Fuel cell having a perforated foil distributing the fuel gas over the electrode surface

US7261969B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Maximilian Danzer · Scheyern, DE
• Franz-Josef Wetzel · Gernlinden, DE
• Xiaofeng Yan · Waiblingen, DE
• Thomas Hoefler · Stuttgart, DE
• Bernd Kuhn · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Andreas Stoermer · Bad Aibling, DE
• Olav Finkenwirth · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 24, 2005
• Grant date: Aug 28, 2007
• Expiry date: Sep 5, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell includes a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit, and a perforated foil structure distributes fuel gas over an electrode surface thereof. Longitudinal axes of at least some of the holes forming perforations in the foil are inclined differently relative to the foil surface such that, near a fuel gas feed, the outlet openings of the holes facing the electrode are oriented at least slightly toward the area of the fuel gas outlet from the fuel cell. Near a fuel gas outlet, the inlet openings of the holes facing the electrode are oriented at least slightly to the area of the fuel gas feed. However, holes whose inlet openings facing away from the electrode are oriented toward the fuel gas feed, and holes whose outlet openings facing away from the electrode are oriented toward the fuel gas outlet, may also be arranged alternately side-by-side.