Fuel Cell Stack End Assembly Using a Universal Interface Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of fuel cell stacks is hindered by the need for expensive forming tools for unique plate halves in both bipolar plates and interface plates, leading to increased technical effort and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
An end assembly for a fuel cell stack is designed with an interface plate that incorporates a plate half of a bipolar plate, eliminating the need for a unique plate half and thus reducing the requirement for additional forming tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a unique plate half is used on the side facing the stack compression hardware in the interface plate, then the interface plate can be properly connected to the compression hardware, but additional expensive forming tools are required for manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The interface plate is designed to use the same plate half geometry as the bipolar plates, allowing the same forming tool to manufacture both components. This universal design eliminates the need for dedicated forming tools for interface plate plate halves, reducing tooling costs while maintaining proper connection functionality with the compression hardware
2Reliability
If a unique plate half is used on the side facing the stack compression hardware in the interface plate, then the interface plate can be properly connected to the compression hardware, but the part count increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing the interface plate to use the same plate half as bipolar plates, the invention reduces the variety of unique parts needed in the fuel cell stack. This standardization decreases the overall part count and simplifies manufacturing while ensuring reliable connection to the compression hardware through proven geometric designs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
The invention is related to an end assembly (10) of a fuel cell stack (100) comprising an interface plate (12) comprising a plate half (22) of a bipolar plate (20), and a compression hardware (14) for compressing the fuel cell stack (100), wherein an end side (18) of the interface plate (12) is connected to the compression hardware (14) and a stack side (16) of the interface plate (12) is connected to a first or last membrane electrode assembly (30).