Distribution structure for providing at least one reaction gas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11228045-B2
Application number	US-201816634219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Jul 26, 2017
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a distribution structure (10) for providing at least one reaction gas, in particular a gas mixture containing oxygen (O2), for a fuel cell (100) or an electrolyser, having a first structure element (11) and a second structure element (12), wherein the first structure element (11) and the second structure element (12) are designed and arranged with respect to one another such that: a distribution area (15) for the reaction gas is formed between the first structure element (11) and the second structure element (12); a plurality of feed channels (16) branch off from the distribution area (15) and are orientated substantially perpendicular to the distribution area (15); and a plurality of discharge channels (17) are formed below the second structure element (12) and are orientated parallel to the distribution area (15).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A distribution structure for supplying at least one reaction gas for a fuel cell or an electrolyzer, the distribution structure comprising
a first structural element and a second structural element, wherein the first structural element and the second structural element are configured and arranged relative to one another in such a way that a distribution area for the reaction gas is formed between the first structural element and the second structural element,
wherein a plurality of feed channels which are oriented essentially perpendicular to the distribution area are branched off from the distribution area, and
wherein a plurality of discharge channels which are oriented parallel to the distribution area are formed underneath the second structural element,
wherein the plurality of feed channels and the plurality of discharge channels are alternately arranged.

2. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the first structural element is configured in the form of a flat plate element.

3. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second structural element is configured in the form of a plate element which is embossed and/or stamped and/or perforated at least in regions.

4. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that at least one electrically conductive connecting element is provided between the first structural element and the second structural element.

5. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second structural element has a dimpled and/or grooved structure in order to produce an alternating contact area to a gas diffusion layer at the bottom of the feed channels.

6. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the feed channels are formed on a first side of the second structural element which faces the first structural element,
wherein the discharge channels are formed on a second side of the second structural element which is configured to face a gas diffusion layer.

7. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one hole configured to have the reaction gas introduced therethrough essentially perpendicular to an extension plane of a gas diffusion layer into the gas diffusion layer, wherein the at least one hole is formed in the second structural element at the bottom of the feed channels.

8. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the feed channels have an increasing cross-sectional area in a direction of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area.

9. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, from one of the feed channels to an other of the feed channels, a number of holes which is variable or increases in a direction of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area is formed on the bottom of the feed channels.

10. A fuel cell comprising
an anode space and a cathode space, and
a distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas mixture to the cathode space.

11. An electrolyzer comprising
an anode space and a cathode space, and
a distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas mixture to the cathode space.

12. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reaction gas is an oxygen-containing gas mixture.

13. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that at least one electrically conductive, column-like connecting element is provided between the first structural element and the second structural element.

14. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, from one of the feed channels to an other of the feed channels, a plurality of holes which have different cross-sectional areas or cross-sectional areas which become larger in a direction of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area are formed on the bottom of the feed channels.

15. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that, from the one of the feed channels to the other of the feed channels, a number of holes which is variable or increases in the direction of the introduction of the reaction gas through the distribution area is formed on the bottom of the feed channels.

16. The distribution structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein introduction of the at least one reaction gas defines a first direction, wherein the discharge channels are oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the distribution area extends in the first direction and in the second direction and is parallel to the first structural element.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Kemmer Helerson
• Ohs Jan Hendrik
• Weeber Kai
• Schoenbauer Stefan
• Berner Ulrich

Classifications

• H01M8/04082

  Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration · CPC title

• C25B11/00

  Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H01M8/006

  Flat · CPC title

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title