CN112117473A - A fuel cell cooling device, fuel cell and fuel cell stack - Google Patents

Abstract

Related to the technical field of heat dissipation of fuel cells, the present application discloses a heat dissipation device for fuel cells, a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack. It includes a heat-conducting member and a heat-dissipating member. The heat-conducting member is attached to the pole plate. The heat-dissipating member is located on one side of the heat-conducting member. The larger the heat transfer area of the fins in the center of the plate. Compared with the prior art, in the present application, the problem of heat concentration at the center of the pole plate can be effectively avoided, so that the closer the plurality of fins are to the center of the pole plate, the larger the heat conduction area of the fins, thereby accelerating the heat transfer to the center of the pole plate. It can effectively improve the reliability and stability of the overall performance of the fuel cell and increase the durability of the battery.

Description

A fuel cell cooling device, fuel cell and fuel cell stack

technical field

The present application relates to the technical field of heat dissipation of fuel cells, in particular, the present application discloses a fuel cell heat dissipation device, a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack.

Background technique

A fuel cell is a device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy. It has the advantages of high energy conversion rate, environmental friendliness, and low operating temperature. It is a promising clean energy technology. The fuel cell stack is composed of a plurality of single cells stacked together. A single cell contains a cathode plate, an anode plate and a membrane electrode. Due to the difference in the thermal conductivity of the cooling medium or the influence of the use environment, the heat at the contact point at the center of the bipolar plate of the fuel cell is easy to concentrate and cannot be quickly discharged, which affects the durability of the battery and the stability of the overall new energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the technical problem that heat is concentrated at the center of the electrode plate and cannot be quickly dissipated, the main purpose of this application is to provide a fuel cell that can avoid heat concentration at the center of the electrode plate and can quickly discharge the heat at the center of the electrode plate. Heat sinks, fuel cells and fuel cell stacks.

In order to realize the above-mentioned purpose of the invention, the application adopts the following technical solutions:

According to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a heat dissipation device for a fuel cell, comprising a heat conducting member and a heat dissipation member, the heat conducting member is attached to a pole plate, the heat dissipation member is located on one side of the heat conducting member, and the heat conducting member The heat of the electrode plate is conducted to the heat dissipation member, and the heat dissipation member includes a plurality of fins, and the fin closer to the center of the electrode plate among the plurality of fins has a larger heat conduction area.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the thermally conductive member is a thermally conductive sheet located between two of the pole plates.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the heat dissipation member includes a first fin group and a second fin group located on both sides of the heat conducting member.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the height of the fin closer to the center of the plurality of fins is larger.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the heat-conducting member and the heat-dissipating member are integrally formed.

According to another aspect of the present application, a fuel cell is provided, including the fuel cell heat dissipation device.

According to another aspect of the present application, a fuel cell stack is provided, including the fuel cell.

According to an embodiment of the present application, it further includes a frame and an end cap, the end cap is assembled on the top of the frame, the fuel cell heat dissipation device is assembled on the frame, the end cap is provided with a heat dissipation cavity, and the end cap is provided with a heat dissipation cavity. The heat of the electrode plate can be dissipated through the heat dissipation cavity.

According to an embodiment of the present application, one side of the frame is further provided with a fluid driving member, a third fluid channel is provided between the end cap and the electrode plate, and the fluid driving member can drive the fluid through the The heat dissipation cavity and the third fluid channel lead out the heat of the electrode plate.

According to an embodiment of the present application, a first fluid channel is disposed on the heat dissipating member facing the center of the electrode plate, and the fluid driving member can drive the fluid to conduct the heat of the electrode plate through the first fluid channel.

According to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the electrode plate is provided with a second fluid channel corresponding to the first fluid channel, and the fluid driving member can drive the fluid to lead out the fluid through the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. Plate heat.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the end cap includes radial ribs and circular ribs, and a plurality of heat dissipation cavities are spaced between the radial ribs and the circular ribs.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the radial ribs and the circular ribs are fin structures with a set height.

