JP2010228605A - Case deformation suppression structure for storage case of fuel cell stack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a case deformation suppression structure to meet a rapid pressure rise in the storage case of a fuel cell stack. <P>SOLUTION: The case deformation suppression structure to meet a rapid pressure rise in the storage case of the fuel cell stack mounted to a lower part of a floor of a fuel cell vehicle with a clearance between them, includes a pressure regulation vent arranged in an outer part upper face of the storage case, for reducing an inner pressure so that the inner pressure decreases in the case that the inner pressure is higher than an outer pressure and a tension plate for connecting between upper parts of end plates of both end parts of the fuel cell stack arranged on a mount on a lower face in the storage case and an upper face in the storage case. The tension plate is connected to fix the positional relation of the upper face in the storage case of an outer circumferential part of the pressure regulation vent and the upper parts of the end plates. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a case deformation suppressing structure against a rapid pressure rise inside a storage case of a fuel cell stack.

  The development of automobiles, so-called fuel cell vehicles, that generate electricity by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen, which is a fuel gas, and oxygen, which is an oxidant gas, and which are powered by an electric motor that uses the generated electricity as a power source, is being developed. In this fuel cell vehicle, actually, a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of one fuel cell called a so-called cell is stacked is used as a power source for driving the electric motor.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional problem. As shown in FIG. 10A, the fuel cell stack is generally housed in a housing case and mounted on the lower part of the passenger compartment floor (part indicated by a broken line frame). FIG. 10B shows an enlarged view of a portion where the storage case 20 in which the fuel cell stack 10 is stored is mounted on the lower part of the floor 100. A pressure adjustment vent 22 is provided on the upper surface of the storage case 20. When the pressure inside the storage case is higher than the external pressure, the pressure adjusting vent allows the internal gas to escape to the outside so that the internal pressure decreases. As this pressure adjustment vent, for example, a pore flon film or the like is used. In the fuel cell stack 10, lower portions of the end plates 12 at both ends are connected and fixed to mounts 24 provided on the inner lower surface of the storage case 20. In addition, there is a request that the space A between the floor 100 and the upper portion of the storage case 20 should be made as narrow as possible because of the desire to reduce the mounting space of the fuel cell stack.

  Here, as described above, even if there is a pressure increase in the storage case, normally, the internal gas is allowed to escape to the outside through the pressure adjustment vent 22, so that no problem occurs. However, when a sudden reaction between hydrogen and oxygen occurs, the pressure adjustment from the pressure adjustment vent 22 may not be in time, and the storage case may be deformed as shown in FIG. is there. In this case, there arises a problem that the pressure adjusting vent 22 comes into contact with the floor 100 and the pressure cannot be reduced. Further, when the pressure rises further, as shown in FIG. 10D, a problem that the floor 100 is also deformed occurs.

  As a method for solving the above problems, 1) a method for increasing the area of the pressure adjusting vent, 2) a method for increasing the strength of the case, 3) securing a space that does not affect even if the case is deformed, etc. Conceivable. However, with the method 1), the waterproof reliability of the vent is reduced, and the possibility of increased deformation due to a decrease in the rigidity and strength of the case is increased. is there. In the method 2), it is considered substantially difficult to suppress the deformation of the upper surface portion of the storage case. In the method 3), useless space increases, and there is a problem that the package efficiency of the fuel cell vehicle as a whole is lowered.

JP 2003-297377 A JP 2006-164716 A

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a case deformation suppressing structure for dealing with a sudden pressure increase inside the storage case of the fuel cell stack.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
A pressure fluctuation response structure for responding to a sudden pressure increase inside a storage case of a fuel cell stack mounted with a gap at the bottom of the floor of the fuel cell vehicle,
A pressure adjustment vent provided on the outer upper surface of the storage case, the pressure adjustment for reducing the internal pressure so that the internal pressure decreases when the internal pressure is higher than the external pressure Vent and
A tension plate that connects between the upper part of the end plate at both ends of the fuel cell stack installed on the mount provided on the lower surface inside the storage case, and the upper surface inside the storage case;
The tension plate is connected so as to fix the positional relationship between the upper surface of the storage case at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure adjusting vent and the upper portion of the end plate. Construction.
According to this structure, since the deformation of the storage case around the pressure adjustment vent can be suppressed by the tension plate connected to the end plate of the fuel cell stack, a sudden pressure increase occurs inside the storage case of the fuel cell stack. It is possible to correspond to.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, in various forms such as a structure for dealing with pressure fluctuations in a storage case of a fuel cell stack, and a fuel cell vehicle equipped with the structure. It is.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as 2nd Example of this invention. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a pressure adjustment vent 22. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as 3rd Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as 4th Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the battery cell stack as 5th Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as 6th Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as 7th Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the storage case deformation | transformation suppression structure of the fuel cell stack as 9th Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing shown about the conventional problem.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
B. Second embodiment:
C. Third embodiment:
D. Fourth embodiment:
E. Example 5:
F. Example 6:
G. Seventh embodiment:
H. Example 8:

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a case deformation suppressing structure of a storage case of a fuel cell stack as a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a top view of the storage case 20 in which the fuel cell stack 10 is stored (shown by dotted lines), and FIG. A sectional view is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the fuel cell stack 10 is installed and fixed to mounts 24 provided on the inner upper surface of the storage case 20 below the end plates 12 at both ends. Further, the upper surface of the end plate 12 and the inner surface of the storage case 20 at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure adjusting vent 22 are connected and fixed by a tension plate 26.

