Deformable Protruding Sealing Member for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polymer electrolyte fuel cells face challenges in maintaining efficient gas utilization and power generation performance due to gaps between sealing members and electrodes, leading to gas leakage and reduced efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an annular sealing member with deformable protruding portions that deform to prevent gas flow through gaps between the sealing members and electrodes, ensuring air-tightness and efficient gas utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealing members are disposed between the anode-side separator and the cathode-side separator to prevent gas leakage, then gas sealing performance is improved, but gaps between the sealing members and electrodes cause gas to flow through as bypasses, reducing power generation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas sealing performanceVSAvoidpower generation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member incorporates a flexible protruding portion that can deform to fill gaps between the sealing member and electrodes. This flexible structure allows the sealing member to adapt to surface irregularities and maintain contact pressure, preventing gas from flowing through bypasses while preserving electrical connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing member transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can deform in response to gas pressure and electrode positioning. The protruding portion dynamically adjusts its shape to seal gaps, preventing gas leakage paths while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the polymer electrolyte membrane is configured with extended portions to allow sealing member disposal, then sealing capability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is divided into distinct functional regions: an annular body for structural support and positioning, and protruding portions for active sealing. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall assembly process by clearly defining the role of each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides gas sealing through the protruding portions, maintains mechanical spacing through the annular body, and ensures electrical connectivity by preventing gas bypasses. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If deformable protruding portions are added to the sealing member to prevent gas flow through gaps, then gas utilization efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsealing member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member features localized protruding portions at specific positions where gaps are most likely to occur. Rather than making the entire sealing member complex, only specific local regions are enhanced with deformable structures, maintaining simplicity while achieving the sealing function where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding portions automatically deform and seal gaps through the pressure differential created during fuel cell operation. The gas pressure itself drives the sealing action, eliminating the need for external actuation mechanisms or complex control systems, thereby maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution enhances power generation performance by effectively utilizing reaction gases even when gaps are present, simplifying the fuel cell structure and reducing production costs while improving assembly yield.

Implementation Method 1

at least one deformable protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the annular body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a polymer electrolyte membrane having a hydrogen ion conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon transport: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 3

a fuel cell that generates electricity and heat simultaneously by allowing a fuel gas such as hydrogen and an oxidant gas such as air, which are reaction gases, to electrochemically react respectively with an anode and a cathode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction: Fuel Cell

Data Source

PatentUS8003273B2Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and fuel cell sealing member for the same

Publication Date: 2011.08.23 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

To provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a reaction gas can be utilized efficiently for an electrode reaction even when a gap is formed between an anode-side sealing member and the end face of an anode and between a cathode-side sealing member and the end face of a cathode, and sufficient power generation performance can be ensured with a simple constitution. At least one of the anode-side sealing member and the cathode-side sealing member of the fuel cell includes an annular body, and at least one deformable protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the annular body.