Fuel Cell Separator Plates
AssigneeIntelligent Energy Limited
InventorsPeter David Hood, Paul Leonard Adcock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to separator plates (108) for fuel cells, and in particular to separator plates having particular geometries for improved edge sealing properties. Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a fuel cell separator plate (308) having first and second opposing faces (304, 305), the separator plate having a series of corrugations (301) extending, and providing air flow paths (302), between first and second opposing edges of the plate, wherein crests of corrugations along the first face (304) proximate the first edge (303) of the plate are depressed to be coplanar with adjacent crests of corrugations along the second face such that a greater contact surface on the second face (305) is provided compared with the first face (304).
Claims19
A fuel cell separator plate having first and second opposing faces, the separator plate having a series of corrugations extending, and providing air flow paths, between first and second opposing edges of the plate, wherein crests of the corrugations along the first face proximate the first edge of the plate are depressed to be coplanar with adjacent crests of the corrugations along the second face such that a greater contact surface on the second face is provided compared with the first face.
A method of forming a fuel cell separator plate comprising the steps of:
- applying a series of corrugations extending, and providing air flow paths, between first and second opposing edges of the plate;
- and
- depressing crests of corrugations along the first face proximate the first edge of the plate to become coplanar with crests of corrugations along the second face so as to provide a greater contact surface on the second face compared with the first face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.