Fuel cell stack with improved end cell performance provided by higher modulus of elasticity
US9853307B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2013 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell stack that includes a gas diffusion media for the end cells in the stack that has less of an intrusion into the flow field channels of the end cells that the other cells, so as to increase the flow rate through the flow channels in the end cells relative to the flow rate through the flow channels in the other cells. A different diffusion media can be used in the end cells than the nominal cells, where the end cell diffusion media has less of a channel intrusion as a result of diffusion media characteristics. Also, the same diffusion media could be used in the end cells as the nominal cells, but the end cell diffusion media layers could be thinner than the nominal cell diffusion media layers. Further, a higher amount of pre-compression can be used for the diffusion media in the end cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.