Patent · US Active

Fuel cell including bipolar plates having welds not superimposed with welds of adjacent bipolar plates

US9698432B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 2012
Grant dateJul 4, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 17, 2033

Classification

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

Abstract

A fuel cell includes three membrane-electrode assemblies. and first and second bipolar metal plates interposed between the membrane-electrode assemblies. Each of the bipolar plates comprises two metal sheets facing a respective membrane-electrode assembly and fixedly attached by welds. The two metal sheets comprise successive guiding channels for guiding gas extending in a common longitudinal direction. The guiding channels are distributed in a transversal direction The welds are made in bottoms of the guiding channel and include welds of the first bipolar plate and welds of the second bipolar plate. Some of the welds of the first bipolar plate are not superimposed on the welds of the second bipolar plate and are offset longitudinally and transversally relative to the welds of the second bipolar plate.

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