Fuel cell plates with skewed process channels for uniform distribution of stack compression load
Abstract
An electrochemical fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, an electrolyte matrix sandwiched between electrodes, and a pair of plates above and below the electrodes. The plate above the electrodes has a lower surface with a first group of process gas flow channels formed thereon and the plate below the electrodes has an upper surface with a second group of process gas flow channels formed thereon. The channels of each group extend generally parallel to one another. The improvement comprises the process gas flow channels on the lower surface of the plate above the anode electrode and the process gas flow channels on the upper surface of the plate below the cathode electrode being skewed in opposite directions such that contact areas of the surfaces of the plates through the electrodes are formed in crisscross arrangements. Also, the plates have at least one groove in areas of the surfaces thereof where the channels are absent for holding process gas and increasing electrochemical activity of the fuel cell. The groove in each plate surface intersects with the process channels therein. Also, the opposite surfaces of a bipolar plate for a fuel cell contain first and second arrangements of processmore »
- Inventors:
-
- (Greensburg, PA)
- North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, PA
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867060
- Patent Number(s):
- 4853301
- 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:
- fuel; cell; plates; skewed; process; channels; uniform; distribution; stack; compression; load; electrochemical; anode; electrode; cathode; electrolyte; matrix; sandwiched; electrodes; pair; below; plate; surface; gas; flow; formed; thereon; upper; extend; parallel; improvement; comprises; opposite; directions; contact; surfaces; crisscross; arrangements; groove; absent; holding; increasing; activity; intersects; therein; bipolar; contain; respective; amount; relative; longitudinal; centerline; opposite surfaces; electrochemical fuel; channels therein; process channels; fuel cell; opposite direction; channels formed; opposite directions; flow channels; process gas; upper surface; flow channel; gas flow; improvement comprises; cathode electrode; bipolar plate; opposite surface; electrolyte matrix; formed thereon; anode electrode; uniform distribution; respective surfaces; plate surface; compression load; cell plates; chemical activity; chemical fuel; cell contain; cell plate; site surface; matrix sandwiched; /429/
Citation Formats
Granata, Jr., Samuel J., and Woodle, Boyd M. Fuel cell plates with skewed process channels for uniform distribution of stack compression load. United States: N. p., 1989.
Web.
Granata, Jr., Samuel J., & Woodle, Boyd M. Fuel cell plates with skewed process channels for uniform distribution of stack compression load. United States.
Granata, Jr., Samuel J., and Woodle, Boyd M. Sun .
"Fuel cell plates with skewed process channels for uniform distribution of stack compression load". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867060.
@article{osti_867060,
title = {Fuel cell plates with skewed process channels for uniform distribution of stack compression load},
author = {Granata, Jr., Samuel J. and Woodle, Boyd M},
abstractNote = {An electrochemical fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, an electrolyte matrix sandwiched between electrodes, and a pair of plates above and below the electrodes. The plate above the electrodes has a lower surface with a first group of process gas flow channels formed thereon and the plate below the electrodes has an upper surface with a second group of process gas flow channels formed thereon. The channels of each group extend generally parallel to one another. The improvement comprises the process gas flow channels on the lower surface of the plate above the anode electrode and the process gas flow channels on the upper surface of the plate below the cathode electrode being skewed in opposite directions such that contact areas of the surfaces of the plates through the electrodes are formed in crisscross arrangements. Also, the plates have at least one groove in areas of the surfaces thereof where the channels are absent for holding process gas and increasing electrochemical activity of the fuel cell. The groove in each plate surface intersects with the process channels therein. Also, the opposite surfaces of a bipolar plate for a fuel cell contain first and second arrangements of process gas flow channels in the respective surfaces which are skewed the same amount in opposite directions relative to the longitudinal centerline of the plate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989}
}