Method for preparing modular planar interconnect plate, modular planar interconnect plate assembly including the interconnect plate, and stamping assembly for preparing the interconnect plate

A method for preparing a modular planar interconnect plate for a solid oxide fuel cell and formed with a plurality of upper main channels which extend in a longitudinal direction and which are displaced from each other in a transverse direction, and a plurality of lower main channels which extend in the transverse direction and which are displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a metal blank sheet which has a main region, and a circumferential region surrounding the main region;
• (b) stamping the main region of the metal blank sheet to form
• a plurality of columns of upper protrusions on an upper surface of the main region of the metal blank sheet, the columns of the upper protrusions being displaced from each other in the transverse direction such that two adjacent ones of the columns of the upper protrusions define in-between a corresponding one of the upper main channels, each of the columns of the upper protrusions including a plurality of the upper protrusions which are displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction, and
• a plurality of columns of lower depressions on a lower surface of the main region of the metal blank sheet, the columns of the lower depressions being displaced from each other in the transverse direction, each of the columns of the lower depressions including a plurality of the lower depressions which are displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• (c) stamping the main region of the metal blank sheet to form
• a plurality of rows of lower protrusions on a lower surface of the main region of the metal blank sheet, the rows of the lower protrusions being displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction such that two adjacent ones of the rows of the lower protrusions define in-between a corresponding one of the lower main channels, each of the rows of the lower protrusions including a plurality of the lower protrusions which are displaced from each other in the transverse direction, and
• a plurality of rows of the upper depressions on the upper surface of the main region of the metal blank sheet, the rows of the upper depressions being displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction, each of the rows of the upper depressions including a plurality of the upper depressions which are displaced from each other in the transverse direction.