Separator for fuel cell and fuel cell using the same

Abstract

A separator for a fuel cell having a flow channel including a transverse channel and a longitudinal channel formed therein, the transverse channel having a pair of opposed side walls, and a first pattern and a second pattern alternately spaced and arranged in the transverse channel is provided. Each of the first pattern and the second pattern is a column-shaped three-dimensional structure having a polygonal transverse section. The first pattern and the second pattern are arranged in the transverse channel so as to have a shape of the transverse sections being rotated 180° relative to each other. First spacing distances from each of the first pattern and the second pattern to a first side wall of the pair of opposed side walls of the transverse channel are different.

Claims

1. A separator for a fuel cell comprising: a flow channel including a transverse channel and a longitudinal channel formed therein, the transverse channel having a pair of opposed side walls; and a first pattern and a second pattern alternately spaced and arranged in a single row in the transverse channel between the pair of opposed side walls, wherein the pair of opposed side walls of the transverse channel are parallel, wherein each of the first pattern and the second pattern is a column-shaped three-dimensional structure having a polygonal transverse section, wherein the polygonal transverse section has at least one internal angle that is greater or less than 90°, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are arranged in the transverse channel so as to have a shape of the transverse sections being rotated 180° relative to each other, wherein first spacing distances from each of the first pattern and the second pattern to a first side wall of the pair of opposed side walls of the transverse channel are different, wherein second spacing distances from each of the first pattern and the second pattern to a second side wall of the pair of opposed side walls of the transverse channel are different, wherein the first spacing distances and the second spacing distances of the first pattern are different from each other, wherein the first spacing distances and the second spacing distances of the second pattern are different from each other, and wherein the polygonal transverse section is a trapezoid.

2. The separator for a fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the flow channel is one or more types selected from among a serpentine-type, an interdigitated-type and a parallel-type.

3. A fuel cell comprising the separator for a fuel cell of claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to an existing technology.

(2) FIG. 2 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a mimetic diagram illustrating forms of a flow channel that may be formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a mimetic diagram illustrating an arranged form of a pattern inside a transverse channel of a flow channel in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator according to Example 1, and shows a perspective view of the separator for a fuel cell (a) and a mimetic diagram of the flow channel (b) when first and second patterns have a column shape having a trapezoidal transverse section.

(6) FIG. 6 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator according to Example 2, and shows a perspective view of the separator for a fuel cell (a) and a mimetic diagram of the flow channel (b) when first and second patterns have a column shape having a triangular transverse section.

(7) FIG. 7 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator according to Example 3, and shows a perspective view of the separator for a fuel cell (a) and a mimetic diagram of the flow channel (b) when first and second patterns have a column shape having a parallelogrammic transverse section.

(8) FIG. 8 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator according to Comparative Example 1.

(9) FIG. 9 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator according to Comparative Example 2.

(10) FIGS. 10a to 10c show CFD analysis results on a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to Example 1.

(11) FIGS. 11a and 11b show computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis results on a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to Example 2.

(12) FIGS. 12a and 12b show CFD analysis results on a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to Example 3.

(13) FIG. 13 shows CFD analysis results on a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to Comparative Example 1.

(14) FIG. 14 shows CFD analysis results on a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to Comparative Example 2.

(15) FIG. 15 is a graph representing correlation between current density and cell voltage of a separator for a fuel cell of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

BEST MODE

(16) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail in order to illuminate the present invention.

(17) Terms or words used in the present specification and the claims are not to be interpreted limitedly to common or dictionary meanings, and shall be interpreted as meanings and concepts corresponding to technological ideas of the present disclosure based on a principle in which the inventors may suitably define the concepts of terms in order to describe the invention in the best possible way.

(18) The term ‘transverse channel’ used in the present specification means a linear flow channel formed in a transverse direction in a flow channel, and the term ‘longitudinal channel’ means a linear flow channel formed in a longitudinal direction.

(19) The term ‘side wall’ of a flow channel used in the present specification means a wall surface on both side surfaces of a linear flow channel.

(20) Separator for Fuel Cell

(21) FIG. 2 is a mimetic diagram of a flow channel formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the present invention relates to a separator for a fuel cell having a flow channel (100) including a transverse channel (110) and a longitudinal channel (120) formed therein, and the separator for a fuel cell includes a first pattern (141) and a second pattern (142) alternately spaced and arranged in the transverse channel (110), wherein the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) are a column-shaped three-dimensional structure having a polygonal transverse section, the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) are arranged so as to have a shape of the transverse sections being 180° rotated to each other, and spacing distances from each of the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) to a side wall of the transverse channel (110) are different.

