Three-dimensional plates with curving fluid channels for stack systems

A stack system comprising:

• multiple cells and associated plate assemblies arranged in a cell stack;
• wherein a plate assembly of the multiple cells and associated plate assemblies has a non-planar, three-dimensional shape, and comprising:
• a first plate structure and a second plate structure sealed together to form the plate assembly, the first and second plate structures each comprising:
• a circumferential end and a center end, wherein the circumferential end and the center end are vertically offset;
• a wall structure extending between and connecting the circumferential end and the center end;
• a plurality of curving fluid channels on at least one side of the wall structure extending between the circumferential end and the center end;
• and
• the circumferential end including multiple outer fluid transport openings through the plate structure, and the center end including multiple inner fluid transport openings through the plate structure, wherein one or more outer fluid transport openings of the multiple outer fluid transport openings and one or more inner fluid transport openings of the multiple inner fluid transport openings facilitate, at least in part, flow of a fluid across the plate structure between the vertically offset circumferential end and center end through the plurality of curving fluid channels.

A fuel cell stack system comprising:

• a plurality of stacked fuel cells, the plurality of stacked fuel cells including a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies and one or more plate assemblies, a plate assembly of the one or more plate assemblies having a non-planar, three-dimensional shape, and being disposed between membrane electrode assemblies of adjacent fuel cells of the plurality of stacked fuel cells, and the plate assembly comprising:
• a first plate structure and a second plate structure sealed together to form the plate assembly, the first and second plate structures each comprising:
• a circumferential end and a center end, wherein the circumferential end and the center end are vertically offset;
• a wall structure extending between and connecting the circumferential end and the center end;
• a plurality of curving fluid channels on at least one side of the wall structure extending between the circumferential end and the center end;
• and
• the circumferential end including multiple outer fluid transport openings through the plate structure, and the center end including multiple inner fluid transport openings through the plate structure, wherein one or more outer fluid transport openings of the multiple outer fluid transport openings and one or more inner fluid transport openings of the multiple inner fluid transport openings facilitate, at least in part, flow of a fluid across the plate structure between the circumferential end and the center end through the plurality of curving fluid channels.