Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080226967 | BIFURCATION OF FLOW CHANNELS IN BIPOLAR PLATE FLOWFIELDS - A bipolar plate for a fuel cell is provided that includes a flowfield having an active surface with an inlet region and an outlet region. The active surface of the flowfield is in communication with the inlet region and the outlet region and has at least one flow channel formed therein. The at least one flow channel further has a cross-sectional area at the outlet region that is less than a cross-sectional area at the inlet region. In particular embodiments, the at least one flow channel is bifurcated. A fuel cell stack including a fuel cell and the bipolar plate is also provided. | 09-18-2008 |
20080241607 | WATER REMOVAL SYSTEM FOR NON-REACTIVE REGIONS IN PEFMC STACKS - A device and method to extract water from a moisture-rich fuel cell flowpath. A water transport unit is integrated into the fuel cell so that liquid water stagnation within flow channels and manifolds is reduced. In one embodiment, the device includes numerous flowpaths that include an active region and an inactive region. The water transport unit includes a hydrophilic member such that upon passage of a fluid with the excess water through the inactive region of the device flowpath and into the presence of the hydrophilic member, it absorbs excess water from the fluid. | 10-02-2008 |
20080254339 | CONSTANT CHANNEL CROSS-SECTION IN A PEMFC OUTLET - A plate for a fuel cell is disclosed, wherein an inlet aperture is disposed at a first end of the plate and an outlet aperture is disposed at a second end of the plate. The plate includes a first side and a second side. The first side of the plate has a flow field formed therein between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, the flow field having a plurality of flow channels formed therein, the plurality of flow channels in communication with a plurality of outlet ports formed in the plate. The second side of the plate has a plurality of drainage channels formed therein adjacent the outlet aperture, the plurality of drainage channels in fluid communication with the outlet ports and the outlet aperture, wherein a cross-sectional area occupied by each of the plurality of flow channels is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area occupied by each of the plurality of drainage channels. | 10-16-2008 |
20080318100 | FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY MANIFOLD HEATER FOR IMPROVED WATER REMOVAL AND FREEZE START - An apparatus for heating a fuel cell assembly is disclosed, wherein a means for heating is disposed in a manifold of the fuel cell assembly and the means for heating causes the manifold to be heated to militate against fluid condensation and ice formation in the fuel cell assembly. | 12-25-2008 |
20090068535 | FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE EXIT FOR IMPROVED FLOW DISTRIBUTION AND FREEZE COMPATIBILITY - A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a water transport structure extending from fuel cell plates of the assembly into fuel cell assembly manifolds, wherein the water transport structure facilitates the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plates thereby minimizing the accumulation of liquid water and ice in the fuel cell stack. | 03-12-2009 |
20090117432 | Water Removal Features for PEMFC Stack Manifolds - A bipolar plate includes angled facets oriented to form V-shaped projections on the plate edge. Liquid leaving the reactant channels is drawn back into the V-shaped grooves of the projections, leaving no liquid to obstruct the channel exit openings. The bipolar plate includes one portion of the bipolar plate offset from another portion of the bipolar plate so as to expose the reactant channels. The liquid is drawn toward the end portions of the reactant channels by capillary forces, while the gas flows can exit near the beginning of the offset portion. A fuel cell stack includes angled facets that are rotated to lie in the plane of the bipolar plate edges. The edges are chamfered so the channel exit openings of the reactant channels are at the tip portions thereof, thus allowing the liquid to flow away from the channel exit openings and the gas to exit freely. | 05-07-2009 |
20090142632 | FUEL CELL STACK FEATURES FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT - An electric insulator for a fuel cell stack with a plurality of fuel cell plates is provided. The electric insulator includes an insulation layer having a water management feature adapted to militate against liquid water contacting the fuel cell plates. Fuel cell stacks having the water management feature are also described. | 06-04-2009 |
20090191351 | FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE WITH VARIABLE SURFACE PROPERTIES - One embodiment of the invention includes a first fuel cell component comprising a first face, a first hydrophilic coating overlying at least a first portion of the first face, and a second less hydrophilic coating overlying at least a second portion of the first face. | 07-30-2009 |
20090286133 | BIPOLAR PLATE WITH INLET AND OUTLET WATER MANAGEMENT FEATURES - A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a fuel cell plate having hydrophobic portions adjacent an inlet and an outlet formed therein, and a hydrophilic portion formed in the flow channels of the fuel cell plate adjacent the hydrophobic portions, wherein the hydrophilic portion and the hydrophobic portion facilitate the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plate. | 11-19-2009 |
20100086820 | BIPOLAR PLATE WITH FEATURES FOR MITIGATION OF EXIT WATER RETENTION - A fuel cell plate having a first plate having an inlet aperture and a second plate disposed against the first forming a conduit. The fuel cell plate, well suited for use in a vehicle fuel cell stack, for reducing water retention in a fuel cell without increasing the number of required components and fabrication cost of the fuel cell plate is disclosed. | 04-08-2010 |
20100099001 | BIPOLAR PLATE HEADER FORMED FEATURES - A fuel cell plate including a first plate having a first header edge defining a first header aperture, the first header edge having a first break and a substantially aligned second plate having a second header edge defining a second header aperture, the second header edge having a second break. The fuel cell plate, well suited for use in a vehicle fuel cell stack, for removing water from a fuel cell stack header is disclosed. | 04-22-2010 |
