Fuel Cell Separator Squeezing Rib for Gas Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell separators with serpentine gas passages suffer from gas leakage and reduced power generation efficiency due to mismatched gas passage dividing ribs, leading to uneven gas flow and deformation of the power generating reaction portion.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a squeezing rib in one separator, which replaces protrusions and increases contact area with the power generating reaction portion, maintains the gas passage division ratio and reduces gas flow under the gas passage dividing rib, thereby suppressing gas leakage and ensuring efficient reactant gas supply and product water blow-off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas passage dividing ribs are used to divide serpentine gas passages in separators, then gas flow distribution is improved, but gas leakage occurs under the dividing ribs due to mismatch between opposing separators
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing rib is introduced as an intermediary element between the gas passage dividing rib and the power generating reaction portion. This sealing rib extends from the gas passage dividing rib toward the power generating reaction portion, creating a sealing structure that prevents gas from leaking under the dividing rib while maintaining proper gas flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a new dimensional element (the sealing rib extending in the layering direction) to the existing gas passage dividing structure. This additional dimension creates an overlapping configuration between opposing separators that blocks the leakage path without interfering with the primary gas flow division function.
2Reliability
If protrusions are added to separators to improve contact with power generating reaction portion, then sealing is improved, but gas passage division ratio becomes inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The separator surface is segmented into distinct functional regions: the gas passage dividing rib for flow distribution, the sealing rib for preventing leakage, and protrusions for contact and positioning. Each segment performs its specific function independently, allowing the sealing rib to improve sealing without disrupting the gas passage division ratio maintained by the dividing rib.
3Reliability
If gas passage dividing ribs of opposing separators are positioned to oppose each other to reduce gas leakage, then gas leakage decreases, but gas passage division ratio becomes inappropriate causing excessive or insufficient reactant gas supply
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing rib acts as a mediator that enables the gas passage dividing ribs of opposing separators to be positioned in an opposed configuration. By providing the sealing function separately, the dividing ribs can focus on maintaining appropriate gas passage division ratios for proper reactant gas supply without being constrained by leakage prevention requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell including separators opposing each other and squeezing a power generating reaction portion. Each of the separators includes a gas passage, a gas passage dividing rib, and a protrusion formed in the gas passage. In a first separator, which is an at least one separator of the separators opposing each other via the power generating reaction portion, at a region of the first separator opposing a gas passage dividing rib of a second separator, which is a separator opposing the first separator, a squeezing rib is formed and replaces the protrusion. The squeezing rib and the gas passage dividing rib of the second separator squeezes the power generating reaction portion. At the region of the first separator, a contact area of the squeezing rib with the power generating reaction portion is adapted to be larger than a contact area of the protrusion of the first separator with the power generating reaction portion in a case where the protrusion were formed without forming the squeezing rib.