KR-102962094-B1 - Separator for fuel cell and fuel cell including the same

KR102962094B1KR 102962094 B1KR102962094 B1KR 102962094B1KR-102962094-B1

Abstract

A separator for a fuel cell and a fuel cell including the separator are disclosed. The objective of the present invention is to prevent the degradation of a fuel cell by supplying a constant amount of air to the fuel cell regardless of the location of the air channel.

Inventors

최성범
김경민

Assignees

현대자동차주식회사
기아 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20200325

Claims (15)

As a separator for a fuel cell, A separator body forming the body of the above separator; A porous structure that is laminated on one surface of the above-mentioned separator body and provides a path for fluid flow by forming a plurality of pores; comprising The above separator body is, A fluid inlet section in which a space for fluid inflow is formed; A reaction region supplied with the above fluid; and A diffusion section formed between the fluid inlet section and the reaction region, and having a flow path that provides a path for the fluid within the fluid inlet section to be supplied to the reaction region; comprising The above porous structure is laminated on one side of the reaction region, and A separator for a fuel cell, wherein the number of pores per unit volume of the inlet region (A1, hereinafter referred to as the 'closest inlet region') closest to the fluid inlet region among the inlet regions facing the diffusion region among the porous structures is less than the number of pores per unit volume of the inlet region excluding the closest inlet region (A1) among the inlet regions facing the diffusion region among the porous structures.
In claim 1, A fuel cell separator in which the number of pores per unit volume of the inlet region of the porous structure is less than the number of pores per unit volume of the porous structure in other regions excluding the inlet region of the porous structure.
In claim 1, The above fluid is air, a separator for a fuel cell.
In claim 1, The above reaction area is, Includes a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone; and The above porous structure is, A first porous structure laminated on one surface of the first reaction region; and A second porous structure laminated on one surface of the second reaction region; comprising The first reaction region and the second reaction region are arranged such that the distance between the first reaction region and the fluid inlet is shorter than the distance between the second reaction region and the fluid inlet, and A fuel cell separator in which the number of pores per unit volume in the inlet region of the first porous structure is less than the number of pores per unit volume in the inlet region of the second porous structure.
In claim 4, The above reaction area is, A third reaction region; further comprising, The above porous structure is, A third porous structure laminated on one surface of the third reaction region; further comprising The third reaction region is positioned such that the distance between the second reaction region and the fluid inlet is shorter than the distance between the third reaction region and the fluid inlet, and A fuel cell separator in which the number of pores per unit volume of the third porous structure is formed uniformly in all regions of the third porous structure.
In claim 5, In other regions of the first to third porous structures, excluding the entrance region, A separator for a fuel cell in which the number of pores per unit volume of the first to third porous structures is formed to be equal to each other.
As a separator for a fuel cell, A separator body forming the body of the above separator; A porous structure laminated on one surface of the above-mentioned separator body and providing a path for fluid flow by forming a plurality of pores; comprising The above separator body is, A fluid inlet section in which a space for fluid inflow is formed; A reaction region supplied with the above fluid; and A diffusion section formed between the fluid inlet section and the reaction region, and having a flow path that provides a path for the fluid within the fluid inlet section to be supplied to the reaction region; comprising The above porous structure is laminated on one side of the reaction region, and Among the inlet regions of the porous structure that face the diffusion section, the inlet region (F1) (hereinafter referred to as 'same height inlet region (F1)') formed at the same height in the height direction (h) as the fluid inlet region is provided adjacent to the central region of the porous structure, compared to the region excluding the same height inlet region (F1) among the inlet regions of the porous structure that face the diffusion section. The above reaction area is, Includes a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone; and The above porous structure is, A first porous structure laminated on one surface of the first reaction region; and A second porous structure laminated on one surface of the second reaction region; comprising A separator for a fuel cell in which the first reaction region and the second reaction region are arranged such that the height difference between the first reaction region and the fluid inlet is smaller than the height difference between the second reaction region and the fluid inlet.
In claim 7, The entrance region of the above porous structure is, A fuel cell separator plate that is adjacent to the central region of the porous structure as it is adjacent to the fluid inlet portion in the height direction (h).
In claim 8, A fuel cell separator plate provided on the opposite side of the inlet region of the porous structure, wherein the boundary of the outlet regions of the porous structure extends along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the porous structure extends from the inlet region to the outlet region.
