Metal Separator Embossed Edge for Fuel Cell Lamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell stack separators face challenges in maintaining constant surface pressure during lamination, leading to potential deformation and leakage issues, especially when large numbers of unit cells are stacked, and existing solutions complicate the sealing structure and design freedom.
Innovation Solution
A metal-separator with an embossed structure, featuring alternating indentations and projections along its edges, allows for stable lamination in a honeycomb configuration, enhancing the connecting pressure and simplifying the sealing process by precisely determining the gasket's installation position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple unit cells are laminated to increase electric power output, then the total voltage and power generation increase, but the separator may be locally deformed due to inability to maintain constant surface pressure, causing sealing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The separator edge is segmented into alternating convex and concave portions, creating discrete contact points and sealing zones. This segmentation allows the separator to maintain stable lamination across multiple unit cells by distributing pressure evenly, preventing local deformation while preserving sealing integrity throughout the stack.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator exhibits different local geometries along its edge - convex portions provide structural support and pressure distribution, while concave portions create sealing zones. This local quality variation enables the separator to simultaneously maintain constant surface pressure and ensure reliable sealing across the entire lamination structure.
2Reliability
If conventional sealing structures are used to prevent deformation, then sealing may be maintained, but the sealing structure becomes complicated, causing complex forming processes and limiting design freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and structural support function are merged into a single embossed edge structure on the separator. The convex and concave portions simultaneously provide mechanical support and create sealing zones, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and simplifying the overall sealing structure while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator's own edge structure provides the sealing function through its embossed convex and concave portions. The structure self-generates the necessary sealing zones and pressure distribution without requiring external sealing components or complex assembly processes, thereby simplifying the design while ensuring reliable sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a structure for improving a laminating efficiency of a metal-separator for a fuel cell stack, the metal-separator comprising an embossed structure that has an indentation and a projection alternately formed along at least one edge thereof so as to enable a plurality of the metal-separators to be stably laminated in a honeycomb shape.