Fuel cell control valve

A flow control valve for controlling flow through a flow channel in a fuel cell, said valve being positioned adjacent to the flow channel, said valve comprising an actuation element, said actuation element being electrically actuated so as to be selectively positioned within the flow channel and control the flow through the flow channel, said valve further comprising a shape memory alloy element coupled to the actuation element, said memory alloy element being pre-strained by the actuation element, and being responsive to a current flow that causes the memory alloy element to return to its unstrained configuration and position the actuation element in the flow channel.

A flow control valve for controlling flow through a cathode flow channel in a fuel cell, said fuel cell including an anode side and a cathode side, said valve comprising:

• a valve housing positioned adjacent to the flow channel;
• and
• a valve element positioned within the housing and including a first end and a second end, said first end of the valve element being electrically coupled to the anode side of the fuel cell and said second end of the valve element being electrically coupled to the cathode side of the fuel cell, wherein a voltage potential across the fuel cell causes the valve element to extend into the flow channel to reduce the flow therethrough.

A flow control valve for controlling flow through a flow channel in a fuel cell, said valve being positioned adjacent to the flow channel, said valve comprising an actuation element, said actuation element being electrically actuated so as to be selectively positioned within the flow channel and control the flow through the flow channel, wherein the actuation element is a bi-layer element including a substrate layer and an electro-active polymer layer, and wherein a voltage potential across the electro-active polymer layer causes the bi-layer element to bend and change the flow through the flow channel.

A flow control valve for controlling flow through a flow channel in a fuel cell, said valve being positioned adjacent to the flow channel, said valve comprising an actuation element, said actuation element being electrically actuated so as to be selectively positioned within the flow channel and control the flow through the flow channel, wherein the actuation element is an electro-active polymer element that bends in response to a voltage potential.