Search

DE-102024118528-B4 - Method and production equipment for the manufacture and processing of structured sheets and stacking arrangement of structured sheets

DE102024118528B4DE 102024118528 B4DE102024118528 B4DE 102024118528B4DE-102024118528-B4

Abstract

A method for producing and processing structured plates (1, 1'), in which a metal strip (3) is structured three-dimensionally to form connected structured plates (1, 1') and the structured plates (1, 1') are processed, a notch (2) is made continuously transversely to a longitudinal direction (C) of the metal strip (3) at intervals corresponding to a length or multiple of the length of the structured plates (1, 1'), and/or continuously in the longitudinal direction (C) of the metal strip (3) either in the center of the metal strip (3) or at intervals corresponding to a width of the structured plates (1, 1'), the notch (2) not cutting through the material of the metal strip (3), wherein the structured plates (1, 1') are connected to each other at a notch base (20) of the respective notch (2), and the metal strip (3) is folded along the respective notch(es) (2), characterized in that the notch (2) separates the back sides (12, 12') of the structured plates (1, 1') from each other and forms a closed surface with the front sides (11, 11') of the structured plates (1, 1') of the notched base (20).

Inventors

  • Sebastian Melzer
  • Franz Reuther

Assignees

  • Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung eingetragener Verein

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240701

Claims (16)

