Porous flow field plate for moisture distribution control in a fuel cell
OwnerRobert Mason Darlinginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow field plate for use in a fuel cell includes a porous, wettable plate body. A plurality of flow channels are arranged on the body such that an inlet portion of a first flow channel is adjacent an outlet portion of a second flow channel. Moisture from a fluid in the outlet portion of the second flow channel can move through the body of the porous, wettable plate from the outlet portion of the second flow channel toward the adjacent inlet portion of the first flow channel.
Claims13
1-11. (canceled)
A flow field plate for use in a fuel cell, comprising
- a porous, wettable plate body having a plurality of flow channels arranged on the body,
- each of the channels having an inlet near one edge of the plate and an outlet near an opposite edge of the plate,
- at least some of the channels having
- an inlet portion between the inlet and an intermediate portion, the inlet portion including a first section beginning at the inlet, a second section transverse to the first section and a third section transverse to the second;
- the intermediate portion being aligned with and next to the inlet portion third section;
- and
- an outlet portion between the intermediate portion and the outlet, the outlet portion including a first section aligned with and next to the intermediate portion, a second section transverse to the first section of the outlet portion and a third section transverse to the second section of the outlet portion,
- the at least some of the channels being arranged on the plate body such that the first section of the outlet portion of one of the at least some channels is aligned with and next to the third section of the inlet portion of another one of the at least some channels such that moisture from a fluid in the first section of the outlet portion of the one channel can move through the body from the first section of the outlet portion of the one channel toward the adjacent third section of the inlet portion of the another one of the channels.
The flow field plate of claim 2, wherein the third section of the inlet portion directs fluid in a first direction along the body, the first section of the outlet portion directs fluid in the first direction and the intermediate portion directs fluid in a second, opposite direction along the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.