Fuel Cell Stack Manifold Structure for Crack-Resistant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell and electrolytic cell stack devices face issues with sealing material cracking due to thermal expansion and shrinkage, leading to gas leaks and reduced long-term reliability, as the manifold's high rigidity generates stress that cracks the sealing material during bonding.
Innovation Solution
The cell stack device incorporates a first manifold with a frame body and a plate body of varying rigidity, where the plate body with lower rigidity relieves stress from thermal shrinkage, and the frame body is bonded to the plate body using a thermal-resistant material, reducing the likelihood of sealing material cracking and gas leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the manifold is made with high rigidity to ensure structural strength, then the structural strength is improved, but the sealing material cracks due to thermal expansion and shrinkage stress
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is divided into two distinct parts: a frame body with high rigidity for structural support, and a plate body with lower rigidity that can flex during thermal expansion and shrinkage. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the manifold are given different rigidity properties tailored to their specific functions. The frame body maintains high rigidity for structural integrity, while the plate body has lower rigidity to accommodate thermal deformation. This local differentiation of material properties allows the system to simultaneously achieve both structural strength and sealing reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the manifold rigidity is increased to maintain structural integrity, then structural integrity is improved, but stress from thermal shrinkage increases causing sealing material to crack
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the manifold into frame body and plate body with different rigidities, the thermal stress is isolated to the plate body portion which is designed to accommodate it. The frame body maintains structural integrity without being subjected to the full thermal stress, thus resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and thermal stress resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigidity parameter is changed locally in the plate body to be lower than the frame body. This parameter change allows the plate body to flex and absorb thermal stress, preventing it from transmitting to the frame body and causing cracks in the sealing material, while the frame body maintains its high rigidity for structural integrity.
3Strength
If the sealing material is bonded to a rigid manifold, then bonding strength is improved, but the sealing material cracks during thermal cycling
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding interface is segmented between the frame body (high rigidity) and plate body (lower rigidity). The sealing material is bonded to both parts, but the plate body's lower rigidity allows it to flex during thermal cycling, reducing stress on the bonding interface and preventing cracks, while the frame body provides stable anchoring points for the bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate body is designed with lower rigidity beforehand to act as a cushioning element during thermal cycling. This pre-designed flexibility absorbs the thermal expansion and shrinkage stresses, protecting the bonding interface and sealing material from crack formation, thereby extending the service life of the sealed structure.
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 effectively suppresses cracking of the sealing material and gas leaks, enhancing the long-term reliability and power generation efficiency by managing thermal stress and maintaining a stable gas flow within the fuel cell stack device.
Implementation Method 1
the plate body with lower rigidity relieves stress from thermal shrinkage
Implementation Method 2
the frame body is bonded to the plate body using a thermal-resistant material
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
A cell stack device in the present disclosure includes: a cell stack including a plurality of arranged cells; and a first manifold configured to fix a first end of each of the cells with a sealing material and supply reactive gas to the cells 3. The first manifold includes a frame body configured to fix the first end of each of the cells with the sealing material inside the frame body, and a plate body bonded to a first end portion of the frame body and having a rigidity lower than that of the frame body. A module in the present disclosure includes a housing and the cell stack device housed in the housing. Furthermore, a module housing device in the present disclosure includes an external casing, the module in the external casing, and an auxiliary device configured to operate the module in the external casing.