Fuel Cell Stack Rubber Seal Deformation Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell stacks face challenges in achieving sufficient sealing performance due to inadequate surface pressure application on seal lines, as the tightening load can deform the seal bead in a direction opposite to the membrane electrode assembly, potentially creating gaps and compromising sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rubber seal member between the seal bead and the frame of the electrolyte membrane, with a thickness set to ensure greater deformation in the stacking direction than the seal bead, allowing for compensatory deformation and maintaining seal surface pressure, thus preventing gaps and ensuring desired sealing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a tightening load is applied to the stack body, then the seal bead is pressed and deformed, but the surface pressure on the seal surface of the resin material becomes insufficient and sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the seal bead from resin material to rubber material. Rubber has superior elasticity and deformability compared to resin, allowing the seal bead to undergo larger deformation under tightening load without losing sealing contact. This material parameter change enables the seal bead to maintain sufficient surface pressure on the seal surface even when pressed by the tightening load, thereby resolving the contradiction between applying tightening force and maintaining sealing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a rubber seal bead that can be considered as a flexible element. The rubber material allows the seal bead to deform flexibly under load, conforming to the seal surface while maintaining contact pressure. This flexibility enables the seal bead to adapt to surface irregularities and maintain effective sealing under the tightening load, solving the problem of insufficient surface pressure with rigid or less elastic materials
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 ensures sufficient surface pressure is applied to the seal surfaces, enhancing the sealing performance of the fuel cell stack by compensating for the deformation of the seal bead, thereby preventing leaks and maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a thickness of the rubber seal member in the stacking direction before the tightening load is applied to the stack body is set such that, when the tightening load is applied to the stack body, an amount of deformation of the rubber seal member in the stacking direction is larger than an amount of deformation of the seal bead in the stacking direction
Data Source
AI summary
In a fuel cell stack and a method of producing the fuel cell stack, a first thickness of a first rubber seal member in a stacking direction before a tightening load is applied to a stack body is set such that, when the tightening load is applied to the stack body, a first amount of deformation of the first rubber seal member in the stacking direction is larger than a second amount of deformation of a top part of a first seal bead in the stacking direction.