Separator-Integrated Gasket Layout for Fuel Cell Membrane Flatness
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of a press-workable metal bipolar separator with a double-sided gasket, comprising a lip-shaped and a flat-shaped gasket, can cause deformation of the electrolyte membrane during fuel cell stack assembly due to height differences between the two gaskets, affecting the membrane's durability.
Innovation Solution
A separator-integrated gasket design featuring a lip-shaped gasket held by a gasket attachment groove on a first press-workable metal separator component and a flat-shaped gasket on a second press-workable metal separator component, both with three-dimensional shape portions that protrude in the same direction and are mutually adjusted, preventing deformation by maintaining the electrolyte membrane's flatness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a double-sided gasket comprising a lip-shaped gasket and a flat-shaped gasket is used, then the gasket can accommodate position deviations of separators, but the height difference between the two gaskets causes deformation of the electrolyte membrane
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer member is introduced as an intermediary component between the lip-shaped gasket and the flat-shaped gasket. This buffer member has a height that bridges the height difference between the two gaskets, preventing the lip-shaped gasket from directly lifting the electrolyte membrane. The buffer member absorbs the height discrepancy while maintaining the adaptability of the double-sided gasket structure for position deviation accommodation.
2Ease of manufacture
If a press-workable metal bipolar separator is used, then the cost of groove processing is reduced, but the combination with a double-sided gasket causes electrolyte membrane deformation during stack assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member serves as a mediator that resolves the conflict between the press-workable metal bipolar separator design and the double-sided gasket structure. By placing the buffer member between these components, the invention maintains the manufacturing advantages of press-workable separators while preventing the reliability issues caused by electrolyte membrane deformation during assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A separator-integrated gasket is provided for making an electrolyte membrane unlikely to be deformed when a stack is assembled. The separator-integrated gasket for a fuel battery includes a lip-shaped gasket, first and second separator components, and a flat-shaped gasket. The first and second separator components are made of press-workable metal plates, and include first and second three-dimensional shape portions, respectively. The first separator component includes a surface that is on a side opposite to a protruding direction of the first three-dimensional shape portion and on which a gasket attachment groove holding the lip-shaped gasket is formed. The second separator component includes a surface that is on a side opposite to a protruding direction of the second three-dimensional shape portion and on which a three-dimensional shape fitting groove accommodating the first three-dimensional shape portion is formed. The flat-shaped gasket is held on an outer surface side at the second three-dimensional shape portion. The first and second three-dimensional shape portions protrude in the same direction while mutually adjusted in positions on a flat surface. The first and second separator components are joined to each other while superposed over each other in a thickness direction.