Heatable end plate, fuel cell assembly, and method for operating a fuel cell assembly
AssigneePlug Power Inc.
InventorDaniel O. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an outermost heatable end plate for compressing a fuel cell stack. The outermost heatable end plate includes a body having at least one flow channel formed in the surface of the body through which coolant is passed. In another embodiment, an outermost heatable end plate includes a body and a heating element. The outermost heatable end plates inhibit condensation of water from a humidified reactant passing through an opening in the body of the plate and/or inhibit heat loss from the ends of the fuel cell stack. The opening of the outermost heatable end plate, for example, forms a portion of a manifold for conducting the reactant to the fuel cell stack.
Claims20
An outermost heatable end plate for use in compressing a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell assembly, the outermost heatable end plate comprising:
- a monolithic body having at least one flow channel formed into the surface of the body;
- and wherein said at least one flow channel comprises an inlet portion which opens onto at least one of an inlet coolant manifold extending through the fuel cell stack and an outlet coolant manifold extending through the fuel cell stack.
A fuel cell assembly comprising:
- a fuel cell stack;
- a first outermost heatable end plate attached to a second end plate for compressing said fuel cell stack therebetween;
- said first outermost heatable end plate comprising a first monolithic body having at least one first flow channel formed into the surface of the body;
- and
- wherein said at least one first flow channel comprises an inlet portion which opens onto at least one of an inlet coolant manifold extending through the fuel cell stack and an outlet coolant manifold extending through the fuel cell stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.