Separator plate arrangement for an electrochemical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11515603-B2
Application number	US-202117156228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Jan 23, 2020
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A separator plate arrangement for an electrochemical system, comprising a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet. The first metal sheet has a first circumferential sealing structure for sealing off an electrochemically active region, a first cutout arranged outside of the first circumferential sealing structure, and a first embossed structure arranged outside of the first circumferential sealing structure. The second metal sheet has a second circumferential sealing structure for sealing off an electrochemically active region, a second cutout arranged outside of the second circumferential sealing structure, and a second embossed structure arranged outside of the second circumferential sealing structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A separator plate arrangement for an electrochemical system, the separator plate comprising:
a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet which touch one another at least in part along the mutually facing flat sides thereof,
wherein the first metal sheet has a first circumferential sealing structure for sealing off an electrochemically active region, a first cutout arranged outside of the first circumferential sealing structure, and a first embossed structure arranged outside of the first circumferential sealing structure,
wherein the second metal sheet has a second circumferential sealing structure for sealing off an electrochemically active region, a second cutout arranged outside of the second circumferential sealing structure, and a second embossed structure arranged outside of the second circumferential sealing structure,
wherein the second embossed structure is arranged at least in part in a region of the second metal sheet that is defined by a perpendicular projection of the first cutout onto the second metal sheet, so that the second embossed structure is visible through the first cutout, and
wherein the first embossed structure is arranged at least in part in a region of the first metal sheet that is defined by a perpendicular projection of the second cutout onto the first metal sheet, so that the first embossed structure is visible through the second cutout.

2. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first cutout comprises a through-opening in the first metal sheet, and/or wherein the second cutout comprises a through-opening in the second metal sheet.

3. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first cutout extends to an outer edge of the first metal sheet, so that the outer edge of the first metal sheet delimits the first cutout at least in part, and/or wherein the second cutout extends to an outer edge of the second metal sheet, so that the outer edge of the second metal sheet delimits the second cutout at least in part.

4. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first embossed structure extends to the outer edge of the first metal sheet, and/or wherein the second embossed structure extends to the outer edge of the second metal sheet.

5. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein, in the region of the second metal sheet defined by the perpendicular projection of the first cutout onto the second metal sheet, the second metal sheet has a fourth cutout in the form of a through-opening of the second metal sheet, besides the second embossed structure, and/or
wherein, in the region of the first metal sheet defined by the perpendicular projection of the second cutout onto the first metal sheet, the first metal sheet has a third cutout in the form of a through-opening of the first metal sheet, besides the first embossed structure.

6. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the third cutout is formed at least partially or entirely inside of the first embossed structure, and/or wherein the fourth cutout is formed at least partially or entirely inside of the second embossed structure.

7. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the third cutout and a centroid and/or center point of the first embossed structure overlap, and/or wherein the fourth cutout and a centroid and/or center point of the second embossed structure overlap.

8. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the third cutout and the first embossed structure are arranged concentrically, and/or wherein the fourth cutout and the second embossed structure are arranged concentrically.

9. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a perpendicular projection of the first cutout onto a plane defined by the first metal sheet or by the second metal sheet and a perpendicular projection of the second cutout onto said plane overlap one another at least in part.

10. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first embossed structure has a symmetry with respect to a first plane of symmetry or with respect to a first axis of symmetry, wherein the first plane of symmetry or the first axis of symmetry is oriented perpendicular to a first sheet plane defined by the first metal sheet, and/or
wherein the second embossed structure has a symmetry with respect to a second plane of symmetry or with respect to a second axis of symmetry, wherein the second plane of symmetry or the second axis of symmetry is oriented perpendicular to a second sheet plane defined by the second metal sheet.

11. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein the first embossed structure has an integer or continuous rotational symmetry with respect to the first axis of symmetry, and/or wherein the second embossed structure has an integer or continuous rotational symmetry with respect to the second axis of symmetry.

12. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first metal sheet has one embossed structure extending around the first cutout or a plurality of embossed structures arranged around the first cutout, and/or
wherein the second metal sheet has one embossed structure extending around the second cutout or a plurality of embossed structures arranged around the second cutout.

13. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first metal sheet has a further cutout arranged outside of the first circumferential sealing structure and a further embossed structure arranged outside of the first circumferential sealing structure,
wherein the second metal sheet has a further cutout arranged outside of the second circumferential sealing structure and a further embossed structure arranged outside of the second circumferential sealing structure,
wherein the further embossed structure of the second metal sheet is arranged at least in part in a region of the second metal sheet that is defined by a perpendicular projection of the further cutout of the first metal sheet onto the second metal sheet, so that the further embossed structure of the second metal sheet is visible through the further cutout of the first metal sheet, and
wherein the further embossed structure of the first metal sheet is arranged at least in part in a region of the first metal sheet that is defined by a perpendicular projection of the further cutout of the second metal sheet onto the first metal sheet, so that the further embossed structure of the first metal sheet is visible through the further cutout of the second metal sheet.

14. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet each have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape with a length and a width, wherein the width is in each case smaller than or equal to the length, wherein a smallest distance of the first embossed structure from the further embossed structure of the first metal sheet is at least 80 percent of the width of the first metal sheet, and/or wherein a smallest distance of the second embossed structure from the further embossed structure of the second metal sheet is at least 80 percent of the width of the second metal sheet.

15. The separator plate arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet each have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape with a length and a width, wherein the width is in each case smaller than or equal to the length, wherein a smallest distance of the first embossed structure from the further embossed structure of the first met

Assignees

• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Kunz Claudia
• Schaefer Sebastian

Classifications

• H01M8/0297

  Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other (H01M8/0271 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/0276 Primary

  Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C25B9/75 Primary

  having bipolar electrodes · CPC title

• H01M50/406

  Moulding; Embossing; Cutting · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title