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 |
20080248368 | MICROTEXTURED FUEL CELL ELEMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT - Methods and materials to improve water management in a fuel cell by microtexturing fuel cell elements, including the separator plate and/or the gas diffusion media. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes a separator plate and/or a gas diffusion media that are microtextured. Selective ablation of material and stamping can impart microtexturing, where the microtexturing facilitates water management in the fuel cell. | 10-09-2008 |
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 |
20090011310 | BIPOLAR PLATE WITH MICROGROOVES FOR IMPROVED WATER TRANSPORT - One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face. | 01-08-2009 |
20090024373 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING DIFFUSION MEDIA WITH SPATIALLY VARYING MASS TRANSPORT RESISTANCE - A method for optimizing a fuel cell diffusion media having a spatially varying mass transport resistance is provided. The method includes at least two passes where a first-pass D/Deff profile for the fuel cell diffusion media is provided and applied to a computational model of the fuel cell having a baseline variable profile. At least one first-pass variable profile resulting from the application of the first-pass D/Deff profile to the computational mode is calculated and compared to a desired variable range. The first-pass D/Deff profile is refined, if necessary, to provide a second-pass D/Deff profile. A relative performance of the fuel cell with a second-pass variable profile resulting from an application of the second-pass D/Deff profile is determined. The second-pass D/Deff profile is refined, if necessary, until the second-pass variable profile has a desirable performance. An effective D/Deff profile is thereby provided. | 01-22-2009 |
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 |
20090117443 | Bipolar Plate Hydrophilic Treatment for Stable Fuel Cell Stack Operation at Low Power - A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a hydrophilic coating formed on flow field channels extending through a tunnel region between a cell active area and the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flow field plates are an assembly of a cathode side unipolar plate and an anode side unipolar plate. The hydrophilic coating is deposited on the unipolar plates prior to the unipolar plates being assembled into the flow field plate so that line of site deposition processes can be used to coat the flow field channels in the tunnel region. The unipolar plates can be any suitable fuel cell unipolar plates, such as stamped unipolar plates or composite unipolar plates. | 05-07-2009 |
20090186253 | Bipolar Plate Design for Passive Low Load Stability - A fuel cell that includes a flow field plate having flow channels, where the flow channels include one enlarged stability flow channel for each set of a predetermined number of smaller flow channels. The stability channel provides a higher volume of flow therethrough, which prevents the accumulation of water at low loads. | 07-23-2009 |
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 |
20090214927 | LOW COST FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME - Fuel cell bipolar plates are made by depositing a pinhole free corrosion resistant and/or a conductive layer on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method. In one embodiment, a conductive layer is deposited on an anodized metal plate using atomic layer deposition method. In another embodiment, at least one corrosion resistant metal oxide layer and at least one conductive layer are deposited on a metal plate individually using atomic layer deposition method. In yet another embodiment, a corrosion resistant and conductive metal oxynitride layer is deposited on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method. | 08-27-2009 |
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 |
20100028743 | AMORPHOUS CARBON COATINGS FOR FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a non-crystalline carbon layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The non-crystalline carbon layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided. | 02-04-2010 |
20100028749 | GRAPHENE COATED SS BIPOLAR PLATES - A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a graphene-containing layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The graphene-containing layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided. | 02-04-2010 |
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 |
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 |
20110143262 | GAS DIFFUSION MEDIA MADE FROM ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COATINGS ON NON-CONDUCTIVE FIBERS - A fuel cell includes a first electrically conductive plate and a first gas diffusion layer. The first gas diffusion layer is disposed over the first electrically conductive plate. Characteristically, the first gas diffusion layer comprises a first fibrous sheet having fibers coated with an electrically conductive layer. A first catalyst layer is disposed over the first gas diffusion layer and an ion conducting membrane is disposed over the first catalyst layer. The fuel cell also includes a second catalyst layer disposed over the ion conducting membrane with a second gas diffusion layer disposed over the second catalyst layer. A second electrically conductive plate is disposed over the second gas diffusion layer. Methods for forming the gas diffusion layers and the fuel cell are also provided. | 06-16-2011 |
20110189580 | CO-DEPOSITION OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL AT THE DIFFUSION MEDIA/PLATE INTERFACE - A method of depositing a conductive material is described. The method includes: providing a plate selected from anode plates, cathode plates, bipolar plates, or combinations thereof, wherein the plate includes gas flow channels; providing a diffusion media in contact with the gas flow channel side of the plate to form an assembly; introducing a gaseous precursor of the conductive material into the assembly using a chemical vapor infiltration process; infiltrating the gaseous precursor into the diffusion media and gas flow channels of the plates; and depositing a coating of the conductive material on the diffusion media, the gas flow channels of the plate, or both. An assembly having a CVI conductive coating and a fuel cell incorporating the diffusion media having the CVI conductive coating are also described. | 08-04-2011 |
20110294029 | HYDROPHILIC COATING FOR FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain. | 12-01-2011 |
20130095251 | FUEL CELL FLOW FIELD PLATE INCLUDING NON-STOICHIOMETRIC METAL OXIDE LAYER - A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a combination of non-stoichiometric and a conductive material that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. The non-stoichiometric and the conductive material can be deposited on the plate as separate layers or can be combined as a single layer. Either the non-stoichiometric layer or the conductive layer can be deposited first. In one embodiment, the conductive material is gold. | 04-18-2013 |
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 |
20130302531 | AMORPHOUS CARBON COATINGS FOR FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a non-crystalline carbon layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The non-crystalline carbon layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided. | 11-14-2013 |
20140093639 | Fuel Cell Component With Coating Including Nanoparticles - A product comprising a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising nanoparticles having sizes ranging from 2 to 100 nanometers. | 04-03-2014 |