Fuel Cell Separator Projections for Gas Sealability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber sheet-resin composite materials used in fuel cells often result in microvoids that lead to gas leakage due to incomplete resin impregnation, compromising the sealability and efficiency of the fuel cell.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating projections on the separators that contact the fiber sheets to press and reduce microvoids between fibers, thereby enhancing the sealing effectiveness and preventing gas leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fiber sheet-resin composite material is used as separator, then productivity and impact resistance are improved, but gas sealability deteriorates due to microvoids between fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by forming projections on the separator surface before assembly. These projections pre-compress the fiber sheet-resin composite material, reducing microvoids between fibers in advance. This preliminary compression ensures that when the separator is assembled into the fuel cell, the gas sealability is already optimized, preventing hydrogen and air leakage while maintaining the productivity benefits of using fiber sheet-resin composite materials.
2Strength
If resin impregnation is performed on fiber sheet, then mechanical strength is improved, but complete impregnation is difficult causing microvoids
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies segmentation by dividing the compression function into discrete projections distributed across the separator surface. Each projection acts as an independent compression element that locally reduces microvoids between fibers. This segmented approach ensures comprehensive compression coverage throughout the fiber sheet-resin composite material, achieving complete or near-complete resin impregnation while maintaining mechanical strength.
3Reliability
If projections are added to separator, then gas sealability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by adding projections only at specific locations on the separator surface where compression is needed, rather than uniformly modifying the entire separator. The projections are strategically positioned to contact and compress the fiber sheet-resin composite material at critical sealing points. This localized modification improves gas sealability by reducing microvoids where they most affect performance, while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 projections effectively reduce microvoids between fibers, minimizing gas leakage and improving the overall sealability and performance of the fuel cell by ensuring a tighter seal during assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the anode-side separator having a projection on a surface stacked on the anode-side sealant, or the cathode-side separator having a projection on a surface stacked on the cathode-side sealant. The projections press the fiber sheets, and reduce the microvoids between fibers to reduce leakage to outside.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; a cathode positioned on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane; an anode positioned on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane; a cathode-side sealant positioned on a surface of the cathode different from the electrolyte membrane side of the cathode; an anode-side sealant positioned on a surface of the anode different from the electrolyte membrane side of the anode; a cathode-side separator positioned on a surface of the cathode-side sealant different from the cathode side of the cathode-side sealant; and an anode-side separator positioned on a surface of the anode-side sealant different from the anode side of the anode-side sealant. The anode-side separator has a projection on a surface stacked on the anode-side sealant, or the cathode-side separator has a projection on a surface stacked on the cathode-side sealant.