DE102012009164A1 - Cathode plate for fuel cell of automotive vehicle, has hexagonal honeycomb structure for accommodating hydrogen and oxygen, where honeycomb structure is made of metallic material - Google Patents

Abstract

The plate has a hexagonal honeycomb structure for accommodating hydrogen and oxygen, where the honeycomb structure is made of metallic material. An independent claim is also included for an anode plate for a fuel cell.

Description

State of the art

Fuel Cells:

A particularly current form of electrochemical power generation is the fuel cell:
You can the stored chemical energy of two "fuels" z. B. of hydrogen and oxygen almost completely (!) Convert into electrical energy. (...)

Electrolysis causes a polarization: Cathode: 4H ₃ O ⁺ + 4e- → 2H ₂ + 4H ₂ O Anode: 6H ₂ O → O ₂ + 4H ₃ O ⁺ + 4e- Total reaction: 2H ₂ O → 2H ₂ + O ₂ (...)

Overall reaction in the galvanic element:

• 2H ₂ + O ₂ → 2H ₂ O + electrical energy (Source: school knowledge)

Bulging structures:

Hexagonal bulging structure on metallic components:

DaimlerChrysler AG already uses such hexagonal bumps on their vehicle components in order to gain greater rigidity and thus greater stability. For example, in patent office writings of DaimlerChrysler, for example, that a "high-strength sheet steel component (...) is provided with a rigidity-enhancing deformable structure (claim 1) (...) and:" that the deformed structure is more hexagonal Bumps is formed (...) "(claim 3). The component should be in this case "a sill for a vehicle body" (claim 5). To be found in the publication of DaimlerChrysler, DE 103 39 069 A1 , And in the publication of DaimlerChrysler, DE 102 15 911 A1 is a "component of sheet metal (...) with a stiffness-enhancing Völbstrukturierung (claim 1) (...) be a motor vehicle rear wall (claim 6).

The company Miele & Cie also uses the advantage of hexagonal bulging structures in their devices. For example, the drum for a tumble dryer has a honeycomb-shaped arch structure. ( DE 101 45 079 C1 )

In Scripture WO 03/054275 A1 registered by the companies Bosch and Siemens, a hexagonal bulging structure was also installed in a laundry treatment machine.

According to patent office literature and other sources of information (eg Internet), there are variously dented hexagon structures. Z. B "Vault structures", "Hot forming process", "Roll embossing", "Drawing process" "Hydroforming". These and possibly other hexagon structures and their optimal use are known to those skilled in the art, or can be explored by them.

Further deformation structures:

There are also known other deformation structures. For example, triangular or square, square, circular, etc. The expert knows why the hexagonal structure is currently the best, otherwise the above major companies (DaimlerChrysler, Miele, Bosch and Siemens) would not prefer exactly this structure in their components for greater stability to get.

According to the prior art, these structures provide greater strength or stabilization and are therefore used. However, these structures also increase the surface per area (m ² ), which is why they are here to be used in the fuel cells. (Of course, they also increase the stability of fuel cells)

problem area

Manufacturers of fuel cells strive to make their fuel cells better and better. So should the performance be increased continuously. Also, a higher stability of fuel cells is an advantage. Below will be highlighted how this can be improved.

Purpose and advantages of the invention

According to claims 1 and 2, fuel cell plates (anode, cathode) are intended, in whole or in part, to have a bulging structure.

1 therefore shows by way of example and simplified a bulging hexagonal structure from the top view.

If a fuel cell now has an (exemplary) structure, the surfaces of the anode plate and cathode plate of the fuel cell increase, which leads to a higher power output of the fuel cell, since the plates can be used, for example. B. can attach more hydrogen gases or oxygen gases.

Also conceivable is a mixture of the bulging structures.

Optionally existing structures at the anode and cathode in a fuel cell could additionally be dented.

Maybe there is an advantage if only one plate z. B. the anode plate has a (partially) bulging structure.

Not only the plates (anode and cathode), but also other components of the fuel cell could be dented, as the fuel cell is generally stable, which is also an advantage (claim 3)

One skilled in the art will be aware or the person skilled in the art may explore which direction, size, depth, etc., depending on the material, optimizes the (hexagonal, quadrangular, etc.) bulging structure

Likewise, the technical implementation of the invention idea is known to the specialist and not the subject of the invention.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10339069 A1 [0003]
• DE 10215911 A1 [0003]
• DE 10145079 C1 [0004]
• WO 03/054275 Al [0005]

Claims (3)

Cathode plate of a fuel cell, characterized in that it, in whole or in part, has a bulging structure. Anode plate of a fuel cell characterized in that it, in whole or in part, has a bulging structure. Fuel cell according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that also have other components of the fuel cell over bulging structures.

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