Planar and essentially rectangular fuel cell and fuel cell block

US7282289B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Illner · Erlangen, DE
• Josef Lersch · Heroldsbach, DE
• Arno Mattejat · Bubenreuth, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 22, 2002
• Grant date: Oct 16, 2007
• Expiry date: Aug 13, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A planar, rectangular and water-cooled fuel cell includes a cooling element with a cooling chamber through which cooling water flows during the operation of the fuel cell. Cooling water does not flow through the cooling chamber in a homogeneous manner, normally resulting in local heating of the fuel cell in regions through which the cooling water flows through less frequently. A fuel cell is provided with a cooling element which includes an essentially rectangular cooling chamber with four corner regions, whereby the opening of the coolant flow is arranged in the first corner, the opening of a first coolant flow is arranged in a second corner and a second coolant flow is disposed in a third corner. The first coolant flow has a cross section Q1 on the narrowest point thereof and the second coolant flow has a cross section Q2 on the narrowest point thereof, the ratio of Q1/Q2 being 7-25.