Control Flap Assembly With Elastic Rim Seal for Fuel Cell Gas Tightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell systems, particularly in vehicles, there is a high requirement for tight control of gas flows to prevent leaks between the anode and cathode regions, and existing solutions struggle to maintain a gas-tight seal due to manufacturing tolerances and thermal dimensional changes.
Innovation Solution
An adjusting flap assembly with a disk-like control flap body and a control flap seat, featuring elastic sealing material, such as EPDM, on its outer circumferential region, ensures a complete closure of the gas flow channel by using a sealing material body that extends along the outer peripheral region and includes connecting sections for stability and a positive connection with the control flap body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid control flap body is used to maintain structural stability, then manufacturing precision can be improved, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to thermal dimensional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The control flap assembly uses a composite structure combining a rigid control flap body (made of plastic or metal) with elastic sealing material (elastomer such as EPDM) applied on its outer peripheral region. This composite design allows the rigid body to maintain structural stability and manufacturing precision while the elastic sealing material compensates for thermal dimensional changes and maintains sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid control flap body is made substantially rigid for structural stability, but only the outer peripheral region is covered with elastic sealing material where sealing is needed. This local application of different material properties optimizes both manufacturing precision and sealing reliability without unnecessary complexity throughout the entire component.
2Reliability
If elastic sealing material is added to the control flap, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thin layer of elastic sealing material is applied on the outer peripheral region of the control flap body. This flexible sealing layer provides reliable sealing against the control flap seat while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The sealing material body can extend in a ring-like manner along at least part of the outer peripheral region, providing effective sealing without excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If the sealing material body extends along the entire outer peripheral region, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing material body extends in a ring-like manner along at least part of the outer peripheral region of the control flap body, not necessarily the entire circumference. This localized sealing approach provides sufficient sealing reliability at the critical sealing interface with the control flap seat while simplifying the manufacturing process compared to covering the entire outer peripheral region.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents gas leaks by maintaining a gas-tight seal across manufacturing and thermal variations, ensuring reliable operation of fuel cell systems.
Implementation Method 1
a closing region is provided on the control flap which rests against the control flap seat in the closed position of the control flap, wherein the closing region comprises elastic sealing material, in particular elastomer material
Data Source
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AI summary
A control valve assembly for a gas flow in a fuel cell system, in particular in a vehicle, comprises a control valve housing (14) providing a gas flow channel (46), a control valve (16) adjustable in the control valve housing (14) between a closed position which substantially prevents a gas flow through the gas flow channel (46) and at least one open position which releases the gas flow channel (46) for flow, with a disc-shaped control valve body (24), wherein a control valve seat (26) is provided on the control valve housing (14) and a closing area (40) is provided on the control valve (16) which, in the closed position of the control valve (16), abuts the control valve seat (26), wherein the closing area (40) comprises elastic sealing material (54) on an outer circumferential area of the control valve body (24).