Fuel Cell Stacking Height Control With Non-Contact Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stacking apparatuses for fuel cells lack design flexibility and suffer from inefficiencies due to limitations in configuring the apparatus, leading to issues such as improper positioning and increased conveyance time.
Innovation Solution
A stacking apparatus equipped with a meter to measure the height of the stacking surface non-contactually, a controller to calculate the necessary elevation, and an adjuster, preferably with a servomotor, to adjust the height accurately, ensuring precise positioning and efficient stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cell posture changer is disposed in an upper portion of the stacking apparatus, then the fuel cells can be positioned and stacked, but the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus configuration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the cell posture changer in the upper portion as in conventional apparatus, the present invention places it in the lower portion. This inversion allows the stacking surface to be positioned above the fuel cells, enabling the meter to measure height from above and the positioning bar to extend upward, thereby increasing design freedom while maintaining functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial arrangement by positioning the cell posture changer horizontally in the lower portion rather than vertically in the upper portion. The positioning bar extends in the vertical direction from the lower portion, creating a different dimensional configuration that achieves the same positioning function with greater design flexibility
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional stacking apparatus configuration is used, then the structure is simplified, but energy efficiency is reduced due to increased conveyance distance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates a meter that non-contactly measures the height of the stacking surface and feeds this information back to a controller. The controller adjusts the cell posture changer based on this feedback to maintain optimal stacking surface height, enabling precise control of conveyance distance and improving energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces contact-based mechanical measurement with non-contact optical measurement using a meter. This substitution enables more precise and responsive control of the stacking surface height, optimizing the conveyance distance and energy efficiency without mechanical interference
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
The apparatus allows for high design freedom and improved energy efficiency by maintaining the stacking surface at a predetermined height, reducing conveyance distance and ensuring proper alignment of fuel cells, thereby enhancing the stacking process.
Implementation Method 1
a meter (e.g., a meter 40 to be described later) disposed above a stacking surface (e.g., a stacking surface P to be described later) that is an upper surface of an uppermost one of the fuel cells to form a stack, the meter being capable of measuring a height of the stacking surface in a non-contact manner without contacting with the stacking surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a stacking apparatus that can improve energy efficiency when stacking fuel cells, by improving efficiency in positioning and holding the fuel cells. A stacking apparatus 1 includes: a meter 40 disposed above a stacking surface P that is the upper surface of the uppermost one of the fuel cells FC to form a stack, the meter 40 being capable of measuring a height of the stacking surface P in a non-contact manner without contacting with the stacking surface P; a calculator 90 configured to calculate an elevation amount for maintaining the height of the stacking surface P measured by the meter 40 at a predetermined height; and an adjuster 20 configured to adjust the height of the stacking surface P based on the elevation amount calculated by the calculator 90.