Carbon nanotubes reinforced bipolar plate
AssigneesAirbus SAS, Airbus Operations S.L., Airbus Operations GmbH
InventorsBlanka Lenczowski, Tamara Blanco Varela, Peter Linde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes a laminate of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a first outer ply. The CFRP includes a resin and carbon fibers. The first outer ply is arranged at a first lateral surface of the laminate, wherein the laminate includes a first plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The first outer ply includes a first groove, wherein the first groove is configured to define a first gas diffusion channel. At least some of the first plurality of CNTs extend through the first outer ply in a direction transversely to the first lateral surface of the laminate.
Claims15
A bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising:
- a laminate of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a first outer ply, and wherein the CFRP comprises a resin and a plurality of carbon fibers;
- the first outer ply being arranged at a first lateral surface of the laminate;
- the laminate comprising a first plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs);
- the first outer ply comprising a first groove, wherein the first groove is configured to define a first gas diffusion channel;
- and
- at least some of the first plurality of CNTs extending through the first outer ply in a direction transversely to the first lateral surface of the laminate.
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising:
- an anode;
- a membrane;
- a cathode;
- and
- a first and a second bipolar plate each comprising:
- a laminate of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a first outer ply, and wherein the CFRP comprises a resin and a plurality of carbon fibers;
- the first outer ply being arranged at a first lateral surface of the laminate;
- the laminate comprising a first plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs);
- the first outer ply comprising a first groove, wherein the first groove is configured to define a first gas diffusion channel;
- and
- at least some of the first plurality of CNTs extending through the first outer ply in a direction transversely to the first lateral surface of the laminate;
- wherein the anode and the cathode are connected via a conductor, wherein the conductor is connectable to a consumer or an element for storing electrical energy, and
- wherein the first bipolar plate is configured to guide a first reactant to the anode, and the second bipolar plate is configured to guide a second reactant to the cathode, such that the first reactant and the second reactant react via the membrane by generating electrical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.