Fuel Cell Cooling Water Direct Injection Separator Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel cells face efficiency reduction and performance degradation due to heat generation at the cathode, requiring complex cooling systems that are costly and inefficient, with direct cooling techniques often causing deformation and uneven surface pressure on the separator and reaction part.

Innovation Solution

A cooling water direct injection type fuel cell design featuring an air-side separator with a cooling water inlet aperture and a hydrogen-side separator with a protrusion, allowing cooling water to be mixed with air and injected into the cathode while maintaining a stable coupling force between the separator and reaction part, using a bonding depression and relief depression for secure adhesion and a gravity-directed air channel for efficient mixing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cooling water is directly injected to the cathode by folding the separator end, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the coupling force between the separator and reaction part is reduced causing deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecathode cooling efficiencyVSAvoidcoupling force between separator and reaction part

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The separator is divided into a body portion and a cooling water injection portion, where the cooling water injection portion is selectively folded to form the injection structure while the body portion maintains its original configuration to preserve coupling force with the reaction part

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Only the specific region of the separator that requires cooling water injection is folded to form the injection structure, while other regions maintain their original properties to ensure proper coupling and structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If cooling water is directly injected to the cathode, then cooling efficiency is improved, but surface pressure applied to the reaction part becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecathode cooling efficiencyVSAvoidsurface pressure uniformity on reaction part

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The separator structure is segmented such that the cooling water injection function is isolated to a specific portion, preventing interference with the uniform pressure distribution required by the reaction part

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separator acts as an intermediary structure that enables cooling water injection while simultaneously maintaining uniform surface pressure on the reaction part through its specific configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If a separate cooling water line is used for cooling, then cooling function is provided, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecathode cooling functionVSAvoidcooling system structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling water line is merged with the separator structure, integrating the cooling function into the existing separator rather than using a separate cooling system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The separator is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the separator structure and the cooling water delivery system, eliminating the need for separate cooling components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Effectively cools the cathode during power generation while maintaining the coupling force between the separator and reaction part, enhancing durability and reducing production costs by integrating cooling and humidification processes within a single system.

Implementation Method 1

cooling water drawn into the space between junction surfaces of the air-side separator and the hydrogen-side separator may be discharged through the gap between the protrusion and the cooling water inlet aperture, may be mixed with introduced air, and then may be drawn into the air channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10170777B2Cooling water direct injection type fuel cell

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A cooling water direct injection type fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes an air-side separator that has an air channel through which air flows, and a cooling water inlet aperture that is formed on an introduction portion of the air channel. A hydrogen-side separator is joined with the air-side separator and has a protrusion that is inserted into the cooling water inlet aperture. The protrusion has a diameter less than a diameter of the cooling water inlet aperture to form a gap between an outer circumferential surface of the protrusion and an inner circumferential surface of the cooling water inlet aperture. Cooling water drawn into space between the junction surfaces of the air-side separator and the hydrogen-side separator is discharged through the gap between the protrusion and the cooling water inlet aperture, is mixed with introduced air, and then is drawn into the air channel.