Variable pressure drop stack
US6936362B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells arranged adjacent one another and compressed together. At least one of the fuel cells has an electrode plate with a flow field formed therein, a proton exchange membrane and a compressible fluid-permeable diffusion media that is disposed adjacent the electrode plate. A compressing member is operable to vary a compression of the fuel cells during operation which varies an intrusion of the compressible diffusion media into the flow field in the adjacent electrode plate. The variation of the intrusion of the diffusion media into the flow fields allows the control of the pressure drop across the fuel cell stack and enables the fuel cell stack to be dynamically controlled so that a desired operational state is achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.