End Cell Heater for Fuel Cell Stack Winter Start
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell stacks experience deteriorated initial start ability and oscillation ability during winter due to water freezing in end cells at cold temperatures, preventing electricity generation.
Innovation Solution
An end cell heater with a plate-shaped support having fuel and air channels, incorporating positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements and electricity conduction blocks, which is easily coupled to the fuel cell stack to prevent water freezing by generating heat and ensuring electrical connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fuel cell stack operates in cold winter conditions, then the fuel cell structure remains intact, but water in the end cells freezes causing deteriorated initial start ability and oscillation ability
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is installed in the end cells to perform preliminary heating action before the fuel cell stack is started in cold conditions. This prevents water freezing in advance, ensuring the end cells are ready for operation and improving initial start ability during winter
Solution Approach 2:
The heater is specifically positioned in the end cells rather than throughout the entire fuel cell stack. This localized heating approach addresses the specific problem of water freezing in end cells, which have different thermal characteristics and are more prone to freezing, without unnecessarily heating other parts of the stack
2Reliability
If a heater is installed in the end cells to prevent water freezing, then initial start ability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater structure serves multiple functions: it heats the end cells to prevent water freezing, provides structural support for the end cell assembly, and facilitates electrical connection through the electricity conduction blocks. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The heater elements are integrated with the existing end cell structure rather than being added as completely separate components. The electricity conduction blocks serve both electrical connection and mechanical coupling purposes, merging multiple functions into unified components that reduce overall system complexity
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 end cell heater effectively prevents water freezing in fuel cell stacks, enhancing initial start ability and oscillation performance by providing heat and ensuring smooth electricity transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generating part provided in the support 100 and generating heat; and the heat generating part may be formed of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements 200
Implementation Method 2
electricity conduction blocks 600 coupled to the support 100 so as to penetrate through both surfaces of the support 100
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell includes end cell heaters each disposed on outer sides of end cells disposed at both ends of the fuel cell stack. The end cell heaters each include a support formed in a plate shape having fuel channels and air channels. A heat generating part is formed in the support. Electricity conduction blocks are coupled to the support.