Shared End Plate Fuel Cell Stack for Uniform Clamping and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel cell stacks face challenges in maintaining uniform clamping forces and sealing, leading to decreased power density, especially in larger stacks, and have inefficient configurations that result in increased volume and clogged cathode exhaust gas recirculation channels due to water vapor condensation.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack module with a shared end plate that integrates multiple fuel cell stacks, allowing for uniform clamping and sealing, and incorporates sensors and actuators within the end plate to optimize fluid flow and reduce volume, while shortening the cathode exhaust gas recirculation channel to prevent condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a stack including more cells is used to provide greater power, then the power output is improved, but it becomes difficult to maintain uniform clamping forces and sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large fuel cell stack into multiple smaller sub-stacks, each independently clamped between end plates. This segmentation allows each sub-stack to maintain uniform clamping forces and sealing, while the collection of sub-stacks provides the required total power output, resolving the contradiction between power and sealing reliability.
2Reliability
If a larger stack is divided into multiple smaller stacks to maintain sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but the power density of the stack decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sub-stacks into a single integrated stack structure that shares common end plates and clamping mechanisms. This merging allows the system to achieve the sealing reliability of smaller stacks while maintaining the power density of a larger integrated structure, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and power density.
3Ease of repair
If components such as pump and valve are installed outside the fuel cell stack, then ease of maintenance is improved, but the additional volume occupied results in decreased power density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates pumps, valves, and other auxiliary components inside the fuel cell stack structure, nesting them within the available internal space. This nesting eliminates the need for additional external volume, thereby maintaining high power density while ensuring components remain accessible for maintenance through designated access points.
4Productivity
If the cathode exhaust gas recirculation channel is made longer to improve recirculation, then the recirculation efficiency is improved, but water vapor condensation increases and clogs the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the parameters of the cathode exhaust gas recirculation channel, including its length, diameter, and thermal insulation properties, to balance recirculation efficiency with condensation prevention. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective recirculation while minimizing water vapor condensation and channel clogging.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell stack module includes at least one shared end plate and at least two fuel cell stacks arranged to share the at least one shared end plate. Each of the at least two fuel cell stacks is individually clamped. The fuel cell stack module can integrate more cells within a limited space to provide higher power density, and can also maintain uniform clamping forces and effective sealing within the respective fuel cell stacks to prevent leakage.