# US 2014/0370411 A1 · Fuel cell header wedge

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- Number: US 2014/0370411 A1
- Document ID: US20140370411A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/471,957
- Filed: 2014-08-28
- Published: 2014-12-18
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-11
- Assignees: Ford Motor Company
- Applicants: Ford Motor Company
- Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner; Ronald David Brost; Shinichi Hirano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140370411A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/2465: Details of groupings of fuel cells
- H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power generating system comprising:
a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet header; and
a tapered wedge disposed within the inlet header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the inlet header along the length of the fuel cell assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell assembly further has an active area and an inlet transition area fluidly communicating with the inlet header and active area, and wherein the tapered wedge alters the cross-sectional area of the inlet header along the length of the fuel cell assembly such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell assembly further has an outlet header, further comprising a wedge disposed within the outlet header and configured to engage the plates to align the plates.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the wedge disposed within the outlet header has a generally rectangular shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the respective lengths of the inlet header and the tapered wedge are generally the same.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell assembly further has a gas inlet side, wherein the tapered wedge has a thick end and a thin end, and wherein the thin end of the tapered wedge is disposed proximate to the gas inlet side of the fuel cell assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tapered wedge is further configured to engage the plates to align the plates.

### Claim 8

A power generating system comprising:
a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet header; and
a wedge disposed within the inlet header, extending along a length of the fuel cell assembly, and configured to engage the plates to align the plates.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell assembly further has an active area and an inlet transition area fluidly communicating with the inlet header and active area, and wherein the wedge is further configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the inlet header along the length of the fuel cell assembly such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the wedge is tapered.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the fuel cell assembly further has a gas inlet side, wherein the wedge has a thick end and a thin end, and wherein the thin end of the wedge is disposed proximate to the gas inlet side.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell assembly further has an outlet header, further comprising another wedge disposed within the outlet header and configured to engage the plates to further align the plates.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the another wedge has a generally rectangular shape.