Fuel Cell Separator Seal Cut-outs for Water Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cells, blisters form due to condensed water between seal members and metal separators, reducing reactant gas and coolant flow rates, and existing solutions require complex structures like coolant discharge grooves to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell design where elastic seal members with exposed separator body portions allow for easy and reliable discharge of condensed water, preventing blisters without the need for additional grooves, thus simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member is formed integrally with a metal separator, then sealing performance is improved, but condensed water accumulates between the seal member and metal plate causing blisters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful condensed water from the sealed space by providing discharge paths (grooves or holes) that allow water to escape from between the seal member and metal plate, preventing blister formation while maintaining the integral structure's sealing benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (discharge grooves or holes in the metal plate) that mediates between the seal member and metal plate, providing a controlled path for condensed water to escape rather than accumulating and causing blisters
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coolant discharge grooves are formed to prevent blisters, then blister formation is prevented, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metal plate structure by forming discrete grooves or holes at specific locations, creating a simplified discharge path system that prevents blisters without requiring complex overall structural changes to the separator assembly
3Reliability
If water permeates into the rubber seal member continuously, then sealing is maintained, but blisters form reducing gas flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful effect of water accumulation by providing discharge paths that remove condensed water from the seal interface, preventing blister formation that would otherwise reduce the cross-sectional area and gas flow rate, while allowing the seal member to maintain its water permeability for sealing
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 effectively discharges condensed water and prevents blister formation, maintaining gas flow rates and simplifying the fuel cell structure.
Implementation Method 1
Elastic seal members are formed integrally with the separators
Implementation Method 2
water permeated into a rubber serving as a seal member may be retained between the seal member and the metal plate undesirably. As a result, blisters are formed
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells. Each of the unit cells includes a membrane electrode assembly, and an anode side metal separator and a cathode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly therebetween. In a surface of the cathode side metal separator, metal portions are exposed in at least part of a second flat portion in an area surrounded by seal lines SL of the anode side metal separator. Cutouts are formed on a surface of the cathode side metal separator by cutting at least part of the second flat portion up to the metal portions thereby to expose the metal portions through the cutouts.