Conductivity fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication

Braun, James C

Title: Conductivity fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication

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Abstract

An improved method of manufacturing a PEM fuel cell collector plate is disclosed. During molding a highly conductive polymer composite is formed having a relatively high polymer concentration along its external surfaces. After molding the polymer rich layer is removed from the land areas by machining, grinding or similar process. This layer removal results in increased overall conductivity of the molded collector plate. The polymer rich surface remains in the collector plate channels, providing increased mechanical strength and other benefits to the channels. The improved method also permits greater mold cavity thickness providing a number of advantages during the molding process.

Inventors:

Braun, James C ^[1]

Juno Beach, FL

Issue Date:: 2002-01-01

Research Org.:: Energy Partners, L.C. (West Palm Beach, FL)

OSTI Identifier:: 874736

Patent Number(s):: 6451471

Assignee:: Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc. (Hunt Valley, MD)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS
B29C2059/027 - {Grinding
B29C59/02 - by mechanical means, e.g. pressing {
B29C70/64 - the filler influencing the surface characteristics of the material, e.g. by concentrating near the surface or by incorporating in the surface by force

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
B29K2105/0079 - {Liquid crystals}
B29K2503/04 - Inorganic materials
B29K2995/0005 - Conductive

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29L - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
B29L2031/3468 - {Batteries, accumulators or fuel cells

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M2300/0082 - Organic polymers
H01M8/0202 - Collectors
H01M8/0213 - Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
H01M8/0221 - Organic resins
H01M8/0226 - in the form of mixtures
H01M8/0228 - in the form of layered or coated products

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
Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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DOE Contract Number:: FC02-97EE50476

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: conductivity; fuel; cell; collector; plate; method; fabrication; improved; manufacturing; pem; disclosed; molding; highly; conductive; polymer; composite; formed; concentration; external; surfaces; rich; layer; removed; land; machining; grinding; similar; process; removal; results; increased; overall; molded; surface; remains; channels; providing; mechanical; strength; benefits; permits; mold; cavity; thickness; advantages; fuel cell; polymer composite; collector plate; /429/

Citation Formats


                    Braun, James C. Conductivity fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication.  United States: N. p., 2002. 
        Web.

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                    Braun, James C. Conductivity fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication.  United States.

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                    Braun, James C. Tue .  
        "Conductivity fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874736.

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@article{osti_874736,

  title        = {Conductivity fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication},

  author       = {Braun, James C},

  abstractNote = {An improved method of manufacturing a PEM fuel cell collector plate is disclosed. During molding a highly conductive polymer composite is formed having a relatively high polymer concentration along its external surfaces. After molding the polymer rich layer is removed from the land areas by machining, grinding or similar process. This layer removal results in increased overall conductivity of the molded collector plate. The polymer rich surface remains in the collector plate channels, providing increased mechanical strength and other benefits to the channels. The improved method also permits greater mold cavity thickness providing a number of advantages during the molding process.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2002},

  month        = {1}

}

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