Fuel Cell Sealing Structure with Step-Shaped Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell sealing structures are prone to gas leakage due to holes in the adhesive-filling area adjacent to the electrolyte membrane, leading to potential burning and waste of the expensive electrolyte membrane when enhancing reliability, as described in Chinese patent application No. 99808103.5.
Innovation Solution
A sealing structure for fuel cells comprising a proton exchange membrane, gas separator plates, gas diffusion layers, and catalysts arranged in a step shape with a reverse volume or area configuration, filled with a cured sealing material to form a hermetic seal, and optionally using sealing gaskets and compressing forces to ensure a tight bond without wasting the electrolyte membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the adhesive-filled area is widened to enhance sealing reliability, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the electrolyte membrane is wasted inevitably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional sealing approach by creating a sealing structure that extends outward from the electrolyte membrane rather than widening the adhesive area on the membrane itself. The sealing structure includes a sealing layer and sealing protrusion that form a hermetic seal at the boundary between the electrolyte membrane and gas diffusion layer, preventing the need to widen the adhesive-filled area on the membrane and thus avoiding membrane waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealing structure as an intermediary element between the electrolyte membrane and the external environment. This sealing structure, comprising a sealing layer and sealing protrusion, acts as a mediator that provides hermetic sealing without requiring direct expansion of the adhesive area on the expensive electrolyte membrane, thereby protecting the membrane from waste.
2Reliability
If the adhesive-filled area is increased to prevent holes and improve sealing, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the cost increases due to electrolyte membrane waste
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the adhesive-filled area on the electrolyte membrane, the patent inverts the approach by creating a sealing structure that extends outward from the membrane boundary. The sealing protrusion and sealing layer form a hermetic seal at the interface between the electrolyte membrane and gas diffusion layer, achieving reliable sealing without consuming additional membrane material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive electrolyte membrane with a more economical sealing structure for the sealing function. The sealing structure, made of sealing material and forming a sealing protrusion, serves as a cost-effective alternative to using additional electrolyte membrane area for sealing purposes, thereby reducing overall cost while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Device complexity
If holes exist in the adhesive-filling area adjacent to the electrolyte membrane, then the structure remains simple, but gas leakage and membrane burning occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the adhesive-filled area and creates a dedicated sealing structure. The sealing protrusion and sealing layer are separated from the main adhesive filling area, forming a distinct hermetic seal at the boundary between the electrolyte membrane and gas diffusion layer. This extraction ensures gas-tightness without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure acts as an intermediary barrier between the adhesive-filling area and the external environment. The sealing layer and sealing protrusion create a hermetic seal that prevents gas leakage through holes in the adhesive area, while maintaining the simplicity of the overall structure by using a focused sealing mechanism rather than complex multi-layer designs.
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
The proposed sealing structure prevents electrolyte membrane burning and reduces waste by creating a reliable, hermetic seal that maintains the integrity of the fuel cell, enhancing its operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing structure of fuel cell comprising: a proton exchange membrane, a first gas separator plate, a first gas diffusion layer and a first catalyst on the one side of the proton exchange membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing structure for a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing the same, in this structure, a first gas separator, a first gas diffusion layer and a first catalyst on the one side, a proton exchange membrane, a second catalyst, a second gas diffusion layer and a second gas separator on the other side, are in turn stacked, wherein an area of the second gas diffusion layer is smaller than an area of the proton exchange membrane. The area of the proton exchange membrane is not larger than an area of the first gas diffusion layer, and the area of the first gas diffusion layer is smaller than an area of the first gas separator, therefore, the shape of the front edges of these elements are step-shaped. The area obverse to the step shape is filled with cured sealing material.