KR-102962097-B1 - FUEL CELL

KR102962097B1KR 102962097 B1KR102962097 B1KR 102962097B1KR-102962097-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell, comprising: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA); a separator plate laminated on the membrane electrode assembly, the separator plate comprising a flow path facing the membrane electrode assembly and a manifold section spaced apart from the flow path; a sealing member provided on one surface of the separator plate facing the membrane electrode assembly and sealing the space between the membrane electrode assembly and the separator plate; and a channel frame interposed between the sealing member and the separator plate and defining a connection channel connecting the manifold section and the flow path. By including these components, an advantageous effect of improving operating efficiency and energy efficiency can be obtained.

Inventors

최현규
김현정
김아름
박주연
김선휘

Assignees

현대자동차주식회사
기아 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20200728

Claims (13)

Membrane electrode assembly (MEA); A separator plate laminated on the membrane electrode assembly, comprising a flow path portion facing the membrane electrode assembly and a manifold portion spaced apart from the flow path portion; A sealing member provided on one surface of the separator facing the membrane electrode assembly and sealing the space between the membrane electrode assembly and the separator; and A channel frame interposed between the sealing member and the separator plate, defining a connection channel connecting the manifold section and the flow path section; comprising The above manifold section includes at least one of a first manifold spaced apart from one end of the flow path section; or a second manifold spaced apart from the other end of the flow path section. The above channel frame is provided in at least one of the space between the first manifold and the flow path or between the second manifold and the flow path, and The channel frame comprises: a first frame portion in contact with the separator plate; and a second frame portion connected to the first frame portion, spaced apart from the surface of the separator plate, and forming the connection channel. A guide projection formed on the channel frame; and a guide groove formed on the separator plate and receiving the guide projection; comprising The above guide projection is formed by partially bending a part of the first frame portion, and the guide projection and the guide groove are formed respectively in the channel frame and the separator plate, thereby providing a plurality of fuel cell cells.
In paragraph 1, The above sealing member is, A first sealing portion formed along the edge of the separator plate; and It includes a second sealing part formed to surround the perimeter of the above manifold part and connected to the first sealing part; The above channel frame is a fuel cell provided between the second sealing part and the separator plate.
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In paragraph 1, The first frame portion and the second frame portion are provided in plurality in correspondence with the Euro portion, A fuel cell in which the first frame portion and the second frame portion are alternately arranged to form a continuous waveform.
In paragraph 1, The above channel frame is, It includes a third frame portion connected to the first frame portion and disposed in the outer region of the Euro portion, The above third frame portion is a fuel cell that defines a condensation channel connecting the above manifold portion and the above flow path portion.
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In paragraph 1, The above first frame portion is a fuel cell integrally bonded to the separator plate.
In paragraph 1, Gas is introduced into either of the first manifold and the second manifold, and A fuel cell in which the gas is discharged in the other of the first manifold and the second manifold.
In paragraph 1, The above channel frame is a fuel cell formed as a rigid body.
In paragraph 1, The above connection channel is a fuel cell defined in a straight line shape.

Description

Fuel cell Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fuel cell, and more specifically, to a fuel cell capable of improving operating efficiency and energy efficiency. A fuel cell stack is a type of power generation device that produces electrical energy through the chemical reaction of fuel (e.g., hydrogen), and can be constructed by stacking tens or hundreds of fuel cell cells (unit cells) in series. More specifically, the fuel cell may be configured to include a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and separators disposed on each side of the membrane electrode assembly. The separator is equipped with a gas passage that supplies fuel (e.g., hydrogen) and a reaction gas (e.g., air) to the membrane electrode assembly, respectively, and a cooling passage that circulates cooling water. In addition, in order to form a fuel cell stack by stacking fuel cell cells, airtightness must be maintained between the reaction surface of the membrane electrode assembly and the separator, and between the cooling surface of the separator. To this end, gaskets are provided between the reaction surface of the membrane electrode assembly and the separator, and between the cooling surface of the separator. That is, the gaskets are provided to prevent gases (hydrogen and air) flowing to the reaction surface of the separator and cooling water flowing to the cooling surface of the separator from leaking to the outside of the fuel cell stack. The gasket can be integrally injection molded on both edge portions of the separator plate and on both edge portions of the manifold that carries gas and cooling water, and the flow path of the gas and cooling water can be defined by the gasket. Meanwhile, in order to ensure airtightness when stacking fuel cell cells, sufficient fastening pressure must be applied to multiple fuel cell cells equipped with gaskets. However, conventionally, when a clamping pressure (pressure) is applied to a fuel cell, there is a problem in that the gaskets provided on both sides of the separator plate become deformed (over-compressed). Furthermore, if the gaskets are deformed, it is difficult to secure a sufficient flow path (cross-sectional area of the flow path) for gas and coolant, making it difficult for gas and coolant to be smoothly supplied to the reaction area of the separator plate (the flow path between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold), and causing leakage of gas and coolant. In addition, conventionally, as gases (hydrogen and air) supplied through the manifold are supplied to the reaction zone of the separator plate via a bent flow path defined by gaskets formed on both sides of the separator plate and through holes formed in the separator plate, there is a problem of differential pressure occurring at both ends of the manifold (inlet manifold vs. outlet manifold), which leads to a decrease in energy efficiency. In particular, conventionally, as the gas supplied through the manifold must pass through three bent paths (a first path defined on the bottom surface of the separator plate by a gasket → a second path passing through a through hole formed through the separator plate → a third path defined on the top surface of the separator plate by a gasket) to be supplied to the reaction zone of the separator plate, there is a problem in that the differential pressure at both ends of the manifold increases and the gas flow efficiency decreases. Accordingly, various studies have recently been conducted to minimize differential pressure while ensuring a smooth supply of gas in fuel cell cells, but these efforts are still insufficient, and further development is required. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a separator plate and a sealing member as a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a separator plate as a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 'A-A' of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 'B-B' of Figure 3. FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining a channel frame as a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connection channel of a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to some of the described embodiments but can be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, one or more of the components among the embodiments may be selectively combined or substituted. In addition, terms used in the embodiments of the present invention (including technical and scientific terms) may be interp