KR20240070762A - Stack module for fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stack module for fuel cells, comprising: a stack module body in which a fuel cell stack is embedded, having a magnetic material on at least one side, and forming an overall housing shape; a shield that is detachably attached to one side of the stack module body to shield or open one side of the stack module body; and a locker that is integrally provided with the shield and composed of an electromagnet, which locks the shield to the magnetic material provided in the stack module body through the magnetic force of the electromagnetic force, thereby fixing it integrally, or unlocks the electromagnetic force to detach the shield from the stack module body at all times, wherein the shield is detachable by magnetic force.

Description

Stack module for fuel cells {STACK MODULE FOR FUEL CELL}

The present invention relates to a stack module for fuel cells, and to a stack module for fuel cells in which the components constituting the stack module can be detachably and integrally combined.

In accordance with global carbon reduction and fine dust reduction policies, technology to produce electricity without using fossil fuels is being distributed and spread. The mainstream of these technologies is usually methods that can directly convert and produce energy, such as solar power, wind power, hydro power, or fuel cells. The above-mentioned fuel cell has the advantage of higher efficiency and miniaturization compared to other methods, but it is not being spread smoothly due to problems such as high technology and excessive manufacturing costs. Recently, as research on the commercialization of fuel cells has become more active, the above-mentioned problems are gradually being solved, and they are in the spotlight as a future technology.

The above-described fuel cell consists of a stack module composed of a stack having a plurality of plate-shaped battery packs. This stack module consists of a main body forming a box with a built-in stack, and a shield that is coupled to one side of the main body to shield one side. The shield is detachably fixed to the main body by a clip made of a leaf spring. That is, the shield is fixed to the main body when the clip is fastened, and is separated from the main body when the clip is removed. Therefore, the operator can remove the shield to inspect, repair, and manage the stack module.

However, in the above-described stack module, as the clip is manufactured with a leaf spring, the tension of the leaf spring decreases when the clip is repeatedly used, so the shield is not firmly mounted on the main body, and problems such as lifting or opening often occur. Additionally, there is the inconvenience of having to manually manipulate the clips when the worker installs and dismantles the shield.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0097704 (Intelligent Energy Limited) relates to the above-mentioned stack module. This prior art is a fuel cell stack assembly, comprising: a first encapsulation member including a first end plate and two side walls extending transversely from the first end plate; a second encapsulating member comprising a second end plate; one or more fuel cells positioned between the first and second end plates; and two locking members configured to engage respective side walls of the first and second encapsulation members to maintain the first and second end plates in a fixed relative position; The side walls of the first encapsulation member each: engages the second encapsulation member to provide a compressive force to the one or more fuel cells, and locks each of the locking members in a direction parallel to the plane of the one or more fuel cells. A fuel cell stack assembly configured to receive the fuel cell stack is provided.

Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1293897 (Fuel Cell Energy, Inc.) also relates to the above-described stack module. This prior art, in the modular multi-stack fuel cell assembly, includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks and a gas distributor disposed at the center of the fuel cell stack, wherein the gas distributor distributes the received fuel to each fuel cell stack. A modular multi-stack fuel cell assembly is provided, characterized in that it distributes and receives exhaust fuel gas and exhaust oxidant gas from each fuel cell stack.

However, the above-described prior arts do not propose an invention to solve the problem of the shield not being firmly mounted on the main body as described above. Therefore, prior technologies cannot solve the problems that emerged earlier.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0097704 (Intelligent Energy Limited) Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1293897 (Fuel Cell Energy, Inc.)

The present invention was created to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a fuel cell stack module that can automatically and detachably fix the shield to the main body using electric power.

In particular, the purpose is to provide a fuel cell stack module that can automatically and detachably fix the shield to the main body through electromagnetic force generated by electric power.

The stack module for a fuel cell of the present invention for achieving the above-described object includes a stack module main body in which a fuel cell stack is built, has a magnetic material on at least one side, and forms an overall enclosure type; A shield detachably attached to one side of the stack module body to shield or open one side of the stack module body; And it is provided integrally with the shield, and consists of an electromagnet, so that the shield is integrally fixed by locking it to a magnetic material provided in the stack module body through the magnetic force of electromagnetic force, or the electromagnetic force is released to permanently maintain the shield from the stack module body. Includes a locker for removal.

