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US 7,452,623 B2Granted
Electrochemical cell bipolar plate with sealing feature
AssigneeProton Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorDavid Earl Henderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell having a first side, a second side, and a sealing region is disclosed. The first side has a first fluid flow region bordered by a first sealing region, and the second side has a second fluid flow region bordered by a second sealing region. The first sealing region is composed of a mesh bonded to the first side.
Claims15
An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a first cell separator plate and a second cell separator plate;
- a plurality of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) between the first cell separator plate and the second cell separator plate;
- a plurality of flow field members alternatively arranged in between each of said MEA's, wherein at least one of the plurality of flow field members comprises a metal bipolar plate, the bipolar plate comprising:
- a first side having a first fluid flow region bordered by a first sealing region, the first sealing region comprising a metal mesh securely metallurgically bonded to the first side, the mesh being made from a material configured to provide fluid flow therethrough;
- and
- a second side having a second fluid flow region bordered by a second sealing region.
3 more elements
An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a first cell separator plate and a second cell separator plate;
- a plurality of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) between the first cell separator plate and the second cell separator plate;
- a plurality of flow field members alternatively arranged in between each of said MEA's, wherein at least one of the plurality of flow field members comprising a metal bipolar plate;
- a porous support plate disposed proximate at least one of the plurality of MEAs;
- a metal mesh disposed between the bipolar plate and an adjacent MEA, the mesh configured to define a sealing region about an active area of the bipolar plate, the mesh being made from a material configured to provide fluid flow therethrough, the mesh having a centrally arranged opening, the porous support plate disposed within the centrally arranged opening;
- a first gasket disposed between the bipolar plate and the mesh;
- and a second gasket disposed between the mesh and the MEA.
4 more elements
An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a first cell separator plate and a second cell separator plate;
- a plurality of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) between the first cell separator plate and the second cell separator plate;
- a plurality of flow field members alternatively arranged in between each of said MEA's, wherein at least one of the plurality of flow field members comprising a metal bipolar plate;
- a porous support plate disposed proximate at least one of the plurality of MEAs;
- a metal mesh disposed between the bipolar plate and a MEA on one side of the bipolar plate, the mesh configured to define a sealing region about an active area of the bipolar plate, the mesh being made from a material configured to provide fluid flow therethrough, the mesh having a centrally arranged opening, the porous support plate disposed within the centrally arranged opening;
- a first gasket disposed between the bipolar plate and the mesh;
- and
- a second gasket disposed between the mesh and the MEA.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.