WO2024037530A1 - Pile à combustible - Google Patents

Pile à combustible Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024037530A1
WO2024037530A1 PCT/CN2023/113076 CN2023113076W WO2024037530A1 WO 2024037530 A1 WO2024037530 A1 WO 2024037530A1 CN 2023113076 W CN2023113076 W CN 2023113076W WO 2024037530 A1 WO2024037530 A1 WO 2024037530A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
platform
fuel cell
cathode
section
flow field
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2023/113076
Other languages
English (en)
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
阿提比斯.罗伯特·亨利
罗伯茨.乔伊·安妮
Original Assignee
上海韵量新能源科技有限公司
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 上海韵量新能源科技有限公司 filed Critical 上海韵量新能源科技有限公司
Publication of WO2024037530A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024037530A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0258—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/88—Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/8803—Supports for the deposition of the catalytic active composition
    • H01M4/881—Electrolytic membranes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0258—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
    • H01M8/026—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0258—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
    • H01M8/0263—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant having meandering or serpentine paths
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1004—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA]
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fuel cell, and in particular to a flow field plate for a hydrogen fuel cell.
  • Fuel cells electrochemically convert hydrogen fuel and an oxidant (such as oxygen in the air) into electrical energy and reaction products.
  • a type of fuel cell called a polymer electrolyte membrane (“PEM”) fuel cell typically employs a membrane electrode assembly (“MEA”) containing a solid polymer ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer applied over The two sides of the ion exchange membrane form a catalyst coating membrane (“CCM”), which is disposed between two gas diffusion layers (“GDL”).
  • the catalyst layer contains a catalyst, such as finely divided platinum, to initiate the desired electrochemical reaction.
  • GDL effectively acts as a facilitator to aid the diffusion of reactants on the CCM, and typically contains a porous conductive sheet such as carbon fiber paper or carbon cloth.
  • the electrodes are electrically coupled to provide an electrical circuit for conducting electrons between the electrodes through an external circuit.
  • the MEA is positioned between two conductive fluid flow field plates or separators.
  • the fluid flow field plate has at least one fluid flow channel formed in at least one of its major planar surfaces.
  • the fluid flow field plate acts as a current collector, provides support for the electrodes, provides access for fuel and oxidant to the respective anode and cathode surfaces, and provides channels for the removal of reaction products, such as water, that are produced during fuel cell operation. formed in.
  • One fluid plate, called the anode plate has open fuel flow channels that direct hydrogen fuel to the anode side of the MEA, while the other fluid plate, called the cathode plate, has open channels that direct oxidizers (such as air) to the cathode side of the MEA. Oxidant flow channel.
  • Both anode and cathode plates typically have multiple parallel flow channels separated by elongated platforms. These flow channels typically include a flat top surface in contact with an adjacent GDL surface.
  • the portion of the flow field plate containing the flow channels and platforms is often referred to as The flow field region and the part of the CCM adjacent to the GDL that is fluidly connected to the flow field region are usually called the active region of the CCM, that is, the part of the CCM where electrochemical reactions occur.
  • Optimal fuel cell performance depends on the reactants reaching the active area of the CCM where electrochemical reactions occur. Taking the cathode as an example, the oxidant supply must migrate from the oxidant channel of the cathode plate through the adjacent GDL to the active area of the CCM.
  • Fuel cell performance is particularly sensitive to oxygen concentration in the cathode catalyst region, especially when air is used as oxidant because the oxygen concentration in the air is only about 21%.
  • a fuel cell includes an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between the anode plate and the cathode plate.
  • the anode plate includes a separator having an active side with a fuel flow field having at least one platform open face fuel flow channel.
  • the cathode plate includes a separator having an active side with an oxidant flow field having open oxidant flow channels and at least one platform.
  • a membrane electrode assembly consists of a catalyst-coated ion exchange membrane sandwiched by anode and cathode gas diffusion layers. At least one platform of the anode and cathode plates has a top with a curved cross-section. In some aspects, both the anode and cathode plates have a platform with a top that is curved in cross-section.
  • At least one of the anode and cathode gas diffusion layers is compressible and compresses around at least a portion of the platform having a curved cross-section on top.
  • the oxidant flow field may include a plurality of parallel platforms that are straight along the length and have tops with curved cross-sections.
  • the curved cross-section may be continuously curved and may, for example, have a fixed radius (full circle) to define a circular portion, or may have a variable radius to define a portion with varying curvature.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of the active side of a cathode plate of a PEM fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inactive side of the cathode plate shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of the end portion of the cathode plate shown in FIG. 1 .
