Oxidant flow field for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsZuomin Dong, Ken W. Kratschmar, Dongming Lu, Ryan N. Mackie, Walter R. Merida Donis, Michael E. Pastula, Martin L. Perry, Gaofeng Gary Wang, Rong Zheng
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Abstract
In solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells, a laminar flow of a dilute oxidant stream, for example air, may be disrupted by incorporating obstacles in the channels of an oxidant flow field. The laminar flow is changed to turbulent flow thereby enhancing the flow of oxygen to the membrane electrode assembly in the fuel cell and improving fuel cell performance.
Claims24
An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle.
A method of enhancing the flow of oxygen to the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell operating on a dilute oxidant stream, said membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with an oxidant flow field plate comprising at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface thereof, said method comprising incorporating at least one flow obstacle in said channel, wherein the shape, dimensions and location of said obstacle are selected to enable said obstacle to substantially disrupt a laminar flow of said diluted oxidant stream passing through said channel and change said laminar flow to turbulent flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.