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AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsShanna Denine Knights, David Pentreath Wilkinson
Estimating the term…
An electrochemical fuel cell having reactant flow passages with a non-uniform design to increase reactant access to an adjacent fluid distribution layer at the outlet region as compared to the inlet region. In an embodiment, at least one reactant flow passage is narrower at the inlet than at the outlet, with a substantially constant cross-sectional area maintained along its length. Coolant channels may optionally be incorporated in the fluid flow plate to provide increased cooling at the reactant inlet. The plates may vary in thickness and run in counter-flow to improve efficient stacking of the fuel cells in a fuel cell stack with reactant passages of varying depth. In another embodiment, electrically conductive, masking foil covers a portion of at least one reactant flow passage in the inlet region, but does not extend the length of the passage.
An electrochemical fuel cell comprising:
An electrochemical fuel cell comprising:
An electrochemical fuel cell comprising:
An electrode for an electrochemical fuel cell comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of reactant flow passages for directing a reactant stream from the inlet to the outlet wherein the thickness of the electrode varies from the inlet to the outlet.
A separator plate for a fuel cell comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of reactant flow passages for directing a reactant stream from an inlet to an outlet wherein the thickness of the plate varies from the inlet to the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.