As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the advantages and positive effects of a fuel cell heat sink, a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack of the present application are:

In the present application, a heat-conducting member is arranged between the pole plates, and a heat-dissipating member is arranged on one side of the heat-conducting member, so that the heat of the pole plate can be conducted to the heat-dissipating member through the heat-conducting member, and further , the heat sink includes a plurality of fins, and the heat conduction area of the fins in the plurality of fins that are closer to the center of the pole plate is larger, which can effectively increase the heat dissipation performance of the center position of the pole plate and prevent extreme The problem of heat concentration at the center of the plate can improve the stability and reliability of the overall performance of the fuel cell, and improve the durability of the fuel cell.

Description of drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. In other words, on the premise of no creative labor, other drawings can also be obtained from these drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fuel cell stack according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial structural schematic diagram of a fuel cell stack according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of a fuel cell heat dissipation device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an end cover in a heat dissipation device of a fuel cell according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an end cover in a heat dissipation device of a fuel cell according to an exemplary embodiment.

Among them, the reference numerals are described as follows:

1. Frame; 2. Electrode plate; 201, Center position; 202, Second fluid channel; 3. Heat conduction member; 4, End cover; 401, Heat dissipation cavity; 402, Radial rib; A fin group; 501, a first fluid channel; 6, a fluid driving member; 7, a second fin group; 8, a third fluid channel; 9, a fin.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments It is a part of the embodiments of this application, but not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

In the prior art, a single fuel cell has a cathode plate and an anode plate. The anode plate is fed with hydrogen as fuel, and the cathode plate is fed with air as an oxidant. When the load is connected, the hydrogen and oxygen react to generate electricity. Among them, the bipolar plate is the core component of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which has many important functions such as collecting conduction current, supporting the membrane electrode, uniformly transporting and isolating the reaction gas, circulating the cooling liquid, and rapidly dissipating heat. properties affect fuel cell performance and durability. At the same time, due to the difference in the thermal conductivity of the cooling medium, for example, the heat dissipation capability of the air-cooled fuel cell is much weaker than that of the water-cooled fuel cell; in addition, the heat in the central area or the central position 201 of the fuel cell bipolar plate is easy to accumulate, and the problem of thermal energy cannot be quickly eliminated. , which restricts the durability of the fuel cell and the stability of the overall performance. Therefore, the present application proposes a heat dissipation device for a fuel cell, and in view of the problem that heat is accumulated at the center position 201 of the electrode plate 2 and cannot be quickly discharged, it is proposed that one side of the electrode plate 2 is attached to the heat-conducting member 3, so that the electrode plate 2 can be removed. The heat is evenly conducted into the heat-conducting member 3. In order to further enhance the heat dissipation performance of the pole plate 2, a heat-dissipating member is provided on one side of the heat-conducting member 3, so that the heat can be quickly discharged through the heat-dissipating member. Each of the fins 9 is used to discharge the heat at the central position 201 of the electrode plate 2 or the central heat-generating area of the electrode plate 2 as soon as possible, and to further enhance the heat discharge at the central position 201 , the plurality of the fins 9 in the present application are more The thermal conduction area of the fins 9 near the center position 201 is larger.

Referring to FIG. 3 , those skilled in the art should understand that the central position 201 of the polar plate 2 can also be defined as an area where heat is concentrated, and the temperature near the central position 201 is greater than the temperature at the surrounding positions, Since the peripheral position of the electrode plate 2 can be quickly discharged or exchanged by heat conduction or heat exchange, for the heat exchange at the central position 201, the heat conduction area of the plurality of fins 9 relative to the central position 201 can be adjusted. As an example, The heat conduction area of the plurality of fins 9 can be gradually reduced from the center position 201 to the peripheral position. Those skilled in the art can adjust the relative size of the fins 9 according to the actual situation, and then adjust the heat sink for different The heat dissipation coefficient at the regional location, that is, to increase the heat dissipation coefficient of the temperature-concentrated area, relatively reduce the heat dissipation coefficient of the lower temperature area, which can save materials and reduce heat dissipation costs while improving the heat dissipation effect.

As an example, the heat dissipation member can be arranged on the periphery of the thermally conductive member 3 , and at the same time a plurality of the fins 9 can be extended to the central position 201 . The gap between the pole plates 2 is set, and the extension length of the fins 9 relative to the center position 201 of the pole plate 2 is set, so that a plurality of the fins 9 are connected to the heat conduction member 3 and the pole plate 2. The surfaces are in contact with each other, thereby increasing the heat conduction area of the fins 9 and improving the heat dissipation rate.

