CN206789622U - A kind of flow battery or fuel cell used metal electrode plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell, comprising a metal cathode plate and a metal anode plate, the flow channel area on the front side of the metal cathode plate is engraved with an air flow channel, and the flow channel area on the back side of the metal cathode plate engraved with a cooling water flow channel, the front flow channel area of the metal anode plate is provided with a hydrogen flow channel, and the back flow channel area is flat, and the back side of the metal cathode plate is bonded to the back side of the metal anode plate to form the metal bipolar plate , the cooling water flow channel is sealed with the reverse side of the metal anode plate to form a cavity for the cooling water to flow. Compared with the prior art, the metal bipolar plate of the utility model is convenient to process, has good sealing performance, is not easy to leak, and has uniform flow fields of the gas flow path and the cooling liquid flow path.

Description

A metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell

technical field

The utility model relates to a metal pole plate, in particular to a metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell.

Background technique

Power generation devices that require fluid participation, such as flow batteries and fuel cells, include positive and negative electrode materials, electrolyte diaphragms, and plates that supply reactive substances and cooling fluids. The cost, performance and durability of the plates greatly affect the commercial promotion and application of flow batteries and fuel cells.

According to different valence element systems, flow batteries can be divided into various types such as all-vanadium, all-chromium, all-iron, titanium-iron, chromium-iron, vanadium-cerium, and vanadium-bromine. The solutions of anions and cations in different valence states are respectively introduced into the positive electrode and the negative electrode through the flow channels on the plate, and an electrochemical reaction occurs to charge and discharge. The positive/negative electrode pair potential difference of the flow battery is large, the reversibility is good, the side reaction is small, the solubility is high and stable, the preparation is easy, the price is cheap, the environment is friendly, and the corrosion is small. If the manufacturing cost of key materials and components such as ion exchange membranes and plates can be greatly reduced, it will have broad application prospects in the field of energy storage, and is very suitable for large-scale development of renewable energy such as wind energy, solar energy, and tidal energy. and use. It is of great significance in the promotion and application of new energy and the realization of stable power supply.

Fuel cells include direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), hydrogen/air (oxygen) fuel cells (PEFC), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), etc. Various types. The fuel cell uses air or pure oxygen as the oxidant, methanol, hydrogen, methane and hydrazine as the fuel, and electrochemical reactions occur at the positive and negative electrodes of the battery respectively to obtain electrical energy. Because of its high energy conversion efficiency, clean and pollution-free, high power density and other advantages, it has attracted more and more attention from governments, energy companies and automobile manufacturers, and has developed PEMFC-based mobile power supplies, power generation devices, various types of power stations and car engine.

Liquid flow batteries and fuel cells also require the plates to introduce liquid or gaseous reactive substances, and in some low-temperature fuel cells, cooling media are also required. As an important component of a flow battery and a fuel cell, the pole plate accounts for more than 60% of its weight and more than 30% of the cost of the entire stack. Therefore, reducing the cost of polar plates is also of far-reaching significance for the commercial promotion and application of flow batteries and fuel cells.

The main functions of the plate are: (1) collect the current generated by the reaction and conduct it from the anode of one single cell to the cathode of the next single cell; (2) separate the oxidizing agent and reducing agent, and uniformly Distributing reactants; (3) Discharging the generated products; (4) If necessary, introducing cooling medium to ensure that the temperature of the stack is stable and evenly distributed; (5) Separate and support the groups of electrolytes in the flow battery or fuel cell and catalyst.

In order to meet the above requirements, the plates of flow batteries and fuel cells must have the following requirements: (1) high electrical conductivity to conduct electrons more effectively; (2) good sealing to block the gap between adjacent single cells (3) corrosion resistance; (4) better flexural strength and compressive strength; (5) low manufacturing cost. Therefore, the research progress of the pole plate has a significant effect on improving the specific power density of the power generation device and reducing its manufacturing cost, and has an important impact on the industrialization of the entire flow battery and fuel cell, which makes the materials and processing technology of the pole plate Research has become a hot spot at home and abroad.

