Distribution structure for providing at least one reaction gas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021075028-A1
Application number	US-201816634219-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Jul 26, 2017
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

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

1 . A distribution structure ( 10 ) for supplying at least one reaction gas for a fuel cell ( 100 ) or an electrolyzer, the distribution structure comprising
a first structural element ( 11 ) and a second structural element ( 12 ), wherein the first structural element ( 11 ) and the second structural element ( 12 ) are configured and arranged relative to one another in such a way that a distribution area ( 15 ) for the reaction gas is formed between the first structural element ( 11 ) and the second structural element ( 12 ), wherein a plurality of feed channels ( 16 ) which are oriented essentially perpendicular to the distribution area ( 15 ) are branched off from the distribution area ( 15 ), and wherein a plurality of discharge channels ( 17 ) which are oriented parallel to the distribution area ( 15 ) are formed underneath the second structural element ( 12 ).

2 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the first structural element ( 11 ) is configured in the form of a flat plate element.

3 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second structural element ( 12 ) 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 ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that at least one electrically conductive connecting element ( 13 ) is provided between the first structural element ( 11 ) and the second structural element ( 12 ).

5 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the second structural element ( 12 ) has a dimpled and/or grooved structure in order to produce an alternating contact area ( 12 a ) to a gas diffusion layer (GDL) at the bottom ( 16 a ) of the feed channels ( 16 ).

6 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the feed channels ( 16 ) are formed on a first side ( 12 . 1 ) of the second structural element ( 12 ) which faces the first structural element ( 11 ),
wherein the discharge channels ( 17 ) are formed on a second side ( 12 . 2 ) of the second structural element ( 12 ) which is configured to face a gas diffusion layer (GDL).

7 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one hole ( 14 ) configured to have the reaction gas introduced therethrough essentially perpendicular to an extension plane of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the gas diffusion layer (GDL), wherein the at least one hole ( 14 ) is formed in the second structural element ( 12 ) at the bottom ( 16 a ) of the feed channels ( 16 ).

8 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the feed channels ( 16 ) have an increasing cross-sectional area in the direction (F 1 ) of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area ( 15 ).

9 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, from one of the feed channels ( 16 ) to an other of the feed channels ( 16 ), a number of holes which is variable or increases in the direction (F 1 ) of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area ( 15 ) is formed on the bottom ( 16 a ) of the feed channels ( 16 ).

10 . A fuel cell ( 100 ) comprising
an anode space (A) and a cathode space (K), and a distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas mixture (O2) to the cathode space (K).

11 . An electrolyzer comprising
an anode space (A) and a cathode space (K), and a distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas mixture (O2) to the cathode space (K).

12 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reaction gas is an oxygen-containing gas mixture (O2)

13 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that at least one electrically conductive, column-like connecting element ( 13 ) is provided between the first structural element ( 11 ) and the second structural element ( 12 ).

14 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that, from one of the feed channels ( 16 ) to an other of the feed channels ( 16 ), a plurality of holes which have different cross-sectional areas or cross-sectional areas which become larger in the direction (F 1 ) of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area ( 15 ) are formed on the bottom ( 16 a ) of the feed channels ( 16 ).

15 . The distribution structure ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that, from the one of the feed channels ( 16 ) to the other of the feed channels ( 16 ), a number of holes which is variable or increases in the direction (F 1 ) of an introduction of reaction gas through the distribution area ( 15 ) is formed on the bottom ( 16 a ) of the feed channels ( 16 ).

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