Fuel Cell Stack Clamping Device With Molded Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell stack designs face challenges in achieving effective sealing and electrical insulation, leading to moisture penetration and increased production complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design featuring a clamping device with molded-on insulation and a circumferential lip seal, utilizing materials like rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and thermoplastic polyurethane, which are electrically insulating and chemically resistant, to prevent moisture ingress and simplify the sealing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamping device is used to clamp the fuel cell units and stack closure element, then the sealing and electrical insulation are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for molded-on insulation and integration with the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device integrates multiple functions into a single component: the clamping function (mechanical fastening), the sealing function (circumferential seal), and the electrical insulation function (molded-on insulation). This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable sealing and insulation without requiring separate components for each function, thus not increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device utilizes composite material structures, specifically the combination of the clamping device base material with molded-on insulation material. This composite approach provides both mechanical clamping strength and electrical insulation properties in a single integrated component, resolving the contradiction between reliability (sealing and insulation) and device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a circumferential seal with recesses for the clamping device is used, then moisture penetration is prevented, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for precise recess positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses for the clamping device are pre-formed as integral features of the stack closure element during its manufacturing process. This preliminary action ensures precise positioning of the recesses relative to the sealing surface, eliminating the need for post-assembly adjustments and ensuring proper alignment for effective moisture prevention without requiring excessive manufacturing precision in subsequent assembly steps.
3Reliability
If insulation is molded onto the clamping device in the area of the housing, then electrical insulation of adjacent fuel cell units is improved, but the production costs increase due to the additional molding process
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation is molded onto the clamping device as an integrated feature during the clamping device manufacturing process itself, rather than as a separate post-processing step. This merging of the insulation application with the base component manufacturing utilizes existing molding capabilities, avoiding additional production steps and costs while still achieving improved electrical insulation of adjacent fuel cell units.
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 provides a reliable sealing system that prevents moisture penetration, reduces production costs, and optimizes installation space, while ensuring electrical insulation and efficient assembly of the fuel cell stack.
Implementation Method 1
a circumferential seal, in particular a lip seal, is arranged between the housing and the at least one stack closure element
Implementation Method 2
the clamping device being electrically insulated at least in the region of the recesses
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a fuel cell stack (1) which is made of a plurality of stacked fuel cell units (2) and at least one stack terminating element (3). The stacked fuel cell units (2) and the stack terminating element (3) can be clamped by means of a clamping device (4), and at least the clamped fuel cell units (2) are surrounded by a housing (7). A peripheral seal (6), in particular a lip seal (6.1), which has recesses (6.2) for receiving the clamping device (4), is arranged between the housing (7) and the at least one stack terminating element (3), said clamping device (4) being electrically insulated at least in the region of the recesses (6.2).