Fuel Cell Separator Step Structure for Low Pressure-Loss Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems face challenges in achieving both thickness reduction and pressure-loss reduction in the distribution of gases and coolant, particularly when using flat metallic plates as separators, leading to increased air pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
The use of metallic separators with a channel-equipped separator featuring a step around the manifold to increase the height of gas inlets and employing seal members with varying thicknesses to optimize gas and coolant channels, ensuring efficient distribution and reduced pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If flat metallic plates are used as separators, then thickness reduction is achieved, but pressure loss of air increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a stepped structure on the separator surface, creating multiple height levels (dimensions) to solve the contradiction. The step portion increases the air inlet height without increasing the overall separator thickness, allowing thin separators to maintain adequate air inlet dimensions for reduced pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution through the stepped structure. The step portion locally increases the air inlet height where needed, while other regions maintain the reduced thickness. This localized modification allows the separator to achieve both thickness reduction and adequate air inlet dimensions.
2Length of stationary object
If separator thickness is reduced, then overall fuel cell thickness decreases, but gas inlet height becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped structure creates a vertical dimension variation on the separator surface, allowing the gas inlet height to be increased through the step portion without increasing the overall fuel cell thickness. This dimensional approach enables independent optimization of inlet height and overall thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator surface is segmented into different height levels through the stepped structure. This segmentation allows the gas inlet region to have increased height while other regions maintain reduced thickness, enabling the fuel cell to achieve both compact overall dimensions and adequate local inlet dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell includes metallic separators and has an anode-gas channel, a cathode-gas channel, and a coolant channel. The metallic separators include a flat separator and a channel-equipped separator. A peripheral edge of a manifold of the channel-equipped separator whose first surface has a channel serving as the coolant channel is provided with a step. The step surrounds the peripheral edge of the manifold to increase a height of a gas inlet disposed at a second surface of the channel-equipped separator. A shortened seal member having a thickness smaller than a thickness of a peripheral seal member provided in a region other than the peripheral edge of the manifold is disposed on the step to surround the peripheral edge of the manifold.