Fuel Cell Separator Plate with Merging Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell separator plates fail to ensure uniform reaction distribution over the plate and electrodes, leading to inefficiencies in fuel cell performance and potential gas leakage.
Innovation Solution
A separator plate design with a fluid flow path defined by parallel channels that merge to decrease the cross-sectional area, maintaining a constant pressure gradient and flow speed, featuring sections such as a curved start, C-shaped, horse-iron-shaped, and return to the outer contour, with varying channel depths and widths to optimize reactant distribution and prevent gas shortcuts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If parallel channels maintain constant cross-sectional area from supply port to discharge port, then manufacturing is simple, but reaction distribution becomes non-uniform due to reactant consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The channel cross-sectional area is made variable along the flow direction, transitioning from a constant area design to a dynamic design where the area decreases in the reaction zone. This allows the flow velocity to increase as reactants are consumed, maintaining uniform reaction distribution across the electrode surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of the channels, specifically the cross-sectional area, are changed along the flow path. The channels have a larger cross-sectional area near the supply port and a smaller cross-sectional area near the discharge port, which compensates for reactant consumption and maintains uniform flow velocity and pressure distribution.
2Reliability
If separator plates provide fluid barrier between adjacent cells, then gas leakage is prevented, but pressure gradient maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The separator plate is designed to simultaneously perform multiple functions: providing a fluid barrier between adjacent cells to prevent gas leakage, maintaining a constant pressure gradient across the flow path, and directing fluid flow through the electrode. The integrated channel design achieves all these functions within a single component structure.
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 achieves uniform reaction distribution and improved fuel cell performance by maintaining constant pressure and flow speed, enhancing water management and oxidant transport, thereby preventing gas leakage and optimizing the use of the fuel cell structure.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining a constant pressure gradient and flow speed
Implementation Method 2
The separator plates further provide a fluid barrier between adjacent fuel cell structures so as to keep reactant fluid supplied to the anode of one cell from contaminating reactant fluid supplied to the cathode of another cell
Implementation Method 3
a fluid flow path is defined by a plurality of channels extending substantially in parallel to each other and leading a fluid from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack with a substantially circular or oval main surface wherein a fluid flow path is defined by a plurality of channels extending substantially in parallel to each other and leading a fluid from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port. Adjacent channels merge such as to decrease the number of parallel channels from the supply port to the discharge port, thereby decreasing a cross sectional area of the flow path. The plurality of parallel channels comprises the following sections: - a first section starting at the fluid supply port wherein the plurality of parallel channels extends in a curve along an outer contour of the main surface, - a second section wherein the plurality of parallel channels extend at a certain distance to the outer contour in a curve being parallel to said outer contour, - a C-shaped third section, - a central horse-iron-shaped forth section extending around a centre of the main surface, the orientation of the C-shaped forth section being opposite the orientation of the C-shaped third section, - a fifth section wherein the plurality of parallel channels is led back to the outer contour of the main surface , and - a final section wherein the plurality of parallel channels extends in a curve along the outer contour of the main surface until it reaches the fluid discharge port.