, since the first metal sheet 411 and the first sealing ring 412 are located inside the housing 1, the first sealing ring 412 is supported to facilitate sealing the through hole 11. The first metal sheet 411 is connected to the lead rod 3 and is positioned close to the flexible wire 2. One end face of the first metal sheet 411 and the first sealing ring 412 are fitted together, the first sealing ring 412 is slidably connected to the lead rod 3, and the other end face of the first sealing ring 412 abuts against the inner wall of the housing 1. That is, the first sealing ring 412 is located between the first metal sheet 411 and the inner wall of the housing 1. To ensure the connection strength between the first metal sheet 411 and the lead rod 3, the first metal sheet 411 and the lead rod 3 are fixed by welding.

[0035] Furthermore, to facilitate the assembly and fixation of the second sealing element 42 and the lead rod 3, in this embodiment, the second sealing element 42 includes a second metal sheet 421 and a second sealing ring 422 sleeved on the lead rod 3. The second sealing ring 422 is slidably connected to the lead rod 3, and one end face of the second sealing ring 422 abuts against the outer wall of the housing 1. One end face of the second metal sheet 421 is fitted against the other end face of the second sealing ring 422, and the other end face of the second metal sheet 421 abuts against the locking nut 43. That is, the second sealing ring 422 is located between the second metal sheet 421 and the outer wall of the housing 1. By tightening the locking nut 43, the lead rod 3 moves along the axial direction of the through hole 11 toward the direction of extending out of the housing 1. The first metal plate 411 moves synchronously and pushes the first sealing ring 412 toward the direction of fitting the inner wall of the housing 1. At the same time, the second metal plate 421 and the second sealing ring 422 both move toward the direction of fitting the outer wall of the housing 1. That is, by tightening the locking nut 43, the lead rod 3, the first metal plate 411, the first sealing ring 412, the second metal plate 421, and the second sealing ring 422 move synchronously to seal the through hole 11. The adjustment is convenient and the disassembly and assembly are easy.

[0036] Furthermore, to ensure the sealing effect between the current-leading rod 3 and the first sealing ring 412 and the second sealing ring 422, and to facilitate the threaded connection between the current-leading rod 3 and the locking nut 43, in this embodiment, the current-leading rod 3 includes an optical axis section 31 and a threaded section 32. The first sealing element 41 and the second sealing element 42 are sleeved on the optical axis section 31, and the locking nut 43 is threadedly connected to the threaded section 32. Specifically, the inner diameter of the first sealing ring 412 and the second sealing ring 422 can be equal to the outer diameter of the optical axis section 31, and the optical axis section 31 cooperates with the first sealing ring 412 and the second sealing ring 422 to form a seal. In some other embodiments, to save on the processing cost of the current-leading rod 3, the optical axis section 31 can be directly processed using a screw.

[0037] Furthermore, the structures in contact with the housing 1 of the first sealing ring 412 and the second sealing ring 422 are made of high-temperature resistant materials (such as fiber cotton), and other structures can be adjusted according to structural strength and production requirements. For example, to achieve internal insulation, insulating components or other fixing components can be added to the structure of the first sealing ring 412 and the second sealing ring 422. This ensures the stability of the sealing structure of the first sealing ring 412 and the second sealing ring 422 while providing good insulation.

[0038] Furthermore, since the end of the current-leading rod 3 located outside the housing 1 is connected to the conductive structure, and the entire current-leading rod 3 is energized, in order to reduce the risk of electric shock from contact with the equipment or workers, an insulating sleeve 6 is fitted onto the end of the current-leading rod 3 located outside the housing 1. The bottom of the insulating sleeve 6 is fitted into the fixing component 4. Furthermore, to facilitate wiring when connecting the current-leading rod 3 to the external conductive structure, the distance from the top of the insulating sleeve 6 to the top of the current-leading rod 3 is greater than 30mm, providing sufficient space for wiring.

[0039] This embodiment also provides a fuel cell module, as shown in Figure 3, including a current collector a, a fuel cell stack b, a housing 1, and a fuel cell power lead-in device. The current collector a and the fuel cell stack b are located within the housing 1. The fuel cell power lead-in device is connected to the current collector a, i.e., a flexible wire 2 is connected to the current collector a, thereby leading out the power from the current collector a. Specifically, the fuel cell stack b has an electrical output surface that contacts the current collector a, allowing the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack to be conducted through the current collector, resulting in good conductivity.

