Hydrophobic layer for a fuel cell
OwnerRobert M. Darlinginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for managing fluid flow within a fuel cell assembly (24) includes a water transport plate (42) having a plurality of channels (44) and a rib (48) on each side of each channel (44). At least some of the ribs (48) have a hydrophobic layer (46) near an end of the ribs (48). The hydrophobic layer (46) in a disclosed example is adjacent a gas diffusion layer (38) associated with a cathode catalyst layer (34). One example use of the example hydrophobic layer (46) is to prevent water movement into pores of the cathode catalyst layer during cold temperature conditions.
Claims20
A device for managing fluid flow within a fuel cell, comprising:
- a water transport plate having a body that includes a plurality of channels and a plurality of ribs between the channels, the water transport plate having a flow field pattern corresponding to the plurality of channels and the plurality of ribs;
- and
- a hydrophobic layer near an end of at least some of the ribs, the hydrophobic layer having a flow field pattern that is the same as the flow field pattern of the water transport plate.
A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
- a cathode catalyst layer;
- a gas diffusion layer having one side adjacent the cathode catalyst layer;
- a water transport plate adjacent an opposite side of the gas diffusion layer, the water transport plate having a flow field pattern;
- and
- a hydrophobic layer between at least a portion of the water transport plate and the gas diffusion layer, the hydrophobic layer having a flow field pattern that is the same as the flow field pattern of the water transport plate.
A method of making a device that is useful for managing fluid flow within a fuel cell, comprising:
- establishing a hydrophobic layer near an end of at least some ribs of a water transport plate, such that the hydrophobic layer has a flow field pattern that is the same as a flow field pattern of the water transport plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.