Fuel Cell Separator Manifold Bending to Prevent Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell separators made of metal materials experience corrosion at the inner cross-sectional parts of manifolds due to exposure to water and coolant, and the use of anti-corrosion gaskets can lead to misplacement and uneven surface pressure during lamination, causing damage.
Innovation Solution
The inner cross-sectional parts of the manifolds are bent and bonded to prevent direct exposure to moisture, eliminating the need for additional anti-corrosion gaskets and reducing the risk of misplacement and damage during lamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anti-corrosion gaskets are used to protect manifold inner cross-sectional parts, then corrosion prevention is improved, but misplacement and uneven surface pressure occur during lamination causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the anti-corrosion gasket component entirely and replaces it with a bent manifold structure where the inner cross-sectional part is folded back to contact the outer surface, eliminating the source of misplacement and alignment issues while maintaining corrosion protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the corrosion protection function with the manifold structure itself by bending the manifold material to form a protective flap, combining structural and protective functions into a single integrated component
2Reliability
If anti-corrosion gaskets are used to protect manifold inner cross-sectional parts, then corrosion prevention is improved, but uneven surface pressure causes damage during lamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the separate gasket component that caused uneven pressure distribution, replacing it with an integrated bent manifold structure that distributes pressure uniformly across the contact surface
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold structure itself provides the protection it needs by forming its own protective flap, eliminating the need for additional components and ensuring uniform pressure distribution through self-contact
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional flat manifold structure is used, then manufacturing is simple, but inner cross-sectional parts are exposed to water causing corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the normally flat manifold structure by bending the inner cross-sectional part into a folded configuration, creating a protective flap that prevents water exposure while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standard forming processes
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a separator assembly for a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack including the same. The separator assembly includes (I) a plate-shaped first separator including a first reaction area where a flow path to which a reaction gas or a coolant flows on a center thereof and first manifolds to which the reaction gas or the coolant is introduced or discharged to opposite side areas of the first reaction area, and (ii) a plate-shaped second separator integrated with the first separator by bonding and including a second reaction area corresponding to a position where the first reaction area is formed and second manifolds communicating with the first manifolds. The first and second separators may have at least a portion of an inner edge of the respective first and second manifolds that are bent, thereby being disposed on an interface between the first and second separators.