Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method

Patent · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872827

Jones, Daniel O ^[1]

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1. Glenville, NV

A fluid flow passage bridgepiece for insertion into an open-face fluid flow channel of a fluid flow plate is provided. The bridgepiece provides a sealed passage from a columnar fluid flow manifold to the flow channel, thereby preventing undesirable leakage into and out of the columnar fluid flow manifold. When deployed in the various fluid flow plates that are used in a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, bridgepieces of this invention prevent mixing of reactant gases, leakage of coolant or humidification water, and occlusion of the fluid flow channel by gasket material. The invention also provides a fluid flow plate assembly including an insertable bridgepiece, a fluid flow plate adapted for use with an insertable bridgepiece, and a method of manufacturing a fluid flow plate with an insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece.

• Research Organization: FORD MOTOR CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-94CE50389
• Assignee: Plug Power, L.L.C. (Latham, NY)
• Patent Number(s): US 6017648
• OSTI ID: 872827
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/429/
adapted
assembly
assembly including
bridgepiece
bridgepieces
cell
channel
columnar
coolant
deployed
exchange
exchange membrane
flow
flow channel
flow manifold
flow passage
flow plate
fluid
fluid flow
fuel
fuel cell
gases
gasket
humidification
including
insertable
insertion
leakage
manifold
manufacturing
material
membrane
method
mixing
occlusion
open-face
passage
passage bridgepiece
pem
plate
plate assembly
plates
prevent
preventing
preventing undesirable
proton
proton exchange
provided
provides
reactant
reactant gas
reactant gases
sealed
undesirable
various
various fluid
water