Multiple transition flow field and method
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorMichael L. Perry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side, a first gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly, and a first flow field plate contacting the first gas diffusion layer. The first flow field plate includes a reactant inlet, a reactant outlet, and a plurality of flow field chambers separated from one another by at least one rib. The reactant inlet is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib and the reactant outlet is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib. The ribs are configured to force a reactant flowing from the reactant inlet to the reactant outlet to enter the first gas diffusion layer at least twice.
Claims19
A fuel cell comprising:
- a membrane electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side;
- a first gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly;
- a first flow field plate contacting the first gas diffusion layer and comprising:
- a reactant inlet;
- a reactant outlet;
- a plurality of flow field chambers separated from one another by at least one rib, wherein the reactant inlet is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib and the reactant outlet is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib, and wherein the ribs are configured to force a reactant flowing from the reactant inlet to the reactant outlet to enter the first gas diffusion layer at least twice.
A reactant flow field comprising:
- a first reactant channel for receiving a reactant;
- a second reactant channel for conveying the reactant away from the flow field;
- a plurality of flow field chambers located between the first reactant channel and the second reactant channel, wherein the first reactant channel is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib, and wherein the flow field chambers are separated from one another by at least one rib, and wherein the plurality of flow field chambers are separated from the second reactant channel by at least one rib;
- and
- a flow transition extending between the first reactant channel and the second reactant channel for directing flow of the reactant between the first reactant channel, the flow field chambers and the second reactant channel, wherein the ribs are configured to force a reactant flowing from the first reactant channel to the second reactant channel to enter the flow transition at least twice before reaching the second reactant channel.
The reactant flow field of claim 16, wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air, hydrogen, methanol, diesel, chemical hydrides and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.