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B showing a portion of the flow field of the cathode plate.
  • Figure 5 is a detailed view of area C of one channel and two adjacent platforms of the cathode plate flow field.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a fuel cell including a cathode plate according to an embodiment of the present invention and a portion of two adjacent fuel cells.
  • Figure 7 is a detailed view of the image of area D showing a portion of the MFA in contact with the platform of the cathode plate.
  • Figure 8 is a comparison chart of fuel cell stack polarization curves between the product of the present invention and the product in the prior art.
  • Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a fuel cell including a pair of flow field plates, each flow field plate having a fluid flow field including a plurality of reactant flow channels separated by a platform, wherein the flow field plate At least one of the at least one platforms has a top with a continuously curved cross-section.
  • the cathode flow field includes a plurality of parallel linear flow channels whose corresponding platforms have continuously curved cross-sections.
  • the cross-section of the platform top may have a fixed radius, thereby defining a circular portion, or a variable radius, thereby defining a portion with varying curvature.
  • the fuel cell further includes an MEA having a cathode GDL having a compressible surface that compresses upon contact with the cathode plate platform when the fuel cell is assembled such that the compressed area of the cathode GDL surface conforms to the curved top of the platform.
  • fuel cell 10 includes MEA 12 sandwiched between cathode plate 14 and anode plate 16 (see Figure 6). Multiple fuel cells 10 may be stacked together to form a fuel cell stack (anode plate 16A of one adjacent fuel cell and cathode plate 14A of another adjacent fuel cell are shown in Figure 6).
  • the cathode plate 14 has a generally planar separator with an oxidant flow field 18 on one surface called the "active side” (see Figure 1).
  • the opposite surface is referred to as the "inactive side” (see Figure 2) and faces the coolant channel 20 on the coolant side of the adjacent fuel cell anode plate 16A.
  • the oxidant flow field 18 includes a plurality of open-face oxidant channels 22 separated by platforms 24 (see Figure 4).
  • the oxidant flow field 18 includes a plurality of lengthwise parallel and straight oxidant channels and corresponding platforms; however, other embodiments may feature flow fields with different channel geometries, such as serpentines.
  • fluid inlets 26, 28, and 30 introduce fuel (hydrogen), oxidant (air), and coolant flow, respectively, into fuel cell 10.
  • fluid outlets 32, 34, 36 respectively discharge fuel, oxidant and coolant flows from the fuel cell 10.
  • Fluid outlet ports 32, 34, 36 are fluidly coupled to corresponding fluid inlet ports 26, 28, 30 through flow channels within fuel cell 10. In particular, fuel flows from fuel inlet 26 via spaced fuel return channels 40 on the inactive side of cathode plate 14 into anode flow field channels 38 in adjacent anode plate 16A.
  • Return channel 40 extends from fuel inlet 26 to a fuel return channel (not shown) in anode plate 16A; the fuel return channel extends through the thickness of anode plate 16A and is fluidly coupled to anode flow field channel 38 .
  • the oxidant flows from the oxidant inlet 28 to the oxidant flow field channel 22 via spaced oxidant return channels 42 on the inactive side of the cathode plate 14 .
  • Return channel 42 extends from oxidant inlet 28 to return channel 44 in cathode plate 14 ; oxidant return channel 44 extends through the thickness of cathode plate 14 and connects to oxidant flow field channel 22 through transition area 45 .
  • Coolant flows from the coolant inlet 30 via the coolant backfield channel 46 on the inactive side of the cathode plate 14 to the coolant channel 20 of the adjacent anode plate 16A.
  • fuel, oxidant and coolant outlets 32, 34, 36 are fluidly coupled to their respective anode flow field channels 38, oxidant flow field channels 22 and coolant channels 20 through return channels.
  • Perimeter seals surround the ports and feedback channels to prevent leakage.
  • the oxidant flow field 18 is characterized by a platform 24 having a curved cross-section platform top 52.
  • the ideal cathode flow field should have as narrow a flow field platform as possible to maximize the amount of oxygen diffusion below the platform while providing sufficient electrical connections to ensure adequate current distribution and low resistive losses. It is desirable to provide a platform with a top with a curved cross-section and to minimize the width of the platform 24 and conversely maximize the width of the oxidant channel 22 .
  • the platform top 52 is completely circular, that is, continuously curved with a fixed radius R, thereby defining a circular portion.
  • a suitable range for the platform radius is between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.
  • Utilizing a full-circle design minimizes platform width and is also expected to simplify manufacturability because channels and platforms can be specified in full-circle dimensions.
  • the top of the platform has other continuously curved geometries, such as an oval or elliptical shape.
  • platform top 52 may have a continuously curved cross-section of variable radius to define a portion with varying curvature.
  • the radius of the platform is selected from 0.05 to 0.5 mm, and the spacing of the entire formed channels is relatively narrow.
  • some designs use a radius of 2 mm, which results in a large space.