(23) FIG. 3 is a mimetic diagram illustrating forms of a flow channel that may be formed in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention.

(24) The flow channel (100) of the separator for a fuel cell may have a form including a transverse channel (110) and a longitudinal channel (120), and specifically, may be one or more types selected from among a serpentine-type (a), an interdigitated-type (b) and a parallel-type (c).

(25) Inside the transverse channel (110) of the flow channel (100), island-type first pattern (141) and second pattern (142) may be alternately arranged to be spaced at regular intervals.

(26) In addition, inside the longitudinal channel (120), a column-shaped pattern having a rectangular transverse section may be formed.

(27) The first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) are a column-shaped three-dimensional structure having a polygonal transverse section, and the polygonal transverse section may be one or more types selected from among a trapezoid, a triangle, a quadrangle, a pentagon and a hexagon, and the polygonal transverse section is preferably a trapezoid considering irregular flow velocity distribution and uniform flow quantity distribution in the flow channel (100) caused by the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142).

(28) The width of such a polygon may be from 0.1 mm to 5 mm, and the height may be from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. When the width and the height are less than the lower limit, processing becomes impossible and cost-bearing for manufacturing a practically usable fuel cell may increase, and when the size is greater than the upper limit, the large polygon blocks efficient fuel transfer between the flow channel and an electrolyte membrane reducing practicality.

(29) FIG. 4 is a mimetic diagram illustrating an arranged form of the pattern in the transverse channel of the flow channel in the separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention, and is a case where the transverse section of the pattern is a trapezoid.

(30) As illustrated in 4, the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) may be arranged inside the flow channel (100) to be spaced at a spacing distance (Dw) between the patterns at regular intervals.

(31) The first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) are three-dimensional structures having the same size and shape, but may be arranged to have a shape 180° rotated to each other when arranged in the flow channel (100), and by alternately arranging the polygons as described above to have a shape 180° rotated to each other, irregular flow velocity distribution and constant flow quantity distribution may be obtained, which resultantly provides a separator for a fuel cell capable of enhancing fuel cell performance and efficiency.

(32) The first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) may each be arranged in the transverse channel (110) to be space from both side walls (130) of the transverse channel (110). Herein, the both side walls (130) of the transverse channel (110) are each referred to as a first side wall (131) and a second side wall (132).

(33) In the first pattern (141), the spacing distance between the first pattern (141) and the first side wall (131) of the transverse channel (110) is referred to as a first pattern spacing distance 1 (1a), and the spacing distance between the first pattern (141) and the second side wall (132) of the flow channel (100) is referred to as a first pattern spacing distance 2 (1b). Herein, the spacing distance means a linear distance that is the shortest distance between the pattern and the side wall (130) of the transverse channel (110) of the flow channel (100).

(34) In addition, in the second pattern (142), the spacing distance between the second pattern (142) and a first wall surface (101w) of the flow channel (100) is referred to as a second pattern spacing distance 1 (2a), and the spacing distance between the second pattern (142) and the second side wall (132) of the flow channel (100) is referred to as a second pattern spacing distance 2 (2b).

(35) In the first pattern (141), the first pattern spacing distance 1 (1a) and the first pattern spacing distance 2 (1b) are different, and in the second pattern (142), the second pattern spacing distance 1 (2a) and the second pattern spacing distance 2 (2b) are different.

(36) By the spacing distances (1a, 1b) to the both side walls (131, 132) of the transverse channel (130) being different in the first pattern (141), the first pattern (141) is not positioned at the center of the transverse channel (130) of the flow channel (100), and accordingly, the cross-sectional areas of the two flow channels formed on both sides of the first pattern (141) become different making a flow velocity different.

(37) By the spacing distances (2a, 2b) to the both side walls (131, 132) of the transverse channel (130) being different in the second pattern (142), the second pattern (141) is not positioned at the center of the flow channel (100), and accordingly, the cross-sectional areas of the two flow channels formed on both sides of the second pattern (142) become different making a flow velocity different.

(38) In addition, the first pattern spacing distance 1 (1a) and the second pattern spacing distance 1 (2a), the distances from the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142), respectively, to the first side wall (131) of the flow channel (100), are different, and the first pattern spacing distance 2 (1b) and the second pattern spacing distance 2 (2b), the distances spaced from the second side wall (132), are also different.

