Fuel Cell Ring Joints for Sealing and Gas Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell batteries with complex bipolar plates and sealing joints are costly, thick, and difficult to produce, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced compactness due to the need for different plates for anode and cathode sides, and existing solutions damage flexible electrolytic membranes.
Innovation Solution
The use of ring-shaped metal or polymer joints with U-shaped cross-sections and flared arms, where injector joints allow gas passage and sealing joints maintain a seal, reducing the need for different plates and enabling direct application against the electrolytic membrane, thus simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bipolar plates with complex sealing joints are used, then sealing function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing joint is divided into two separate functional parts: a gas-tight sealing portion that prevents gas leakage between manifolds, and an injector portion with local passages that enables controlled gas distribution to cells. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The same basic joint structure is used for both supply manifolds and evacuation manifolds, as well as for both anode and cathode sides. The only variation is the presence or absence of local passages in the injector portion, making the joint a universal component that reduces part variety and manufacturing complexity.
2Reliability
If different plates are used for anode and cathode sides, then proper gas distribution is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal joint design is employed for all manifold connections throughout the stack, regardless of whether they are on the anode side, cathode side, supply manifold, or evacuation manifold. The joint's functionality is adapted through the configuration of local passages rather than requiring different plate designs, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If existing sealing solutions are applied against electrolytic membrane, then sealing is achieved, but the membrane is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The joint is segmented into a gas-tight sealing portion that contacts the membrane for sealing, and an injector portion with passages for gas distribution. The sealing portion is designed to be gentle on the membrane while the injector portion handles the gas flow, separating the sealing function from the injection function to prevent membrane damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the joint have different properties: the sealing portion has a continuous structure for gas-tight sealing against the membrane, while the injector portion has local passages for controlled gas distribution. This local differentiation allows the sealing area to be protective while the injection area enables gas flow.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell battery comprises stacked cells, comprising a superposition of plates, called bipolar plates, between which assemblies comprising both an electrolytic membrane and an electrode on each side of the membrane are placed. The plates are provided, on their periphery, with apertures serving to deliver reactive gases, and with apertures serving to evacuate reaction products, the apertures of adjacent plates being aligned in order to form supply or evacuation manifolds that pass right through the stack of cells. The apertures of the manifolds are encircled by individual ring joints that are separated from one another and separate from the bipolar plates, certain joints forming sealing joints between the aperture and a cell, and other joints forming injectors for a fluid to be delivered to a cell or to be evacuated from a cell.