Manifold insert for an electrochemical system
AssigneeNew Hydrogen IP, LLC
InventorsJean ST-PIERRE, Arun P. JANAKIRAMAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrochemical system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells, a first inlet port, and a first manifold insert. The first inlet port is configured to direct a first fluid into a first continuous inlet manifold formed by the plurality of electrochemical cells. The first manifold insert is removably positioned in the first continuous inlet manifold to provide flow resistance for the first fluid in the first continuous inlet manifold thereby producing a more uniform flow distribution to each of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
Claims20
An electrochemical system comprising:
- a plurality of electrochemical cells assembled together to form a stack, each of the plurality of electrochemical cells having a membrane, a first bipolar plate arranged on a first side of the membrane, and a second bipolar plate arranged on a second side of the membrane opposite the first side, each of the first and second bipolar plates formed to include a first manifold aligned with one another to define a first continuous inlet manifold in fluid communication with first flow fields of the first bipolar plate or the second bipolar plate,
- a first inlet port configured to direct a first fluid into the first continuous inlet manifold, wherein the first continuous inlet manifold extends between a first terminal end at the first inlet port and a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end, and
- a first manifold insert removably positioned in the first continuous inlet manifold to provide flow resistance for the first fluid in the first continuous inlet manifold thereby producing a more uniform flow distribution to the first flow fields of the first bipolar plate or the second bipolar plate of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
An electrochemical system comprising:
- a plurality of electrochemical cells assembled together to form a stack, each of the plurality of electrochemical cells having a first manifold aligned with the first manifold of adjacent electrochemical cells to define a first continuous inlet manifold in fluid communication with first flow fields of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells,
- a first inlet port configured to direct a first fluid into the first continuous inlet manifold, and
- a first manifold insert removably positioned in the first continuous inlet manifold to provide flow resistance for the first fluid in the first continuous inlet manifold thereby producing a more uniform flow distribution to the first flow fields of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
A method comprising:
- stacking a plurality of electrochemical cells adjacent one another such that a first manifold of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells is aligned with one another to form a first continuous inlet manifold,
- inserting a manifold insert into the first continuous inlet manifold,
- directing fluid into the first continuous inlet manifold from an inlet port, and
- variably restricting flow of the fluid within the first continuous inlet manifold via the manifold insert to cause uniform distribution of the fluid to each of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.