Fuel cell bipolar plate for preventing flooding
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, The Penn State University
InventorsSoo Whan Kim, Jong Jin Yoon, Kyu Taek Cho, Byung Ki Ahn, Jong Hyun Lee, Matthew M. Mench
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a fuel cell bipolar plate in which an air gap or a material layer having a heat transfer coefficient lower than that of the bipolar plate is provided so as to reduce total amount of liquid water generated in a fuel cell, thereby preventing the occurrence of flooding and reducing the time required for cold start, enhancing durability, decreasing parasitic purge requirements, and enhancing operational stability.
Claims9
A fuel cell bipolar plate for preventing flooding, the bipolar plate comprising:
- a first plate member including a hydrogen flow field formed on a portion of the top surface thereof and a coolant flow field formed on a portion of the bottom surface thereof;
- and
- a second plate member including a coolant flow field formed on a portion of the top surface thereof, at least one material layer having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the bipolar plate on another portion or portions of the top surface thereof, and an air flow field formed on a portion of the bottom surface thereof,
- wherein the first plate member and the second plate member are bonded to each other such that the hydrogen flow field is positioned on a portion of the top surface of the bipolar plate and the air flow field is positioned on a portion of the bottom surface of the bipolar plate with the coolant flow field positioned at a position between the hydrogen flow field and the air flow field.
A fuel cell bipolar plate for preventing flooding, the bipolar plate comprising:
- a first plate member including a hydrogen flow field formed on a portion of the top surface thereof, a coolant flow field formed on a portion of the bottom surface thereof, and at least one material layer having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the bipolar plate on another portion or portions of the bottom surface thereof;
- and
- a second plate member including a coolant flow field formed on a portion of the top surface thereof and an air flow field formed on a portion of the bottom surface thereof,
- wherein the first plate member and the second plate member are bonded to each other such that the hydrogen flow field is positioned on a portion of the top surface of the bipolar plate and the air flow field is positioned on a portion of the bottom surface of the bipolar plate with the coolant flow field positioned at a position between the hydrogen flow field and the air flow field.
A fuel cell bipolar plate for preventing flooding, the bipolar plate comprising:
- a first plate member including a hydrogen flow field formed on a portion of the top surface thereof, a coolant flow field formed on a portion of the bottom surface thereof and at least one material layer having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the bipolar plate on another portion or portions of the bottom surface thereof;
- and
- a second plate member including a coolant flow field formed on a portion of the top surface thereof, at least one material layer having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the bipolar plate on another portion or portions of the top surface thereof, and an air flow field formed on a portion of the bottom surface thereof,
- wherein the first plate member and the second plate member are bonded to each other such that the hydrogen flow field is positioned on a portion of the top surface of the bipolar plate and the air flow field is positioned on a portion of the bottom surface of the bipolar plate with the coolant flow field positioned at a position between the hydrogen flow field and the air flow field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.