Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical conductivity
Abstract
Fluid service and/or electrical conductivity for a fuel cell assembly is promoted. Open-faced flow channel(s) are formed in a flow field plate face, and extend in the flow field plate face between entry and exit fluid manifolds. A resilient gas diffusion layer is located between the flow field plate face and a membrane electrode assembly, fluidly serviced with the open-faced flow channel(s). The resilient gas diffusion layer is restrained against entering the open-faced flow channel(s) under a compressive force applied to the fuel cell assembly. In particular, a first side of a support member abuts the flow field plate face, and a second side of the support member abuts the resilient gas diffusion layer. The support member is formed with a plurality of openings extending between the first and second sides of the support member. In addition, a clamping pressure is maintained for an interface between the resilient gas diffusion layer and a portion of the membrane electrode assembly. Preferably, the support member is spikeless and/or substantially flat. Further, the support member is formed with an electrical path for conducting current between the resilient gas diffusion layer and position(s) on the flow field plate face.
- Inventors:
-
- Glenville, NY
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872782
- Patent Number(s):
- 6007933
- Assignee:
- Plug Power, L.L.C. (Latham, NY)
- 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
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-94CE50389
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- fuel; cell; assembly; unit; promoting; fluid; service; electrical; conductivity; promoted; open-faced; flow; channel; formed; field; plate; extend; entry; exit; manifolds; resilient; gas; diffusion; layer; located; membrane; electrode; fluidly; serviced; restrained; entering; compressive; force; applied; particular; support; abuts; plurality; openings; extending; addition; clamping; pressure; maintained; interface; portion; preferably; spikeless; substantially; flat; path; conducting; current; position; compressive force; membrane electrode; fuel cell; substantially flat; force applied; gas diffusion; electrode assembly; flow field; flow channel; electrical conductivity; cell assembly; diffusion layer; field plate; openings extending; electrical path; conducting current; fluid service; /429/204/
Citation Formats
Jones, Daniel O. Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical conductivity. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Jones, Daniel O. Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical conductivity. United States.
Jones, Daniel O. Fri .
"Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical conductivity". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872782.
@article{osti_872782,
title = {Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical conductivity},
author = {Jones, Daniel O},
abstractNote = {Fluid service and/or electrical conductivity for a fuel cell assembly is promoted. Open-faced flow channel(s) are formed in a flow field plate face, and extend in the flow field plate face between entry and exit fluid manifolds. A resilient gas diffusion layer is located between the flow field plate face and a membrane electrode assembly, fluidly serviced with the open-faced flow channel(s). The resilient gas diffusion layer is restrained against entering the open-faced flow channel(s) under a compressive force applied to the fuel cell assembly. In particular, a first side of a support member abuts the flow field plate face, and a second side of the support member abuts the resilient gas diffusion layer. The support member is formed with a plurality of openings extending between the first and second sides of the support member. In addition, a clamping pressure is maintained for an interface between the resilient gas diffusion layer and a portion of the membrane electrode assembly. Preferably, the support member is spikeless and/or substantially flat. Further, the support member is formed with an electrical path for conducting current between the resilient gas diffusion layer and position(s) on the flow field plate face.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999}
}