Fuel Cell Separator Coupling Protrusion Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell separators face issues with maintaining uniform surface pressure and sealing during stacking, leading to local deformation and reduced stackability, especially when thickness is 0.1 mm or less, and existing welding methods compromise corrosion resistance and strength.
Innovation Solution
The use of a separator with coupling protrusions and grooves, where a porous body with microporous structure is coupled to a metallic separation plate, allowing for improved stackability and assembly efficiency, reducing the need for separate welding and minimizing deformation, while maintaining corrosion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If spot welding or laser welding is used to fix stacked separators, then the separators are fixed together, but the corrosion resistance of welded parts is low and cracks may be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the separator and porous body into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate welding operations. The coupling protrusion and coupling groove structure allows direct mechanical coupling without additional joining processes, thereby avoiding the corrosion and cracking issues associated with welding while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling protrusion and coupling groove as intermediary coupling structures between separators. These coupling structures serve as a mediator that provides a reliable connection alternative to welding, ensuring both strength and corrosion resistance through precise mechanical fitting rather than thermal joining.
2Weight of moving object
If the thickness of the separator is reduced to 0.1 mm or less, then the volume and weight of the fuel cell are reduced, but deformation is caused by pressure during welding and stackability is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling protrusion and coupling groove are pre-formed on the separator and porous body respectively, allowing for precise alignment and positioning before final assembly. This preliminary structuring enables thin separators to be assembled without requiring high-pressure welding operations that would cause deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the welding mechanical system with a coupling-based mechanical system. Instead of using welding pressure to join components, the coupling protrusion and groove provide a mechanical interlocking mechanism that is gentler on thin separators, avoiding deformation while maintaining assembly strength.
3Ease of operation
If uneven parts for fitting are formed on separators to improve stackability, then assembly is improved, but the separator requires sufficient height and may be deformed or cracked in pressing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating coupling protrusions and grooves at specific locations on the separator and porous body. Rather than forming uneven parts across the entire separator surface, the coupling structures are localized to specific edges or positions, providing stacking functionality while preserving the overall integrity and strength of the thin separator structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A separator for a fuel cell and a unit cell of a fuel cell are disclosed. The separator for the fuel cell includes a separation plate having a coupling protrusion that protrudes from an edge thereof, and a porous body having a coupling hole into which the coupling protrusion is fixedly inserted, so that the porous body is coupled to a plane of the separation plate. The porous body defining a path in which reactive gases flow.