Bipolar plate with stiffening structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022131162-A1
Application number	US-202117452369-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2021
Priority date	Oct 27, 2020
Publication date	Apr 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bipolar plate for an electrochemical system. The bipolar plate comprising a first individual plate and a second individual plate which are joined together. Each individual plate comprising: an electrochemically active region, an outer edge, and a perimeter sealing element. The outer edge region spans between the edge of the perimeter sealing element and the outer edge. Some emobidments of the outer edges protrude out of a plate plane defined by the bipolar plate. A plurality of stiffening structures stiffening the outer edge region of the bipolar plate.

First claim

1 . A bipolar plate for an electrochemical system, the bipolar plate comprising a first individual plate and a second individual plate which are joined together, each individual plate comprising:
an electrochemically active region, an outer edge which laterally delimits the respective individual plate, a perimeter sealing element, surrounding the electrochemically active region and running at least in regions along the outer edge, for sealing off the electrochemically active region, an outer edge region spans between the edge of the perimeter sealing element facing the outer edge and the outer edge, wherein in at least one of the individual plates the outer edge protrudes out of a plate plane defined by the bipolar plate, at least in regions, wherein at least one of the individual plates has a plurality of stiffening structures in order to stiffen the outer edge region of the bipolar plate.

2 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the stiffening structures of the one or both individual plate(s) are arranged between the outer edge and the perimeter sealing element of the respective individual plate.

3 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the outer edge regions of the individual plates lie flat against one another and contact one another, at least in portions.

4 . The bipolar plate according to claim 3 , wherein the individual plates are joined together in the outer edge region of the bipolar plate by bonding.

5 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the outer edges of the individual plates spread outward to be spaced apart from one another.

6 . The bipolar plate according to claim 5 , wherein stiffening structures of the first plate face away from respective stiffening structures of the second plate.

7 . The bipolar plate according to claim 6 , wherein the stiffening structures which face away from each other have different shapes.

8 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the outer edges of the individual plates are offset in the same direction with respect to the plate plane of the bipolar plate.

9 . The bipolar plate according to claim 8 , wherein stiffening structures of the first plate face respective stiffening structures of the second plate.

10 . The bipolar plate according to claim 9 , wherein the stiffening structures of the first individual plate facing the stiffening structures of the second plate and the corresponding stiffening structures of the second individual plate are differently shaped.

11 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the stiffening structures are formed integrally with the respective individual plate.

12 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the stiffening structures comprise protrusions which point away from the outer edge and/or point in the direction of the perimeter sealing element.

13 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the stiffening structures each have a height, measured from the plate plane of the bipolar plate, which is less or greater than a height of the outer edge.

14 . The bipolar plate according to claim 13 , wherein the height of the stiffening structures and/or the height of the outer edge is/are at most as great as a height of the perimeter sealing element.

15 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the stiffening structures of the respective individual plate, at least in portions, are arranged periodically along the outer edge, such that adjacent stiffening structures of the respective individual plate in the portion in question are at the same distance from each other.

16 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter sealing element of the respective individual plate has a periodic course, at least in portions.

17 . The bipolar plate according to claim 16 , wherein the periodic course has at least two wave periods with convex and concave portions which merge into one another at an inflection point, and
each of the stiffening structures faces the concave portions of the perimeter sealing element.

18 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein the individual plates each comprise at least one corner region, wherein at least one further stiffening structure is provided in the corner region of at least one individual plate.

19 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein each stiffening structure of the first individual plate is associated with one of the stiffening structures of the second individual plate.

20 . An electrochemical system, comprising a plurality of stacked bipolar plates according claim 1 , wherein electrochemical cells are formed between adjacent bipolar plates.

Assignees

• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Kunz Claudia
• Glueck Rainer
• Buntz Werner
• Schaefer Sebastian

Classifications

• H01M8/0258

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/0202 Primary

  Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors · CPC title

• H01M8/0276

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

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M2004/8694

  Bipolar electrodes · CPC title