Proton exchange membrane fuel cell separator plate
AssigneeInstitute of Gas Technology
InventorsGerald J. Koncar, Leonard G. Marianowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas impervious bi-polar separator plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having at least one electronically conductive material in an amount in a range of about 50% to about 95% by weight of the separator plate, at least one resin in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of the separator plate, and at least one hydrophilic agent, where the electronically conductive material, the resin, and the hydrophilic agent are substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the separator plate.
Claims55
A gas impervious bi-polar separator plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprising:
- at least one electronically conductive material in an amount in a range of about 50% to about 95% by weight of said separator plate;
- at least one resin in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of said separator plate;
- and
- at least one hydrophilic agent suitable for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for attracting water into said separator plate, whereby said at least one electronically conductive material, said at least one resin, and said at least one hydrophilic agent are substantially uniformly dispersed throughout said separator plate.
In a bi-polar separator plate comprising an electronically conductive carbonaceous material in a range of about 50% to about 95% by weight of said separator plate and a resin in an amount in a range of at least about 5% by weight of said separator plate, the improvement comprising:
- said bi-polar separator plate comprising a hydrophilic agent suitable for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which hydrophilic agent is dispersed uniformly throughout said separator plate whereby water is capable of being absorbed into and passed through said separator plate.
In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of individual fuel cell units, each said fuel cell unit comprising an anode, a cathode, an ion exchange membrane disposed between said anode and said cathode, and a separator plate having an anode facing face and a cathode facing face, said separator plate separating said fuel cell units between an anode of one said fuel cell unit and a cathode of an adjacent said fuel cell unit, the improvement comprising:
- said separator plate comprising at least one electronically conductive carbonaceous material in an amount in a range of about 50% to about 95% by weight of said separator plate, at least one resin in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of said separator plate, and at least one hydrophilic agent suitable for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for attracting water into said separator plate, whereby said at least one electronically conductive carbonaceous material, said at least one resin, and said at least one hydrophilic agent are substantially uniformly dispersed throughout said separator plate.
A method for producing a bi-polar separator plate comprising:
- mixing at least one electronically conductive material, at least one resin and at least one hydrophilic agent suitable for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, forming a substantially homogeneous mixture comprising said at least one electronically conductive material in an amount in a range of about 50% to about 95% by weight of said mixture, said at least one resin in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of said mixture, and said at least one hydrophilic agent;
- and
- molding said mixture into a desired shape at a temperature in a range of about 250.degree. F. and about 500.degree. F. and a pressure in a range of about 500 psi and about 4000 psi, forming a bi-polar plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.