Fuel cell with metal screen flow-field

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873627

Wilson, Mahlon S ^[1]; Zawodzinski, Christine ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is provided with electrodes supplied with a reactant on each side of a catalyzed membrane assembly (CMA). The fuel cell includes a metal mesh defining a rectangular flow-field pattern having an inlet at a first corner and an outlet at a second corner located on a diagonal from the first corner, wherein all flow paths from the inlet to the outlet through the square flow field pattern are equivalent to uniformly distribute the reactant over the CMA. In a preferred form of metal mesh, a square weave screen forms the flow-field pattern. In a particular characterization of the present invention, a bipolar plate electrically connects adjacent fuel cells, where the bipolar plate includes a thin metal foil having an anode side and a cathode side; a first metal mesh on the anode side of the thin metal foil; and a second metal mesh on the cathode side of the thin metal foil. In another characterization of the present invention, a cooling plate assembly cools adjacent fuel cells, where the cooling plate assembly includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode formed of thin conducting foils; and a metal mesh flow field therebetween for distributing cooling water flow over the electrodes to remove heat generated by the fuel cells.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Los Alamos, MX)
• Patent Number(s): US 6207310
• OSTI ID: 873627
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

fuel
cell
metal
screen
flow-field
polymer
electrolyte
membrane
pem
provided
electrodes
supplied
reactant
catalyzed
assembly
cma
mesh
defining
rectangular
pattern
inlet
corner
outlet
located
diagonal
flow
paths
square
field
equivalent
uniformly
distribute
preferred
form
weave
forms
particular
characterization
bipolar
plate
electrically
connects
adjacent
cells
foil
anode
cathode
cooling
cools
electrode
formed
conducting
foils
therebetween
distributing
water
remove
heat
generated
uniformly distribute
fuel cell
cooling plate
remove heat
water flow
electrolyte membrane
metal mesh
adjacent fuel
flow paths
cooling water
flow field
fuel cells
flow path
polymer electrolyte
plate assembly
cathode electrode
bipolar plate
metal foil
heat generated
preferred form
electrode formed
anode electrode
catalyzed membrane
electrically connects
conducting foil
screen flow-field
metal screen
mesh defining
membrane assembly
field pattern
electrodes supplied
rectangular flow
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