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US 2008/0187786 A1Published application
Apparatus for hydrogen-air mixing in a fuel cell assembly and method
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsDaniel L. Harris, Glenn W. Skala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell assembly and method is disclosed for the mixing and heating of hydrogen and air in the fuel cell assembly and introducing the heated hydrogen and air to the fuel cell assembly during a starting operation to heat the fuel cell assembly to militate against vapor condensation and ice formation in the fuel cell assembly.
Claims20
A fuel cell assembly comprising:
- a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein each plate includes a plurality of flow channels, a mixing region in fluid communication with the flow channels, and at least two apertures formed therein, the apertures of the fuel cell plates substantially aligned to form a first manifold in fluid communication with the mixing region and a second manifold in fluid communication with the mixing region, wherein a first fluid flowing through the first manifold is mixed with the second fluid flowing through the second manifold in the mixing region;
- and
- a means for heating the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the heated fluids are caused to flow through the flow channels to heat said fuel cell stack to militate against vapor condensation and ice formation in said fuel cell stack.
A method of mixing hydrogen and air in a fuel cell assembly comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein each plate includes plurality of flow channels, a mixing region in fluid communication with the flow channels, and at least two apertures formed therein, the apertures of the fuel cell plates substantially aligned to form a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with the mixing region;
- providing a means for heating the first fluid and the second fluid,
- causing the first fluid to flow through the first manifold to the mixing region;
- causing the second fluid to flow through the second manifold to the mixing region;
- causing a heating of the first fluid and the second fluid by the means for heating;
- mixing the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixing region;
- and
- causing the fluids to flow through the flow channels to heat the fuel cell stack to militate against vapor condensation and ice formation in the fuel cell stack.
5 more elements
A method of mixing hydrogen and air in a fuel cell assembly comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein each plate includes a plurality of flow channels, a mixing region in fluid communication with the flow channels, and at least two apertures formed therein, the apertures of the fuel cell plates substantially aligned to form a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with the mixing region;
- providing a catalyzed surface in the fuel cell stack;
- causing the first fluid to flow through the first manifold to the mixing region;
- causing the second fluid to flow through the second manifold to the mixing region;
- causing a heating of the first fluid and the second fluid by a catalytic reaction from the catalyzed surface;
- mixing the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixing region;
- and
- causing the fluids to flow through the flow channels to heat the fuel cell stack to militate against vapor condensation and ice formation in the fuel cell stack during a starting operation of the fuel cell stack.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.