Fuel Cell Stack End Plate Coolant Channel Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell stacks face challenges in maintaining the temperature of end power generation cells, leading to decreased performance due to heat radiation, resulting in a complex and large structure.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design with a coolant flow field and coolant passage that allows coolant to flow along electrode surfaces, including a coolant channel between insulating members and end plates, simplifying the structure and preventing temperature decrease without the need for dedicated heat retaining plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a coolant channel with a turn is formed on the manifold plate to allow coolant to flow upward and then downward, then the end power generation cells can be kept warm, but the thickness of the manifold plate is significantly increased and the overall size of the fuel cell stack becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the coolant flow path from a three-dimensional turn within the manifold plate to a two-dimensional path along the end plate surface. The coolant channel is formed between the insulating member and end plate, allowing coolant to flow along the end plate surface in a planar configuration rather than requiring vertical turns that increase manifold plate thickness.
2Temperature
If a coolant channel with a turn is formed on the manifold plate, then the end power generation cells can be kept warm, but the structure of the fuel cell stack becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coolant channel formation from the manifold plate and relocates it to the space between the insulating member and end plate. This separation simplifies the manifold plate structure by removing the complex turned channel, while the coolant channel function is maintained in the newly identified space, reducing overall structural complexity.
3Temperature
If dedicated heat retaining plates are added to prevent temperature decrease in end power generation cells, then temperature can be maintained, but the size and structure of the fuel cell stack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the end plate serve multiple functions: it acts as both a structural end closure and a heat retention component. The coolant channel is formed between the insulating member and end plate, allowing the end plate to function as a heat exchanger surface while maintaining its structural role, eliminating the need for separate dedicated heat retaining plates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design maintains desired power generation performance, reduces the size of the fuel cell stack, and simplifies the structure by preventing temperature drops in end power generation cells.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant channel formed between the insulating member and the end plate for allowing the coolant to flow along a surface of the end plate
Implementation Method 2
the decrease in the temperature is significant... allowing the coolant to flow along surfaces of the electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. At one end of the stack body, a terminal plate, an insulating member, and an end plate are stacked. At the other end of the stack body, a terminal plate, an insulating member, and an end plate are stacked. A coolant channel is formed between the insulating member and the end plate for allowing a coolant to flow along a surface of the end plate.