Fuel Cell Separator Rib Liquid Water Flow Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell separators face issues with power generation efficiency and flooding due to liquid water blocking gas flow paths, despite previous optimizations in gas flow path design and rib configurations.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell separator with ribs and liquid water flow paths on the gas flow path side, featuring expanded regions with larger cross-sectional areas to separate and efficiently discharge liquid water, reducing the likelihood of flooding and power generation inefficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid water flow paths are added on the rib surface to discharge water, then flooding is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas flow path function and liquid water discharge function into a single integrated rib structure. The rib surface simultaneously serves as a gas flow path on its lower surface and provides liquid water flow paths on its upper surface, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining flooding resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it separates gas flow paths, provides structural support, and serves as a liquid water discharge channel. By making the rib multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate water discharge components, thus reducing device complexity while improving reliability against flooding.
2Productivity
If expanded regions are provided in liquid water flow paths to increase cross-sectional area, then water discharge efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing expanded regions only at specific locations along the liquid water flow paths, particularly at water discharge ports. This localized expansion optimizes water discharge efficiency at critical points without requiring precision control throughout the entire flow path, thereby reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements.
3Power
If liquid water flow paths are separated from gas flow paths, then power generation efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rib surface into distinct functional zones: the lower surface serves as the gas flow path while the upper surface contains the liquid water flow paths. This segmentation ensures that gas and liquid water flows remain separated to maintain power generation efficiency, while the shared rib structure prevents the need for additional separating components, thus avoiding increased 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 solution effectively reduces flooding and maintains power generation performance by ensuring liquid water is directed out of the gas flow paths, preventing blockages and pressure losses, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of the fuel cell.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell separator having a plurality of gas flow paths separated from each other by ribs, wherein a liquid water flow path is provided on a surface of each of the ribs on the gas flow path side and separately from the gas flow paths
Implementation Method 2
Each of the liquid water flow paths has an expanded region having a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of a remaining region of the liquid water flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell separator includes ribs. The fuel cell separator has a plurality of gas flow paths separated from each other by the ribs. The fuel cell separator has, on a surface of the ribs on the gas flow path side, a liquid water flow path provided separately from the gas flow paths along the gas flow paths. The liquid water flow path has an expanded region in which a cross-sectional area of the liquid water flow path in a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid water flow path is larger than a cross-sectional area of the liquid water flow path in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction in a remaining region of the liquid water flow path.