SEPARATOR PLATE FOR MCFC AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

Disclosed is a separator plate for a molten carbonate fuel cell, which functions to reform a fuel gas while allowing it to efficiently flow therein and thereout, thus producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, which are then supplied into an anode, and which functions to realize the electrical connection between the anode and the cathode. In the center plate, having a central portion and peripheral portions of the separator plate, the central portion has gas flow paths, that is, guide protrusions and guide grooves, and the peripheral portions are formed into sidewall parts through a folding process, and thus the number of constituents of the separator plate is minimized, thereby reducing the area to be welded. Further, the sidewall parts are integrally structured with the center plate, thereby increasing airtightness and solving problems of corrosion which may be caused in the welded area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the structure of a unit cell plate including the separator plate for an MCFC according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the development state of the center plate for use in manufacturing the separator plate of FIG. 1, before it is folded;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the process of assembling the central plate of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of the unit cell plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the process of folding the central plate of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating the process of manufacturing the separator plate for an MCFC according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating the process of manufacturing the separator plate for an MCFC according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A separator plate for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprising a center plate composed of a corrosion resistant metal plate, which includes a channel part formed by processing a central portion of the center plate to form a corrugated structure having guide protrusions and guide grooves on both surfaces thereof; a first sidewall part and a second sidewall part, each of which is integrated with the center plate in such a manner that a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, which are positioned at edges of the channel part, are integrated with the center plate and are opposite each other, are folded upwards in a shape of a rectangular bar having one surface open toward the central portion of the center plate; and a third sidewall part and a fourth sidewall part, each of which is integrated with the center plate in such a manner that a third peripheral portion and a fourth peripheral portion, integrated with the center plate and opposite each other are folded downwards, wherein a first end plate is attached to, among both ends of each of the first sidewall part and the second sidewall part, ends thereof on the fourth sidewall part, a fifth sidewall part is mounted to a margin of the center plate on the third sidewall part so as to be disposed between the first sidewall part and the second sidewall part so that, among both ends of each of the first sidewall part and the second sidewall part, ends thereof on the third sidewall part are open, a second seal plate and a third seal plate are attached to both open ends of the third sidewall part, and a fourth seal plate and a fifth seal plate are attached to both open ends of the fourth sidewall part.

2. The separator plate of claim 1, wherein the guide protrusions and the guide grooves are formed in a continuously corrugated structure to thus distribute gas flow paths over an entire area of the separator plate.

3. A method of manufacturing a separator plate for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprising: (1) a preparation step of cutting a center plate to form a central portion and four peripheral portions therearound;(2) a channel formation step of forming guide protrusions and guide grooves on a central portion of the center plate;(3) a coating step of subjecting the central portion having the channels to nickel coating and the peripheral portions to corrosion resistant coating; and(4) a shaping step of folding the peripheral portions to thus form sidewall parts.