Reactor structure as a heat exchanger layer stacking construction and method of making same

US6932949B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC. · US

Inventors

• Uwe Benz · Giengen an der Brenz, DE
• Horst Michels · Solingen, DE
• Alois Tischler · Dorfen, DE
• Marc Weisser · Owen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 23, 2005
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49345
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.