Fuel Cell Plate Blocking Plate Interdigitated Flow Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell bipolar plates with complex flow geometries are expensive due to time-consuming end milling, while simpler gang-milling methods result in less efficient mass transport of reactants to electrodes, leading to reduced fuel cell performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a blocking plate affixed to the edge of a fuel cell plate with linear flow channels to create terminated flow channels and an interdigitated flow field, enhancing reactant distribution and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If end milling machining operation is used to create complex flow geometries, then fuel cell efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow field configuration is segmented into multiple linear flow channels that can be independently manufactured using gang-milling, then combined through blocking plates to create the functional interdigitated pattern. This divides the complex geometry creation into simpler manufacturable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Linear flow channels are pre-formed using inexpensive gang-milling before assembly into the final fuel cell stack. The blocking plates are then added during assembly to terminate channels and create the interdigitated pattern, performing the complex geometry creation as a preliminary step rather than requiring expensive post-processing.
2Ease of manufacture
If gang-milling is used to create linear flow channels, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but mass transport efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Blocking plates serve as intermediary components that are affixed to the fuel cell plates during stack assembly. These blocking plates terminate linear flow channels and redirect flow to create the interdigitated pattern, thereby improving mass transport efficiency without requiring expensive end-milling of the bipolar plates themselves.
3Reliability
If complex flow geometries are machined, then reactant distribution is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex flow geometry is segmented into simple linear channels that can be rapidly manufactured by gang-milling, with the interdigitated pattern created by adding blocking plates during stack assembly rather than machining complex geometries directly into each bipolar plate.
Solution Approach 2:
Linear flow channels are preliminarily formed in all bipolar plates using fast gang-milling operations. The interdigitated flow pattern is then created as a final assembly step by positioning blocking plates, avoiding time-consuming post-machining operations on individual plates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a plate for a fuel cell includes the steps of providing flow channels in a fuel cell plate. Multiple fuel cell plates are joined into a cell stack assembly. A blocking plate is affixed to the fuel cell plate and at least partially obstructs the flow channels. The blocking plate is affixed to the fuel cell plate after the plates have been arranged into the cell stack assembly. The resulting fuel cell provides a fuel cell plate having a perimeter with an edge. The fuel cell plate includes flow channels extending to the edge. The blocking plate is affixed to the fuel cell plate at the edge to at least partially block the flow channel. In this manner, an inexpensive fuel cell plate may be used, and the blocking plate can be configured to create terminated flow channels, which may be used to provide an interdigitated flow field.