As an example, the relative height of the fins 9 relative to the pole plate 2 or the heat-conducting member 3 can be adjusted to adjust the heat dissipation effect of the heat-dissipating member in different regions. Preferably, the cross-sections of a plurality of the fins 9 can be provided with a slope structure, so that the height of the fins 9 gradually decreases from the central position 201 to the edge region of the heat-conducting member 3 , and the central position of the pole plate 2 decreases. The heat of 201 can be extended and transferred to the periphery of the heat-conducting member 3 and then discharged, avoiding a large amount of heat accumulation at the center position 201 of the electrode plate 2, which can increase the heat dissipation effect of the electrode plate 2 at the center position 201, thereby improving the overall performance of the fuel cell. Durability.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 , according to an aspect of the present application, a fuel cell heat dissipation device is provided, including a heat conducting member 3 and a heat dissipation member. The heat-conducting member 3 conducts the heat of the electrode plate 2 to the heat-dissipating member, the heat-dissipating member includes a plurality of fins 9, and the fins 9 are closer to the center of the electrode plate 2. The larger the heat conduction area of the fins 9 of 201 is.

Further, the temperature of the central position 201 of the pole plate 2 is greater than the temperature of the non-central position 201, and the heat conduction area of the plurality of fins 9 can gradually extend and gradually decrease around the central position 201, thereby strengthening the poles. The heat dissipation performance of the center position 201 of the board 2 spreads the heat at the center position 201 to the surrounding.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the heat-conducting member 3 is a heat-conducting sheet located between the two electrode plates 2 . It should be understood that the fuel cells all have two pole plates 2, a cathode plate and an anode plate. As an example, the thermally conductive member 3 can be sandwiched between the two substrates and configured as a thermally conductive sheet structure, thereby enhancing the For the contact area with the pole piece, preferably, the pole plate 2 can be attached to the surface of the heat-conducting member 3 , and the heat-dissipating member can be arranged around the heat-conducting member 3 .

Preferably, the thickness of the fins 9 can be controlled within 2mm, the width of each fin 9 is between 1-2.5mm, and the maximum height of the fins 9 at the center position 201 is controlled to be less than 30mm. The material of the heat-conducting member 3 is copper, aluminum, titanium, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel or nickel-based alloy, and can be bonded together with the pole plate 2 by welding, which can effectively increase the heat dissipation effect on the one hand, and on the other hand. , can also be conductive.

Those skilled in the art can select a material with high conductivity to coat the surface of the heat sink to improve the conductivity of the heat sink under the condition of efficient heat dissipation without affecting the conductivity of the battery according to the actual use situation.

As an example, a coating can also be provided on the surface of the thermally conductive member 3, and the coating material is a conductive polymer coating such as carbon, graphite, polyaniline or polypyrrole; gold, niobium, silver, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, etc. Rare and precious metal coatings, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, chromium nitride, chromium carbide and other metal nitrides or metal carbides, can also be plated with tin oxide, ruthenium oxide, lead oxide, iridium oxide and other metal oxide coatings, etc., Further, the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of the thermally conductive member 3 are increased. Those skilled in the art can adjust the material of the coating layer according to the actual usage.

Referring to the fuel cell shown in FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the present application, the heat dissipation member includes a first fin group 5 and a second fin group 7 located on both sides of the heat conducting member 3 . A heat sink can be arranged around the center position 201 , and the plurality of fins 9 of the heat sink can be arranged on both sides of the heat conduction member 3 to further enhance the heat dissipation performance of the center position 201 of the pole plate 2 .

According to an embodiment of the present application, the heat-conducting member 3 and the heat-dissipating member are integrally formed. Preferably, those skilled in the art can adjust the shape of the heat-conducting member 3, and arrange the plurality of fins 9 of the heat-dissipating member on the periphery of the heat-conducting member 3, so that the plurality of fins 9 are connected with the heat-conducting member 3. The heat-conducting member 3 is arranged between the pole plates 2 at an angle. Further, the heat on the surface of the heat conducting member 3 can be directly conducted to the surface of the fins 9, so as to improve the heat conduction efficiency, and also improve the heat dissipation effect of the entire fuel cell heat dissipation device.

Preferably, the cross-sections of the plurality of fins 9 are elliptical, the center height is the highest, and gradually decreases to the edge position of the heat conducting member 3 layer by layer, so as to ensure the maximum heat dissipation and heat transfer efficiency in the center of the pole plate 2 .