  By having the above structure, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20, the tension plate 26 is prevented from being deformed so as to be lifted to the upper part of the upper surface including the pressure adjustment vent 22 of the storage case 20. Can do. As a result, the gas can flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20, and the pressure can be reduced in response to a sudden pressure increase in the storage case 20.

  Further, since the tension plate 26 only needs to secure strength against tension, it is possible to use a thin plate, and the overall weight can be significantly reduced compared to reinforcement that increases the bending strength of the upper surface of the storage case. Is possible. Further, the tension plate 26 can be made of an ultralight member such as FRP fiber or CFRP fiber.

  Further, even if the tension plate 26 is provided, the storage case can be realized with the conventional size.

  Further, the space between the upper surface of the storage case 20 and the floor only needs to secure a gap for releasing the pressure from the pressure adjustment vent 22, for example, about 10 mm, so that the space between the floor and the storage case is as much as possible. It is possible to mount with a small gap.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case deformation suppressing structure of a storage case of a fuel cell stack as a second embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from a comparison between the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1B and the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, in the first embodiment, the end plates 12 at both ends of the fuel cell stack 10 are In contrast to the tension plate 26 connected to the storage case 20, in the present embodiment, only the tension plate 26 is connected between one end plate 12 and the storage case 20. Is different.

  In this embodiment, there is a possibility that the portion of the storage case 20 on the side to which the tension plate 26 is not connected may come into contact with the floor 100, but deformation of the portion on the side to which the tension plate 26 is connected is suppressed. Therefore, the pressure can be released as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the pressure adjustment vent 22. When the tension plate 26 is connected to only one side as in the present embodiment, it is preferable to provide a notch in the pressure adjusting vent 22 as shown by a broken line frame in FIG. . In this way, when deformation due to pressure rise occurs on the side where the tension plate 26 is not provided, the starting storage case can be easily torn at the notched portion, and the number of openings through which pressure can be released can be increased. .

  Moreover, since one tension plate can be reduced, the weight of the apparatus can be reduced.

  Note that the notch of the pressure adjusting vent 22 is also effective in the case of suppressing deformation of only one side of the 22 pressure adjusting vent 22 in the following embodiments.

C. Third embodiment:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a case deformation suppressing structure of the storage case of the fuel cell stack as the third embodiment of the present invention. 4A shows a top view of the storage case 20 in which a fuel cell stack (not shown) is stored, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4A. Is shown.

  In this embodiment, an energy absorbing member (Energy Absorption material, hereinafter referred to as “EA material”) 28 is provided between the upper surface of the storage case 20 and the floor 100. The width Wea of the EA material 28 is preferably equal to the width Wd (= a) of the duct of the pressure adjustment vent 22. The EA material 28 is also preferably provided so as to be in contact with the pressure adjustment vent 22. As the EA material 28, an aluminum extruded honeycomb material, a spring coil, a rubber block, a urethane block, or the like can be used.

  Also in this embodiment, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20 due to the EA material 28, it is possible to suppress deformation that lifts to the upper part of the upper surface including the pressure adjustment vent 22 of the storage case 20. it can. As a result, the gas can flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20, and the pressure can be reduced in response to a sudden pressure increase in the storage case 20.

  In the present embodiment, the EA material 28 is provided on both sides of the pressure adjusting vent 22, but only one of them may be provided.

D. Fourth embodiment:
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case deformation suppressing structure of a storage case of a fuel cell stack as a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The EA material 28 is not provided between the upper surface of the storage case 20 and the floor 100 as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but between the storage case 20 and the floor 100 as in this embodiment. A structure in which the floor bracket 30 is provided is also possible.

  Also in this embodiment, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20 due to the floor bracket 30, it is possible to suppress the deformation that lifts to the upper part of the upper surface including the pressure adjustment vent 22 of the storage case 20. it can. As a result, the gas can flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20, and the pressure can be reduced in response to a sudden pressure increase in the storage case 20.

  In the present embodiment, the floor brackets 30 are provided on both sides of the pressure adjustment vent 22, but only one of them may be provided.

E. Example 5:
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case deformation suppressing structure for a storage case of a battery stack as a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the EA material 28 is not provided between the upper surface of the storage case 20 and the floor 100 as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but in the floor 100A as in this embodiment. It is also possible to form a floor to form a shape portion 102 corresponding to the EA material.

