Fuel Cell Support Substrate Recesses Prevent Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing segmented-in-series type solid oxide fuel cells are prone to deformation when subjected to external forces due to their design, which lacks sufficient structural reinforcement, particularly in cylindrical and flat-plate configurations with annular and elongated grooves that reduce thickness and increase susceptibility to bending and torsional deformation.
Innovation Solution
A flat-plate-like porous support substrate with recesses having circumferentially closed side walls is used, embedding inner electrodes within these recesses to provide structural integrity and prevent deformation, while increasing the number of power-generating elements and enhancing electron conductivity between them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If annular grooves or elongated grooves are formed in the support substrate to embed fuel electrodes, then the outside diameter or thickness is reduced making the structure easier to manufacture and assemble, but the support substrate becomes easily deformable when external forces are applied
Solution Approach 1:
The support substrate is divided into multiple recesses, each accommodating a fuel electrode. This segmentation allows each electrode to be independently embedded while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the support substrate, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Fuel electrodes are nested within recesses formed in the support substrate. This nesting configuration allows the electrodes to be securely held within the substrate structure without requiring external fastening mechanisms, achieving both ease of assembly and maintained structural strength.
2Device complexity
If the support substrate is made thinner or grooves are formed to reduce material usage, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the support substrate lacks sufficient structural reinforcement and is prone to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The support substrate features locally varied properties with recesses strategically positioned to accommodate fuel electrodes. This local modification allows the substrate to maintain overall simplicity while providing targeted structural reinforcement where needed, achieving both reduced complexity and improved reliability.
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
The design effectively prevents deformation under external forces, increases power output by enhancing electron conductivity, and maintains a gas seal integrity by flattening the dense layer, reducing the risk of crack generation and associated deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
a solid oxide fuel cell having 'an electrically insulating porous support substrate and having gas flow channels formed therein,' 'a plurality of power-generating elements provided on the surface of the support substrate at a plurality of positions, respectively, located apart from one another, each of the power-generating elements being a laminate of a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode'
Data Source
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AI summary
On each of upper and lower surfaces of a flat-plate-like support substrate 10 having a longitudinal direction and having fuel gas flow channels 11 formed therein, a plurality of power-generating elements A connected electrically in series are disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. On each of the upper and lower surfaces of the support substrate 10, a plurality of recesses 12 are formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Each of the recesses 12 is a rectangular-parallelepiped-like depression defined by four side walls arranged in a circumferentially closed manner and a bottom wall. That is, in the support substrate 10, frames are formed to surround the respective recesses 12. Fuel electrodes 20 of the power-generating elements A are embedded in the respective recesses 12. In this manner, there can be provided a structure of a "segmented-in-series type" fuel cell in which, when a support substrate is subjected to an external force, the support substrate is unlikely to be deformed.