Activation apparatus of fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9985298-B2
Application number	US-201514799474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Dec 8, 2014
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

An activation apparatus of fuel cell stacks, which automatically performs activation and performance evaluation processes on the fuel cell stacks when the fuel cell stacks have entered a frame, includes i) a connector connection assembly configured to connect a plurality of connector probes to cell terminals of the fuel cell stack, ii) an output cable connection assembly configured to connect positive (+) output cables to the first side of the fuel cell stack, and iii) a fluid supply pipe connection assembly configured to connect negative (−) output cables to the second side of the fuel cell stack and to connect a fluid supply pipe to the manifold of the fuel cell stack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An activation apparatus of fuel cell stacks for automatically performing activation and performance evaluation processes on the fuel cell stacks in a state in which the fuel cell stacks have entered a frame, the activation apparatus comprising:
a connector connection assembly installed in the frame in an electric-powered manner to reciprocate in an entry direction of the fuel cell stack and configured to connect a plurality of connector probes to cell terminals of the fuel cell stack;
an output cable connection assembly installed in the frame in an electric-powered manner to reciprocate in a direction lateral to a first side of the fuel cell stack and configured to connect positive (+) output cables to the first side of the fuel cell stack; and
a fluid supply pipe connection assembly installed in the frame in an electric-powered manner to reciprocate in a direction lateral to a second side of the fuel cell stack and configured to connect negative (−) output cables to the second side of the fuel cell stack and to connect a fluid supply pipe to a manifold of the fuel cell stack, wherein
cell voltage measurement equipment and the cell terminals of the fuel cell stack are automatically connected by the connector connection assembly;
output cables of electronic load equipment are automatically connected to output terminals of the fuel cell stack through the output cable connection assembly and the fluid supply pipe connection assembly; and
the fluid supply pipe of fluid supply equipment is automatically connected to the manifold of the fuel cell stack through the fluid supply pipe connection assembly.

2. The activation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the activation and performance evaluation processes are automatically performed on at least two fuel cell stacks disposed in at least two channels after the fuel cell stacks are transferred through a carrier and an external appearance test is performed on the fuel cell stacks.

3. The activation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of the activation apparatuses are spaced apart from each other with a transfer path of the fuel cell stacks interposed between the activation apparatuses.

4. The activation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
hydrogen and air are supplied to unit cells of the fuel cell stack through the fluid supply pipe;
electrical energy generated by the unit cells is applied to the electronic load equipment through the output cable; and
cell voltages of the unit cells applied to the electronic load equipment are measured by the cell voltage measurement equipment.

5. The activation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector connection assembly comprises:
a first movable body installed in the frame to reciprocate in the entry direction of the fuel cell stack through a first actuator;
a proximity sensor installed in the frame and configured to limit a movement location of the first movable body;
a terminal guide installed in the first movable body to reciprocate with respect to the cell terminals of the fuel cell stack and configured to support the cell terminals; and
a connection unit configured to comprise connector probes connected to the cell terminals arranged in the terminal guide and installed in the first movable body to reciprocate.

6. The activation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the terminal guide comprises a guide block installed in the first movable body to be reciprocated by a second actuator in the entry direction of the fuel cell stack;
“V”-shaped grooves for supporting the cell terminals are formed in the guide block; and
insertion grooves into which the cell terminals are respectively inserted are formed in the support grooves.

7. The activation apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the guide block is installed in a connection stage of the second actuator to move through the first guide bar;
a buffer spring for buffering support pressure on the cell terminals is installed in the first guide bar between the guide block and the connection stage of the second actuator; and
a first rod cell for detecting a contact with the connection stage of the second actuator is installed in the guide block.

8. The activation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the connection unit comprises a probe block installed in the first movable body to reciprocate up and down through a third actuator;
the connector probes brought in contact with the cell terminals are consecutively arranged in the probe block, the probe block comprises mounting holes each having a greater inside diameter than an outside diameter of the connector probe, and a pair of fixed plates for supporting each of the connector probes are installed in the probe block through the mounting hole; and
a ring member is fixedly installed in the connector probe, wherein the ring member is spaced apart from the fixed plates at a specific interval and disposed between the fixed plates.

9. The activation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each of the connector probes comprises:
an outer shell member installed in the probe block;
a probe pin installed within the outer shell member in such a way so as to move up and down;
a return spring installed in the outer shell member and configured to apply an elastic force to the probe pin; and
a connector head installed in the probe pin and configured to come in contact with each of the cell terminals and to have a “V”-shaped head groove supporting the cell terminal.

10. The activation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output cable connection assembly comprises:
a second movable body installed in the frame to reciprocate in the direction lateral to the side face on the first side of the fuel cell stack direction through a fourth actuator; and
a pair of first connection terminal sets elastically installed in the second movable body and connected to positive (+) output terminals of the fuel cell stack.

11. The activation apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a pair of attachments for supporting the side face on the first side of the fuel cell stack are installed in the second movable body.

12. The activation apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the first connection terminal sets comprises:
a first cable connection member fixedly installed in the second movable body and connected to electronic load equipment through the positive (+) output cables;
a first terminal rod protruded from an inside of the first cable connection member to an outside, installed to move in the direction lateral to the side face on the first side of the fuel cell stack, and configured to have a first connection terminal installed at the protruded end of the first terminal rod; and
a first spring installed within the first cable connection member and configured to apply an elastic force to the first terminal rod.

13. The activation apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first connection terminal is inserted into each of terminal holes provided in a side face on the first side of the fuel cell stack and configured to form an outer circumference of a tapered shape.

14. The activation apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the fourth actuator comprises an actuation cylinder connected to the second movable body.

15. The activation apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:
the second movable body is installed in the frame to reciprocate through a pair of second guide bars; and
the pair of second guide bars are inserted into a pair of first support blocks provided in the frame and configured to guide a movement of the second movable body.

16. The activation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply pipe connection assembly comprises:
a third movab

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Junhong

Classifications

• H01M8/043

  applied during specific periods · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/04753

  of fuel cell reactants · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04679

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title