Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

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 Company, Detroit, MI (United States)
• 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

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