Fuel Cell Flow Field Plate Single Gas Source Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas-cooled fuel cell systems have complex control systems due to separate cooling and reacting gas supply systems, leading to high costs and difficulty in controlling gas flow, especially for small fuel cell groups.
Innovation Solution
A cathode flow field plate design that integrates cooling and reacting fields with a distributing rib and connecting pores, allowing gases from a single source to be divided into cooling and reacting gases, simplifying control and reducing costs by adjusting only the total gas flow rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cooling and reacting gas supply systems are used, then the fuel cell can maintain desirable humidity and electricity generation performance, but the control system becomes complicated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate cooling gas supply system and reacting gas supply system into a single integrated gas supply system. The flow field plate design allows a single gas source to serve both cooling channels and reacting channels, eliminating the need for separate fans or gas pumps and simplifying the control system while maintaining the ability to control humidity and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow field plate is designed with multi-functionality, where the same gas supply system serves dual purposes: providing cooling gas through cooling channels and providing reacting gas through reacting channels. The distributing ribs and connecting pores enable a single gas source to fulfill multiple functions that previously required separate systems.
2Reliability
If separate cooling and reacting gas supply systems are used, then the fuel cell can maintain desirable humidity and electricity generation performance, but the cost remains high for small fuel cell groups
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the cooling and reacting gas supply systems into one, the patent reduces the number of components (fans, gas pumps, control systems) required, thereby lowering manufacturing costs for small fuel cell groups while maintaining electricity generation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow field plate uses distributing ribs and connecting pores to create multiple flow paths from a single gas source, effectively copying the functionality of separate supply systems without requiring separate physical systems, thus reducing cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate cooling and reacting gas supply systems are used, then the fuel cell can control gas flow rates independently, but the gases are difficult to control and require multiple instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The single gas supply system is designed to be universal, serving both cooling and reacting functions. The distributing ribs and connecting pores automatically divide the gas flow between different channels, providing the flexibility of independent control without requiring multiple instruments or complex operation procedures.
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 simplifies gas flow control and reduces costs by using a single gas source, making it more economical for fuel cell commercialization while maintaining desirable humidity and electricity generation performance.
Implementation Method 1
The distributing rib and the connecting pores divide the gases into cooling gas and reacting gas
Implementation Method 2
The gas flowing between the distributing rib is cooling gas. It is directly released though the cooling channels, carrying away the heat generated during the reactions.
Implementation Method 3
For a flow field plate of this invention, the control of gas is relatively simple, and the instruments controlling the sources of the cooling and reacting gases can be omitted. Therefore, a fuel cell having the flow field plate of this invention incurs relatively low costs
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides a type of cathode flow field plate for fuel cells. The cathode flow field plate comprises a cooling flow field and a reacting flow field, gas entrances, gas exits and plate ribs. Here, an end of said flow field is connected to the gas entrances. The other end is connected to the gas exits. Said cooling flow field comprises of a distributing rib. Said distributing rib is located between the gas entrances and the gas exits. There are connecting pores between said gas entrances and the distributing rib. The cathode flow field plate for fuel cells provided in this invention uses the distributing rib and the connecting pores to divide the gas into cooling gas and reacting gas. Since a single gas source is used, the only parameter subject to adjustment is the total amount of gas flow. Thus the control of the gases is relatively simple. The devices controlling the sources of the cooling gas and the reacting gas can be minimized. Therefore, the fuel cells using the flow field plate provided in this invention can be low in cost.