Reinforced fuel cell metal plate perimeter
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsDaniel P. Miller, Steven J. Spencer, Robert Thompson, Matthew J. Beutel, Siguang Xu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell includes a pair of plates. Each plate has an active area, a header area, and a perimeter area. The perimeter area is disposed adjacent an edge of the plate. The perimeter area is also disposed adjacent to each of the active area and the header area. At least one of the plates includes a raised support feature having an inboard side and an outboard side. The plates are joined in the perimeter area between the outboard side of the raised support feature and the edges of the plates.
Claims20
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising:
- a pair of plates, each plate having an active area, a header area, and a perimeter area, the perimeter area disposed adjacent an edge of the plate and each of the active area and the header area, the perimeter area of at least one of the plates includes a raised support feature having an inboard side and an outboard side, wherein the raised support feature includes a plurality of elongate dimples formed therein, the pair of plates joined in the perimeter area between the outboard side of the raised support feature and the edges of the plates.
A fuel cell, comprising:
- a pair of bipolar plates, each bipolar plate including pair of plates, each plate having an active area, a header area, and a perimeter area, the perimeter area disposed adjacent an edge of the plate and each of the active area and the header area, the perimeter area of at least one of the plates includes a raised support feature having an inboard side and an outboard side, wherein the raised support feature includes a plurality of elongate dimples formed therein, the pair of plates joined in the perimeter area between the outboard side of the raised support feature and the edges of the plates;
- and
- a unitized electrode assembly including a subgasket and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between a pair of diffusion medium layers, the membrane electrode assembly and the diffusion medium layers disposed between the bipolar plates.
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising:
- a pair of plates, each plate having an active area, a header area, and a perimeter area, the perimeter area disposed adjacent an edge of the plate and each of the active area and the header area, the perimeter area of at least one of the plates includes a raised support feature having an inboard side and an outboard side, the raised support feature surrounds the active area and the header area, wherein the raised support feature includes a plurality of intermittent breaks, the pair of plates joined in the perimeter area between the outboard side of the raised support feature and the edges of the plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.