Fuel Cell Gas Supply Layer With Zigzag Grooves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel cell stacks face challenges in achieving high power generation efficiency and uniform gas supply due to limitations in the design of fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layers, which affect the distribution and drainage of reactants and byproducts.

Innovation Solution

A fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer with a sheet-like porous body layer and zigzag or wave-shaped gas passage grooves on its surface, allowing for improved gas permeation and diffusion, and a fuel cell separator with a gas shielding plate and overlapping rectangular regions to enhance gas flow paths and drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layers are used, then the structure is simple, but the power generation efficiency is insufficient due to non-uniform gas supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generation efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer includes a first region and a second region. In the first region, a plurality of first gas passage grooves are formed in parallel with each other along a long side of the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer. In the second region, a plurality of second gas passage grooves are formed in parallel with each other along a short side of the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If gas passage grooves are formed on the porous body layer, then gas supply uniformity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas supply uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

the plurality of gas passage grooves are formed in a zigzag shape or a wave shape from an inflow side to an outflow side of the gas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If the porous body layer has high porosity for gas permeation, then gas diffusion is improved, but mechanical strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas permeation efficiencyVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

a sheet-like porous body layer capable of gas permeating and gas diffusing, and having conductivity; and a plurality of gas passage grooves formed on one surface of the porous body layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 configuration increases power generation efficiency and drainability by ensuring uniform gas supply and efficient discharge of unused gases and water vapor, reducing migration resistance and maintaining higher reactant concentrations.

Implementation Method 1

a sheet-like porous body layer capable of gas permeating and gas diffusing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas permeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

a sheet-like porous body layer capable of gas permeating and gas diffusing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS11670780B2Fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer, fuel cell separator and fuel cell stack

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 ENOMOTO

AI summary

A fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer includes a sheet-like porous body layer, and a plurality of gas passage grooves formed on one surface of the porous body layer in parallel and formed in a zigzag shape or a wave shape respectively. As viewed in a plan view, a first rectangular region where circumscribes one gas passage groove and a second rectangular region where circumscribes a gas passage groove adjacent to the one gas passage groove overlap along a region in contact each other. An overlapping region where the first rectangular region and the second rectangular region overlap exists at any depth position of the grooves. According to the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer, it is possible to increase a power generation efficiency of a fuel cell.