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US 6,783,884 B2Granted
Flow field plate assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsPeter R. Gibb, Neil V. Davis, Emerson R. Gallagher
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AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsPeter R. Gibb, Neil V. Davis, Emerson R. Gallagher
Estimating the term…
A flow field plate assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell comprises two flow field plates, each of which has channels formed on an inner surface of the plate. The plates are alignable with and engage each other such that their cooperating inner surfaces form at least one inner coolant fluid channel. The coolant channel has an essentially constant cross-sectional perimeter along its length, which is defined by the perimeters of the channels of the two plates and their difference in width at the cooperating plate surfaces. Additionally, a flow field plate assembly, which comprises a corrugated flow field plate and a staggered flow field plate, is structurally stronger under compressive load during the fuel cell operation.
A fuel cell flow field plate assembly comprising:
A method of making a flow field plate assembly comprising aligning and engaging the inner surface of a first flow field plate having an open inner channel formed thereon with the inner surface of a second flow field plate having an open inner channel formed thereon, wherein the engaged inner channels of each plate define a closed inner flow field channel such that the inner channel of the second plate overlaps the inner channel of the first plate essentially along its entire length.
A fuel cell flow field plate assembly comprising:
A method of making a flow field plate assembly comprising aligning and engaging the inner surface of a first corrugated flow field plate with the inner surface of a second staggered flow field plate, each of the inner surfaces having channels formed thereon, whereby the inner surface channels of each plate define a closed inner flow field, and whereby the staggered second flow field plate supports the first flow field plate against spreading under compressive load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.