Bipolar plates for limiting the bypassing of the flow channels by the reactants
AssigneeCommissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
InventorJean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Abstract
A bipolar plate, including conductive sheets, and in which flow channels are made between the conductive sheets and are in communication with a coolant inlet and outlet manifolds. An outer face of a conductive sheet includes first ribs delimiting reactant flow channels, and a second rib extending on the side of the reactant flow channels. A sealing gasket extends at least partially on the second rib. The outer face of the conductive sheet further includes third ribs extending between a first rib and the second rib, between which an alternation of third ribs and of indentation is formed. The sheets are in contact at the level of indentations, and respective passages are formed under the third ribs.
Claims15
A bipolar plate, comprising first and second conductive sheets, and in which:
- an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold of coolant, and an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold of a reactant are made through the first and second conductive sheets;
- coolant flow channels are made between the conductive sheets and are in communication with the coolant inlet and outlet manifolds;
- an outer face of the first conductive sheet including:
- first ribs delimiting reactant flow channels, the reactant flow channels being in communication with the reactant inlet and outlet manifolds:
- a second rib extending on a side of the reactant flow channels, a sealing gasket extending at least partially on said second rib;
- third ribs extending between one of said first ribs and the second rib, an alternation of the third ribs and of indentations being formed in an intermediate zone extending between the one first rib and the second rib, said first and second sheets being in contact at the indentations, respective passages being formed under the third ribs to place one of said coolant manifolds in communication with the coolant flow channels, said third ribs having a height greater than that of the first ribs, the third ribs each having in their middle portion a cross section including junctions between their top and an adjacent indentation, said junctions having a portion set back relative to a straight line connecting their top to a closest contact between the first and second sheets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.