Fuel Cell Frame With Convex Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cells face challenges in reducing cell thickness while minimizing pressure loss, as increasing the thickness of the insulating frame to facilitate gas flow results in narrowed gas flow paths and higher pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell design incorporates a frame member with a varying thickness, where the fluid introduction and derivation site has a larger thickness than the skeleton, forming a flow path with convexities that increase the sectional area and reduce pressure loss, allowing for a thinner skeleton and overall cell thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the thickness of the insulating frame is increased to facilitate gas flow, then the gas flow path is improved, but the cell thickness increases and the gas flow path from the MEGA to the slit is narrowed resulting in high pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, where the fluid introduction and derivation site has a larger thickness than the skeleton. This local quality variation allows the frame to provide adequate gas flow facilitation at critical locations while maintaining thinner overall dimensions, thereby resolving the contradiction between gas flow facilitation and cell thickness reduction.
2Ease of operation
If the thickness of the insulating frame is increased to facilitate gas flow, then the gas flow path is improved, but the gas flow path from the MEGA to the slit is narrowed resulting in high pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
By concentrating the increased thickness at the fluid introduction and derivation site rather than uniformly increasing frame thickness, the design optimizes gas flow at the critical inlet/outlet regions while maintaining narrower flow paths elsewhere. This local enhancement reduces pressure loss without requiring overall frame thickening.
3Length of stationary object
If the thickness of the frame member is reduced to decrease cell thickness, then the cell thickness is reduced, but the sectional area of the flow path is decreased resulting in increased pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member implements localized thickness enhancement at the fluid introduction and derivation site, creating a thickness gradient throughout the structure. This allows the overall cell thickness to be reduced while maintaining adequate flow path sectional area at critical locations, thereby minimizing pressure loss despite reduced overall dimensions.
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 effectively reduces cell thickness and pressure loss by increasing the sectional area of the flow path while maintaining the height of the frame member, enhancing water discharge properties and reducing the likelihood of electrical shorts.
Implementation Method 1
a flow path for delivering a fluid in a horizontal direction of the frame member... increasing the sectional area and reduce pressure loss
Implementation Method 2
generates electrical energy by electrochemical reaction of fuel gas (such as hydrogen) and oxidant gas (such as oxygen and air)
Implementation Method 3
the hydrogen (H2) as the fuel gas which is supplied from the gas flow path and the gas diffusion layer, is protonated by the catalytic action of the catalyst layer
Implementation Method 4
the protonated hydrogen moves to the oxidant electrode (cathode) through the electrolyte membrane
Implementation Method 5
Excess water penetrates the gas diffusion layer and then is discharged to the outside of the system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7
AI summary
To provide a fuel cell configured to enable cell thickness reduction and low pressure loss. A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, a frame member disposed around the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, and a pair of separators stacked on the frame member to sandwich the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the frame member, wherein the separators include separator-side manifolds; wherein the frame member includes a skeleton connecting to the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, an opening for housing the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, frame member-side manifolds aligned and disposed to communicate with the separator-side manifolds, and a fluid introduction and derivation site between the opening and the frame member-side manifolds; wherein the fluid introduction and derivation site includes convexities to form a flow path for delivering a fluid in a horizontal direction of the frame member; and wherein a thickness of the convexities is larger than a thickness of the skeleton.