According to another aspect of the present application, a fuel cell is provided, including the fuel cell heat dissipation device.

Referring to FIG. 1 , according to another aspect of the present application, a fuel cell stack is provided, including a plurality of the fuel cells.

Those skilled in the art can stack and assemble a plurality of the fuel cells to meet the actual use requirements. The number of stacked single fuel cells is not specifically limited in this application, and those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to actual use conditions.

According to an embodiment of the present application, it further includes a frame 1 and an end cap 4, the end cap 4 is assembled on the top of the frame 1, the fuel cell heat sink is assembled on the frame 1, and the end cap 4 is provided There is a heat dissipation cavity 401 , and the heat of the electrode plate 2 can be dissipated through the heat dissipation cavity 401 .

As an example, the fuel cell heat dissipation device and the two electrode plates 2 may preferably be fixedly assembled together, and in actual use, a plurality of the fuel cell heat dissipation device may be fixed on the frame 1, thereby improving the overall performance of the fuel cell heat dissipation device. the assembly efficiency of the fuel cell.

Preferably, in order to facilitate the heat dissipation performance of a plurality of the fuel cells, a certain interval distance can be set between each layer of the fuel cells according to the actual use conditions, so that each of the fuel cells has good heat dissipation performance .

It should be understood that the fuel cell is disposed between the end cap 4 and the frame 1, and those skilled in the art can also provide two end caps 4 structures, so that a plurality of the fuel cells are disposed in the fuel cell The battery is between the two end caps 4 .

The end cover 4 can also be provided with a heat-conducting metal plate structure, which can further improve the heat dissipation effect of the fuel cell stack.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , further, a plurality of heat dissipation cavities 401 can be provided in the end cover 4 , and then the heat of the electrode plate 2 can be quickly dissipated through the heat dissipation cavities 401 , so that the fuel inside the frame 1 can be quickly dissipated. The battery can dissipate heat in contact with the external fluid through the heat dissipation cavity 401 .

According to an embodiment of the present application, one side of the frame 1 is further provided with a fluid driving member 6 , and a third fluid channel 8 is provided between the end cover 4 and the electrode plate 2 , and the fluid driving member 6. The drivable fluid conducts the heat of the electrode plate 2 through the heat dissipation cavity 401 and the third fluid channel 8.

Preferably, a plurality of the fins 9 can be arranged to extend in the same direction, and the fluid drive will be arranged in the extending direction of the fins 9, thereby accelerating the rapid discharge of part of the heat from the heat sink. Those skilled in the art can design the width of the third fluid channel 8 according to the actual situation, so that the heat dissipation cavity 401 is used as the inlet direction, and the position of the fluid driving member 6 is used as the fluid outlet, so that the fluid can be dissipated through heat dissipation. The cavity 401 and the third fluid channel 8 can be pulled out from the position of the fluid driving member 6. Those skilled in the art can use the heat dissipation cavity 401 as the outlet of the fluid according to the actual use, and make the fluid drive the position of the fluid. As the fluid inlet, the heat of the electrode plate 2 in the frame 1 can also be discharged through the third fluid channel 8 and the heat dissipation cavity 401 .

According to an embodiment of the present application, a first fluid channel 501 is provided on the heat sink facing the central position 201 of the electrode plate 2 , and the fluid driving member 6 can drive the fluid to lead out of the electrode plate through the first fluid channel 501 2 calories.

Preferably, a plurality of the fins 9 can be extended along the same angle and direction, and the fluid flow speed in the first fluid channel 501 can be accelerated by the fluid driving member 6, and the center of the pole piece can be increased. Heat dissipation efficiency at location 201.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the electrode plate 2 is provided with a second fluid channel 202 corresponding to the first fluid channel 501 , and the fluid driving member 6 can drive fluid through the first fluid channel 501 and the second fluid channel 501 . The fluid channel 202 conducts heat from the plate 2 .

It should be understood that there are certain gaps between the pole plate 2 and the heat conducting member 3, and a second fluid channel 202 is formed in these gaps, and a plurality of the fins 9 can be extended to the second fluid channel In 202 , on the one hand, the contact area between the fins 9 and the central position 201 can be increased, and on the other hand, the fluid flow of the fluid driving element 6 can further improve the heat dissipation performance of the central position 201 .

