Oxidant flow field for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsZuomin Dong, Ken W. Kratschmar, Dongming Lu, Ryan N. Mackie, Walter R. Merida Donis, Michael E. Pastula, Martin L. Perry, Gaofeng Gary Wang, Rong Zheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells, a laminar flow of a dilute oxidant stream, for example air, may be disrupted by incorporating obstacles in the channels of an oxidant flow field. The laminar flow is changed to turbulent flow thereby enhancing the flow of oxygen to the membrane electrode assembly in the fuel cell and improving fuel cell performance.
Claims15
An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle, wherein said obstacle is inserted as a discrete element in said channel.
An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle, wherein said channel has opposed side walls and a floor, and said obstacle protrudes from said floor and extends between said side walls.
An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle, wherein the obstacle height is at least one-tenth the channel height.
An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle, wherein said obstacle is integrally formed in said channel and wherein said obstacle comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced protrusions, each protrusion extending from the channel floor and having a width less than the channel width.
The An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle, wherein said obstacle is integrally formed in said channel, wherein said obstacle comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced protrusions, each protrusion extending from the channel floor and having a width less than the channel width, and wherein each protrusion is ramp-shaped and has a ramp face extending in the longitudinal direction of said channel.
An oxidant flow field plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, said fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly in adjacent contiguous contact with said flow field plate, said flow field plate comprising:
- (a) at least one open-faced oxidant flow channel formed on a major surface of said oxidant flow field plate, wherein the open face of said channel is covered by said membrane electrode assembly when said fuel cell is assembled, to enable a dilute oxidant stream to be directed through said channel, and
- (b) at least one obstacle in said channel for disrupting laminar flow of said dilute oxidant stream passing through said channel and causing turbulent flow of said oxidant stream at least in the vicinity of said obstacle, wherein said obstacle is helical-shaped and is positioned in said channel such that the axis of the helix is parallel to the longitudinal direction of said channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.