Fuel Cell Air Control Valve With Rectilinear Sealing Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air control valves for fuel cell vehicles suffer from poor sealing performance due to non-uniform pressing force distribution when the valve member rotates to close the air flow path, leading to air leakage and deterioration of the fuel cell stack during prolonged inactivity.
Innovation Solution
The air control valve employs a rectilinear movement mechanism for the valve member, supported by a drive unit and sealing parts, ensuring uniform pressing force application and enhanced sealing performance by using a combination of first and second valve discs, bypass flow paths, and guide sealing parts to prevent air leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve member rotates to close the air flow path, then the valve member can open or close the air flow path, but the pressing force distribution becomes non-uniform leading to poor sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rotational movement of the valve member into rectilinear movement. Instead of the valve member rotating about an axis to open/close the air flow path, it moves linearly between a first position (closed) and a second position (open). This inversion resolves the non-uniform pressing force distribution issue by ensuring uniform contact between the valve member and the air flow path wall surface throughout the closing action.
2Ease of operation
If the valve member rotates about a rotation axis, then the valve member can change position, but pressing force applied to distant portions is lower than adjacent portions causing sealing deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rotational motion mechanism into rectilinear motion. The valve member moves in a straight line between closed and open positions rather than rotating, which eliminates the radial pressure gradient that occurs in rotational systems. This ensures that the entire contact surface of the valve member experiences uniform pressing force against the air flow path wall surface, achieving consistent sealing across all portions of the valve member.
3Reliability
If air is introduced into the fuel cell stack during prolonged inactivity, then the air control valve should maintain sealing, but sealing performance deteriorates causing fuel cell stack deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the valve movement from rotational to rectilinear, the patent achieves superior sealing performance that reliably prevents air introduction during prolonged inactivity. The uniform pressing force distribution across the entire valve member contact surface creates consistent sealing that resists air leakage, thereby protecting the fuel cell stack from deterioration during extended parking periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures that the valve member is positioned at the first position (closed position) before prolonged inactivity begins, and maintains this position with uniform pressing force throughout the inactivity period. This preliminary positioning and sustained uniform sealing prevent air from entering the fuel cell stack during the entire duration of prolonged inactivity, preventing deterioration before it can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
An air control valve for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a valve housing formed with air flow paths; valve members configured to selectively open or close the air flow paths; and a drive unit configured to rectilinearly operate the valve members so that the valve members rectilinearly move from a first position at which the air flow paths are closed to a second position at which the air flow paths are opened, such that it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving sealing performance and improving stability and reliability.