Fuel Cell Elementary Module With Conductive Bridges
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cells require heavy compression elements to maintain electrical connection and leaktightness, reducing power density per unit mass and involving complex manufacturing processes due to the use of bipolar plates with intricate shapes.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell design incorporates an elementary module with an oxidation unit, anode, and cathode blocks connected via conductive bridges for electrical contact and mechanical strength, eliminating the need for external compression and using fuel-leaktight adhesives for leaktightness, thereby reducing mass and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy compression means (end plates, compression tie rods, case) are used to ensure electrical connection and leaktightness, then reliability of electrical connection is improved, but weight of the fuel cell increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical connection function and mechanical support function into a single integrated component. The bipolar plate directly contacts and electrically connects the oxidation units while its rigid structure provides mechanical support to maintain compression, eliminating the need for separate heavy compression means like end plates and tie rods.
Solution Approach 2:
The bipolar plate performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as an electrical conductor for electron collection, a mechanical support structure for maintaining cell compression, and a flow distribution component for reactant gases. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, particularly heavy compression components.
2Reliability
If heavy compression means are used to ensure leaktightness, then reliability is improved, but power density per unit mass decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid bipolar plate structure merges mechanical support and sealing functions. The plate's stiffness maintains adequate compression on the membrane electrode assembly to ensure leaktightness, while its integrated design eliminates the weight of separate compression components, thereby preserving power density per unit mass.
3Reliability
If bipolar plates with complex shapes are used to ensure electrical connection and leaktightness, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bipolar plate features localized functional zones with different properties: conductive regions for electrical connection, rigid structural regions for mechanical support, and flow channels for gas distribution. This local differentiation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining an overall simpler plate geometry.
4Reliability
If complex bipolar plates are used to ensure electrical connection and leaktightness, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bipolar plate is manufactured with localized functional features rather than uniformly complex geometry. This allows standard manufacturing processes to be used for the base plate structure, while only specific localized areas require additional processing steps for conductive coatings, flow channels, or sealing features, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost.
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 design achieves higher power density per unit mass without external compression, simplifies manufacturing, and allows for easier module replacement by eliminating the need for heavy compression elements and complex bipolar plates.
Implementation Method 1
an oxidation unit configured to generate electrons by means of the oxidation of a fuel, preferably of dihydrogen, with an oxidant, preferably dioxygen
Implementation Method 2
containing an electrically conductive adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell including a plurality of elementary modules stacked on each other, at least one of the elementary modules including an oxidation unit generating electrons by oxidation of a fuel with an oxidant, an anode block including a fuel transporter support, for transporting an anode feed flow containing the fuel to an anode chamber, onto which is attached an anode electron collector, a cathode block including an oxidant transporter support, for transporting a cathode feed flow containing the oxidant to a cathode chamber, onto which is attached a cathode electron collector, the elementary module defining the anode chamber, respectively, the cathode chamber between the oxidation unit and the fuel transporter support, respectively, the oxidant transporter support, and being such that, prior to the assembly of the elementary module in said plurality, the anode block, respectively, the cathode block and the oxidation unit are attached to each other.