Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100323259 | INTEGRATED VALVE SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides a novel integrated valve system for a fuel cell stack, in which an air shut-off valve for preventing the inflow of air when a fuel cell shuts down and a dry gas purge valve for improving cold startability are coaxially coupled to each other so that the air shut-off valve and the dry gas purge valve simultaneously open or close. | 12-23-2010 |
20110033781 | FUEL CELL SEPARATOR HAVING AIRTIGHT GASKET - The present invention provides a fuel cell separator having an airtight gasket, in which a gasket is integrally injection-molded in a region that requires airtightness of a fuel cell separator to maintain airtightness of each flow field of the separator and to smoothly guide the fluid flow in each flow field. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033782 | SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL - The present invention preferably provides a separator for a fuel cell, in which a strength reinforcing means is integrally formed in a region, which is not supported by a gasket, over the region from manifolds, through which reactant gases and coolant are supplied, to a reaction flow field, in which a reaction takes place, thus suitably preventing local deformation of the separator. | 02-10-2011 |
20110086292 | JOINING DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL STACK AND FUEL CELL STACK PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - The present invention features a fuel cell stack that preferably includes an electricity generating assembly having a plurality of unit cells that are suitably disposed one after another; a pair of end plates pressedly disposed respectively at upper and lower ends of the electricity generating assembly; and a joining device suitably engaging the end plates by a rope, where pressure is applied to the electricity generating assembly by means of tension of the rope, and the length and tension of the rope is suitably controlled. | 04-14-2011 |
20110129737 | COMPOSITE SEPARATOR FOR POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The present invention provides a composite separator for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and a method for manufacturing the same, in which a graphite foil prepared by compressing expanded graphite is stacked on a carbon fiber-reinforced composite prepreg or a mixed solution prepared by mixing graphite flake and powder with a resin solvent is applied to the cured composite prepreg such that a graphite layer is integrally molded on the outermost end of the separator. | 06-02-2011 |
20110281203 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING COMPOSITE SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL AND COMPOSITE SEPARATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite separator for a fuel cell, which can reduce the electrical contact resistance by performing an additional post-treatment to remove residual resin remaining on the surface of the composite separator by plasma etching. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite separator for a fuel cell, in which a liquid phase resin for gasket is applied to the surface of the composite separator along a predetermined gasket pattern, or a semi-cured resin for gasket in the form of a film with a predetermined gasket pattern is stacked on the surface of the composite separator, and then plasma etching is performed to remove the residual resin and, at the same time, cure the resin for gasket, thus reducing the overall processing time to improve the productivity and preventing a composite material of the separator from being damaged. | 11-17-2011 |
20120077110 | FUEL CELL SEPARATOR WITH GASKET AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket and a method for manufacturing the same, which can prevent corrosion of the separator and improve corrosion resistance of the separator. In particular, the present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket and a method for manufacturing the same, in which an adhesive is coated on the entire or partial surface of the separator, preferably by screen printing. A process of integrally molding a gasket to the separator is then performed such that the edges of the separator are not exposed to the outside after the injection molding process but, rather, are coated with the resin adhesive. The present invention thereby prevents corrosion of the separator, improves corrosion resistance of the separator, and prevents formation of burrs during the injection molding process. | 03-29-2012 |
20120100410 | FUEL CELL SEPARATOR - The present invention provides a fuel cell separator, in which a vortex generating structure is formed on the surface of a channel of the separator to induce a vortex of fluid (i.e., hydrogen and air) flowing through the channel, thus facilitating the supply of reactant gases and the removal of water droplets from a gas diffusion layer (GDL). | 04-26-2012 |
20120121997 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH WATER DRAINAGE STRUCTURE - The present invention provides a fuel cell stack with a water drainage structure, which can effectively drain condensed water and prevent water from flowing into unit cells by combining an end anode plate (EAP) and an end cathode plate (ECP), which are formed by modifying an anode plate (AP) and cathode plate (CP) respectively. In doing so, the modified anode plate (AP) and cathode plate (CP) are converted into a dummy cell which is positioned at the end portions of the fuel cell stack | 05-17-2012 |