(39) By the distances of the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) from the first side wall (131) of the transverse channel (130) of the flow channel (100) being different, a flow channel having a different cross-sectional area may be formed.

(40) For example, at a spot where a fluid flows from a flow channel having a large cross-sectional area to a flow channel having a small cross-sectional area, a bottleneck area where a local pressure is produced and a turbulent flow is generated is formed, and due to the high pressure in the bottleneck area, fuel cell efficiency may be enhanced.

(41) On the contrary, at a spot where a fluid flows from a flow channel having a small cross-sectional area to a flow channel having a large cross-sectional area, a joining region where a turbulent flow is generated due to a difference in the flow direction of the fluid flowing, and the turbulent flow may perform a role of mixing so as to have a uniform fuel concentration.

(42) In addition, when water is produced while the fluid flows, most of the water is discharged to the flow channel having a large cross-sectional area, and some are formed in the small area, and drying of a separator may be prevented during low humidity operation of a fuel cell.

(43) The present invention also provides a fuel cell including the separator for a fuel cell.

(44) The fuel cell including the separator for a fuel cell has a uniform flow quantity while having nonuniform flow velocity distribution in the overall flow channel by a pattern shape of the flow channel formed in the separator, and therefore, may have enhanced efficiency and performance, and may prevent dryness even when operated under a low humidity condition.

(45) Hereinafter, preferred examples will be provided in order to illuminate the present invention, however, the following examples are for illustrative purposes only, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope and technological ideas of the present invention, and such changes and modifications also belong to the scope of the attached claims.

(46) Specific shapes and sizes of flow channels formed in separators for a fuel cell of the following examples and comparative examples are as listed in Table 1.

(47) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparative Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 1 Example 2 Flow Serpentine-type Serpentine-type Serpentine-type Serpentine-type Serpentine-type Channel Presence Yes Yes Yes No Yes of Pattern inside Flow Channel Transverse Trapezoid Triangle Parallelogram — Trapezoid Section of Pattern Shapes of Transverse Transverse Transverse — Transverse First and Section of Section of Section of Section of Second Pattern Pattern Pattern Pattern Patterns Is Same Is Same Is Same Is Same as Shape as Shape as Shape as Shape 180° 180° 180° 180° Rotated to Rotated to Rotated to Rotated to Each Other Each Other Each Other Each other First 500 μm 500 μm 500 μm — 750 μm Pattern Spacing distance 1 (1a) First 1000 μm 1000 μm 1000 μm — 750 μm Pattern Spacing distance 2 (1b) Second 1000 μm 1000 μm 1000 μm — 750 μm Pattern Spacing distance 1 (2a) Second  500 μm  500 μm  500 μm — 750 μm Pattern Spacing distance 2 (2b) Spacing  700 μm  700 μm  700 μm — 700 μm distance (Dw) Between Patterns

Example 1: Separator for Fuel Cell Having Column-Shaped Pattern with Trapezoidal Transverse Section Arranged at Regular Intervals in Center of Flow Channel

(48) As illustrated in FIG. 5, a separator for a fuel cell having a pattern formed in a flow channel was prepared, and (a) is a perspective view of the separator for a fuel cell, and (b) is a mimetic diagram of the flow channel formed in the separator.

(49) In the separator for a fuel cell having a linear flow channel formed in a serpentine-type, a column-shaped pattern having a trapezoidal transverse section was arranged to be spaced at regular intervals in a transverse channel (110) of the flow channel (100), and adjacent two patterns, that is, a first pattern (141) and a second pattern (142) were arranged to have a shape of the transverse section being 180° rotated to each other.

(50) As listed in Table 1, a first pattern spacing distance 1 (1a) and a first pattern spacing distance 2 (1b), the spacing distances from the first pattern (141) to a first side wall (131) and a second side wall (132) of the transverse channel (110) of the flow channel (100), were 500 μm and 1000 μm, respectively, and a second pattern spacing distance 1 (2a) and a second pattern spacing distance 2 (2b), the spacing distances from the second pattern (142) to a first side wall (131) and a second side wall (132) of the transverse channel (110) of the flow channel (100), were 1000 μm and 500 μm, respectively, and a spacing distance (Dw) between the adjacent two patterns was 700 μm.

