Fuel Cell Stack Deformation Prevention Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell stacks are prone to deformation due to impact forces from uneven road surfaces, collisions, and external impacts, which can lead to safety issues such as hydrogen leakage and potential fires.
Innovation Solution
A deformation prevention frame with an 'I' shaped cross-section, comprising vertical and horizontal plates made of reinforcing materials, is integrated between fuel cell stack modules to absorb and distribute impact forces, preventing 'D' shaped deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deformation prevention frame is added to protect fuel cell stacks from impact forces, then the protection against deformation and hydrogen leakage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation prevention frame is divided into multiple vertical plates and horizontal plates that are separately positioned between fuel cell stacks. This segmentation allows the frame to be assembled in a modular manner while providing comprehensive protection across multiple stacks simultaneously, resolving the contradiction by making the complex protective structure manageable and efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation prevention frame serves multiple functions: it prevents deformation of individual fuel cell stacks, distributes impact forces across multiple stacks, and protects against hydrogen leakage. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural complexity by providing comprehensive protection in a single integrated system.
2Strength
If vertical plates and horizontal plates are integrated to form an 'I' shaped cross-section, then the rigidity and impact resistance are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical plates and horizontal plates are manufactured as separate components with standard cross-sectional shapes, avoiding the need to produce complex integrated 'I' shaped structures. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing while the assembled configuration provides the desired rigidity and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple simple plate structures are combined to create the deformation prevention frame system. The vertical and horizontal plates work together to provide enhanced rigidity and impact resistance, achieving the structural strength of an integrated 'I' beam through assembly rather than monolithic manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for preventing deformation of a fuel cell stack module includes vertical plates and a horizontal plate, The vertical plates and the horizontal plate are combined to form a deformation prevention frame and disposed between a plurality of fuel cell stack modules, which is vertically stacked, and on both surfaces of the respective fuel cell stack modules which are perpendicular to an end plate. Each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks includes an end plate disposed perpendicular to the vertical plates.