Fuel Cell Reactant Gas Passage with Variable Opening Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal manifold type fuel cells face challenges in uniformly supplying reactant gases over the entire surface of the reactant gas flow field, leading to inefficient power generation performance due to varying flow rates.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell design features reactant gas passages with a rectangular shape, where the width of the opening on the short side is increased from the end side to the central side in the flow field width direction, reducing pressure loss and enhancing gas flow rates, particularly in the central area where flow tends to be insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If internal manifold structure is adopted for fuel cell, then gas supply passages are formed within the fuel cell structure, but uniform supply of reactant gases over the entire surface of reactant gas flow fields becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the opening width of the reactant gas passage along its length. The opening width is smaller at the end side and larger at the central side in the flow field width direction. This non-uniform opening width design compensates for the natural flow distribution, ensuring uniform reactant gas supply across the entire flow field surface while maintaining the integrated manifold structure.
2Loss of energy
If protrusions are sparsely provided on the central side of inlet buffer, then reactant gas flow rate is reduced in that area, but this creates insufficient gas supply to the flow grooves on the central side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the opening width parameter of the reactant gas passage. The opening width is specifically designed to be larger at the central side compared to the end side. This parameter variation increases the gas flow rate to the central area where it is naturally insufficient, while the overall design maintains reduced pressure loss characteristics.
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 ensures uniform gas supply across the entire surface, improving power generation performance by increasing the flow rate of reactant gases and maintaining reliable reaction conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the width of an opening on a short side is increased from an end side to a central side in the flow field width direction... reducing pressure loss and enhancing gas flow rates
Data Source
AI summary
A unit cell of a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a cathode side separator and an anode side separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. An oxygen-containing gas supply passage connected to an oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed in the cathode side separator. The oxygen-containing gas supply passage has a rectangular shape extending in a flow field width direction of the oxygen-containing gas flow field. The width of the opening of the oxygen-containing gas supply passage on the short side is increased from the end side to the central side in the flow field width direction.