Fuel Cell Reactant Gas Channel Radial Seal Design

Solution Overview

Problem

In fuel cell systems, reactant gases can leak from connections between reactant gas channel parts and the case, leading to potential accumulation and safety issues, and existing solutions to prevent this often increase the size and weight of the case.

Innovation Solution

A fuel cell system with channel seal members arranged radially around case through holes, comprising an inner seal member and an outer seal member, forming a connection channel that guides any leaking gas into the case's internal space, preventing further leakage without the need for additional cover means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional cover means are provided to shield the connections between reactant gas channel parts and the case, then leakage prevention is improved, but the size and weight of the case increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidcase weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A seal member is introduced as an intermediary component between the case and the reactant gas channel part. The seal member includes a sealing portion that contacts both the case and the channel part, creating an effective seal without requiring additional cover means. This mediator prevents fuel gas leakage while maintaining the original case structure and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is extracted from the case structure itself and implemented as a separate, dedicated seal member. Instead of integrating sealing covers into the case design, the sealing capability is taken out as an independent component that can be easily installed and replaced, preventing leakage without modifying the case's overall size or weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If additional cover means are provided to shield the connections between reactant gas channel parts and the case, then leakage prevention is improved, but the size of the case increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidcase size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A seal member is introduced as an intermediary component between the case and the reactant gas channel part. The seal member includes a sealing portion that contacts both the case and the channel part, creating an effective seal without requiring additional cover means. This mediator prevents fuel gas leakage while maintaining the original case structure and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member utilizes a flexible sealing structure that can deform to accommodate connection tolerances and surface irregularities. This flexible sealing approach provides effective leakage prevention without requiring rigid cover means that would increase the case's external dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the case is designed with sealed connections, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidconnection structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A seal member is introduced as an intermediary component between the case and the reactant gas channel part. The seal member includes a sealing portion that contacts both the case and the channel part, creating an effective seal without requiring additional cover means. This mediator prevents fuel gas leakage while maintaining the original case structure and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is segmented into a separate seal member that can be independently designed, manufactured, and installed. This segmentation simplifies the overall connection structure by separating the sealing requirement from the structural connection, making the system easier to assemble and maintain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11626600B2Fuel cell system

Publication Date: 2023.04.11 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A reactant gas channel part provided outside an auxiliary machinery case of a fuel cell system is connected to a case through hole. A plurality of channel seal members are provided between the auxiliary machinery case and the reactant gas channel part, where the channel seal members are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the case through hole and surround the case through hole. The reactant gas channel part has an opposing surface that faces a surrounding portion of the auxiliary machinery case that surrounds the case through hole. The channel seal members include an inner seal member abutting on the opposing surface and an outer seal member disposed radially outside of it. A connection channel communicating with an internal space of the auxiliary machinery case is formed between the inner seal member and the outer seal member.