Bipolar plate, cell frame, cell stack, and redox flow battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018375115-A1
Application number	US-201616062478-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 12, 2016
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bipolar plate disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a redox flow battery has, in a surface of the bipolar plate facing at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, at least one groove through which an electrolyte flows. The groove has a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows. The groove has a narrow portion in which a distance between the sidewalls decreases in a depth direction of the groove, the narrow portion being provided in at least a part of the groove in the depth direction.

First claim

1 . A bipolar plate disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a redox flow battery, the bipolar plate comprising:
in a surface of the bipolar plate facing at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, at least one groove through which an electrolyte flows, wherein the groove has a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows, and the groove has a narrow portion in which a distance between the sidewalls decreases in a depth direction of the groove, the narrow portion being provided in at least a part of the groove in the depth direction.

2 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a bottom wall, and
the bottom wall has a flat surface parallel to the surface of the bipolar plate.

3 . The bipolar plate according to claim 2 , wherein an angle formed by at least one of the sidewalls and the bottom wall is 91° or more and 120° or less.

4 . The bipolar plate according to claim 2 , wherein a corner between at least one of the sidewalls and the bottom wall is formed to have a curved surface.

5 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls in the narrow portion has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the depth direction, and the inclined surface is a flat surface.

6 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls in the narrow portion has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the depth direction, and the inclined surface is a curved surface.

7 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a bottom wall, and
the bottom wall has a curved surface that protrudes in the depth direction of the groove.

8 . The bipolar plate according to claim 7 , wherein an entire surface of the sidewalls and the bottom wall is formed to have a curved surface.

9 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the sidewalls at any position of the groove in the depth direction is equal to or less than a distance between the sidewalls at a position nearer to an opening than the position.

10 . A cell frame comprising the bipolar plate according to claim 1 and a frame body disposed on an outer periphery of the bipolar plate.

11 . A cell stack comprising the cell frame according to claim 10 .

12 . A redox flow battery comprising the cell stack according to claim 11 .

Assignees

• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Kanno Takashi
• Motoi Kenji

Classifications

• H01M8/24

  Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/188

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title

• H01M8/0247 Primary

  characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) · CPC title

• H01M8/0267

  having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels · CPC title

• H01M8/0273

  with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame · CPC title