Fuel Cell Separator Pre-Pressing With Bridge Deformation Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing fuel cell separators face issues with deformation of bead parts due to pre-pressing, leading to variations in surface pressure and potential leakage in flow passages.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of deformation suppressing members to prevent deformation at bridge parts and bottom parts during the manufacturing process, ensuring that bead parts of two separators face away from each other, with the members covering the bridge parts to maintain structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pre-pressing is performed to plastically deform the bead parts by applying a load, then the surface pressure on the bead parts is improved, but the separator may be deformed at portions that are not bead parts
Solution Approach 1:
A deformation suppressing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the pressing device and the separator. This member selectively suppresses deformation at bridge parts and bottom parts while allowing the bead parts to be plastically deformed, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving proper surface pressure and preventing unwanted separator deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation suppressing member provides localized deformation control, allowing different regions of the separator to have different deformation characteristics during pre-pressing. The bead parts are allowed to deform for proper surface pressure while bridge parts and bottom parts are protected from deformation
2Reliability
If the bead parts are plastically deformed to ensure proper surface pressure, then the sealing performance is improved, but variations in surface pressure may occur leading to flow passage leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation suppressing member acts as a mediator that ensures uniform deformation conditions across all bead parts. By preventing unwanted deformation at bridge parts and bottom parts, it ensures that the applied load is distributed evenly, resulting in uniform surface pressure and consistent sealing performance across all flow passages
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 method effectively suppresses deformation of the separators, maintaining consistent surface pressure and preventing leakage in flow passages, thereby enhancing the reliability and performance of fuel cell separators.
Implementation Method 1
a deformation suppressing member is used to suppress deformation at the plurality of bridge parts and at a portion of the bottom part between the plurality of bridge parts
Implementation Method 2
plastically deforming a bead part of a first separator and a bead part of a second separator by applying a preload to the bead part of the first separator and the bead part of the second separator
Data Source
AI summary
To suppress a situation in which a separator is deformed due to pre-pressing performed on bead parts, a manufacturing method is provided that includes a press forming step of forming a first separator and a second separator by performing press forming on metal materials. Next, in a joining step, the first separator and the second separator are joined such that bead parts and a plurality of bridge parts face away from bead parts and a plurality of bridge parts. The manufacturing method also includes a pre-pressing step of plastically deforming the bead parts of the first separator and the second separator by applying a preload to the bead parts, the first separator and the second separator being joined together. In this pre-pressing step, deformation is suppressed at the plurality of bridge parts and at portions on bottom parts between the plurality of bridge parts.