Example 2: Separator for Fuel Cell Having Column-Shaped Pattern with Triangular Transverse Section Arranged at Regular Intervals in Center of Flow Channel

(51) A separator for a fuel cell having the same form as in Example 1 was prepared except that the pattern formed in the flow channel was triangular instead of trapezoidal.

(52) FIG. 6 is a mimetic diagram of the flow channel formed in the separator according to Example 2, and shows a perspective view of the separator for a fuel cell (a) and a mimetic diagram of the flow channel (b) when the first and second patterns have a column shape having a triangular transverse section.

Example 3: Separator for Fuel Cell Having Column-Shaped Pattern with parallelogram Transverse Section Arranged at Regular Intervals in Center of Flow Channel

(53) A separator for a fuel cell having the same form as in Example 1 was prepared except that the pattern formed in the flow channel was parallelogrammic instead of trapezoidal.

(54) FIG. 7 is a mimetic diagram of the flow channel formed in the separator according to Example 3, and shows a perspective view of the separator for a fuel cell (a) and a mimetic diagram of the flow channel (b) when the first and second patterns have a column shape having a parallelogrammic transverse section.

Comparative Example 1: Separator for Fuel Cell Having Linear Flow Channel Formed in Serpentine-Type

(55) As shown in FIG. 8, a separator for a fuel cell having a linear flow channel formed in a serpentine-type was prepared.

Comparative Example 2: Separator for Fuel Cell Having Column-Shaped Pattern with Trapezoidal Transverse Section Arranged at Regular Intervals in Center of Flow Channel

(56) As shown in FIG. 9, a separator for a fuel cell formed with a pattern arranged in the center of a flow channel was prepared, and (a) is a mimetic diagram of the separator for a fuel cell, and (b) is a mimetic diagram of the flow channel formed in the separator.

(57) The separator for a fuel cell was a separator for a fuel cell including a flow channel (100) having a first pattern (141) and a second pattern (142) arranged to have the same shape as in Example 1, however, the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) were arranged to be in the center of the flow channel (100).

(58) In other words, as described in Table 1, a first pattern spacing distance 1 (1a), a first pattern spacing distance 2 (1b), a second pattern spacing distance 1 (2a) and a second pattern spacing distance 2 (2b), spacing distances from the first pattern (141) and the second pattern (142) to a first side wall (131) and a second side wall (132) of the transverse channel (110) of the flow channel (100), were all the same as 750 μm, and a spacing distance (Dw) between the two adjacent patterns was 700 μm.

Experimental Example 1: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis

(59) A CFD analysis was performed on the separators for a fuel cell of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1, and flow line form and flow velocity distribution depending on the flow channel form were analyzed.

(60) FIGS. 10a to 10c show CFD analysis results on the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Example 1 of the present invention.

(61) FIG. 10a shows flow quantity distribution in the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell, and in the separator for a fuel cell according to Example 1, it can be seen that flow channels having different cross-sectional areas are formed due to the arrangement of the first and the second patterns in the flow channel, and vortexes are produced at the intersections (A, B) where the flow channels having different cross-sectional areas meet. As vortexes are produced in the flow channel, an effect of improving a flow property may be expected.

(62) In addition, FIG. 10b shows flow velocity distribution in the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell, and in the separator for a fuel cell according to Example 1, it can be seen that flow channels having different cross-sectional areas are formed due to the arrangement of the first and the second patterns in the flow channel, and nonuniform flow velocity distribution is obtained in the overall flow channel since a flow velocity is high in the flow channel having a small cross-sectional area and a flow velocity is low in the flow channel having a large cross-sectional area.

(63) FIG. 10c shows flow velocity distribution in the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell more specifically. A flow velocity appeared to be higher in the flow channel (F1) having a small cross-sectional area, and although a flow velocity was relatively slow in the flow channel (F2) having a large cross-sectional area, the flow velocity appeared to be high since the fluid flow was converged by the hypotenuse of the trapezoid of the patterns, and in order to have uniform flow quantity distribution in the overall flow channel, the patterns may be arranged so that parts having a high flow velocity alternately appear on both sides of the pattern. In addition, water drops that may be stagnant due to a low flow velocity in the flow channel (F3) formed between the patterns flow along the hypotenuse of the pattern having a trapezoidal transverse section due to gravity, and may be discharged when meeting a high flow velocity by quickly moving in a flow direction. In other words, when water is produced in the flow channel, most are discharged through a wide flow channel, and some are formed in a narrow flow channel, and therefore, drying of the separator may be prevented during low humidity operation of a fuel cell.

