Fuel Cell Separating Plate Segmentation for Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional separating plates in fuel cell stacks are thick, leading to a large temperature gradient, reduced moisture redistribution, delayed heat transfer, and flooding, which restricts reaction gases and causes corrosion and conductivity issues, affecting the performance and durability of the fuel cell stack.

Innovation Solution

A thinner separating plate design with inclined communication passageways and separate channels for hydrogen, oxygen, and coolant, allowing for efficient fluid transfer and minimizing pressure drop, while maintaining air-tightness and reducing the thickness of the plate to enhance moisture distribution and heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the separating plate is made thick to ensure structural strength and sealing, then strength and reliability are improved, but temperature gradient increases, moisture redistribution is reduced, and heat transfer is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparating plate strengthVSAvoidtemperature gradient

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The separating plate is divided into multiple thin plates (first plate, second plate, third plate) rather than using a single thick plate. This segmentation reduces the overall thickness while maintaining structural integrity through the stacking arrangement, thereby reducing the temperature gradient and improving heat transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separating plate structure uses composite construction by stacking multiple plates with different channel configurations (hydrogen channels in first plate, oxygen channels in second plate, coolant channels in third plate). This composite structure achieves both mechanical strength and thermal performance by distributing functions across multiple thin layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If the separating plate thickness is reduced to improve heat transfer and moisture distribution, then temperature gradient and moisture redistribution are improved, but structural strength and sealing reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The thin plate structure is segmented into multiple functional layers that work together to maintain sealing reliability. Each thin plate can be optimized for its specific function (gas distribution, coolant flow, sealing) while the stack as a whole maintains structural integrity and sealing performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple thin plates are merged together in a stacked arrangement to form the complete separating plate assembly. This merging combines the advantages of thin plates (good heat and moisture transfer) while achieving the structural strength and sealing reliability that would be difficult to obtain in a single thin component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional straight communication passageways are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but pressure drop increases and fluid transfer efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassageway manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidpressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The communication passageways are designed with inclined (curved) geometry rather than straight paths. This curvature optimizes fluid flow by reducing turbulence and pressure drop, improving transfer efficiency from manifolds to channels while remaining manufacturable through standard machining processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design improves power performance by promoting effective moisture and heat transfer, reducing corrosion, and enhancing the durability of the fuel cell stack by minimizing the thickness of the separating plate and optimizing fluid flow channels.

Implementation Method 1

allowing for efficient fluid transfer and minimizing pressure drop

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a heat and water control system for dissipating reaction heat and controlling the operational temperature of the fuel cell stack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

An adhesive material may be provided at least one of: the coolant communication passageway, the first coolant channel, and the second coolant channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS7709128B2Separating plate for fuel cell

Publication Date: 2010.05.04 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A separating plate for a fuel cell includes first and second plates, each provided with a hydrogen channel, an oxygen channel, and a coolant channel. The first and second plates are attached to one another to form a main plate such that the first and second hydrogen, oxygen, and coolant channels compose main hydrogen, oxygen, and coolant channels, respectively. The main hydrogen and oxygen channels are fluidly isolated from each other. Distal ends of the main channels each communicate with a manifold through a communication passageway configured to supply hydrogen, oxygen, or coolant to a corresponding one of the main channels.