Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Current Collector with Elastic Conductive Adhesive
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing solid oxide fuel cell devices face challenges in efficiently connecting multiple fuel cells due to variability in fuel cell dimensions, leading to potential electrode damage and conductivity issues, particularly at high temperatures, where the elasticity of current collector materials decreases, causing uneven contact and conductivity failures.
Innovation Solution
A solid oxide fuel cell device with a current collector having attaching holes and elastic pieces that are adhered to the fuel cells using an electrically conductive adhesive, ensuring stable positioning and maintaining conductivity even as the elastic force decreases, and an electrode protective layer to prevent damage during attachment and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic pieces are used to connect current collector to fuel cells, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to conductivity failures at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into two functional segments: elastic pieces provide mechanical connection and positioning ease, while conductive adhesive ensures reliable electrical conductivity. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Electrically conductive adhesive serves as an intermediary substance between the elastic pieces and fuel cell electrodes. It mediates the electrical connection, ensuring continuous conductivity even when elastic force decreases at high temperatures, while elastic pieces maintain mechanical attachment.
2Manufacturing precision
If elastic force of current collector is increased, then manufacturing precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to electrode damage
Solution Approach 1:
Electrically conductive adhesive is applied beforehand to the fuel cell electrodes before attaching the current collector. This adhesive layer acts as a cushioning protective layer that absorbs excessive pressure from elastic pieces, preventing electrode damage while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Conductive adhesive serves as a protective intermediary layer between elastic pieces and fragile electrodes. It allows elastic pieces to maintain high force for precise positioning while the adhesive cushioning prevents direct mechanical damage to the electrodes.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If elastic force decreases at high temperature, then object-generated harmful factors improve, but reliability deteriorates due to uneven contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reliance on mechanical elastic force for electrical conductivity with a conductive adhesive-based electrical connection. When elastic force decreases at high temperatures, the adhesive maintains electrical contact, substituting mechanical pressure with chemical adhesion for conductivity maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanism of electrical contact from elastic-force-dependent mechanical contact to temperature-stable adhesive bonding. The conductive adhesive's electrical conductivity parameter remains stable across temperature ranges, unlike elastic force which decreases at high temperatures.
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 prevents electrode damage and ensures reliable electrical connections between fuel cells and the current collector, maintaining conductivity across varying temperatures and dimensional inaccuracies, thus enhancing the stability and performance of the fuel cell device.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic pieces are provided at each attaching hole, the end portions of the individual fuel cells are inserted into the corresponding attaching holes of the current collector, such that the current collector is attached to the cell array by the elastic pieces
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of elastic pieces are provided at each attaching hole, the end portions of the individual fuel cells are inserted into the corresponding attaching holes of the current collector, such that the current collector is attached to the cell array by the elastic pieces
Data Source
AI summary
To provide SOFC and method for manufacturing same, capable of preventing breakage of fuel cell electrodes, and of securing an electrical connection between fuel cells and a current collector. SOFC 1 comprising a cell array composed of fuel cells 16, and current collector 82 connected to electrodes formed on fuel cells 16, wherein current collector 82 is a metal plate on which attaching holes 84 are formed; elastic pieces 84a are provided on each attaching hole 84; current collector 82 is attached to the cell array using elastic pieces 84a, by the insertion of fuel cell 16 into attaching holes 84; and elastic pieces 84a are affixed to fuel cells 16 by electrode protective layer 152 so that the positions of elastic pieces 84a are not displaced relative to the electrodes on fuel cells 16.