Fuel Cell Separator Sealing With Melt-Solidified Resin Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sealing members for fuel cells have insufficient bonding strength between the separator and the sealing member, leading to potential leaks and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing fuel cells involves forming a sealing part by melting and solidifying a resin layer between the separator and the sealing member, ensuring a strong bond through cross-linking and solidification, which enhances the bonding strength between the two components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the sealing member is merely adhered to the separator by cross-linking, then the sealing member can be formed, but the bonding strength between the separator and the sealing member is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a sealing member made from cross-linkable resin and a resin layer made from thermoplastic resin. This composite material approach allows the cross-linked sealing member to provide structural integrity and sealing function, while the thermoplastic resin layer provides enhanced bonding strength to the separator, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving sufficient bonding strength and maintaining structural simplicity.
2Strength
If a resin layer is added between the separator and sealing member to improve bonding strength, then the bonding strength increases, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention exploits the phase transition properties of the thermoplastic resin layer, which melts at a specific temperature to flow and fill the interface between the separator and sealing member, then solidifies upon cooling to form a strong bond. This phase transition mechanism enables automatic bonding during the heating process, improving manufacturing ease while achieving high bonding strength without requiring additional complex manufacturing 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 approach significantly increases the bonding strength between the separator and the sealing member, reducing variations in the interface and preventing peeling, thereby improving the sealing efficiency and performance of the fuel cell.
Implementation Method 1
forming the sealing part by melting a resin layer provided between the separator and a sealing member and thereby bonding the separator and the sealing member to each other
Implementation Method 2
the resin layer may be melted while the sealing member is being cross-linked, and the separator and the sealing member may be thereby bonded to each other
Implementation Method 3
at least both the sealing member and the resin layer may be heated in a state in which the resin layer is disposed between the separator and the sealing member, so that the resin layer may be melted while the sealing member is being cross-linked
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a fuel cell in which the bonding strength between a separator and a sealing member is high, and provides such a fuel cell are provided. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell according to the present disclosure is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell, the fuel cell including: a plurality of stacks each including a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators holding the membrane electrode assembly therebetween; and a sealing part provided so as to form a sealed space for a gap formed between stacks adjacent to each other in a stacking direction as the plurality of stacks are stacked at predetermined intervals. The sealing part is formed by melting a resin layer provided between the separator and a sealing member and thereby bonding the separator and the sealing member to each other.