Embedded Smart Plates for Fuel Cell Stack Voltage Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell stack monitoring systems require physical connections to each bipolar plate, making it impractical to measure cell voltage and high frequency resistance (HFR) across a large number of fuel cells without extensive wiring, which is cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing embedded smart plates with optical transceivers on each fuel cell stack plate, communicating through aggregator devices at each end of the stack to collect and transmit measurement data wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical connections and enabling efficient monitoring of voltage and HFR across multiple fuel cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical connections are made to each bipolar plate for monitoring, then measurement precision of cell voltage and HFR is improved, but device complexity increases due to extensive wiring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical electrical connections (mechanical wiring system) with optical communication. Optical transceivers mounted on bipolar plates communicate cell voltage and HFR data through optical signals to aggregator devices, eliminating the need for extensive physical wiring while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical transceivers that create optical signal copies of electrical measurement data. Instead of physically connecting measurement circuits to each bipolar plate, the transceivers convert electrical signals to optical signals that can be transmitted without physical wiring, reducing device complexity while preserving measurement accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If optical transceivers are mounted on each bipolar plate for wireless monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The optical transceivers serve multiple functions: they mount on bipolar plates, measure cell voltage and HFR, convert electrical signals to optical signals, and transmit data wirelessly. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, improving ease of operation while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceivers are self-contained units that perform measurement, signal conversion, and transmission functions autonomously on each bipolar plate. Each transceiver independently communicates with aggregator devices without requiring external wiring or manual intervention, simplifying operation despite the presence of additional components.
3Reliability
If extensive wiring is used to connect each fuel cell, then reliability of data collection is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens due to installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical wiring installation with optical transceiver mounting. The transceivers attach to bipolar plates and communicate through optical signals, eliminating complex wiring installation while maintaining reliable data collection. This significantly ease of manufacture by reducing assembly complexity.
4Loss of time
If optical transceivers are used for communication, then loss of time in data collection is reduced, but device complexity increases due to optical signal devices
Solution Approach 1:
The optical transceivers enable continuous wireless transmission of cell voltage and HFR data from each bipolar plate to aggregator devices. This continuous optical communication eliminates the time required for physical wiring connections and manual data collection, reducing data collection time despite the presence of additional optical components.
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
Enables efficient and wireless monitoring of fuel cell stack parameters, reducing the complexity and cost of wiring while maintaining accurate data collection, even in the presence of malfunctioning components, thereby improving the reliability and maintenance of fuel cell stacks.
Implementation Method 1
Each smart plate includes optical transceivers on the top side and the bottom side of the smart plate for communicating with adjacent smart plates and the aggregator devices
Data Source
AI summary
A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of stack plates, and a plurality of embedded smart plates. The stack plates are between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack, and the plurality of embedded smart plates are mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and each smart plate including optical transceivers on the top side and the bottom side. The system further includes first and second aggregator devices, said first and second aggregator devices including at least one optical transceiver for communicating with the embedded smart plate adjacent to the first or second aggregator device, where one aggregator device initiates communication with the embedded smart plates and the other aggregator device completes communication.