In claim 7, A fuel cell separator plate in which the distance between the inlet region of the first porous structure and the fluid inlet portion is the same as the distance between the inlet region of the second porous structure and the fluid inlet portion.
As a separator for a fuel cell, A separator body forming the body of the above separator; A porous structure that is laminated on one surface of the above-mentioned separator body and provides a path for fluid flow by forming a plurality of pores; comprising The above separator body is, A fluid inlet section in which a space for fluid inflow is formed; A reaction region supplied with the above fluid; and A diffusion section formed between the fluid inlet section and the reaction region, and having a flow path that provides a path for the fluid within the fluid inlet section to be supplied to the reaction region; comprising The above porous structure is laminated on one side of the reaction region, and A separator for a fuel cell, wherein among the inlet regions facing the diffusion region in the above porous structure, the inlet region closest to the fluid inlet region (A1, hereinafter, closest inlet region) is provided with a flow path forming region (D1) facing the flow path formed in the diffusion region, and a porous pore forming region (D2) in which a porous pore structure is formed is formed in the region of the above porous structure excluding the region where the flow path forming region (D1) is formed.
In claim 11, A separator for a fuel cell having a shape in which the flow path forming region (D1) of the porous structure protrudes toward the central region of the porous structure as it becomes adjacent in the height direction (h) of the fluid inlet portion.
In claim 11, The above reaction area is, Includes a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone; and The above porous structure is, A first porous structure laminated on one surface of the first reaction region; and A second porous structure laminated on one surface of the second reaction region; comprising The first reaction region and the second reaction region are arranged such that the distance between the first reaction region and the fluid inlet is shorter than the distance between the second reaction region and the fluid inlet, and A separator for a fuel cell having a shape in which the flow path forming region (D1) formed in the inlet region of the first porous structure protrudes toward the central region of the porous structure more than the flow path forming region (D1) formed in the inlet region of the second porous structure.
Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including a membrane, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode; A gas diffusion layer stacked on one side of the above MEA; and A separator plate laminated on one surface of the above gas diffusion layer; comprising, The above separator plate is, A separator body forming the body of the above separator; A porous structure that is laminated on one surface of the above-mentioned separator body and provides a path for fluid flow by forming a plurality of pores; comprising The above separator body is, A fluid inlet section in which a space for fluid inflow is formed; A reaction region supplied with the above fluid; and A diffusion section formed between the fluid inlet section and the reaction region, and having a flow path that provides a path for the fluid within the fluid inlet section to be supplied to the reaction region; comprising The above porous structure is laminated on one side of the reaction region, and A fuel cell in which the number of pores per unit volume of the inlet region (A1, hereinafter referred to as the 'closest inlet region') closest to the fluid inlet region among the inlet regions facing the diffusion region among the porous structures is less than the number of pores per unit volume of the inlet region excluding the closest inlet region (A1) among the inlet regions facing the diffusion region among the porous structures.
Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including a membrane, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode; A gas diffusion layer stacked on one side of the above MEA; and A separator plate laminated on one surface of the above gas diffusion layer; comprising, The above separator plate is, A separator body forming the body of the above separator; A porous structure laminated on one surface of the above-mentioned separator body and providing a path for fluid flow by forming a plurality of pores; comprising The above separator body is, A fluid inlet section in which a space for fluid inflow is formed; A reaction region supplied with the above fluid; and A diffusion section formed between the fluid inlet section and the reaction region, and having a flow path that provides a path for the fluid within the fluid inlet section to be supplied to the reaction region; comprising The above porous structure is laminated on one side of the reaction region, and Among the inlet regions of the porous structure that face the diffusion section, the inlet region (F1) (hereinafter referred to as 'same height inlet region (F1)') formed at the same height as the fluid inlet section is provided adjacent to the central region of the porous structure, compared to the region excluding the same height inlet region (F1) among the inlet regions of the porous structure that face the diffusion section. The above reaction area is, Includes a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone; and The above porous structure is, A first porous structure laminated on one surface of the first reaction region; and A second porous structure laminated on one surface of the second reaction region; comprising A fuel cell in which the first reaction region and the second reaction region are arranged such that the height difference between the first reaction region and the fluid inlet is smaller than the height difference between the second reaction region and the fluid inlet.

