Patent · US Active

Fuel cell stack sealed with encapsulating material and method of making the same

US8580457B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 2007
Grant dateNov 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 8, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49108
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a fuel cell stack including a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the separator plate, MEA, and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded at least in part by the encapsulating material. The fuel cell stack also includes a first opening through the plate body to the first face from the second face, and an open channel in the second face extending from the opening toward a periphery of the plate. The invention also provides a fuel cell stack having a first face including an opening for passage of a reactant therethrough, a first reactant flow field defined thereon, and a first raised surface formed thereon substantially surrounding the opening. The first raised surface is configured and adapted to mate with a second surface on a face of an adjacent plate to create a flow obstruction for encapsulating material.

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