Plate material Bipolar plate materials can be roughly divided into the following categories: pure graphite materials, polymer/conductive filler composite materials, carbon/carbon composite materials, metal materials, etc. Graphite has excellent electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance, but the cost of pure graphite itself is relatively high, and its quality is brittle and difficult to process, which limits its large-scale application.

Metals are traditionally used as electrode materials because of their good electrical conductivity, high electrochemical activity, and excellent mechanical properties. Bipolar plate metal materials that can be used as flow batteries and fuel cells include: gold, lead, titanium, titanium-based platinum, stainless steel, aluminum and nickel-based alloys, etc.

Since the distribution of the cathode and anode reactants and the pressure drop have a great influence on the battery, these two factors have become important considerations in the design and processing of the plate flow channel. The existing ones are often prone to leakage, uneven flow fields of the gas flow channel and the coolant flow channel, and the like. Chinese patent 201510175055.9 discloses a metal pole plate for a fuel cell, which has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is stamped and formed with parallel first flow channels, and the bottom of the first flow channel on the second surface is stamped The formed parallel second flow channel has a cooling flow field flow channel between two adjacent first flow channels on the second surface, the cooling flow field flow channel is consistent with the extension direction of the first flow channel, and the second flow channel is in line with the The first flow channels are arranged crosswise, the second flow channels communicate with two adjacent cooling flow field channels, and the depth of the second flow channels is smaller than the depth of the first flow channels, and the second flow channels at the bottom of the two adjacent first flow channels are at the The extension direction of the first flow channel is staggered. Since the cooling flow field flow channel and the first flow channel in the above patent are processed on the same side, when the ridge separating the two flow channels is worn, the risk of mixing of the fluids flowing in the two flow channels is likely to occur.

Utility model content

The purpose of this utility model is to provide a metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell in order to overcome the above-mentioned defects in the prior art.

The purpose of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

A metal bipolar plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell, comprising a metal cathode plate and a metal anode plate, the front flow channel area of the metal cathode plate is engraved with an air flow channel, and the metal cathode plate is engraved with a cooling water flow in the reverse flow channel area channel, and the upper and lower ends of the metal cathode plate are respectively provided with the first hydrogen shared channel, the first water shared channel and the first air shared channel connected side by side, and the front flow channel area of the metal anode plate is provided with The hydrogen flow channel, the reverse flow channel area is a flat plane, and the upper and lower ends of the metal anode plate are also arranged side by side with a second hydrogen shared channel, a second water shared channel and a second air shared channel,

The reverse side of the metal cathode plate is bonded to the reverse side of the metal anode plate to form the metal bipolar plate. At this time, the cooling water channel is sealed with the reverse side of the metal anode plate to form a cavity for the flow of cooling water. The first hydrogen shared channel, The first water sharing channel and the first air sharing channel are respectively connected to the second hydrogen sharing channel, the second water sharing channel and the second air sharing channel.

As a preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are the same, and the front and back sides of the metal cathode plate and the front side of the metal anode plate are respectively provided with regions surrounding the flow channel, the first hydrogen The common passage, the first water common passage and the first air common passage, and the sealing grooves of the second hydrogen gas common passage, the second water common passage and the second air common passage.

As a more preferred embodiment, the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are provided with through positioning holes at four ends, and when the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are bonded together, the positioning holes at corresponding positions are connected and positioned.

As a preferred embodiment, the air channel, the cooling water channel and the hydrogen channel on the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are formed by etching, and the two parts of the air channel, the cooling water channel and the hydrogen channel are The sides are wide at the top and narrow at the bottom.

As a preferred embodiment, the groove depths of the air channels, cooling water channels and hydrogen channels are above 0.4mm.

As a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the groove depth to the groove width of the air flow channel, the cooling water flow channel and the hydrogen flow channel is 0.7˜0.9:1.

As a preferred embodiment, different metal bipolar plates are stacked in series to form a fuel cell stack.

Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following advantages:

(1) By etching the air flow channel and the cooling water flow channel on the front and back of the metal cathode plate, etch the hydrogen flow channel on the front side of the metal anode plate, and do not process any flow channels on the reverse side, so that the metal cathode plate and the metal anode When the plates are laminated to form a bipolar plate, fluids such as fuel, oxidant and cooling medium can be clearly distinguished when transported on the bipolar plate, avoiding the wear and tear caused by etching multiple flow channels on the same side Risk of leakage and mixing.