The stack module main body is provided with the magnetic material in the form of a block or bracket on one side facing the shield.

The locker is configured to have a size or quantity corresponding to the magnetic material and is integrally provided with the shield.

The locker is characterized by being composed of a plurality of electromagnets arranged in a row and installed on the shield.

The locker is characterized in that it is provided on at least one side of the shield or is provided in an opposing state on both sides.

In the present invention as described above, as the electromagnet of the rocker is installed in the shield, the shield is fixed to the stack module body by the magnetic force of electromagnetic force, and when the electromagnetic force is released by power cut, the shield is removed from the stack module body, so that the shield is It can be easily fixed to or removed from the stack module body automatically, and since the rocker is made up of electromagnets, it can be used virtually permanently even if used repeatedly for a long period of time.

In addition, when the magnetic material of the stack module body is configured in the form of a block or bracket, the contact area of the magnetic material with respect to the electromagnet is expanded, so the shield can be more firmly fixed to the stack module body, and furthermore, the electromagnet can be adjusted to match the size of the magnetic material. When composed of multiple modules, the shield can be more firmly fixed to the stack module body as the magnetic force is strengthened.

In addition, when a plurality of electromagnets are installed in a row, magnetic force is provided along the edge of the shield, so it is possible to reliably prevent the edge of the shield from lifting.

In addition, when electromagnets are provided in an opposing state on both sides of the shield, both sides of the shield can be fixed to the stack module body, so the shield can be stably and firmly fixed to the stack module body.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of a fuel cell stack module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the rocker of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the shield of Figure 1 in a combined state;
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5.

Hereinafter, a fuel cell stack module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

The stack module 50 for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stack module body 51, a shield 53, and a rocker 60, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stack module main body 51 has a built-in fuel cell stack and forms an overall enclosure shape. The stack module main body 51 is provided with a magnetic material 51a formed in a block shape as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the stack module body 51 is provided with a magnetic material 51a on at least one side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the stack module body 51 is provided with a magnetic material 51a on one side facing the shield 53. The magnetic material 51a may be configured in the form of a block as described above, but alternatively, it may be configured in the form of a normal bracket. For example, the magnetic material 51a may be composed of a bracket in the form of a bent plate with bent parts such as angles or channels.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the shield 53 is detachably attached to one side of the stack module body 51 to shield or open one side of the stack module body 51. As shown, the shield 53 may be made of a plate of a size (width) capable of shielding one side of the stack module main body 51. The shield 53 shields or opens one side of the stack module body 51 and thus essentially functions as a cover.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the rocker 60 is composed of an electromagnet (M) integrally provided with the shield 53. As shown in FIG. 3, the rocker 60 is composed of a bundle of electromagnets, and a wire is provided on one side to supply power through the wire.

When power is supplied, the locker 60 locks the shield 53 to the magnetic material 51a provided in the stack module body 51 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 through the magnetic force of electromagnetic force caused by power. Secure the shield (53) integrally. And, when the supply of power is interrupted, the rocker 60 releases the electromagnetic force and removes the shield 53 from the stack module body 51, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the rocker 60 is configured in a size or quantity corresponding to the magnetic material 51a provided in the stack module 50 and is integrally provided with the shield 53. For example, when the magnetic material 51a is composed of blocks as described above, the rocker 60 is composed of a size or quantity corresponding to the length or width of these blocks.

The illustrated rocker 60 is an example composed of four electromagnets (M) corresponding to the length of the block. That is, the rocker 60 shown is composed of a plurality of electromagnets M arranged in a row and installed on the shield 53 as shown. Accordingly, the four electromagnets M are attached along the length of the block-shaped magnetic material 51a by electromagnetic force.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rocker 60 may be provided on only one side of the shield 53, but alternatively, it may be provided on both sides in an opposing state. In particular, the rockers 60 may be provided at portions adjacent to the corners of the shield 53 to detachably fix the corners of the shield 53 to the stack module body 51.

In the fuel cell stack module 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, a plurality of electromagnets M are integrally fixed to the shield 53, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This shield 53 is carried by an operator to one side of the stack module body 51 equipped with the magnetic material 51a, as shown in FIG. 4. The shield 53 is transported to a fixed position so that the electromagnet M is centered on the magnetic material 51a.