  • the narrower channels are formed. Channels and spacing can ensure precise control of the flow of gas.
  • the electrochemical reaction in a small space is more complete, and ultimately a high electrical density area is formed, and the obtained voltage is getting better and better.
  • the curve a represents the fuel cell stack polarization curve of the prior art product
  • the curve b and the curve c respectively represent the fuel cells of the two fully circular design products using the solution of the present invention.
  • the stack polarization curve it can be seen from the comparison of the three curves that compared with the curve a in the prior art that does not adopt a full-circle design, the curves b and c corresponding to the product obtained by using the solution of the present invention are equally effective. Under current density, the higher the average output voltage, the better the power generation capacity of the stack. In this embodiment, by adjusting the design of the cathode plate and the anode plate, the higher the current At higher density, the power generation efficiency of the stack increases more significantly.
  • the platforms 24 also each have a platform bottom 54 that extends downwardly to the oxidant channel bottom 56 of the adjacent oxidant channel 22 .
  • platform bottom 54 provides sloped walls for adjacent oxidant channels 22 .
  • the inclination angle of the inclined wall is defined as the ratio of the top radius R to the platform bottom width W, which can be between 0.1 and 0.5.
  • the flow channel walls are connected to the oxidant channel bottom 56 by fillets 58 for ease of fabrication; however, in other embodiments, the oxidant channel 22 may have other cross-sectional geometries, for example, the oxidant channel 22 may have a defined circular segment (not shown). out) circular cross section.
  • the cathode plate 14 may be constructed of expanded graphite and manufactured by stamping a blank plate to form the desired structure, followed by appropriate post-processing.
  • cathode plate 14 may be constructed from other suitable materials known in the art and manufactured by other suitable techniques known in the art (e.g., molded graphite particle/resin composite, processed to form, for example, molded graphite particle/resin composite of formed conductive material, stamped into metal plates).
  • the platform should be designed to provide sufficient conductive connections to ensure adequate current distribution and low resistive losses.
  • Platforms with a continuously curved top may reduce the available surface area for electrical contact with the MEA.
  • the MEA12 is equipped with a compressible GDL. Referring to Figure 7, the portion of the GDL (not shown) in contact with the platform 24 is compressed to conform to the curved platform top 52 and maintain good electrical contact.
  • An example of a suitably compressible MEA includes a catalyst-coated perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane sandwiched between a pair of carbon fiber paper GDLs.
  • PFSA catalyst-coated perfluorosulfonic acid
  • the anode plate 16 includes a fuel flow field with a platform having a top with a curved cross-section.
  • the cross-section of the platform top may be partially or continuously curved, and may, for example, be completely circular to define a circular portion.
  • several flow channels are designed on the surface of the cathode plate, such as several open surface oxidant channels 22 in Figure 4.
  • several open surface oxidant channels 22 are parallel to each other, and several are parallel to each other.
  • the side portion of the channel is a curved structure.
  • the bending direction and bending size selected for each channel are completely consistent.
  • this embodiment The manufacturing cost is lower and the processing is more convenient. If there are differences in the bending of the anode plate and the cathode plate, the cost will be high. In this case, two sets of bending molds and manufacturing processes need to be designed.
  • Coupled and variations thereof as used in this specification are intended to include both indirect and direct connections. For example, if a first device is coupled to a second device, that coupling may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections. Similarly, if a first device is communicatively coupled to a second device, communications may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.
  • references to "about” or “approximately” a number or “substantially” equal to a number means within plus or minus 10% of that number.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une pile à combustible, comprenant une paire de plaques de champ d'écoulement, chaque plaque de champ d'écoulement comprenant une pluralité de canaux d'écoulement de réactif séparés par des plateformes, au moins une plateforme dans au moins une plaque de champ d'écoulement ayant une section transversale supérieure incurvée. En particulier, une plaque de cathode peut comporter une plate-forme ayant une section transversale incurvée partiellement ou en continu. Dans certains modes de réalisation, la section transversale de la partie supérieure de la plateforme est un arc circulaire La pile à combustible comprend en outre un ensemble membrane-électrode ayant une couche de diffusion de gaz de cathode (GDL), la cathode GDL ayant une surface compressible. Lorsque la pile à combustible est assemblée, la surface compressible est comprimée lorsque celle-ci vient en contact avec la plateforme de la plaque de cathode, de telle sorte qu'une région comprimée sur une surface de la cathode GDL est étroitement fixée à la partie supérieure incurvée de la plateforme.
PCT/CN2023/113076 2022-08-15 2023-08-15 Pile à combustible WO2024037530A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202210977211.5 2022-08-15
CN202210977211.5A CN115275253A (zh) 2022-08-15 2022-08-15 燃料电池

