Fuel Cell Stack Corner Restriction and Rotation Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell stacks require multiple external restriction members with high strength and increased size and cost to prevent misalignment and gas leakage, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design incorporating corner restriction members at two corners and a rotation suppressing member on one side surface, allowing the stack to rotate and deform without causing gas leakage, reducing the need for extensive reinforcement and minimizing mass and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple external restriction members are provided to suppress misalignment between unit cells, then gas leakage is prevented, but the mass and size of the stack increase
Solution Approach 1:
The external restriction members are segmented into corner restriction members (providing rotational support) and side surface restriction members (providing translational support), allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific function and reducing the overall material required
Solution Approach 2:
Different types of restriction members are placed at different locations: corner restriction members with higher stiffness at corners for rotational stability, and side surface restriction members with appropriate stiffness at side surfaces for positional stability, optimizing the distribution of structural support
2Reliability
If external restriction members are made with sufficient strength to withstand impact force, then misalignment is suppressed, but the cross-sectional area and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction function is segmented between corner members (handling rotation) and side members (handling translation), allowing each to be sized appropriately for its specific load case rather than all members needing to handle all possible loads
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameter is differentiated between corner restriction members (higher stiffness for rotational resistance) and side surface restriction members (appropriate stiffness for translational resistance), optimizing the mechanical properties for each location's specific requirements
3Reliability
If four external restriction members are provided on all surfaces, then misalignment in all directions is suppressed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction function is extracted and concentrated at the corner members which provide rotational stability, reducing the need for numerous side surface members while maintaining overall misalignment suppression
Solution Approach 2:
Corner restriction members serve multiple functions: they prevent rotation about axes passing through the corners and provide structural anchoring points, reducing the total number of components needed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a fuel cell stack capable of suppressing misalignment between unit cells that causes gas leakage while achieving low cost and a configuration with a small size and small mass.A fuel cell stack 10 includes: a stack body 2 in which a plurality of unit cells 20 is stacked; and an external restriction member that suppresses misalignment between the plurality of unit cells 20 in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the plurality of unit cells 20 is stacked. The external restriction member includes: corner restriction members 303, 304, provided so as to extend entirely over at least two corners of the stack body 2 along the first direction; and a rotation suppressing member 305 provided so as to face one side surface of the stack body 2, the side surface being positioned so as to intersect with a direction in which the stack body 2 may rotate about the corner restriction members 303, 304 as a rotation axis when an impact force along the second direction is applied to the stack body 2 from the outside.