Internal electrolyte supply system for reliable transport throughout fuel cell stacks
Abstract
An improved internal electrolyte supply system in a fuel cell stack employs a variety of arrangements of grooves and passages in bipolar plates of the multiplicity of repeating fuel cells to route gravity-assisted flowing electrolyte throughout the stack. The grooves route electrolyte flow along series of first paths which extend horizontally through the cells between the plates thereof. The passages route electrolyte flow along series of second paths which extend vertically through the stack so as to supply electrolyte to the first paths in order to expose the electrolyte to the matrices of the cells. Five different embodiments of the supply system are disclosed. Some embodiments employ wicks in the grooves for facilitating transfer of the electrolyte to the matrices as well as providing support for the matrices. Additionally, the passages of some embodiments by-pass certain of the grooves and supply electrolyte directly to other of the grooves. Some embodiments employ single grooves and others have dual grooves. Finally, in some embodiments the passages are connected to the grooves by a step which produces a cascading electrolyte flow.
- Inventors:
-
- Bethel Park, PA
- Monroeville, PA
- Westlake, OH
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866541
- Patent Number(s):
- 4732822
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- internal; electrolyte; supply; reliable; transport; throughout; fuel; cell; stacks; improved; stack; employs; variety; arrangements; grooves; passages; bipolar; plates; multiplicity; repeating; cells; route; gravity-assisted; flowing; flow; series; paths; extend; horizontally; vertically; expose; matrices; five; embodiments; disclosed; employ; wicks; facilitating; transfer; providing; support; additionally; by-pass; directly; single; dual; finally; connected; step; produces; cascading; cell stacks; fuel cell; bipolar plates; cell stack; fuel cells; bipolar plate; supply electrolyte; providing support; extend vertically; internal electrolyte; electrolyte supply; /429/
Citation Formats
Wright, Maynard K, Downs, Robert E, and King, Robert B. Internal electrolyte supply system for reliable transport throughout fuel cell stacks. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Wright, Maynard K, Downs, Robert E, & King, Robert B. Internal electrolyte supply system for reliable transport throughout fuel cell stacks. United States.
Wright, Maynard K, Downs, Robert E, and King, Robert B. Fri .
"Internal electrolyte supply system for reliable transport throughout fuel cell stacks". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866541.
@article{osti_866541,
title = {Internal electrolyte supply system for reliable transport throughout fuel cell stacks},
author = {Wright, Maynard K and Downs, Robert E and King, Robert B},
abstractNote = {An improved internal electrolyte supply system in a fuel cell stack employs a variety of arrangements of grooves and passages in bipolar plates of the multiplicity of repeating fuel cells to route gravity-assisted flowing electrolyte throughout the stack. The grooves route electrolyte flow along series of first paths which extend horizontally through the cells between the plates thereof. The passages route electrolyte flow along series of second paths which extend vertically through the stack so as to supply electrolyte to the first paths in order to expose the electrolyte to the matrices of the cells. Five different embodiments of the supply system are disclosed. Some embodiments employ wicks in the grooves for facilitating transfer of the electrolyte to the matrices as well as providing support for the matrices. Additionally, the passages of some embodiments by-pass certain of the grooves and supply electrolyte directly to other of the grooves. Some embodiments employ single grooves and others have dual grooves. Finally, in some embodiments the passages are connected to the grooves by a step which produces a cascading electrolyte flow.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1988},
month = {1}
}