Fuel Cell Double Sealing Structure for Anode Gas Leakage Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel cells face challenges in preventing gas leakage, particularly with flammable anode gases like hydrogen, which poses safety risks and requires enhanced sealing mechanisms to prevent leakage even when the sealing portions deteriorate.

Innovation Solution

A double sealing structure is implemented using first and second sealing portions around the anode electrode, with cathode gas manifold holes and a flow path between them, ensuring that any leaked anode gas is mixed or diluted with cathode gas before discharge, thereby preventing external leakage and enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single sealing portion is used to enclose the anode gas flow area, then the structure is simple, but anode gas leakage cannot be fully prevented when the sealing portion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of anode gas leakageVSAvoidsealing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is divided into two independent sealing portions: a first sealing portion enclosing the anode gas flow area and a second sealing portion enclosing the outer periphery of the first sealing portion. This segmentation creates redundant protection, where if the first sealing portion deteriorates, the second sealing portion still prevents anode gas leakage to the outside.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second sealing portion acts as a pre-prepared backup sealing mechanism. Before the first sealing portion fails completely, the second sealing portion is already in place to catch and contain any leaked anode gas, providing beforehand cushioning against the harmful effect of sealing failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the anode gas leaks through the first sealing portion, then the leakage path is created, but the leaked gas can be inactivated by mixing with cathode gas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanode gas leakage hazardVSAvoidflow path configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cathode gas flow path between the first and second sealing portions acts as an intermediary zone. When anode gas leaks through the first sealing portion, this intermediary cathode gas flow path mixes with the leaked anode gas, inactivating the flammable hydrogen before it can reach the outside environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harmful leakage of anode gas through the first sealing portion is converted into a beneficial mixing process. The leaked anode gas, instead of escaping directly to the environment, is mixed with cathode gas in the flow path between the sealing portions, transforming the hazard into a controlled chemical mixing zone that inactivates the flammable gas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 double sealing structure effectively prevents anode gas leakage and ensures that even if the sealing portions deteriorate, the gas is inactivated before discharge, significantly enhancing the safety and reliability of the fuel cell.

Implementation Method 1

the anode gas that has passed through the first sealing portion is mixed and burned with the cathode gas or is diluted with the cathode gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas mixing and dilution: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

a cell structure including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte that intervenes between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction through electrolyte: Fast Ion Conductor

Data Source

PatentUS11223053B2Fuel cell

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A fuel cell FC that includes a cell structure including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte that intervenes between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and a pair of separators that forms an anode gas flow area and a cathode gas flow area between the cell structure and an anode-side separator and a cathode-side separator of the pair of separators, respectively. The fuel cell further includes a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion that are disposed on an anode electrode side of the cell structure to enclose respectively the anode gas flow area and an outer periphery of the first sealing portion. A flow path for oxygen-containing gas is formed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.