Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
Patent
1996-05-07
1997-11-11
Kalafut, Stephen
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
429 34, 429 39, H01M 804, H01M 810
Patent
active
056861990
ABSTRACT:
A flow field plate for use in a PEM fuel cell using a gaseous fuel and oxidant, comprising a substantially planar surface and a flow field formed in the substantially planar surface is provided. The plate further includes a network of flow passages for supplying the fuel or oxidant to the flow field and a network of flow passages for receiving the gases discharging from the flow field. The flow field includes a plurality of substantially symmetric flow sectors having separate inlets and outlets communicating with the networks of supply and exhaust flow passages, respectively. Each flow sector includes a plurality of substantially parallel flow channels formed in the substantially planar plate surface, with each sector partitioned so as to subdivide the channels into a plurality of sets of channels disposed in serial flow relationship, with each set including a plurality of the channels disposed in parallel flow relationship. Consequently, the fuel or oxidant traverses each sector in a plurality of passes, with the gas flowing through a plurality of channels during each pass. Accordingly, the flow field configuration permits the reactant gases to be transported so as to supply the gases evenly to the entire active area of the corresponding fuel cell electrode with very low reactant gas pressure drop.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4403018 (1983-09-01), Alfenaar et al.
patent: 4684582 (1987-08-01), Granata et al.
patent: 4686159 (1987-08-01), Miyoshi
patent: 4769297 (1988-09-01), Reiser et al.
patent: 4826742 (1989-05-01), Reiser
patent: 4973530 (1990-11-01), Vanderborgh et al.
patent: 4988583 (1991-01-01), Watkins et al.
patent: 5108849 (1992-04-01), Watkins et al.
patent: 5252410 (1993-10-01), Wilkinson et al.
patent: 5260143 (1993-11-01), Voss et al.
patent: 5300370 (1994-04-01), Washington et al.
patent: 5382478 (1995-01-01), Chow et al.
patent: 5514487 (1996-05-01), Washington et al.
Stephen T. Homeyer et al., co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application having Serial No. 08/560,429, filed Nov. 1995, "Membrane/Electrode Apparatus For Use In A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell And Method Of Fabrication", in its entirety.
L. Hegedus, "Effects of Channel Geometry on the Performance of Catalytic Monoliths", Proceedings of the American Chemical Society, Chicago Meeting, Aug. 26-31, 1973, pp. 487-502.
Cavalca Carlos
Homeyer Stephen Thomas
Walsworth Eric
Allied-Signal Inc.
Kalafut Stephen
Rafter John R.
LandOfFree
Flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1227445