FUEL CELL STACK, FUEL CELL DEVICE AND FUEL CELL VEHICLE

Abstract

A fuel cell stack comprises at least one fuel cell which is accommodated in a stack module box, a plurality of media channels, having media guides which are arranged on the outside of the stack module box and are in flow connection with the media channels, and a tensioning system which is guided around the stack module box and the tensioning device of which is guided around the media guides, which are designed with a spring function. A related fuel cell device and a fuel cell vehicle are also provided.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack, comprising: at least one fuel cell which is accommodated in a stack module box, a plurality of media channels, having media guides which are arranged on the outside of the stack module box and are in flow connection with the media channels, and a tensioning system which is guided around the stack module box and a tensioning device of which is guided around the media guides, which are designed with a spring function.

2. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the spring function of at least one media guide is realized by forming it from a resilient material.

3. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the spring function of at least one of the media guides is realized by their elastically compressible shape.

4. The fuel cell stack according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the media guides is shaped as a bellows.

5. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is designed as a tensioning band.

6. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device comprises threaded rods.

7. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein gas channels are unchangeable in their cross-sectional shape under the action of the tensioning system.

8. The fuel cell stack according to claim 7, characterized in that wherein the side of the gas channel facing the tensioning device is rounded.

9. A fuel cell device having a fuel cell stack according to claim 1.

10. A fuel cell vehicle having a fuel cell device according to claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further advantages, features and details will be apparent from the claims, from the following description of embodiments as well as from the drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a cross-section through a stack module box, with the tensioning system exerting a tensioning force by means of a tensioning device.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 with an increased tensioning force compared to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] A fuel cell device comprises a fuel cell stack 1 that has a plurality of fuel cells connected in series. The fuel cell device can, for example, be part of a fuel cell vehicle not shown in more detail.

[0021] Each of the fuel cells comprises an anode and a cathode, as well as an ion-conductive membrane separating the anode from the cathode. Fuel (for example, hydrogen) is supplied by means of an anode supply line via anode compartments within the fuel cell stack 1 to the anodes from a gas pressure reservoir. Cathode gas (for example, oxygen or oxygen-containing air) may be supplied to the cathodes by means of a cathode supply line via cathode compartments within the fuel cell stack 1. The fuel cell device may moreover comprise a coolant circuit for temperature control of the fuel cell stack 1.

[0022] The fuel, the cathode gas and, if necessary, the coolant must be fed into and discharged from the fuel cell stack 1, for which purpose media guides 2 are used.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a highly simplified cross-section of a fuel cell stack 1 having a fuel cell, which is not shown in detail, accommodated in a stack module box 3, which comprises several media channels that are in flow communication with the media guides 2 arranged on the outside of the stack module box 3. A tensioning system 4 is guided around the stack module box 3, the tensioning device 5 of which tensioning system surrounds the media guides 3, which are designed with a spring function, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the spring symbols 6, which are assigned to the media guides 2.

[0024] In so doing, the spring function of at least one media guide 2 can be realized by its being made of a resilient material; alternatively or even additionally, it is possible that the spring function of at least one of the media guides 2 is realized by their elastically compressible shape, in particular, that at least one of the media guides 2 is shaped as a bellows.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows that the tensioning device 5 is designed as a tensioning band that is guided around the media guides 2 and exerts a force 7 on them. If, for example, the stack module box 3 expands due to an increase in temperature or pressure exerted on it, the tensioning force or the inward forces 7 exerted on the media guides 2 and symbolized by the arrow 7 increase, resulting in the situation shown in FIG. 2, in which the media guides 2 are resiliently pressed together. The media guides 2 thus replace a separate spring system or spring assembly while ensuring the same function.

[0026] According to an embodiment that is not shown, the tensioning device 5 may comprise threaded rods that can generate forces acting on all sides in cooperation with further struts. It should be noted that the cross-sectional shape of the gas channels 8 for the supply and discharge of the media, with respect to the stack module box 3 having its media guides 2 as distribution structure, is unchangeable under the action of the tensioning system 4 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). This ensures that the cross-section required for the pass-through of the media is always of the required size, wherein the side of the gas channel 8 facing the tensioning device 5 is rounded to enable better and more wear-friendly contact with the tensioning device 5.

[0027] German patent application no. 10 2020 119021.2, filed Jul. 17, 2020, to which this application claims priority, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0028] Aspects of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.