Method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell and the fuel cell itself
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell. A membrane electrode assembly layer has at least one fuel cell unit. The anode current collection circuitries are formed on a single surface, which contacts anodes of all the fuel cell units, of the first printed circuit substrate. The cathode current collection circuitries are formed on a single surface, which contacts cathodes of all the fuel cell units, of the second printed circuit substrate. The membrane electrode assembly layer can be tightly placed in between the first printed circuit substrate and the second printed circuit substrate to be a sandwich structure.
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The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell, especially to the method for manufacturing a current collection layer of the fuel cell. That is, to separately produce anode current collection circuitries and cathode current collection circuitries on each single surface of printed circuit substrates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe manufacturing methods for the fuel cell in the prior arts are all mainly related to the whole structure of the fuel cell or the technical field of the membrane electrode assembly layer; for the manufacturing method or the structure of the current collection layer is disclosed utilizing graphite, metallic mesh, etc. only. Although the means do manufacture the current collection layer and have functions thereof, the prior arts are still restricted by some conditions for making a small and light cell.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary objective of the present invention is to provide a process for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell, which is manufactured by producing individually anode current collection circuitries and cathode current collection circuitries on each single surface of printed circuit substrates by way of the PCB(Printed Circuit Board) process. The second objective of the present invention is to provide a current collection layer for the use of a small, light fuel cell.
To approach the above objectives, the present invention provides the method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell comprising: (a) providing a membrane electrode assembly layer having at least one fuel cell unit; (b) forming anode current collection circuitries on a single surface, which contacts anodes of all the fuel cell units, of a first printed circuit substrate by way of the PCB process; (c) forming cathode current collection circuitries on a single surface, which contacts cathodes of all the fuel cell units, of a second printed circuit substrate by way of the said PCB process; (d) tightly placing the membrane electrode assembly layer in between the first printed circuit substrate of completing the step (b) and the second printed circuit substrate of completing the step (c) to be as a sandwich structure.
To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a layer lamination integrated fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly electrode layer having at least one fuel cell unit; a first printed circuit substrate having anode current collection circuitries, wherein the anode current collection circuitries are formed on a single surface, which contacts anodes of all the fuel cell units, of the first printed circuit substrate; a second printed circuit substrate having cathode current collection circuitries, wherein the cathode current collection circuitries are formed on a single surface, which contacts cathodes of all the fuel cell units, of the second printed circuit substrate; wherein the membrane electrode assembly layer can be tightly placed in between the first printed circuit substrate and the second printed circuit substrate to be like a sandwich structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the appended drawings wherein:
Please refer to
Step (103) is to form anode current collection circuitries 211 on a single surface, which contacts the anodes of all the fuel cell units 23a, of a first printed circuit substrate 21 by way of the PCB process. Referring to
Step (105) is to form cathode current collection circuitries 251 on a single surface, which contacts the cathodes of all the fuel cell units 23a, of a second printed circuit substrate 25 by way of said PCB process. In
In the step (107): it is that tightly placing the membrane electrode assembly layer 23 in between the first printed circuit substrate 21 of completing the step (103) and the second printed circuit substrate 25 of completing the step (105) to be as a sandwich structure of a layer lamination integrated fuel cell 20. To laminate the sandwich structure in step (107) it may adopt epoxy, the stacking methods of printing or glue pieces and the laminating method of a thermocompressor to tightly combine together.
While proceeding to step (103), a further step to form serial and parallel circuits 213 can be engaged, that is, the serial and parallel circuits 213 can be manufactured on the single surface of the first printed substrate 21 via the PCB process. Since the serial and parallel circuits 213 electrically connecting to the anode current collection circuitries 211, the anodes of the fuel cell units 23a can then be in the connection of serial and parallel from the design of the serial and parallel circuits 213. All other corresponding serial and parallel circuits 213 may be connected as well, and therefore necessary provided voltage for each of fuel cell unit 23a is made successfully.
