Fuel Cell Stack Separator Gasket Sealing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel cell stacks face issues with sealing property degradation due to insufficient compression of gaskets, which can be exacerbated by the need for additional components to receive the reaction force, leading to increased part counts and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design where the first and second separators include protruding and recessed portions that intersect the gasket, with a support portion on the first separator to receive the reaction force, ensuring adequate compression and sealing without the need for additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated member for receiving reaction force of the gasket is provided separately from the separator, then the sealing property is improved, but the number of parts increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the gasket reaction force receiving function into the separator structure by forming a gasket reaction force receiving portion directly on the separator surface. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated member, thereby reducing the number of parts while maintaining the sealing property through the integrated structure that receives and distributes the gasket reaction force effectively.
2Device complexity
If the communicating portion intersects a part of the gasket, then the structure is simplified, but the gasket compression is insufficient and sealing property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a gasket reaction force receiving portion with specific geometric features (protrusions and recesses) at the precise location where the communicating portion intersects the gasket. This localized structural modification ensures that the gasket is adequately compressed and supported at the critical intersection area, maintaining sealing property without requiring complex overall structural changes.
3Reliability
If the gasket is compressed sufficiently to ensure sealing, then the sealing property is improved, but additional components are required which increases manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the gasket compression and sealing functions into the existing separator structure by forming a gasket reaction force receiving portion directly on the separator. This integration eliminates the need for additional components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while ensuring sufficient gasket compression and maintaining reliable sealing property through the optimized structural design.
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
This design effectively suppresses the deterioration of the sealing property and reduces the number of parts required, maintaining the sealing integrity while minimizing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The gasket is compressed in the stacking direction of the unit cells, and the reaction force of the compressed gasket ensures the sealing property
Implementation Method 2
The gasket is compressed in the stacking direction of the unit cells, and the reaction force of the compressed gasket ensures the sealing property
Implementation Method 3
the support portion of the first separator receives the reaction force of the gasket, which suppresses an increase in the number of parts and also suppresses deterioration of the sealing property
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell stack in which unit cells are stacked, wherein the unit cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly; an insulating member; a first separator; a second separator; and a gasket, a hole penetrates through the insulating member and the first and second separators, the gasket extends around the hole on the insulating member, a flow path portion is formed in at least one of the first and second separators, the first and second separators define a communicating portion, one of the first and second separators includes: first and second protruding portions; and a recessed portion, at least a part of the communicating portion is defined by the first and second protruding portions, the recessed portion, and the other of the first and second separators, and the first separator includes a support portion contacting and supporting the insulating member on a back side of the gasket.