# US 12,191,535 B2 · Separator plate for a fuel cell

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- Number: US 12,191,535 B2
- Document ID: US12191535B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/437,514
- Filed: 2020-03-16
- Published: 2022-05-12
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-29
- Assignees: Cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Philipp Hausmann; Markus Schudy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191535B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258)
- H01M 8/0202: Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M 8/0232: Metals or alloys
- H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/0256: Vias, i.e. connectors passing through the separator material
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A separator plate (1) for media guiding in a fuel cell, with at least one through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for supplying and at least one through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for discharging a medium, with a channel structure (12) for uniformly guiding the medium, as well as with distribution regions (9) which connect the through-openings (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) with the channel structure (12). At least one of the distribution regions (9) surrounds at least one of the through-openings (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) associated with it around the entire perimeter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A separator plate (1) for media guiding in a fuel cell, comprising
at least one through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for supplying and at least one through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for discharging a medium,
a channel structure (12) for uniformly guiding the medium, as well as distribution regions (9) which connect the through-openings (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) with the channel structure (12),
wherein at least one of the distribution regions (9) surrounds at least one of the through-openings (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) associated with it around the entire perimeter, and wherein at least that part of the distribution region (9) arranged around the through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) is covered with an intermediate layer (14).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the distribution regions (9) comprise support structures in the form of fins and/or nubs (11).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support structures are formed in the intermediate layer (14).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the separator plate (1) is metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer (14) is produced by reshaping from the material which was previously arranged in the through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer (14) is made of plastic.

### Claim 7

A separator plate (1) for media guiding in a fuel cell, comprising
an MEA (13) or a frame (15) having at least one through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for supplying and at least one through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for discharging a medium,
a channel structure (12) for uniformly guiding the medium, as well as distribution regions (9) which connect the through-openings (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) with the channel structure (12),
wherein at least one of the distribution regions (9) surrounds at least one of the through-openings (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) associated with it around the entire perimeter,
wherein at least that part of the distribution region (9) arranged around the through-opening (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) is covered with an intermediate layer (14), and
wherein the intermediate layer (14) connected to the MEA (13) or the frame (15).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the through-openings (2, 4, 5, 7) are adapted for supplying and discharging reagents and products.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The separator plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the separator plate (1) is part of a bipolar plate.