While proceeding to step (105), a further step to form serial and parallel circuits 253 can be engaged, that is, the serial and parallel circuits 253 can be manufactured on the single surface of the second printed substrate 25 via the PCB process. Since the serial and parallel circuits 253 electrically connecting to the anode current collection circuitries 251, the cathodes of the fuel cell units 23a can then be in the connection of serial and parallel from the design of the serial and parallel circuits 253. All other corresponding serial and parallel circuits 253 may be connected as well, and therefore necessary provided voltage for each of fuel cell unit 23a is made successfully.
After manufacturing the anode current collection circuitries 211, the serial and parallel circuits 213, the cathode current collection circuitries 251 and the serial and parallel circuits 253, an isolating layer 215 and another isolating layer 255 are individually formed on the first printed circuits 21 and the second printed circuits 25. Outside the anode current collection circuitries 211 and the cathode current collection circuitries 251 may be isolated by means of the two isolating layers 215, 255 so as to connect the circuitries 211 and the circuitries 215 to each fuel cell unit 23a only. The preferred embodiment for the isolating layers 215, 255 may coat soldermask paint.
A preferred embodiment of aforesaid fuel cell 20 is a layer lamination integrated direct methanol fuel cell.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
Claims
1. A method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell comprising:
- (a) providing a membrane electrode assembly layer having at least one fuel cell unit;
- (b) forming anode current collection circuitries on a single surface of a first printed circuit substrate by way of PCB process, wherein the surface of the first printed circuit substrate is contacted with anodes of all the fuel cell units;
- (c) forming cathode collecting circuits on a single surface of a second printed circuit substrate of by way of said PCB process, wherein the surface of the second printed circuit substrate is contacted with cathodes of all the fuel cell units; and
- (d) tightly placing the membrane electrode assembly layer in between the first printed circuit substrate of completing the step (b) and the second printed circuit substrate of completing the step (c) to be a sandwich structure.
2. The method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the step (b) further comprises the following step:
- forming serial and parallel circuits on the single surface with the anode current collection circuitries, wherein the serial and parallel circuits being electrically connected to the anode current collection circuitries.
3. The method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the step (c) further comprises the following step:
- forming serial and parallel circuits on the single surface with the cathode current collection circuitries, wherein the serial and parallel circuits being electrically connected to the cathode current collection circuitries.
4. The method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first printed circuit substrate can be one of the following: copper clad laminate, flexible printed circuit board, substrate for the PCB process.
5. The method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the second printed circuit substrate can be one of the following: copper clad laminate, flexible printed circuit board, substrate for the PCB process.
6. The method for manufacturing a layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the layer lamination integrated fuel cell is a layer lamination integrated direct methanol fuel cell.
7. A layer lamination integrated fuel cell comprising:
- a membrane electrode assembly layer having at least one fuel cell unit;
- a first printed circuit substrate having anode current collection circuitries, wherein the anode current collection circuitries are formed on a single surface of the first printed circuit substrate, and wherein the surface of the first printed circuit substrate is contacted with anodes of all the fuel cell units;
- a second printed circuit substrate having cathode current collection circuitries, wherein the cathode current collection circuitries are formed on a single surface of the second printed circuit substrate, and wherein the surface of the second printed circuit substrate is contacted with cathodes of all the fuel cell units;
- wherein the membrane electrode assembly layer can be tightly placed in between the first printed circuit substrate and the second printed circuit substrate to be as a sandwich structure.
8. The layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 7, wherein the first printed circuit substrate further comprises: serial and parallel circuits electrically connecting to the anode current collection circuitries are formed on the single surface with the anode current collection circuitries.
9. The layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 7, wherein the second printed circuit substrate further comprises: serial and parallel circuits electrically connecting to the cathode current collection circuitries are formed on the single surface with the cathode current collection circuitries.
10. The layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 7, wherein the first printed circuit substrate can be one of the following: copper clad laminate, flexible printed circuit board, substrate for the PCB process.
11. The layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 7, wherein the second printed circuit substrate can be one of the following: copper clad laminate, flexible printed circuit board, substrate for the PCB process.
12. The layer lamination integrated fuel cell of claim 7, wherein the layer lamination integrated fuel cell is a layer lamination integrated direct methanol fuel cell.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 21, 2005
Applicant:
Inventors: Hsi-Ming Shu (Taipei), Feng-Yi Deng (Taipei), Tsang-Ming Chang (Taipei)
Application Number: 11/076,124