  1. Method for producing and processing structured plates (1, 1'), in which a metal strip (3) is structured three-dimensionally to form connected structured plates (1, 1') and the structured plates (1, 1') are processed, through which the metal strip (3) A notch (2) is made transversely to a longitudinal direction (C) of the metal strip (3) at intervals corresponding to a length or multiple of the length of the structured plates (1, 1'), and/or continuously in the longitudinal direction (C) of the strip, either in the center of the metal strip (3) or at intervals corresponding to a width of the structured plates (1, 1'), the notch not penetrating the material of the metal strip (3), wherein the structured plates (1, 1') are connected to each other at a notch base (20) of the respective notch (2), and the metal strip (3) is folded along the respective notch(s) (2), characterized in that the notch (2) separates the back sides (12, 12') of the structured plates (1, 1') from each other and forms a closed connection between the front sides (11, 11') of the structured plates (1, 1') and a back side of the notch base (20). Create an area.
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 characterized in that the respective notch(s) (2) is/are embossed into the material of the metal strip (3).
  3. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that when several notches (2) are made into the material of the metal strip (3), either all notches are made into the metal strip (3) from the same side of the metal strip (3), or some of the notches (2) are made into the metal strip (3) from a front (31) and some of the notches (2) are made into the metal strip (3) from a back (32).
  4. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that when several notches (2) are made into the material of the metal strip (3), at least some of the notches (2) are made into the metal strip (3) with a different notch depth than other notches (2).
  5. Procedure according to Claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that , in order to separate groups of the structured plates (1, 1') at individual notches (2) the notch bottom (20) is overstretched.
  6. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the metal strip (3) is folded between two process steps and/or at one end of a production device (100) and the resulting connected metal strip sections are stacked to form a stacking arrangement (10) of structured plates (1, 1').
  7. Procedure according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the stacking arrangement (10) of structured plates (1, 1') is rotated or tilted by an angle.
  8. Procedure according to Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the metal strip (3) is folded, cut along at least one of the notches (2) and then stacked into at least two stack arrangements (10) of structured plates (1, 1') which are further processed separately but in parallel on the production device (100).
  9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch(s) (2) has/have a tapered or rectangular cross-section towards its notch bottom (20).
  10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the folding of the metal strip (3), when the structured plates (1, 1') are aligned at an acute, right or obtuse angle to each other, at least one intermediate layer (13) is inserted between the structured plates (1, 1').
  11. Procedure according to Claim 10 , characterized in that several of the intermediate layers (13) are inserted horizontally between the structured plates (1, 1') or placed vertically between the structured plates (1, 1') at a distance from each other, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the belt (C).
  12. Stacking arrangement (10) of structured plates (1, 1') in which the structured plates (1, 1') are arranged in a connected zigzag pattern or on top of or next to each other, such that either two front sides (11, 11') or two back sides (12, 12') of the structured plates (1, 1') are alternately arranged opposite each other, wherein a continuous notch (2) is formed between the structured plates (1, 1') or between groups of the structured plates (1, 1') in the width direction (b) and/or length direction (I) of the structured plates (1, 1'), wherein the structured plates (1, 1') are connected to each other at the respective notch bottoms (20) of the notches (2), characterized in that the notch (2) separates back sides (12, 12') of the structured plates (1, 1') from each other and front sides (11, 11') of the structured plates (1, 1') 1') form a closed surface with a back side of the notch base (20).
  13. Stacking arrangement according to Claim 12 , characterized in that either all of the notches are made into the metal band (3) from the same side or individual notches (2) are made into the metal band (3) from its front side (31) and other notches from its reverse side (32) are made into the metal band (3).
  14. Stacking arrangement according to Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that some of the notches (2) are made into the metal strip (3) with a different notch depth than others of the notches (2).
  15. Stacking arrangement according to one of the Claims 12 until 13 , characterized in that at least one intermediate layer (13) is located between each of the structured plates (1, 1').
  16. Stacking arrangement according to one of the Claims 12 until 15 , characterized in that several of the intermediate layers (13) are formed from a zigzag-folded insert strip (130) having the intermediate layers (13).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing and processing structured plates, preferably bipolar plates for fuel cells, in which a metal strip is structured three-dimensionally to form connected structured plates, preferably bipolar half-plates, wherein a notch is made continuously transversely to a longitudinal direction of the metal strip, at intervals corresponding to a length or multiple of the length of the structured plates, and/or continuously in the longitudinal direction of the strip, either in the center of the metal strip or at intervals corresponding to a width of the structured plates, the notch not penetrating the material of the metal strip, wherein the structured plates are connected to each other at the bottom of the notch(es), and the metal strip is folded along the respective notch(es). Furthermore, the invention relates to a stacking arrangement of structured plates, preferably bipolar half-plates, in which the structured plates are each arranged in a connected zigzag pattern or on top of or next to each other, so that alternately either two front sides or two back sides of the structured plates are arranged opposite each other, wherein a continuous notch is formed between the structured plates or between groups of structured plates in the width direction and/or length direction of the structured plates, and wherein the structured plates are connected to each other at the respective notch bottoms of the notches. From the printed text DE 10 2021 122 402 A1 A method and a device of the aforementioned type are known for producing bipolar plates for fuel cells by forming. In this process, a thin metal strip is structured three-dimensionally. Since the long metal strip is difficult to handle, after structuring by forming, it is cut into individual bipolar half-plates by separating the plates through cuts running transversely to the strip's longitudinal direction. These half-plates are then placed in a stack. While the stack allows for compact intermediate storage of the bipolar half-plates, cutting the metal strip is relatively complex and not easily reproducible. To subsequently join the bipolar half-plates into bipolar plates, they must be individually lifted from the stack. This process is time-consuming, can damage the bipolar half-plates, and leads to alignment problems during assembly. Furthermore, this state of the art has the disadvantage that, after the metal strip is cut into individual bipolar half-plates, continuous processing with a single, continuous metal strip is no longer possible. From the printed materials EP 1 517 388 A1 and DE 10 2005 037 345 A1 Furthermore, methods for manufacturing bipolar plates for fuel cells are known in which metal strips are punched from a metal strip. The metal strips are only partially cut and/or connecting webs are formed between them, so that the strip material and the metal strips form a continuous structure. The metal strips are then pushed out of a central layer in alternating directions and subsequently overmolded with plastic to form a stamped strip. In this stamped strip, channels for the passage of reactive agents are formed through the plastic between the stamped metal strips arranged on both sides of the strip. During the injection molding process, the metal strips, arranged alternately at the top and bottom of the stamped strip, are only overmolded on the inside of the strip, so that the outer surfaces of the metal strips, which lie on the surface of the stamped strip, can be arranged in direct contact with a gas diffusion layer of a membrane. The bipolar plates, thus formed and connected by the metal strip, are then stacked on top of each other in one variant of the process, each by means of 180° bends. The 180° bend of the metal strip protrudes outwards in a loop-like fashion. A membrane carrying at least one gas diffusion layer is placed between the bipolar plates. While these processes can, in principle, be carried out continuously, they are very cumbersome and costly due to the numerous process steps. Furthermore, the punching process used in the known methods generates a significant amount of material waste, making the processes inefficient and the resulting products expensive, and necessitating corresponding disposal costs. Furthermore, it is known from other areas of technology to fold metal foils in a zigzag pattern, similar to the classic corrugated cardboard manufacturing process, then arrange them on top of each other and fix them with a top layer, for example, as in printed matter. DE 199 22 358 C1 , to form honeycomb-shaped catalyst support bodies. The honeycomb structure is achieved by folding a corrugated piece of material, perforated along the fold lines, in a zigzag pattern across its surface. The perforations are formed by punching, with narrow connecting webs The remaining elements are designed to achieve a precise fold and just sufficient support and connection of the material pieces with minimal flow