(64) FIGS. 11a and 11b show CFD analysis results on the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Example 2.

(65) When referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b, the triangular pattern of Example 2 had a relatively decreased individual pattern area compared to the trapezoidal pattern of Example 1, and the average flow velocity thereof tended to decrease in the overall flow channel. However, as in Example 1, it can be seen that flow channels having different cross-sectional areas are formed in the flow channel due to the arrangement of the triangular patterns, and vortexes are produced at the intersections where the flow channels having different cross-sectional areas meet due to a turbulent flow and changes in the flow velocity. As vortexes are produced in the flow channel, an effect of improving a flow property may be expected.

(66) FIGS. 12a and 12b show CFD analysis results on the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Example 3.

(67) When referring to FIGS. 12a and 12b, the parallelogrammic pattern of Example 3 had a relatively increased individual pattern area compared to the trapezoidal pattern of Example 1, and the average flow velocity thereof tended to increase in the overall flow channel. However, as in Example 1, it can be seen that flow channels having different cross-sectional areas are formed in the flow channel due to the arrangement of the parallelogrammic patterns, and vortexes are produced at the intersections where the flow channels having different cross-sectional areas meet due to a turbulent flow and changes in the flow velocity. As vortexes are produced in the flow channel, an effect of improving a flow property may be expected.

(68) FIG. 13 shows CFD analysis results on the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Comparative Example 1, and FIG. 14 shows CFD analysis results on the flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Comparative Example 2.

(69) As shown in FIG. 13, it was seen that, in the linear flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Comparative Example 1, the flow velocity was constant and no vortexes were produced in the overall flow channel.

(70) In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, it was seen that, in the linear flow channel formed in the separator for a fuel cell according to Comparative Example 2, a laminar flow was developed in the flow channel formed on both sides of the patterns, and no changes were observed in the flow velocity on the same flow line, and as a result, no vortexes were produced.

(71) Thus, according to the flow analysis on the separators for a fuel cell according to Example 1 to Example 3, it can be identified that, when a pattern is arranged in a flow channel so that the distance between the pattern and a wall surface of the flow channel is repeatedly different, that is, when flow channels having different cross-sectional areas are repeated, vortexes are produced when there is a hypotenuse inducing from a flow channel having a wide cross-sectional area to a flow channel having a small cross-sectional area, and an effect of improving a flow property may be expected.

Experimental Example 2: Correlation Between Current Density and Cell Voltage

(72) For the separators for a fuel cell of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, correlation between current density and cell voltage was measured.

(73) FIG. 15 is a graph (I-V Curve) representing correlation between current density and cell voltage of the separator for a fuel cell of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

(74) As shown in FIG. 15, it can be seen that, in the separators for a fuel cell of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, a voltage decreases as current density increases. An increase in the difference between the amounts of voltage drop as current density increases is known to be caused from a mass transfer of oxygen and hydrogen when producing large quantities of currents.

(75) Accordingly, it can be seen that a phenomenon of voltage drop caused by mass transfer is considerably improved in Example 1 compared to in Comparative Example 1.

(76) The following Table 1 shows results of measuring current density at specific cell voltages, that is, 0.6 V and 0.7 V, for the separators for a fuel cell of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

(77) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Cell Voltage Example 1 Comparative Example 1 OCV (Open-Circuit 0.94 V 0.942 V Voltage) @ 0.6 V 1,346 (mA/cm.sup.2) 1,134 (mA/cm.sup.2) @ 0.7 V   678 (mA/cm.sup.2)   631 (mA/cm.sup.2)

(78) As shown in Table 1, when the cell voltage was 0.6 V and 0.7 V, Example 1 had higher current quantities compared to Comparative Example 1, and it can be seen that Example 1 exhibits higher efficiency and output compared to Comparative Example 1 therefrom.

REFERENCE NUMERAL

(79) 1: Separator for Fuel Cell

(80) 100: Flow Channel

(81) 110: Transverse Channel

(82) 120: Longitudinal Channel

(83) 130: Side Wall

(84) 131: First Side Wall

(85) 132: Second Side Wall

(86) 140: Pattern

(87) 141: First Pattern

(88) 142: Second Pattern

(89) 1a: First Pattern Spacing distance 1

(90) 1b: First Pattern Spacing distance 2

(91) 2a: Second Pattern Spacing distance 1

(92) 2b: Second Pattern Spacing distance 2