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024037530A1 true WO2024037530A1 (fr) 2024-02-22

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PCT/CN2023/113076 WO2024037530A1 (fr) 2022-08-15 2023-08-15 Pile à combustible

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WO (1) WO2024037530A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115275253A (zh) * 2022-08-15 2022-11-01 上海韵量新能源科技有限公司 燃料电池

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103746123A (zh) * 2014-02-18 2014-04-23 武汉理工大学 质子交换膜燃料电池金属双极板及其构成的电堆
US20140329168A1 (en) * 2013-05-05 2014-11-06 Daimler Ag Hybrid bipolar plate assembly for fuel cells
WO2017216621A2 (fr) * 2016-06-14 2017-12-21 Daimler Ag Empilements de piles à combustible à plaques de champ d'écoulement périphériques pliées
CN111108637A (zh) * 2017-08-28 2020-05-05 百拉得动力***公司 用于电化学燃料电池的流场板
CN112713283A (zh) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 未势能源科技有限公司 燃料电池双极板、电堆及燃料电池汽车
CN114156500A (zh) * 2021-09-15 2022-03-08 国家电投集团氢能科技发展有限公司 双极板和燃料电池电堆
CN115275253A (zh) * 2022-08-15 2022-11-01 上海韵量新能源科技有限公司 燃料电池

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140329168A1 (en) * 2013-05-05 2014-11-06 Daimler Ag Hybrid bipolar plate assembly for fuel cells
CN103746123A (zh) * 2014-02-18 2014-04-23 武汉理工大学 质子交换膜燃料电池金属双极板及其构成的电堆
WO2017216621A2 (fr) * 2016-06-14 2017-12-21 Daimler Ag Empilements de piles à combustible à plaques de champ d'écoulement périphériques pliées
CN111108637A (zh) * 2017-08-28 2020-05-05 百拉得动力***公司 用于电化学燃料电池的流场板
CN112713283A (zh) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 未势能源科技有限公司 燃料电池双极板、电堆及燃料电池汽车
CN114156500A (zh) * 2021-09-15 2022-03-08 国家电投集团氢能科技发展有限公司 双极板和燃料电池电堆
CN115275253A (zh) * 2022-08-15 2022-11-01 上海韵量新能源科技有限公司 燃料电池

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