Separator module for fuel cells and unit cell for fuel cells including the same
Disclosed are a separator module for fuel cells which may reduce pressure loss and improve flow distribution in a separator, and a unit cell for fuel cells including the separator module. The separator module includes a separator main body including a pair of manifold parts formed at both ends of the separator main body and having a plurality of manifolds, a main body reaction part formed between the pair of manifold parts such that reaction gas flows in the main body reaction part, and a pair of main body diffusion parts formed between the main body reaction part and the pair of manifold parts such that the reaction gas is diffused in the main body diffusion parts, and a porous body disposed on one surface of the separator main body in a region corresponding to the main body reaction part and the pair of main body diffusion parts.
1 . A unit cell for fuel cells, comprising:
a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA);
a pair of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) disposed at both surfaces of the MEA; and
a pair of separators disposed at an outside of the pair of GDLs,
wherein at least one separator of the pair of separators is provided as a porous separator module; and
wherein the porous separator module comprises:
a separator main body comprising (i) a pair of manifold parts disposed at both ends of the separator main body and (ii) a plurality of manifolds configured to receive or discharge reaction gas;
a main body reaction part disposed between the pair of manifold parts and configured to receive the reaction gas;
a pair of main body diffusion parts disposed between the main body reaction part and the pair of manifold parts, and configured to diffuse the reaction gas; and
a porous body disposed at a surface of the separator main body in a region corresponding to the main body reaction part and the pair of main body diffusion parts,
wherein the porous body comprises:
a porous body reaction part disposed at a region corresponding to the main body reaction part, and having a plurality of flow holes configured to pass the reaction gas therethrough; and
a pair of porous body diffusion parts extending from both ends of the porous body reaction part up to regions corresponding to the main body diffusion parts,
wherein a plurality of diffusion channels and a plurality of diffusion lands are alternately disposed at the main body diffusion parts,
wherein the plurality of diffusion channels are configured to diffuse the reaction gas in a direction toward the main body reaction part and the plurality of diffusion lands are configured to support the pair of porous body diffusion parts,
wherein the unit cell further comprises a pair of sub-gaskets that surround and support an edge of the MEA and that are provided in regions corresponding to the pair of main body diffusion parts,
wherein each of the pair of porous body diffusion parts is disposed between one of the pair of main body diffusion parts and one of the pair of sub-gaskets, and
wherein one surface of each of the pair of porous body diffusion parts comes into surface contact with a corresponding one of the pair of sub-gaskets throughout all areas of the one surface while facing the corresponding one of the pair of sub-gaskets.
2 . The unit cell according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of porous body diffusion parts are formed in a shape of a flat plate.
3 . The unit cell according to claim 2 , wherein the pair of porous body diffusion parts comprise the plurality of flow holes configured to pass the reaction gas therethrough.
4 . The unit cell according to claim 2 , wherein a plurality of punched holes are defined in the pair of porous body diffusion parts and pass through the porous body.
5 . The unit cell according to claim 1 , wherein a waveform pattern is repeatedly defined in a flow direction of the reaction gas and the plurality of flow holes are defined in a zigzag pattern in the flow direction of the reaction gas at the porous body reaction part of the porous body.