Fuel cell hybrid flow field humidification zone
US6485857B2 · kind B2 · utility
9Cited by
2References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A PEM fuel cell oxidant flow field plate (12) having a substantial portion (77A) of the flow field formed of interdigitated reactant flow channels (86, 87) includes a humidification zone coextensive with an electrolyte dry-out barrier (38). Within the humidification zone, the reactant flow channels are flow-through channels (89), which permits the inlet reactant flow to be sufficiently slow to permit adequate humidification of the inlet reactant gas from adjacent water, such as coolant water flow channels and/or the anode, to avoid electrolyte dry-out.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.