Wave-Pattern Fuel Cell Separator for Reactant Gas Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell separators face challenges in ensuring sufficient reactant gas transfer flow rates to the membrane electrode assembly, complicating the structure and increasing manufacturing costs due to the need for additional porous members like metal foam or wire mesh, which hinders performance and output.
Innovation Solution
A separator with a wave pattern on one surface facing the reaction layer, allowing reactant gas to flow in both the planar and thickness directions, eliminating the need for porous members, simplifying the structure, and enhancing reactant gas transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a porous member (metal foam or wire mesh) is provided on the separator to improve reactant gas diffusion and water discharge, then the performance of the fuel cell stack is improved, but the structure of the separator is complicated and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the separator and the porous member into a single integrated component. The separator includes a porous layer formed directly on its surface, eliminating the need for a separate porous member. This integration maintains the benefits of improved reactant gas diffusion and water discharge while simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the structural separator component and the porous diffusion medium. The porous layer on the separator surface provides both mechanical separation and enhanced gas diffusion/water discharge functions, reducing the need for additional specialized components.
2Area of stationary object
If a porous member is provided on the separator to improve reactant gas diffusion, then the reaction area of reactant gases is increased, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous layer is formed as an integral part of the separator during the separator manufacturing process itself, rather than being added as a separate component. This integration maintains the increased reaction area benefits while simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating additional assembly steps.
3Productivity
If the reactant gas flows only parallel to the membrane electrode assembly, then the separator structure is simple, but the transfer flow rate of reactant gas to the membrane electrode assembly is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a vertical component to the gas flow path by creating protrusions that extend from the separator surface toward the membrane electrode assembly. This three-dimensional flow path structure enables reactant gas to reach the membrane electrode assembly more directly, increasing the transfer flow rate without requiring overly complex flow channel designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a separator for a fuel cell, which is stacked on a reaction layer including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The separator includes a plate body stacked on the reaction layer, a wave pattern provided on one surface of the plate body that faces the reaction layer, the wave pattern being configured to define a reaction channel disposed between the reaction layer and the plate body and provided in a first direction in which a reactant gas is supplied, so that the reactant gas flows along the reaction channel, and a land provided along a lateral end of the wave pattern and disposed to be in contact with the reaction layer, thereby obtaining an advantageous effect of improving performance and operational efficiency.