The shield 53 generates magnetic force as power is supplied to the electromagnet M. At this time, the electromagnet M is attached to the magnetic material 51a of the stack module main body 51 by magnetic force. Accordingly, the shield 53 is firmly attached to one side of the stack module body 51 by the electromagnet M and shields one side of the stack module body 51. That is, the stack module body 51 is shielded and protected by the shield 53.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the shield 53 is composed of a magnetic material 51a in the form of a block, and when a plurality of electromagnets M are configured to correspond to the length of the magnetic material 51a, each electromagnet (M) Magnetic force is generated in M). Accordingly, the shield 53 is more firmly and stably fixed to the stack module body 51.

The shield 53 is fixed to the stack module body 51 in a more solid state when magnetic materials 51a are provided on both sides of the stack module body 51 and electromagnets M are provided to correspond thereto. Accordingly, the shield 53 is stably fixed to the stack module body 51.

When the power supplied to the electromagnet (M) is interrupted, the shield 53 is released by electromagnetic force and loses its magnetic force. Accordingly, the shield 53 is removed from one side of the stack module body 51, opening one side of the stack module body 51. Accordingly, the operator can inspect (maintain) or repair (maintenance) the inside of the stack module body 51 through one side of the stack module body 51.

In the fuel cell stack module 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, as the electromagnet M of the rocker 60 is installed in the shield 53, the shield 53 is moved to the stack module body by the magnetic force of electromagnetic force. It is fixed to (51), and when the electromagnetic force is released by power cut, the shield (53) is removed from the stack module body (51), so the shield (53) can be automatically easily fixed to or removed from the stack module body (51). Since the rocker 60 is composed of an electromagnet (M), it can be used virtually permanently even if used repeatedly for a long period of time.

In addition, when the magnetic material 51a of the stack module body 51 is configured in the form of a block or bracket, the contact area of the magnetic material 51a with respect to the electromagnet M is expanded, so the shield 53 is attached to the stack module body 51. It can be fixed more firmly, and furthermore, if the electromagnets (M) are composed of multiple electromagnets (M) to correspond to the size of the magnetic material (51a), the shield (53) is more firmly fixed to the stack module body (51) as the magnetic force is strengthened. can do.

In addition, when a plurality of electromagnets (M) are installed in a row, magnetic force is provided along the edge of the shield 53, so it is possible to reliably prevent the edge of the shield 53 from lifting.

In addition, when the electromagnets (M) are provided in an opposing state on both sides of the shield 53, both sides of the shield 53 can be fixed to the stack module body 51, so that the shield 53 is connected to the stack module body 51. It can be fixed stably and firmly.

Since the above-described embodiments only describe preferred embodiments of the present invention, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to this, and if the essential features can be satisfied, appropriate modifications (structure or configuration) can be made within the scope of the same idea. Changes, partial omissions, or supplements) are possible. Additionally, some or many of the features of the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other. Accordingly, since the structure and configuration of each component shown in the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by modification or combination, it is natural that modifications or combinations of such structures and configurations fall within the scope of the appended claims of the present invention.

50: stack module
51: Stack module body
51a: magnetic material
53: Shield
60: Rocker
M: electromagnet

Claims (4)

A stack module body in which a fuel cell stack is built-in, has a magnetic material on at least one side, and forms an overall enclosure type;
A shield detachably attached to one side of the stack module body to shield or open one side of the stack module body; and
It is provided integrally with the shield and consists of an electromagnet, so that the shield is integrally fixed by locking it to a magnetic material provided in the stack module body through the magnetic force of electromagnetic force, or the shield is permanently removed from the stack module body by releasing the electromagnetic force. A stack module for a fuel cell including a rocker. The method of claim 1, wherein the stack module body,
The magnetic material is provided in the form of a block or bracket on one side facing the shield,
The locker is
A stack module for a fuel cell, characterized in that it is composed of a size or quantity corresponding to the magnetic material and is integrally provided with the shield. The method of claim 1, wherein the rocker is:
A stack module for a fuel cell, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of electromagnets arranged in a row and installed on the shield. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The locker is
A stack module for a fuel cell, characterized in that it is provided on at least one side of the shield or is provided in an opposing state on both sides.