Fuel Cell Metal Separator with Conductive Spacer for Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell stacks with thinner gas diffusion layers and shallower gas channels face reduced robustness and sealing issues due to decreased space for sealing, leading to potential gas leakage and compromised performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electrically conductive spacer between adjacent corrugated metal separators in the reaction area maintains a sealing space even with thinner gas diffusion layers and shallower gas channels, ensuring both high performance and reliability by maintaining sealing integrity and electrical conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thinner gas diffusion layers and shallower gas channels are used to improve performance, then gas diffusion and water discharge are enhanced, but sealing robustness deteriorates due to reduced sealing space
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically conductive member is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent metal separators to maintain electrical contact and structural stability. This mediator allows the sealing portion to be positioned closer to the membrane electrode assembly while still ensuring proper sealing function and electrical conductivity, thus enabling thinner gas diffusion layers without compromising sealing robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention differentiates the functional requirements of different regions: the reaction area uses thinner gas diffusion layers for improved performance, while the sealing portion maintains sufficient thickness for robust sealing. The electrically conductive member provides localized electrical conductivity in the sealing region, allowing the sealing space to be optimized independently from the gas diffusion layer thickness.
2Speed
If shallower gas channels are employed to increase reaction gas flow rate, then water discharge is improved, but sealing space is reduced leading to potential gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically conductive member serves as a mediator that maintains electrical continuity between separators while allowing the sealing groove to be positioned optimally. This enables shallower gas channels for improved flow dynamics while preserving sufficient sealing space to prevent gas leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the gas channel region with shallower depth for improved flow, the sealing portion with sufficient depth for robust sealing, and the electrically conductive member providing localized electrical pathways. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising overall performance.
3Length of moving object
If sealing portion depth is reduced to accommodate thinner components, then overall cell thickness is decreased, but sealing property and electrical conductivity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically conductive member acts as an intermediary that provides electrical conductivity pathways within the reduced sealing portion depth. This allows the overall cell thickness to be minimized while maintaining both sealing integrity and electrical conductivity through the strategic placement and design of the conductive member.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from relying solely on vertical depth for electrical conductivity to incorporating horizontal/directional conductivity pathways through the electrically conductive member. This dimensional shift allows the sealing portion to be thinner while still achieving adequate electrical contact through the conductive member's geometry and material properties.
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 solution effectively enhances the sealing property and reliability of fuel cells by maintaining a sufficient sealing space and electrical conduction, even with thinner gas diffusion layers and shallower gas channels, preventing gas leakage and ensuring consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive spacer between adjacent corrugated metal separators in the reaction area maintains a sealing space
Data Source
Figure 1~1(B)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fuel cell metal separator structure includes a first separator in contact with a first membrane electrode assembly and a second separator in contact with a second membrane electrode assembly. In the stacking direction of the first separator and the second separator and the membrane electrode assemblies, in an reaction area formed between the two membrane electrode assemblies, an electrically conductive member is put between the first separator and the second separator, and in the sealing portion on a periphery of the membrane electrode assembly, the first separator and second separator are in direct contact with each other so that a space for sealing is expanded due to the increased depth of the sealing grooves.