Fuel Cell Stack Seal Projections with Integrated Coolant Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell stacks face challenges in reducing size while maintaining cooling efficiency, as existing designs often compromise on cooling efficiency when minimizing size.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell stack incorporates gas seal projections and coolant seal projections with recesses serving as coolant passages on the separators, which also include resistance portions to prevent coolant flow out of the power generation portion, allowing for a more efficient cooling process without additional space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coolant passages are provided between adjacent fuel cells, then cooling function is achieved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coolant passage function with the seal projection structure. The seal projections that perform sealing functions also contain recesses that serve as coolant passages, merging two separate functions into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate coolant passage structures between adjacent fuel cells, reducing device complexity while maintaining cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The seal projections are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: sealing between the separator and membrane electrode assembly, and serving as coolant passages. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the fuel cell stack while ensuring reliable cooling
2Reliability
If seal projections are added to separators, then sealing performance improves, but separator size and stack volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the coolant passages within the seal projections themselves rather than adding separate coolant passage structures. The recesses in the seal projections serve dual purposes: maintaining seal integrity and providing coolant flow paths, thereby improving sealing performance without proportionally increasing separator volume
3Volume of stationary object
If coolant passages are integrated into seal projections, then space is saved, but coolant flow control becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates resistance portions at specific locations within the seal projections to control coolant flow distribution. These resistance portions create localized flow resistance that ensures uniform coolant distribution across the membrane electrode assembly, making coolant flow control easier despite the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance portions act as intermediaries that regulate coolant flow between the coolant passages in the seal projections and the cooling channels. They mediate the flow distribution to prevent uneven cooling and ensure optimal thermal management
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell in a fuel cell stack is provided with a gas seal projection and a coolant seal projection projecting from at least one of two separators toward a membrane electrode assembly. The gas seal projection and the coolant seal projection are provided with recesses serving as coolant passages on the side opposite to the membrane electrode assembly. At least one of the gas seal projection and the coolant seal projection is provided with a resistance portion for suppressing a flow of a coolant out of a power generation portion cooling portion.