(2) Sealing grooves are also provided on the periphery of the flow channel etching area of the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate, as well as the shared channel. When the metal plates are bonded to form a bipolar plate, the shape and size The sealed sealing ring can provide a relatively sealed environment for the flow channel area, and the problem of leakage and mixing of fluids such as fuel, oxidant and cooling medium is not easy to occur.

(3) The setting of the positioning holes facilitates better positioning of the stacked metal bipolar plates.

(4) Compared with the general circular or rectangular flow channel, the processing of the trapezoidal flow channel is simpler. At the same time, the trapezoidal flow channel itself has the structural characteristics of large cross-section and variable cross-section. When the fluid of the same flow channel flows through the trapezoidal flow channel When , based on the fluid flow characteristics, the internal flow velocity distribution of the fluid is more uniform, that is, the flow field is more uniform.

(5) The depth of the etched runner groove is sufficient to reduce the flow resistance of fluids such as fuel, oxidant, and cooling medium during the electrochemical reaction. At the same time, sufficient groove depth and groove width ratio can ensure that the fluid and metal cathode plate or metal The anode plate has a good contact area, etc.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the sectional schematic view of metal cathode plate of the present utility model;

Fig. 2 is the structural representation of the flow passage of metal cathode plate of the present utility model;

Fig. 3 is the front schematic diagram of metal cathode plate of the present utility model;

Fig. 4 is the reverse schematic diagram of the metal cathode plate of the present utility model;

Fig. 5 is the front schematic diagram of the metal anode plate of the present utility model;

Fig. 6 is the reverse schematic view of the metal anode plate of the present utility model;

In the figure, 1-metal cathode plate, 11-air flow channel, 111-extended section of air flow channel, 12-cooling water flow channel, 13-first sealing groove, 14-first common channel, 141-first hydrogen common channel , 142-first water shared channel, 143-first air shared channel, 15-first positioning hole, 2-metal anode plate, 21-hydrogen flow channel, 211-hydrogen flow channel extension, 22-second shared channel , 221 - the second air common channel, 222 - the second water common channel, 223 - the second hydrogen common channel, 23 - the second sealing groove, 24 - the second positioning hole.

detailed description

The utility model will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

Example

A metal bipolar plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell, comprising a metal cathode plate 1 and a metal anode plate 2, wherein the structure of the metal cathode plate 1 is shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 and Figure 4, and the metal cathode plate 1 front flows The channel area is engraved with an air flow channel 11, and the metal cathode plate 1 is engraved with a cooling water flow channel 12 in the flow channel area on the back side, and the upper and lower ends of the metal cathode plate 1 are respectively provided with first common channels 14 connected side by side, including the first hydrogen Common channel 141, the first water common channel 142 and the first air common channel 143, the structure of the metal anode plate 2 is shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, the front flow channel area of the metal anode plate 2 is provided with a hydrogen flow channel 21, the reverse side The runner area is a flat plane, and the upper and lower ends of the metal anode plate 2 are also provided side by side with a second common channel 22, including a second air common channel 221, a second water common channel 222 and a second hydrogen common channel 223. A common water channel 142 is connected to the cooling water flow channel 12, and the two ends of the air flow channel 11 pass through the metal cathode plate 1 to its reverse side, and are connected to the first air common channel 143 through the air flow channel extension section 111, and the two ends of the hydrogen flow channel 21 The end passes through the metal anode plate 2 to its opposite side, and is connected to the first hydrogen common channel 141 through the hydrogen flow channel extension 211,

The reverse side of the metal cathode plate 1 is attached to the reverse side of the metal anode plate 2 to form a metal bipolar plate. At this time, the cooling water channel 12 is sealed with the reverse side of the metal anode plate 2 to form a cavity for cooling water to flow, and the first hydrogen common channel 141, The first water sharing channel 142 and the first air sharing channel 143 are respectively connected to the second hydrogen sharing channel 223, the second water sharing channel 222 and the second air sharing channel 221, and different metal bipolar plates are stacked in series to form a fuel cell heap.

