Triangular Buffer Recesses for Uniform Coolant Distribution in Fuel Cell Stacks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell stacks, the coolant supply often leads to non-uniform distribution and stagnation due to triangular buffer shapes, resulting in localized temperature issues and reduced cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design with triangular buffers featuring inward recesses at vertices to distribute coolant flow uniformly across the coolant flow field, preventing stagnation and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a triangular buffer shape is used at the inlet of the coolant flow field, then the coolant can be supplied to the central portion of the power generation area, but the coolant flow becomes concentrated at the vertex and causes stagnation
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer shape is modified by adding local features (protrusions and/or recesses) at specific positions such as the vertex or central portion. These local modifications create areas with different flow resistance, directing coolant flow more uniformly across the width direction rather than concentrating it at the vertex, thus resolving the stagnation problem while maintaining the triangular buffer's overall function
2Reliability
If coolant supply passages are provided separately on both sides, then uniform coolant supply to the entire coolant flow field is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coolant supply passages are merged into a single integrated coolant supply passage. The buffer structure is designed with internal flow distribution features (protrusions and/or recesses) that split and distribute the coolant flow from this single passage to different regions of the coolant flow field, achieving uniform distribution while simplifying the overall structure by reducing the number of separate passages
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 design ensures uniform coolant supply and reduces local degradation and stagnation, improving temperature distribution and cooling efficiency across the power generation area.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant flow field is formed between adjacent ones of the separators for allowing a coolant to flow along surfaces of the separators
Data Source
AI summary
In a fuel cell stack, coolant supply passages are provided on both sides in the width direction of a coolant flow field. At an inlet of the coolant flow field, a substantially triangular inlet buffer is provided. A recess protruding inward of the substantially triangular shape is provided adjacent to a vertex of the inlet buffer protruding in a horizontal direction.