Patent · US Active

Flow field plate for use in fuel cells

US7524575B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
41References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 2004
Grant dateApr 28, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of flowing reactants over an ion exchange membrane in a fuel cell flow field plate is provided. The flow field plate is provided, comprising a network of flow channels in the plate bounded by an electrochemically active electrode, the network comprising a series of passages having parallel grooves, the passages being interconnected by a header providing a substantially even redistribution of fluid flow received from grooves of one passage to grooves of the next passage. A reactant fluid is supplied to create a flow across the network to achieve a desired reactant utilization, wherein a flow rate and a concentration of reactant molecules per active area of membrane in the grooves increase by less than 80% across the header.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.