Fuel Cell Stack Asymmetric Wave Flow Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell stacks with alternating phases of wavy reactant gas flow fields experience variations in gas flow distribution and pressure loss, leading to inconsistent power generation performance and excessive load on metal separators.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design where the ends of wavy fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas flow fields are aligned and terminated at the central portion of the waveform amplitude, allowing for overlapping in the stacking direction, which reduces variations in flow distribution and pressure loss, and incorporates a coolant flow field formed between the back surfaces of these flow fields to manage load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If wavy reactant gas flow fields of adjacent fuel cells are arranged in different phases to form a coolant flow field, then the coolant flow field is formed between the back surfaces, but variations in gas flow distribution and pressure loss occur leading to inconsistent power generation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the wavy flow fields of adjacent fuel cells asymmetric in their phase arrangement. Specifically, the first fuel cell has its wavy reactant gas flow field in one phase while the second fuel cell has its wavy reactant gas flow field in a different phase, creating an asymmetric configuration that enables the coolant flow field to be formed between their back surfaces while maintaining consistent power generation performance
2Shape
If wavy reactant gas flow fields of adjacent fuel cells are arranged in different phases, then a coolant flow field is formed between back surfaces, but excessive load is applied to metal separators
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric phase arrangement of wavy flow fields between adjacent fuel cells creates a configuration where the back surfaces form a coolant flow field. This asymmetric design distributes the mechanical load more evenly across the metal separators, preventing excessive localized stress while maintaining the structural integrity needed for coolant flow
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell stack includes a first power generation unit and a second power generation unit. Wave-like first fuel gas flow passages of the first power generation unit and wave-like first fuel gas flow passages of the second power generation unit are set to mutually different phases. The ends of the first fuel gas flow passages form linear flow passage grooves that linearly extend in the wavelength direction from the center of the width of the wave-form amplitude.