Description

Separator for fuel cell and fuel cell including the same The present invention relates to a separator for a fuel cell and a fuel cell including the separator. A fuel cell, which produces electricity by reacting fuel (e.g., hydrogen) with air, generally comprises a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including a membrane, a fuel electrode, and an air electrode, a gas diffusion layer through which fuel and air diffuse, and a separator. Among these, the separator is configured to face the fuel electrode and the air electrode, and performs the role of supplying fuel and air from the outside, discharging water produced by the reaction within the fuel cell to the outside, and providing a path for the current generated by the reaction within the fuel cell to flow. Meanwhile, an air channel, which is a path for air flow, and a fuel channel, which is a path for fuel flow, are respectively formed in the separator plate, and a manifold is formed to supply external fuel and air to the air channel and the fuel channel. However, according to conventional technology, there was a problem in that the air supply was not uniform between the areas of the air channel that were relatively close to and relatively far from the manifold. In this case, since air is supplied more smoothly to the area of the air channel that is relatively close to the air-supplying manifold, electrochemical reactions occur more actively in the MEA compared to other areas, and consequently, fuel cell degradation occurs more rapidly in the area adjacent to the air-supplying manifold. In particular, this degradation phenomenon occurred more severely in the area where air was supplied most directly from the manifold. For example, according to conventional technology, even within the inlet area of the air channel, fuel cell degradation occurred significantly in the area closest to the manifold. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the structure of a separator for a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a porous structure and a structure near the same in a fuel cell equipped with a separator plate for a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the structure of a separator for a fuel cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the structure of a separator for a fuel cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a stacked structure of a fuel cell according to an example of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention and a fuel cell including the separator will be described. Separator for fuel cells and fuel cells FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the structure of a separator for a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the porous structure and the structure near the same in a fuel cell equipped with a separator for a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention (hereinafter, 'separator', 10) may include a separator body (100) that forms the body of the separator (10). The separator body (100) may include a fluid inlet section (110) in which a space for fluid to be introduced is formed, a reaction area (130) that receives fluid from the fluid inlet section (110), and a diffusion section (120) formed between the fluid inlet section (110) and the reaction area (130), and having a flow path formed therein that provides a path for the fluid in the fluid inlet section (110) to be supplied to the reaction area (130). As illustrated in FIG. 2, according to the present invention, a fuel cell may be provided with a reaction surface (20) including an electrode, and the reaction surface (20) may have a structure stacked on one side of a reaction area (130) of a separator (10). Fluid supplied to the fluid inlet (110) is supplied to the reaction area (130) through the diffusion section (120), and the fluid supplied to the reaction area (130) is supplied again to the reaction surface (20) including the electrode, and an electrochemical reaction occurs on the reaction surface (20) by the fluid supplied to the reaction surface (20), thereby generating current in the fuel cell. Meanwhile, the above fluid may be air. Therefore, the fluid flowing into the fluid inlet (110) may also be air. In addition, fuel (e.g., hydrogen) may also be introduced into the separator (10) in addition to air. Therefore, the fuel cell according to the present invention may be configured to generate an electric current through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air. Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a porous structure (200) may be laminated on one side o