Fuel Cell Humidifier Stack Plate Sealing Without Gluing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidifiers for fuel cell systems face challenges in manufacturing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, particularly in sealing and assembling the stack plate devices with semipermeable layers.
Innovation Solution
A stack plate device for a humidifier, featuring a stack of plates with alternating semipermeable layers and radial protrusions for sealing, which are pressed into recesses of mounting profiles, providing a circumferential sealing without the need for gluing or foaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing methods (gluing or foaming) are used for semipermeable layers in stack plate devices, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical sealing methods (gluing or foaming) with a mechanical sealing system consisting of radial protrusions on the semipermeable layer that engage with recesses in the mounting profile. This mechanical interlocking system provides reliable sealing while enabling automated assembly and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The semipermeable layer is designed with integrated radial protrusions that automatically engage with the mounting profile recesses during assembly. The sealing action occurs self-automatically through the mechanical engagement of these protrusions with the mounting structure, eliminating the need for external sealing materials or complex sealing processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual sealing processes are used for stack plate assembly, then sealing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical protrusion-recess sealing system enables automated assembly processes where robots or automated equipment can position and press the semipermeable layers into place. The standardized mechanical engagement ensures consistent sealing precision while dramatically increasing assembly speed and productivity compared to manual sealing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial protrusions are pre-formed on the semipermeable layers during manufacturing, and the mounting profiles are pre-equipped with recesses. This preliminary preparation allows the sealing components to be quickly assembled without requiring complex real-time adjustments or manual manipulation during the assembly process.
3Reliability
If complex sealing structures are used to ensure fluid separation, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from separate sealing materials (adhesives or foams) and integrates it directly into the semipermeable layer structure through radial protrusions. This integration eliminates the need for additional sealing materials and simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining reliable fluid separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The semipermeable layer is designed as a composite structure combining the moisture-permeable membrane material with integrated radial protrusions for sealing. This composite design achieves both fluid separation and sealing functions in a single component, reducing the need for multiple separate materials and assembly steps.
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 solution enables easy and cost-effective manufacturing of the stack plate device, with automated sealing that ensures reliable fluid separation and efficient moisture transfer, reducing manufacturing costs and improving assembly reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a moist gas, e.g. an exhaust gas from the fuel cell, is guided through the channels of an adjacent flow plate, and on the opposite side of the semipermeable layer a dry gas, e.g. fresh air, is passed through channels of a second flow plate. In this case, the moist gas on one side of the semipermeable layer gives off moisture to the semipermeable layer, whereas on the opposite side the semipermeable layer gives off moisture to the dry gas.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A stack plate device (400) for a humidifier (1000) includes a stack of stack plates (100) being stacked on top of each other in a stacking direction (500), end plates (436) pressing together the stack plates (100) or both ends (430, 432) of the stack by end plates (436), and mounting profiles (204) enclosing the stack of the stack plates (100) in the stacking direction (500), and comprising recesses (206). The stack plate device (400) further includes semipermeable layers (110) separating first and second groups of flow channels (410, 420) and comprising a circumferential sealing (102) comprising at least one radial protrusion (104) per each of the mounting profiles (204), the at least one radial protrusion (104) being pressed sealingly into the recesses (206) in an intended mounting position of the semipermeable layer (110).