20100227230 | ANODE WATER SEPARATOR FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is disclosed, the system including a hollow main body, a bleed conduit, an injector, a water separator, and a hydrophilic porous media. The anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is adapted to minimize a required number of components, eliminate the need for the anode heat exchanger, use a single valve for removal of condensate and reactant byproducts from the anode reactant recycling system, and provide an upstream volume for startup pressurization. | 09-09-2010 |
20110039190 | CONTINUOUS POROUS FLOW DISTRIBUTORS FOR A FUEL CELL - A fuel cell plate for a fuel cell assembly is provided that includes a pair of unipolar plates including a flow field, an inlet flow distributor, and an outlet flow distributor, wherein the flow distributors are produced from a porous material to control liquid water throughout the reactant flow path. | 02-17-2011 |
20110053011 | PEM FUEL CELL STACK INLET WATER REGULATION SYSTEM - A fuel cell stack assembly is disclosed that includes a porous member disposed within a flow path for a reactant. A fluid collection member is provided within the flow path adjacent to and in fluid communication with the porous member. The porous member and the fluid collection member cooperate to collect liquid water from the reactant flowing in the flow path, wherein the collected liquid water may be drained from the fluid collection member. | 03-03-2011 |
20110091779 | PEM FUEL CELL STACK INLET WATER REGULATION SYSTEM - A fuel cell assembly is provided that includes a fluid collection member disposed in a fluid inlet for a reactant, wherein the fluid collection member militates against liquid water on an inner surface of the fluid inlet from being received by a fuel cell of the fuel cell assembly. | 04-21-2011 |
20110183235 | BIPOLAR PLATE WITH REDUCED COOLANT VOLUME AND ASYMMETRIC HEAT REMOVAL - A bipolar plate assembly is described. The coolant passage on either the anode side or the cathode side includes a material having a low thermal conductivity. Fuel cells containing the bipolar plate assembly and methods of making the bipolar plate assembly are also described. | 07-28-2011 |
20110195335 | SHEARED EDGE ON FUEL CELL COMPONENTS FOR WICKING OF WATER - A fuel cell component including a body disposed along a plane and having a boundary past which a reactant and water flows is provided. The boundary has a discontinuous edge adapted to militate against a pinning of the water at the edge. The fuel cell component may be a bipolar plate having a port hole with the discontinuous edge. The fuel cell component may be a subgasket for a fuel cell having a boundary with the discontinuous edge. The discontinuous edge facilitates a transportation of water from an upper surface of the fuel cell component to a lower surface of the fuel cell component. | 08-11-2011 |
20120028154 | FUEL CELL HAVING IMPROVED THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS - One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, a gas diffusion layer disposed over each of the cathode and the anode, a gas flow distributor layer disposed over the gas diffusion layer on both the anode and cathode sides, and optionally a coolant plate disposed over the gas flow distributor layer. The thermal resistance of the combined gas diffusion layer and gas flow distributor layer on the anode and/or cathode side is sufficient to allow the cathode catalyst layer to operate at an elevated temperature to effectively evaporate water produced at the cathode. | 02-02-2012 |
20120174685 | PRESSURE SENSOR FOR USE IN FUEL CELL SYSTEMS - A pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a fluid in fluid flow path of a fuel cell system is disclosed. The pressure sensor includes a housing provided with a communication path formed between the fluid flow path and an interior of the housing, the communication path having a hydrophobic feature to militate against a formation and an accumulation of an undesired material within the pressure sensor. | 07-12-2012 |
20120270118 | ANODE WATER SEPARATOR FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is disclosed, the system including a hollow main body, a bleed conduit, an injector, a water separator, and a hydrophilic porous media. The anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is configured to minimize a required number of components, eliminate the need for the anode heat exchanger, use a single valve for removal of condensate and reactant byproducts from the anode reactant recycling system, and provide an upstream volume for startup pressurization. | 10-25-2012 |
20130122389 | FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE EXIT FOR IMPROVED FLOW DISTRIBUTION AND FREEZE COMPATIBILITY - A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a water transport structure extending from fuel cell plates of the assembly into fuel cell assembly manifolds, wherein the water transport structure facilitates the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plates thereby minimizing the accumulation of liquid water and ice in the fuel cell stack. | 05-16-2013 |
20130295479 | HUMID STREAM ORIFICE VIA GEOMETRY AND MATERIAL THAT IS ROBUST TO BECOMING BLOCKED - A component for reducing the likelihood of ice-related blockage in a fuel cell and methods for starting a fuel cell system. In one embodiment, the component is a separate insert configured with a sharp leading edge such that water droplets present in a reactant fluid that pass through an orifice in the component are conveyed away from an unstable formation at the edge to a more stable formation in an adjacent part of the component. In one form, the component is sized to fit within a valve inlet that in turn is placed in a humid reactant flowpath. In this way, when the fuel cell is operated in cold conditions—such as those associated with temperatures at or below the freezing point of water—the water droplets do not freeze in the area around the orifice such that ice-related blockage of the flowpath does not occur. | 11-07-2013 |