Fuel Cell Module Layout With Integrated Inlet-Outlet Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles face challenges with large volume, complex layout, and maintenance difficulties due to separate arrangement of gas distribution, control, and thermal management components, which occupy space and complicate installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An integrated fuel cell system design with a main body supported by vertically arranged frames, incorporating an inlet and outlet assembly with L-shaped supporting panels, and a compact layout of components such as air, cooling liquid, and hydrogen inlets and outlets, along with a hydrogen recirculation ejector and buffer valve assembly, to reduce system volume and improve maintainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gas distribution components, control components, and thermal management devices are arranged separately at the connection end of the fuel cell stack, then each component can be independently designed and maintained, but the overall system volume increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates gas distribution components, control components, and thermal management devices into a unified structure at the connection end of the fuel cell stack. The gas distribution plate serves as the base structure, with control components and thermal management devices mounted directly on it, eliminating the need for separate housings and reducing overall system volume while maintaining independent functionality of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas distribution plate performs multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes reactant gases to the fuel cell stack, serves as a mounting platform for control components and thermal management devices, and provides structural support. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing system volume while maintaining ease of manufacture and maintenance.
2Reliability
If an independent filtration device is used to ensure hydrogen air quality, then the quality of hydrogen air is improved, but the system space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration device is integrated into the existing gas distribution structure rather than being installed as a separate independent unit. The filter elements are incorporated into the gas distribution plate assembly, allowing them to share the same mounting space and connection interfaces, thereby maintaining hydrogen air quality while reducing overall system space occupation.
3Ease of repair
If components are arranged in a separate layout, then each component can be independently maintained, but the system becomes complex and installation and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated structure is designed with modular segments where gas distribution components, control components, and thermal management devices are arranged in distinct zones on the gas distribution plate. Each zone can be accessed and maintained independently through designated access points, preserving ease of repair while reducing overall layout complexity through the unified platform architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell integrated system includes a main body having a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, a top side, and a bottom side and being supported on a plurality of vertically arranged supporting frames; an inlet and outlet assembly having an air inlet, a cooling liquid inlet, a hydrogen inlet, a hydrogen outlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a tail gas outlet arranged on the front side of the main body; a fuel cell module communicated with the inlet and outlet assembly and arranged on the right side of the main body; wherein the inlet and outlet assembly comprises a first L shaped supporting panel, a second L-shaped supporting panel attached to the first L-shaped supporting panel to provide a rectangular supporting panel.