Fuel cell structure
US6500579B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell including a unit cell and a separator panel alternatingly stacked on one another. The unit cell includes an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode. The separator panel includes parallel fuel flow paths extending from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port for supplying fluid fuel to the fuel electrode and parallel oxidant flow paths extending from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port for supplying oxidant fluid to the oxidant electrode. At least the oxidant flow paths include groups of parallel flow paths, which extend back and forth within divided regions of the main surface of the separator panel. The oxidant flow paths may include groups of parallel flow paths, positions along the groups of the parallel flow paths at equal distance from the respective fluid supply port being distributed substantially evenly over the main surface of the separator panel. Also, groups of parallel flow paths extend back and forth within a region defined by a projection of the divided regions through which the oxidant flow paths extend. The ridge width of ridges defined between grooves within the parallel flow path group is smalle…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.