20120122009 | FUEL CELL SEPARATOR WITH GASKET AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket manufactured by integrally forming a gasket on one side of a separator; independently injection molding a frame gasket on a frame such that a first airtight portion covers the entire surface of the frame to maintain the shape of the frame gasket and a second airtight portion projects upward and downward from both ends of the first airtight portion; and bringing the first airtight portion of the frame gasket into contact with the other side of the separator with the gasket formed on one side thereof. To create a fuel cell stack in certain embodiments, the invention stacks the second airtight portion of the frame gasket on another second airtight portion of an adjacent unit cell with a membrane-electrode assembly interposed therebetween. | 05-17-2012 |
20120122018 | FUEL CELL SEPARATOR AND METHOD FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF THE SAME - The present invention provides a fuel cell separator and a method for surface treatment of the same, in which ionized nanoparticles are attached to the surface of a separator to form fine projections such that the surface of the separator exhibits superhydrophobicity. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for surface treatment of a fuel cell separator which provides nanoparticles for forming fine projections on the surface of the separator to a discharge electrode and ionizes the nanoparticles by an arc discharge generated in the discharge electrode. The ionized nanoparticles are then attached to the surface of the separator by an electric field generated by applying a high voltage between the separator and the discharge electrode, thereby forming fine projections for imparting superhydrophobicity. | 05-17-2012 |
20120135327 | MONITORING THE OPERATIONAL STATE OF A FUEL CELL STACK - A technique is described herein for monitoring the operational state of a fuel cell stack by the detection of nonlinearity in such a manner that an external test signal for frequency response is generated and applied to the fuel cell stack during operation, the resulting signal output from the fuel cell stack is measured, and the harmonic content of the measured signal is analyzed, the method including: applying a multiple frequency test signal comprising at least two sinusoidal waves as the test signal for frequency response to the fuel cell stack; and analyzing the resulting current or voltage signal output from the fuel cell stack. | 05-31-2012 |
20120141902 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH ENHANCED FREEZE-THAW DURABILITY - The present invention provides a fuel cell stack with enhanced freeze-thaw durability. In particular, the fuel cell stack includes a gas diffusion layer between a membrane-electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The gas diffusion layer has a structure that reduces contact resistance in a fuel cell and is cut at a certain angle such that the machine direction (high stiffness direction) of GDL roll is not in parallel with the major flow field direction of the bipolar plate, resulting in an increased GDL stiffness in a width direction perpendicular to a major flow field direction of a bipolar plate. | 06-07-2012 |
20120276335 | POROUS MEDIUM WITH INCREASED HYDROPHOBICITY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The present invention provides a porous medium with increased hydrophobicity and a method of manufacturing the same, in which a micro-nano dual structure is provided by forming nanoprotrusions with a high aspect ratio by performing plasma etching on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale surface roughness and a hydrophobic thin film is deposited on the surface of the micro-nano dual structure, thus significantly increasing hydrophobicity. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, it is possible to efficiently discharge water produced during electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell, thus preventing flooding in the fuel cell. Moreover, it is possible to sufficiently supply reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), thus improving the performance of the fuel cell. | 11-01-2012 |
20120291513 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METAL SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL - The present invention provides an apparatus and method for manufacturing a metal separator for a fuel cell, which can manufacture large-sized metal separators in large quantities using metal plates such as stainless steel by thermoplastic deformation using an incremental and synchronized rubber molding process. | 11-22-2012 |
20130011760 | FUEL CELL STACK STRUCTURE - Disclosed herein is a fuel cell stack structure, including: metallic bipolar plates having cooling surfaces facing each other, wherein film-removed portions are provided at portions of the cooling surfaces. The fuel cell stack structure is advantageous in that electrical conductivity can be achieved by the contact portion of two metallic bipolar plates without having to apply a conductive material onto the contact site of the cooling surfaces of the metallic bipolar plates, so that the manufacturing cost of the metallic bipolar plate can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost a fuel cell stack. | 01-10-2013 |
