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US 2009/0155636 A1Published application
Water management for a fuel cell
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorJeremy P. Meyers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell is provided that includes a water transport plate separating an air flow field and a water flow field. The driving force for moving water across the water transport plate into the water flow field is produced by a differential pressure across a restriction. The restriction is arranged between an air outlet of the cathode water transport plate and a head of a reservoir that is in fluid communication with the water flow field.
Claims14
A fuel cell arrangement comprising:
- air and water flow fields, the air flow field having an air inlet and an air outlet;
- and
- a coupling having a restriction, the coupling fluidly connecting the air outlet to the water flow field, the restriction having a high pressure side provided by the air outlet and a low pressure side exposed to the water flow field, the low pressure side at a lower pressure than the high pressure side.
A method of managing water within a fuel cell comprising the steps of:
- separating an air flow field and a water flow field with a plate, at least a portion of which is porous;
- moving air through the air flow field at a first pressure;
- restricting the air to produce a second pressure less than the first pressure;
- and
- exposing the water flow field to the second pressure.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.