Coolant flow field design for fuel cell stacks
US6924052B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bipolar plate assembly is provided for use in a fuel cell stack to supply reactants to the anode and cathode sides of fuel cells within the stack. The bipolar plate assembly includes first and second sub-plates, each including a first face surface having a coolant flow field formed therein and a second face surface having a reactant flow field formed therein. The coolant fields of the first and second sub-plates include regions of varying flow volume, having respective flow resistance therebetween. The regions of varying flow volume enable variable cooling across the fuel cell stack, thereby enabling a constant temperature to be achieved across the fuel cell stack.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.