Fuel cell plates with skewed process channels for uniform distribution of stack compression load
- North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, PA
An electrochemical fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, an electrolyte matrix sandwiched between electrodes, and a pair of plates above and below the electrodes. The plate above the electrodes has a lower surface with a first group of process gas flow channels formed thereon and the plate below the electrodes has an upper surface with a second group of process gas flow channels formed thereon. The channels of each group extend generally parallel to one another. The improvement comprises the process gas flow channels on the lower surface of the plate above the anode electrode and the process gas flow channels on the upper surface of the plate below the cathode electrode being skewed in opposite directions such that contact areas of the surfaces of the plates through the electrodes are formed in crisscross arrangements. Also, the plates have at least one groove in areas of the surfaces thereof where the channels are absent for holding process gas and increasing electrochemical activity of the fuel cell. The groove in each plate surface intersects with the process channels therein. Also, the opposite surfaces of a bipolar plate for a fuel cell contain first and second arrangements of process gas flow channels in the respective surfaces which are skewed the same amount in opposite directions relative to the longitudinal centerline of the plate.
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4853301
- OSTI ID:
- 867060
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
cell
plates
skewed
process
channels
uniform
distribution
stack
compression
load
electrochemical
anode
electrode
cathode
electrolyte
matrix
sandwiched
electrodes
pair
below
plate
surface
gas
flow
formed
thereon
upper
extend
parallel
improvement
comprises
opposite
directions
contact
surfaces
crisscross
arrangements
groove
absent
holding
increasing
activity
intersects
therein
bipolar
contain
respective
amount
relative
longitudinal
centerline
opposite surfaces
electrochemical fuel
channels therein
process channels
fuel cell
opposite direction
channels formed
opposite directions
flow channels
process gas
upper surface
flow channel
gas flow
improvement comprises
cathode electrode
bipolar plate
opposite surface
electrolyte matrix
formed thereon
anode electrode
uniform distribution
respective surfaces
plate surface
compression load
cell plates
chemical activity
chemical fuel
cell contain
cell plate
site surface
matrix sandwiched
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