Anode pack assembly with micro-expanded metal mesh porous transport layer (ptl) for use in proton exchange membrane (pem) electrolyzers and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeACS Industries, Inc.
InventorsTimothy Davenport, George Greenwood
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Abstract
A PEM electrolyzer PTL is created from micro-expanded mesh metal foil layers to allow for a precise level of control over the thickness of the layers, porosity, tortuosity, pore size, interlayer connectivity, and surface roughness. Pore sizes range from 3 μm to 30 μm with a porosity (mesh open area) of 10-50%. A PEM anode pack assembly is formed from the micro-expanded PTL layers with a multi-layer expanded metal flow field and bipolar plate. The 3 subcomponents are diffusion bonded together to form an integrated pack and PVD coated on the outside surfaces.
Claims20
An electrolyzer porous transport layer (PTL) comprising at least one micro-expanded Titanium (Ti) foil sheet having a sheet thickness in an inclusive range of 10 μm to 45 μm, pore sizes in the inclusive range of 3 μm to 30 μm, a pore density in an inclusive range of 10% to 50% and a surface roughness (Ra) of 25 nm or greater.
An electrolyzer anode pack assembly comprising:
- a bipolar plate;
- a porous flow field, wherein the porous flow field comprises at least one layer of expanded metal mesh having a pore size of 100 μm or greater;
- and
- a porous transport layer (PTL) comprising at least one micro-expanded Titanium (Ti) foil sheet having a sheet thickness in an inclusive range of 13 μm to 45 μm, pore sizes in the inclusive range of 3 μm to 30 μm, a pore density in an inclusive range of 10% to 50% and a surface roughness (Ra) of 25 nm or greater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.