PEM fuel cell separator plate
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsDaniel J. Lisi, Richard H. Blunk, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack and method of manufacture is provided. The composite separator plate includes a plurality of elongated support members oriented generally parallel to each other and a polymeric body portion formed around the support members. The body portion includes a first surface with a plurality of flow channels and a second surface opposite the first surface. A plurality of electrically conductive fibers are disposed within the polymeric body portion, each fiber extending continuously from the first surface of the polymeric body portion to the second surface of the polymeric body portion in a through plane configuration.
Claims37
A composite separator plate for a fuel cell comprising a body portion having a first surface with at least one flow channel formed therein, a second surface opposite said first surface, said body portion having a passageway formed through said plate between said first surface and said second surface and a plurality of electrically conductive elements, each of said plurality of electrically conductive elements having a first end terminating at said first surface and a second end terminating at said second surface such that said element extends continuously through said body in a through plane direction.
A composite separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack, the composite separator plate comprising:
- a plurality of elongated support members;
- a body portion formed around the support members and having a first surface with a plurality of flow channels and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- a plurality of electrically conductive fibers disposed within the body portion, each conductive fiber extending continuously from the first surface of the body portion to the second surface of the polymeric body portion in a through plane orientation.
A method of manufacturing a composite separator plate for a fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a plurality of elongated support members;
- preparing a lattice having a plurality of elongated support member with a plurality of conductive continuous fibers interdisposed there between;
- encasing the lattice in a polymeric material to form a separator plate;
- forming a plurality of channels in a first surface of the separator plate;
- removing a portion of the first surface of the separator plate to form a first exposed surface and to sever the plurality of continuous fibers into a plurality of filaments having a first end terminating at said first exposed surface;
- removing a portion of a second surface of the separator plate to form a second exposed surface and to sever the plurality of filaments into a plurality of conductive elements having a second end terminating at the second exposed surface, each of the plurality of conductive-elements extending continuously in a through plane direction from the first surface to the second surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.