Novel fuel cell fluid flow field plate
AssigneeHer Majesty the Queen as represented by the Minister of National Defence of Her Majesty's Canadian Government
InventorsDavid S. Watkins, Kenneth W. Dircks, Danny G. Epp
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Abstract
The invention disclosed is a novel fluid flow field plate for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The plate includes in a major surface thereof, a continuous open-faced fluid flow channel which traverses the central area of the plate surface in a serpentine manner. The channel has a fluid inlet at one end for receiving a reactant gas and a fluid exhaust at the other end for removing excess reactant gas and reaction products from the cell.
Claims36
A fluid flow field plate for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said plate being made of a suitable electrically conducting material and formed in a major surface thereof a single continuous open-faced fluid flow channel, said channel having a fluid inlet at one end and a fluid outlet at the other end, wherein said channel traverses a major central area of said surface in a plurality of passes, and wherein said plate further includes a fluid supply opening and a fluid exhaust opening defined in said surface and directly connected to said fluid inlet and to said fluid outlet, respectively.
A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising:
- an anode;
- a cathode;
- a solid polymer electrolyte sandwiched between said anode and cathode;
- and
- a pair of opposing fluid flow field plates in respective operative association with said anode and cathode, one of said field plates having a first fluid flow field adjacent said anode for supplying fuel thereto and exhausting reaction products therefrom, and the other of said field plates having a second fluid flow field adjacent said cathode for supplying an oxidant thereto and exhausting reaction products therefrom, wherein
- said fluid flow field plates are each made of a suitable electrically conducting material and define in a major surface thereof a single continuous open-faced fluid flow channel corresponding respectively to said first and second fluid flow fields;
- each said channel having a fluid inlet at one end and a fluid outlet at the other end, said channel traversing a major central area of said surface in a plurality of passes, and wherein
- each said fluid flow field plate further includes a fluid supply opening and a fluid exhaust opening defined in said surface and respectively directly connected to said fluid inlet and to said fluid outlet of each said channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.