Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-28
2001-01-09
Chaney, Carol (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
C429S006000, C429S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171720
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fuel cells for producing electricity, and more particularly to monolithic combination bipolar plate and diffusers for such fuel cells.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fuel cells, especially proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are known to generally comprise a number of component layers that provide electrical contact (electrodes); channels for coolant, fuel, and oxidant; diffusion layers for dispersing the fuel and oxidant; a catalytic element for each pole; and the electrolyte membrane.
In the manufacture of such fuel cells, consideration of the cost of fabricating and assembling multiple components and the ohmic losses across interfaces would appear to encourage the combination of functions. Yet the components described above are currently produced as discrete elements that require assembly into a unit stack. Moreover, one of the most costly components is the bipolar plate, which is currently machined from graphite.
For further background information, please refer to the following publications:
1. Stinton, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,160, Dec. 24, 1991.
2. Lackey, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,524, Apr. 8, 1986.
3. K. Kinoshita, F. R. McLarnon, and E. J. Cairns,
Fuel Cells: Handbook,
DOE/METC-88/6096, pp. 2-4, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif., May, 1988.
4. R. Lemons, J. Eberhardt, A. Landgrebe, D. MacArthur, R. Savenell, S. Swathirajan, D. Wilson, and M. Wilson, “Batteries and Fuel Cells,”
Current Status, Research Needs, and Opportunities in Applications of Surface Processing to Transportation and Utilities Technologies: Proceedings of a December
1991
Workshop,
A. W. Czanderna and A. R. Landgrebe, Editors, NREL/CP-412-5007, pp. 21-1-21-14, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo. September 1992.
5. M. C. Kimble and N. E. Vanderborgh, “Reactant Gas Flow Fields in Advanced PEM Fuel Cell Designs,”
Proceedings of the
27
th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference,
Vol. 3, pp. 3.413-3.417, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1992).
6. K. Strasser, “PEM Fuel Cells for Energy Storage Systems,” pp. 630-635, Proceedings of the 26th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Vol. 3, American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, Ill. (1991).
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, objects of the present invention include the provision of a new and improved fuel cell in which the bipolar plate and diffuser are combined into a single monolithic component, two series cells (anode and cathode) are optionally combined into a single monolithic component, and simple geometry, resulting in less costly construction and lower ohmic losses.
Further and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description contained herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by a monolithic combination bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component which includes an electrically conducting solid material having a porous region having a porous surface and a hermetic region, the hermetic region defining at least a portion of at least one coolant channel, the porous region defining at least a portion of at least one reactant channel, the porous region defining a flow field medium for diffusing the reactant to the porous surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a monolithic combination bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component includes an electrically conducting solid material having: a first porous region having a first porous surface; a second porous region having a second porous surface; and a hermetic region, the hermetic region defining at least one coolant channel, the first porous region defining at least a portion of at least one fuel channel, the second porous region defining at least a portion of At least one oxidant channel, the first porous region defining a flow field medium for diffusing the fuel to the first porous surface, the second porous region defining a flow field medium for diffusing the oxidant to the second porous surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4580524 (1986-04-01), Lackey et al.
patent: 5075160 (1991-12-01), Stinton et al.
K. Kinoshita, F. R. McLarnon, and E.J. Cairns,Fuel Cells: A Handbook, DOE/METC-88/6096, pp. 2-4, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, May, 1988.
R. Lemons, J. Eberhardt, A. Landgrebe, D. MacArthur, R. Savenell, S. Swathirajan, D. Wilson, and M. Wilson, “Batteries and Fuel Cells,” Current Status, Research Needs, and Opportunities in Applications of Surface Processing to Transporation and Utilities Technologies: Proceedings of a Dec. 1991 Workshop, A. W. Czanderna and A.R. Landgrebe, Editors, NREL/CP-412-5007, pp. 21-1-21-14, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO. Sep. 1992.
M.C. Kimble and N.E. Vanderborgh, “Reactant Gas Flow Fields in Advanced PEM Fuel Cell Designs,”Proceedings of the 27th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, vol. 3, pp. 3.413-3.417, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA (1992).
K. Strasser, “PEM Fuel Cells for Energy Storage Systems,” pp. 630-635, Proceedings of the 26th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, vol. 3, American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL (1991).
Besmann Theodore M.
Burchell Timothy D.
Chaney Carol
Marasco Joseph A.
UT-Battelle LLC
Wilson Kirk A.
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