Fuel Cell Cathode Pump Layout for Wiring Tolerance Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturability of fuel cell systems is limited due to alignment issues between the pump and pump drive device, leading to precision errors in power wiring and potential interference between components.
Innovation Solution
The pump and pump drive device are arranged such that their axes slope relative to the system axis direction, allowing the power wire to naturally bend and absorb length precision errors, while the pump drive device is positioned to compactly fit within the system, and the cathode system's pipe layout is optimized to avoid interference with the frame by sloping the discharge port axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pump and pump drive device are arranged with aligned axes parallel to the system axis direction, then the layout is simple and compact, but the power wire length precision errors cannot be absorbed and manufacturing alignment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pump axis direction is designed to slope relative to the drive device axis direction, creating an asymmetric arrangement. This asymmetry allows the power wire to naturally bend and absorb length precision errors during assembly, significantly improving manufacturability while maintaining a compact layout within the fuel cell system.
2Volume of stationary object
If the pump axis direction is parallel to the system axis direction, then the power wire alignment is precise, but the pump drive device does not compactly fit within the system
Solution Approach 1:
The pump axis direction is oriented at an angle relative to both the system axis direction and the drive device axis direction, utilizing a third dimensional orientation. This angular arrangement allows the pump drive device to compactly fit within the system volume while the sloped configuration enables natural bending of the power wire to absorb alignment errors.
3Ease of manufacture
If the discharge port axis is parallel to the system width direction, then the pipe layout is simple, but the cathode system pipe interferes with the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port axis is designed to slope relative to the system width direction, creating an asymmetric orientation. This angular arrangement effectively positions the cathode system pipe to avoid interference with the frame during assembly, improving manufacturability and assembly efficiency while eliminating harmful component 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
This configuration improves manufacturability by reducing precision errors in power wiring and allowing for a more compact and efficient layout of the fuel cell system, enhancing the system's overall performance and assembly efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the power wire linking the pump drive device and the pump tends to bend naturally. By this bending, error, etc. in the length precision of the power wiring tends to be absorbed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention has an object of improving manufacturability of a fuel cell system. A fuel cell system includes a stack, anode system and cathode system. The cathode system includes a pump which pressure feeds oxidant gas to the stack, and a pump drive device which is electrically connected via a power wire to the pump, and supplies drive voltage to the pump. In a bottom view, the pump and the pump drive device are arranged side by side in a system axis direction, which is a longitudinal direction of the fuel cell system. In a bottom view, the pump axis direction slopes relative to the system axis direction and drive device axis direction.