Fuel Cell Separator Structure Simplification via Electrode Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell separator structures are complex and require numerous steps for fabrication, especially when using metal separators, which involves costly insulating processing due to exposed metal portions.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell design eliminates the need for holes in the separators by integrating reactant gas supply and discharge passages through the electrolyte electrode assembly, simplifying the separator structure and reducing fabrication steps by using holes only within the electrolyte electrode assembly for connecting reactant gas passages and flow fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If holes are formed in the separators to create flow fields, then reactant gas can be supplied to the electrode surfaces, but the separator structure becomes complicated and fabrication steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flow field forming function from the separator and relocates it to the electrolyte electrode assembly. The holes are now formed only in the electrolyte electrode assembly, not in the separators. This extraction simplifies the separator structure while maintaining the reactant gas supply function through the electrolyte electrode assembly's holes that connect the supply passages to the flow fields.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the flow field structure with the electrolyte electrode assembly by forming holes directly in it. This integration combines the functions of the electrolyte electrode assembly and the flow field into a single component, eliminating the need for separate flow field formation in the separators and reducing overall structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If holes are formed in metal separators, then flow fields are created, but insulating processing is required on exposed metal portions increasing fabrication steps and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hole formation process from the metal separator and relocates it to the electrolyte electrode assembly. This extraction eliminates the need for insulating processing on metal separators since the holes are now formed in the electrolyte electrode assembly, which does not require the same insulating treatment. This significantly simplifies the fabrication process for metal separator-based fuel cells.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple holes are formed in separators for flow fields, then reactant gas distribution is improved, but the number of fabrication steps increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the multi-hole flow field structure from the separator and implements it in the electrolyte electrode assembly. This allows multiple holes to be formed in a single component (electrolyte electrode assembly) rather than requiring corresponding holes in multiple separators, thereby improving reactant gas distribution while reducing the total number of fabrication steps and increasing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A power generation cell of a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and a first separator and a second separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. First supply holes, first discharge holes, second supply holes and second discharge holes extend through the membrane electrode assembly in a stacking direction. The first supply holes connect a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas flow field. The first discharge holes connect a fuel gas discharge passage and the fuel gas flow field. The second supply holes connect an oxygen-containing gas supply passage and an oxygen-containing gas flow field. The second discharge holes connect an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and the oxygen-containing gas flow field.