[0040] In this embodiment, because the fuel cell power supply device has a flexible structure, the position of the power supply rod 3 can be flexibly adjusted when the power supply rod 3 is sealed to the housing 1. This prevents deformation of the housing 1 caused by processing errors or high-temperature reactions of the current collector components, which could result in the through hole 11 not being completely sealed. If the through hole 11 cannot be completely sealed, a large amount of heat will dissipate from the inside of the housing 1, and the temperature conditions for the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell stack cannot be reached inside the housing 1, which will reduce the power generation efficiency of the entire fuel cell module.

[0041] In summary, this invention provides a fuel cell power supply device, including a flexible wire 2, a power supply rod 3, and a fixing assembly 4. One end of the flexible wire 2 is connected to a current collector a, and the other end of the flexible wire 2 is connected to one end of the power supply rod 3. A through hole 11 corresponding to the power supply rod 3 is provided on the housing 1. The other end of the power supply rod 3 passes through the through hole 11 and extends outside the housing 1. The fixing assembly 4 is fitted over the power supply rod 3 for fixing and sealing it to the housing 1. Because the flexible wire 2 connects the power supply rod 3 and the current collector a, the positions of the power supply rod 3 and the current collector a can be adjusted, ensuring that the power supply rod 3 and the through hole 11 are always coaxial, avoiding eccentricity of the power supply rod 3 and increasing the reliability of insulation. Furthermore, the fixing assembly 4 is detachably connected to the housing 1. The fixing assembly 4 is used to fix the power supply rod 3 to the housing 1 and seal the through hole 11. It can be adjusted synchronously with the position of the power supply rod 3, improving the sealing effect between the power supply rod 3 and the housing 1.

[0042] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and substitutions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fuel cell power supply device for connecting to the current collector of a fuel cell module, characterized in that: The device includes a flexible conductor, a current-collecting rod, and a fixing assembly. Both the current-collecting component and the flexible conductor are disposed within the housing of the fuel cell module. One end of the flexible conductor is connected to the current-collecting component, and the other end of the flexible conductor is connected to one end of the current-collecting rod. The housing has a through hole corresponding to the current-collecting rod, and the other end of the current-collecting rod passes through the through hole and extends outside the housing. The current-collecting rod is fitted with a fixing assembly, which is used to fix the current-collecting rod to the housing and close the through hole.

2. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing assembly includes a first seal, a second seal, and a locking nut. The first seal is sleeved on the lead rod and located inside the housing, abutting against the inner wall of the housing. The second seal and the locking nut are sleeved on the lead rod and located outside the housing. The outer wall of the lead rod has an external thread corresponding to the locking nut. The locking nut fixes the second seal to the outer wall of the housing.

3. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The first sealing element includes a first metal sheet and a first sealing ring sleeved on the lead rod. The first metal sheet is connected to the lead rod and is disposed close to the flexible wire. One end face of the first metal sheet is fitted to the first sealing ring. The first sealing ring is slidably connected to the lead rod, and the other end face of the first sealing ring abuts against the inner wall of the housing.

4. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The second sealing element includes a second metal sheet and a second sealing ring sleeved on the lead rod. The second sealing ring is slidably connected to the lead rod, and one end face of the second sealing ring abuts against the outer wall of the housing. One end face of the second metal sheet is fitted with the other end face of the second sealing ring, and the other end face of the second metal sheet abuts against the locking nut.

5. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The electric lead rod includes an optical axis section and a threaded section. The first seal and the second seal are sleeved on the optical axis section, and the locking nut is threadedly connected to the threaded section.

6. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a receiving block located inside the housing for connecting the flexible wire and the lead rod. The receiving block is connected to one end of the lead rod located inside the housing.

7. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The receiving block is fixed to the flexible conductor and the lead rod by welding.

8. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The electric lead rod is coaxially arranged with the through hole, and the distance between the outer wall of the electric lead rod and the inner wall of the through hole is greater than 25mm.

9. The fuel cell power supply device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An insulating sleeve is fitted around one end of the electric lead rod outside the housing, and the bottom of the insulating sleeve is fitted into the fixing component.

10. A fuel cell module, characterized in that: Includes the fuel cell power supply device as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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