Fuel Cell Manifold Cooling Passage for End Plate Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell manifolds fail to effectively cool portions of the end plate that contact the plastic layer covering the ribs' distal end faces, leading to inadequate cooling of these areas.
Innovation Solution
The manifold incorporates a cooling passage in the plastic layer covering the ribs' distal end faces, allowing coolant from the flow path to reach the contact surface between the plastic layer and the end plate, enhancing cooling efficiency by directing coolant flow between the plastic layer and the end plate contact surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a plastic layer covers the distal end faces of the ribs in the end plate, then insulation between the end plate and cell stack is improved, but cooling effectiveness of the contacted end portions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling passage is introduced as an intermediary coolant flow path within the plastic layer. This passage allows coolant to flow between the plastic layer and the contact surface of the end plate, enabling thermal cooling while the plastic layer maintains its insulating function. The cooling passage acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of insulation and cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic flow of coolant through the cooling passage to achieve cooling. The coolant flows through the passage formed in the plastic layer, using fluid dynamics to transfer heat from the end plate contact portions to the coolant, thereby achieving effective cooling without compromising the insulating function of the plastic layer.
2Device complexity
If coolant flows only in the recess flow path, then cooling of the end plate is simplified, but cooling coverage of portions contacting the plastic layer becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling approach transitions from a two-dimensional surface cooling (coolant flowing only in the recess) to a three-dimensional volumetric cooling (coolant flowing through the cooling passage within the plastic layer and contacting the end plate portions). This dimensional extension allows coolant to reach previously inaccessible areas without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is segmented into two distinct pathways: the recess flow path for general cooling and the cooling passage within the plastic layer for targeted cooling of contact portions. This segmentation allows each pathway to serve its specific cooling purpose efficiently, ensuring comprehensive cooling coverage.
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 effectively cools the end plate portions that previously were not adequately cooled, maintaining a favorable cell stacking structure and improving thermal management within the fuel cell system.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling passage that causes coolant in the flow path formed by the recess to flow to a space between the portion of the plastic layer and a contact surface of the end in the cell stacking direction of the cell stack
Data Source
AI summary
A manifold includes an end plate, which has an opposed surface facing an end in a cell stacking direction of a cell stack, a recess, which opens in the opposed surface and forms a flow path, and ribs protruding from the bottom surface of the recess to the opening position of the recess. Portions of a plastic layer that cover the opposed surface and the distal end faces in the protruding direction of the ribs contact the end in the cell stacking direction of the cell stack. The portions of the plastic layer that cover the distal end faces in the protruding direction of the ribs each have a cooling passage, which causes cooling water in the flow path to flow to the space between those portions of the plastic layer and a contact surface of the end in the cell stacking direction of the cell stack.