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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Fuel cell plates with improved arrangement of process channels for enhanced pressure drop across the plates

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6838502
This patent describes an electrochemical fuel cell including a pair of plates with one plate having fuel gas flow defining means formed therein and the other plate having oxidant gas flow defining means formed therein. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are disposed between the plates and an electrolyte matrix is sandwiched between the anode and cathode electrodes. At least one of the fuel and oxidant gas flow defining means comprises: (a) a first group of ribs defining a first group of gas flow channels, the channels at the same one of their opposite ends being open at a first edge of the plate and at the same other of their opposite ends being connected together in flow communication in adjacent pairs. The ribs have formed therein a first group of spaced slots which interconnect and provide flow communication between adjacent channels; (b) a second group of ribs defining a second group of gas flow channels, the channels being connected together in flow communication in adjacent pairs at their respective opposite ends. The ribs have formed therein a second group of spaced slots which interconnect and provide flow communication between adjacent channels; and (c) a third group of ribs defining a third group of gas flow channels, the channels at the same one of their opposite ends being open at a second edge of the plate and at the same other of their opposite ends being connected together in flow communication in adjacent pairs. The ribs have formed therein a third group of spaced slots which interconnect and provide flow communication between adjacent channels.
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
Patent Number(s):
US 4631239
OSTI ID:
6838502
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English