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , according to an embodiment of the present application, the end cap 4 includes radial ribs 402 and circular ribs 403 , and the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403 are spaced by a plurality of heat dissipation Cavity 401.

As an example, the side of the end cover 4 in contact with the outside world is designed as a circular grille, and the grille acts as a fin 9 to exchange the heat conducted by the metal support column from the bipolar plate with the outside world. The annular grid structure is made to correspond to the reaction flow field area at the center position 201 of the pole plate 2, so that the battery can evenly spread out the tightening force from the middle to the outer ring during assembly, so that the stacking force is more uniform.

The design of the hollow end cap 4 composed of the heat dissipation cavity 401 , the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403 reduces the overall weight of the battery and improves the power density of the battery.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the radial ribs 402 and the circular ribs 403 are fins 9 with a set height. Preferably, the horizontal width of the radial rib 402 and the circular rib 403 covering the fuel cell can be between 1-2.5 mm, and the height extending toward the fuel cell can be between 3-10 mm, so that each The radius of the circular rib 403 differs by 30-100 mm, thereby ensuring that the end cover 4 has a good heat dissipation effect and also enables the fuel cell stack to have a more uniform stacking force.

It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply these Any such actual relationship or sequence exists between entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprising", "comprising" or any other variation thereof are intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article or device that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements, but also includes not explicitly listed or other elements inherent to such a process, method, article or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element qualified by the phrase "comprising a..." does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in a process, method, article or apparatus that includes the element.

The above descriptions are only specific embodiments of the present invention, so that those skilled in the art can understand or implement the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims (13)

1. The fuel cell heat dissipation device is characterized by comprising a heat conduction piece (3) and a heat dissipation piece (5), wherein the heat conduction piece (3) is attached to a polar plate (2), the heat dissipation piece (5) is located on one side of the heat conduction piece (3), the heat of the polar plate (2) is conducted to the heat dissipation piece (5) through the heat conduction piece (3), the heat dissipation piece (5) comprises a plurality of fins (9), and the heat conduction area of the fins (9) which are closer to the central position (201) of the polar plate (2) in the plurality of fins (9) is larger.

2. The fuel cell heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting member (3) is a heat-conducting sheet located between the two electrode plates (2).

3. The fuel cell heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink (5) includes a first fin group (5) and a second fin group (7) on both sides of the heat-conducting member (3).

4. The fuel cell heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the height of the plurality of fins (9) increases as the fins (9) approach the center position (201).

5. The fuel cell heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting member (3) and the heat sink (5) are of an integrally molded structure.

6. A fuel cell comprising the fuel cell heat sink according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A fuel cell stack comprising the fuel cell of claim 6.

8. The fuel cell stack according to claim 7, further comprising a frame (1) and an end cap (4), wherein the end cap (4) is mounted on the top of the frame (1), the fuel cell heat sink is mounted on the frame (1), the end cap (4) is provided with a heat dissipation cavity (401), and the heat of the polar plate (2) can be conducted out through the heat dissipation cavity (401).

9. The fuel cell stack of claim 8, characterized in that a fluid driving member (6) is further disposed on one side of the frame (1), a third fluid channel (8) is disposed between the end cap (4) and the plate (2), and the fluid driving member (6) can drive a fluid to conduct heat of the plate (2) through the heat dissipation chamber (401) and the third fluid channel (8).

10. The fuel cell stack according to claim 9, wherein the heat sink (5) is provided with a first fluid passage (501) facing the central position (201) of the plate (2), and the fluid driver (6) drives the fluid to conduct the heat of the plate (2) through the first fluid passage (501).

11. The fuel cell stack of claim 10, characterized in that the plate (2) is provided with a second fluid channel (202) corresponding to the first fluid channel (501), and the fluid driving member (6) can drive the fluid to conduct the heat of the plate (2) out through the first fluid channel (501) and the second fluid channel (202).

12. The fuel cell stack of claim 8, wherein the end cap (4) includes radial ribs (402) and circular ribs (403), the radial ribs (402) and the circular ribs (403) being spaced apart by a plurality of heat dissipation cavities (401).

13. The fuel cell stack according to claim 12, wherein the radial ribs (402) and the circular ribs (403) are a fin (9) structure having a set height.

Images