Fuel cell cooler-humidifier plate
- Albany, NY
- Glenville, NY
A cooler-humidifier plate for use in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack assembly is provided. The cooler-humidifier plate combines functions of cooling and humidification within the fuel cell stack assembly, thereby providing a more compact structure, simpler manifolding, and reduced reject heat from the fuel cell. Coolant on the cooler side of the plate removes heat generated within the fuel cell assembly. Heat is also removed by the humidifier side of the plate for use in evaporating the humidification water. On the humidifier side of the plate, evaporating water humidifies reactant gas flowing over a moistened wick. After exiting the humidifier side of the plate, humidified reactant gas provides needed moisture to the proton exchange membranes used in the fuel cell stack assembly. The invention also provides a fuel cell plate that maximizes structural support within the fuel cell by ensuring that the ribs that form the boundaries of channels on one side of the plate have ends at locations that substantially correspond to the locations of ribs on the opposite side of the plate.
- Research Organization:
- Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-94CE50389
- Assignee:
- Plug Power Inc. (Latham, NY)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 6066408
- OSTI ID:
- 873008
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
cell
cooler-humidifier
plate
proton
exchange
membrane
pem
stack
assembly
provided
combines
functions
cooling
humidification
providing
compact
structure
simpler
manifolding
reduced
reject
heat
coolant
cooler
removes
generated
removed
humidifier
evaporating
water
humidifies
reactant
gas
flowing
moistened
wick
exiting
humidified
provides
moisture
membranes
maximizes
structural
support
ensuring
ribs
form
boundaries
channels
locations
substantially
correspond
opposite
proton exchange
fuel cell
structural support
gas flow
cell stack
reactant gas
cell assembly
heat generated
gas flowing
exchange membrane
stack assembly
exchange membranes
compact structure
cooler-humidifier plate
cell cooler
cell plate
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