Back to results
US 7,029,776 B2Granted
Method for improving a heat and mass transport in a diffusion layer of a fuel cell, and corresponding fuel cell
AssigneeVolkswagon AG
InventorsHeinz Wilkening, Jörg Huslage, Frank Heser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for improving a heat and mass transport in a diffusion layer of a fuel cell is provided. The diffusion layer is connected to a bipolar element which has a plurality of channels for carrying an operating medium. A pressure difference is generated in at least two adjacent channels for carrying the operating medium in order to achieve a convective heat and mass transport. A fuel cell having an improved heat and mass transport in a diffusion layer is also provided.
Claims19
A method for improving a heat and mass transport in a fuel cell, the method which comprises:
- providing a bipolar element including a plurality of channels for carrying an operating medium;
- providing a diffusion layer operatively connected with the bipolar element;
- generating a convective heat and mass transport in the diffusion layer by generating a pressure difference between two adjacent ones of the channels;
- and
- generating the pressure difference between the two adjacent ones of the channels and simultaneously minimizing a pressure drop between an operating-medium inlet and an operating-medium outlet by providing the channels such that a first section of a first one of the channels forms a loop, and such that further sections of the first one of the channels extend adjacent to sections of a second one of the channels.
2 more elements
A fuel cell configuration, comprising:
- a diffusion layer;
- a bipolar element adjacent said diffusion layer, said bipolar element having a plurality of channels formed therein for carrying an operating medium;
- an operating-medium inlet and an operating-medium outlet operatively connected to said plurality of channels;
- and
- said plurality of channels including a first channel and a second channel, a first section of said first channel forming a loop and further sections of said first channel extending adjacent to sections of said second channel in order to generate a pressure difference between said first channel and said second channel and to simultaneously minimize a pressure drop between said operating-medium inlet and said operating-medium outlet.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.