20130017468 | MANIFOLD BLOCK FOR FUEL CELL STACKAANM Kim; Duck WhanAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP Kim; Duck Whan Seoul KRAANM Kum; Young BumAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP Kum; Young Bum Seoul KRAANM Kim; Sae HoonAACI YonginAACO KRAAGP Kim; Sae Hoon Yongin KRAANM Yu; Jung HanAACI YonginAACO KRAAGP Yu; Jung Han Yongin KR - The present invention provides a manifold block for a fuel cell stack, coupled to a fuel cell stack module and having a gas passage and a cooling water passage. The manifold block includes an insulating member and an insulating cover. The insulating member is inserted into the cooling water passage and contacts an inner surface of the cooling water passage. The insulating member has a tube-like shape and electrically insulates the inner surface of the cooling water passage. The insulating cover is inserted into the cooling water passage and contacts an inner surface of the insulating member. The insulating cover fixes and protects the insulating member. | 01-17-2013 |
20130020205 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING OXIDATION LAYER ON MANIFOLD BLOCK FOR FUEL CELL STACK - Disclosed is an apparatus and method for forming an oxidation layer on a manifold block for a fuel cell stack, which forms an oxidation layer uniformly over the entire surface of a long and complicated internal flow field of a manifold block. In particular, the apparatus for forming an oxidation layer on a manifold block for a fuel cell stack includes: an electrolyte bath which contains an electrolyte required for the formation of the oxidation layer, an electrode for supplying a required electron flow for the formation of the oxidation layer from a power supply to the manifold block immersed in the electrolyte of the electrolyte bath and to the electrolyte, and an air supply for supplying oxygen to the electrolyte. Even more particularly, the electrode connected to the electrolyte is inserted into each internal flow field of the manifold block to provide an effective electron flow therein. | 01-24-2013 |
20130059227 | END PLATE FOR FUEL CELL INCLUDING ANTI-BENDING PLATE - Disclosed is an end plate for a fuel cell including an anti-bending plate, in which an anti-bending plate is assembled with an insert having a sandwich structure and the insert is injection molded, thereby easily preventing the insert from being bent due to an injection molding pressure. In the disclosed end plate, a sandwich insert including two or more stacked plates each having a specific shape is manufactured, and an anti-bending plate is coupled to the sandwich insert and then is injection molded, thereby easily preventing the sandwich insert from being bent due to a resin pressure in the injection molding process, contrary to a conventional integral metal insert. | 03-07-2013 |
20130089807 | FUEL CELL WITH ENHANCED MASS TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS - Disclosed is a fuel cell with enhanced mass transfer characteristics in which a highly hydrophobic porous medium, which is prepared by forming a micro-nano dual structure in which nanometer-scale protrusions with a high aspect ratio are formed on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale roughness by plasma etching and then by depositing a hydrophobic thin film thereon, is used as a gas diffusion layer, thereby increasing hydrophobicity due to the micro-nano dual structure and the hydrophobic thin film. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, it is possible to reduce water flooding by efficiently discharging water produced by an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell and to improve the performance of the fuel cell by facilitating the supply of reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA). | 04-11-2013 |
20130252124 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING FUEL CELL - A system for activating a fuel cell includes a flow meter for measuring the amount of water discharged from an outlet of the air electrode and an outlet of the fuel electrode; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure at the respective outlets; and a back pressure regulator receiving flow values measured by the flow meters and pressure values measured by the pressure sensors, which are fed back from a controller, and regulating a pressure difference (ΔP=P | 09-26-2013 |
20130266891 | JOINING DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL STACK AND FUEL CELL STACK PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - The present invention features a fuel cell stack that preferably includes an electricity generating assembly having a plurality of unit cells that are suitably disposed one after another; a pair of end plates pressedly disposed respectively at upper and lower ends of the electricity generating assembly; and a joining device suitably engaging the end plates by a rope, where pressure is applied to the electricity generating assembly by means of tension of the rope, and the length and tension of the rope is suitably controlled. | 10-10-2013 |
20130295481 | MANIFOLD BLOCK FOR FUEL CELL STACK - Disclosed is a manifold block for a fuel cell, which provides excellent electrical insulation for a coolant flow channel in an internal flow channel. More specifically, a manifold block for a fuel cell stack, includes a coolant interface formed of a polymer insulating material and coolant flow channels; and a reactant gas interface formed of a metal material and including reactant gas flow channels. In particular, the reactant and coolant interfaces are mounted to a stack module and, at the same time, are integrally bonded to each other. | 11-07-2013 |
20140004443 | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WITH ENHANCED HYDROPHOBICITY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF | 01-02-2014 |