The metal cathode plate 1 and the metal anode plate 2 have the same shape and size, and the front and back sides of the metal cathode plate 1 and the front side of the metal anode plate 2 are respectively provided with surrounding flow channel areas, the first hydrogen shared channel 141, the first water shared channel 142 and the first air common passage 143, and the seal grooves of the second hydrogen common passage 223, the second water common passage 222 and the second air common passage 221 (including the first seal groove 13 and the second seal groove 23). The metal cathode plate 1 and the metal anode plate 2 are also provided with through positioning holes (including the first positioning hole 15 and the second positioning hole 24) at the four end points. When the metal cathode plate 1 and the metal anode plate 2 are bonded together, the corresponding The position of the first positioning hole 15 and the second positioning hole 24 are communicated and positioned.

The air channels on the metal cathode plate 1 and the metal anode plate 2, the cooling water flow channel 12 and the hydrogen flow channel 21 are formed by etching, and the air channel 11, the cooling water flow channel 12 and the hydrogen flow channel 21 on both sides Wide and narrow, as shown in Figure 2. The groove depths of the air passage 11, the cooling water passage 12, and the hydrogen passage 21 are 0.4 mm or more. The ratio of the groove depth to the groove width of the air flow channel 11 , the cooling water flow channel 12 and the hydrogen flow channel 21 is 0.7˜0.9:1.

After the hydrogen flows through the second hydrogen common channel 223 and the first hydrogen common channel 141, it flows through the hydrogen flow channel extension 211 on the back side of the metal cathode plate 1 to the middle area, and then passes through the hydrogen flow channel 21 on the back side of the metal anode plate 2. The small round through hole at the starting point of the flow channel enters the hydrogen flow channel 21 on the front side from the back for distribution. Air is the same.

The above description of the embodiments is for those of ordinary skill in the technical field to understand and use the utility model. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications to these embodiments, and apply the general principles described here to other embodiments without creative effort. Therefore, the utility model is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and improvements and modifications made by those skilled in the art according to the disclosure of the utility model without departing from the category of the utility model should be within the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims (7)

1. A metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell, comprising a metal cathode plate and a metal anode plate, characterized in that, the flow channel area on the front side of the metal cathode plate is engraved with an air flow channel, and the opposite side of the metal cathode plate is engraved with an air flow channel. The channel area is engraved with cooling water flow channels, and the upper and lower ends of the metal cathode plate are respectively provided with a first hydrogen shared channel, a first water shared channel and a first air shared channel connected side by side, and the metal anode plate The front flow channel area is provided with a hydrogen flow channel, and the back flow channel area is flat, and the upper and lower ends of the metal anode plate are also arranged side by side with a second hydrogen common channel, a second water common channel and a second air common channel. , The reverse side of the metal cathode plate is bonded to the reverse side of the metal anode plate to form the metal bipolar plate. At this time, the cooling water channel is sealed with the reverse side of the metal anode plate to form a cavity for the flow of cooling water. The first hydrogen shared channel, The first water sharing channel and the first air sharing channel are respectively connected to the second hydrogen sharing channel, the second water sharing channel and the second air sharing channel. 2. The metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the shape and size of the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are consistent, and the front and back sides of the metal cathode plate are And the front side of the metal anode plate is provided with respectively surrounding the flow channel area, the first hydrogen common channel, the first water common channel and the first air common channel, and the second hydrogen common channel, the second water common channel and the second common channel. Seal grooves for common air passages. 3. The metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are also provided with through positioning holes at four end points, and the metal pole plate When the cathode plate and the metal anode plate are bonded together, the positioning holes at the corresponding positions are connected and positioned. 4. A metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the air channels, cooling water channels and hydrogen flow channels on the metal cathode plate and the metal anode plate are etched It is processed, and the cross-sections of the air flow channel, cooling water flow channel and hydrogen flow channel are wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. 5 . A metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell according to claim 4 , wherein the groove depths of the air channels, cooling water channels and hydrogen channels are more than 0.4 mm. 6. The metal pole plate for a liquid flow battery or a fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the groove depth to the groove width of the air flow channel, the cooling water flow channel and the hydrogen flow channel is 0.7 ~0.9:1. 7. A metal pole plate for a flow battery or a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein different metal bipolar plates are stacked in series to form a fuel cell stack.