  Also in this embodiment, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20 due to the shape portion 102 corresponding to the EA material, the deformation is lifted to the upper part of the upper surface of the storage case 20 including the pressure adjustment vent 22. Can be suppressed. As a result, the gas can flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20, and the pressure can be reduced in response to a sudden pressure increase in the storage case 20.

  In the present embodiment, the floor 100A has a structure in which the shape portions 102 corresponding to the EA material are provided on both sides of the pressure adjustment vent 22, but only one of them may be provided.

F. Example 6:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a case deformation suppressing structure of a storage case of a fuel cell stack as a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of a storage case 20 (shown by a broken line) in which a fuel cell stack (not shown) is stored as viewed from the floor 100B side, and FIG. FF sectional view in FIG. 7A is shown, and FIG. 7C shows a GG sectional view in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7B, the floor 100 </ b> B is provided with a space around the pressure adjustment vent 22 on the FF cross section side and suppresses deformation outside the pressure adjustment vent 22 of the storage case 20. The structure is provided with a bent shape in advance. Further, on the GG cross-section side, a bent shape is provided with a width b ′ (> b) larger than the width b of the storage case so that the pressure relief from the pressure adjusting vent 22 is executed. In addition, the distance y between the storage case and the floor 100B in the bent portion of the storage case 20 is larger than the distance x than the distance x between the upper surface of the storage case 20 and the floor 100B. Accordingly, the space for the pressure adjustment vent 22 is secured, and the pressure release route from the pressure adjustment vent 22 is secured.

  Also in the present embodiment, by adopting the above-mentioned structure of the floor, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20, it is lifted to the upper part of the upper surface including the pressure adjustment vent 22 of the storage case 20. It is possible to suppress the deformation and reduce the pressure in response to the rapid pressure increase in the storage case 20 by allowing the gas to flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20.

  Also in this embodiment, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20 due to the shape portion 102 corresponding to the EA material, the deformation is lifted to the upper part of the upper surface of the storage case 20 including the pressure adjustment vent 22. Can be suppressed. As a result, the gas can flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20, and the pressure can be reduced in response to a sudden pressure increase in the storage case 20.

  In the present embodiment, the floor 100A has a structure in which the bent shape of the floor can be placed on both sides corresponding to the EA material on both sides of the pressure adjusting vent 22, but only one of them may be provided.

G. Seventh embodiment:
FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing a case deformation suppressing structure of a storage case of a fuel cell stack as a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the example of the structure in which the shape of the floor is the shape corresponding to the EA material in the third embodiment has been described. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to adopt a structure of the storage case 20B in which the shape of the portion to be provided is the EA shape portion 32 corresponding to the EA material.

  Also in this embodiment, even if a sudden pressure rise occurs inside the storage case 20 due to the EA shape portion 32 of the storage case 20B corresponding to the EA material, the upper portion of the upper surface including the pressure adjustment vent 22 of the storage case 20 It is possible to suppress deformation that lifts up. As a result, the gas can flow out from the pressure adjustment vent 22 to the outside of the storage case 20, and the pressure can be reduced in response to a sudden pressure increase in the storage case 20.

  In the present embodiment, the EA shape portion 32 is provided on both sides of the pressure adjustment vent 22, but only one of them may be provided.

H. Example 8:
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a storage case deformation suppressing structure for a fuel cell stack according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9A, the present embodiment is different from the first to seventh embodiments, and has a structure in which sharp protrusions 110 are provided on the lower surface of the floor 100. When the pressure in the storage case 20 changes suddenly and the storage case is deformed, the protrusion 110 breaks through the upper surface of the storage case to open a hole, so that the pressure in the case can be released. Become.

  Also in the present embodiment, even if a sudden pressure increase occurs inside the storage case 20 due to the protrusions 110, it is possible to reduce the pressure corresponding to the rapid pressure increase inside the storage case 20. .

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to said Example and embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it is possible to implement in various aspects.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell stack 12 ... End plate 20 ... Storage case 20B ... Storage case 22 ... Pressure adjustment vent 24 ... Mount 26 ... Tension plate 30 ... Floor bracket 32 ... EA shape part 100 ... Floor 100A ... Floor 100B ... Floor 102 ... Shape Part 110 ... Protrusions

Claims (1)

A pressure fluctuation response structure for responding to a sudden pressure increase inside a storage case of a fuel cell stack mounted with a gap at the bottom of the floor of the fuel cell vehicle,
A pressure adjustment vent provided on the outer upper surface of the storage case, the pressure adjustment for reducing the internal pressure so that the internal pressure decreases when the internal pressure is higher than the external pressure Vent and
A tension plate that connects between the upper part of the end plate at both ends of the fuel cell stack installed on the mount provided on the lower surface inside the storage case, and the upper surface inside the storage case;
The tension plate is connected so as to fix the positional relationship between the upper surface of the storage case at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure adjusting vent and the upper portion of the end plate. Construction.

Images