20140159738 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING FAULT WITHIN FUEL CELL STACK - To diagnose a fault of a fuel cell stack, an alternating current having a first optimal frequency of a first frequency domain to diagnose a drop in cell voltage and an alternating current having a second optimal frequency of a second frequency domain to diagnose a cause of the drop in cell voltage are supplied to the fuel cell stack are provided. A distortion rate is then calculated based on voltage of the fuel cell stack according to the alternating current of the first optimal frequency, and the drop in cell voltage is diagnosed based on the calculated distortion rate. Also, impedance is calculated based on voltage and a current of the fuel cell stack according to the alternating current of the second optimal frequency and amount of water is calculated based on the calculated in the fuel cell stack, and the cause of the drop in cell voltage is diagnosed based on the calculated impedance and amount of water. | 06-12-2014 |
20140162157 | APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING FAULT OF FUEL CELL STACK - A failure diagnosis apparatus that includes an alternating current (AC) absorption unit that is connected to the fuel cell stack and switched based on an applied AC signal to enable a current from the fuel cell stack to flow. In addition, an AC signal generator is configured to generate the AC signal and supply the generated AC signal to the AC absorption unit. As the current from the fuel cell stack is absorbed by the AC absorption unit based on an alternating signal, a stack current input into a diagnosis processing unit includes an AC component, thus the diagnosis processing unit may diagnose fuel cell stack failure by analyzing a frequency of the AC component. | 06-12-2014 |
20140184264 | DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL STACK - A diagnostic system and method for a fuel cell stack that diagnoses the state and/or failure of the fuel cell stack. More specifically, the diagnostic control analyzer diagnoses and analyzes the state of the fuel cell stack by measuring the voltage and the current received from the fuel cell stack. To do this, an AC signal generator cogenerates a diagnostic AC signal according to the control upon receiving a control command form the analyzer, and an AC component driving element is then driven upon receiving the AC signal that is output from the AC signal generator in order to include a diagnostic AC component within the current of the fuel cell stack. In particular, the diagnostic control analyzer diagnoses the fuel cell stack based on a voltage and a current received from the fuel cell stack that includes the AC component via a load. | 07-03-2014 |
20140186734 | DIAGNOSTIC AND HEAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL STACK - A diagnostic and heat management system for a fuel cell stack is provided herein that includes a diagnostic control analyzer that diagnoses and analyzes a state of the fuel cell stack by measuring a voltage and a current of the fuel cell stack. Also, an AC signal generator generates a diagnostic AC signal, and an AC component driving element that is included in an AC component in a current of the fuel cell stack. Additionally, a termoelement is driven as a heat absorbing device when a temperature of the AC component driving element is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature and is driven as a heat emitting device when a temperature of the AC component driving element is less than a predetermined temperature, in order to manage heat generation in the AC component driving element. | 07-03-2014 |
20140242486 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING VIRTUAL SOUND SOURCE FOR MONITORING THE OPERATING STATE OF A FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides an apparatus and method for generating a virtual sound source for monitoring the operating state of a fuel cell stack, which monitors in real time the deviation and deterioration of a plurality of cells in a fuel cell stack during operation, and expresses the results as a chord or different sounds, thus allowing a driver to easily recognize the operating state of the fuel cell stack | 08-28-2014 |
20140302416 | METAL SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A metal separator for a fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof are provided, in which a graphite carbon layer with a minute thickness is formed on the surface of a substrate, to improve conductivity. The manufacturing method includes preparing a metal substrate; loading the metal substrate into a chamber with a vacuum atmosphere; coating a graphite carbon layer by depositing carbon ions ionized from a coating source on a surface of the metal substrate; and unloading the metal substrate having the graphite carbon layer coated thereon to an exterior of the chamber. | 10-09-2014 |
20140335444 | FUEL CELL SEPARATOR WITH GASKET AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket manufactured by integrally forming a gasket on one side of a separator; independently injection molding a frame gasket on a frame such that a first airtight portion covers the entire surface of the frame to maintain the shape of the frame gasket and a second airtight portion projects upward and downward from both ends of the first airtight portion; and bringing the first airtight portion of the frame gasket into contact with the other side of the separator with the gasket formed on one side thereof. To create a fuel cell stack in certain embodiments, the invention stacks the second airtight portion of the frame gasket on another second airtight portion of an adjacent unit cell with a membrane-electrode assembly interposed therebetween. | 11-13-2014 |