DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method

Abstract

A fluid flow passage bridgepiece for insertion into an open-face fluid flow channel of a fluid flow plate is provided. The bridgepiece provides a sealed passage from a columnar fluid flow manifold to the flow channel, thereby preventing undesirable leakage into and out of the columnar fluid flow manifold. When deployed in the various fluid flow plates that are used in a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, bridgepieces of this invention prevent mixing of reactant gases, leakage of coolant or humidification water, and occlusion of the fluid flow channel by gasket material. The invention also provides a fluid flow plate assembly including an insertable bridgepiece, a fluid flow plate adapted for use with an insertable bridgepiece, and a method of manufacturing a fluid flow plate with an insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Glenville, NV
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872827
Patent Number(s):
6017648
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:
insertable; fluid; flow; passage; bridgepiece; method; insertion; open-face; channel; plate; provided; provides; sealed; columnar; manifold; preventing; undesirable; leakage; deployed; various; plates; proton; exchange; membrane; pem; fuel; cell; bridgepieces; prevent; mixing; reactant; gases; coolant; humidification; water; occlusion; gasket; material; assembly; including; adapted; manufacturing; proton exchange; fuel cell; reactant gases; flow passage; flow channel; fluid flow; plate assembly; reactant gas; assembly including; exchange membrane; flow plate; passage bridgepiece; various fluid; flow manifold; preventing undesirable; /429/

Citation Formats

Jones, Daniel O. Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method. United States: N. p., 2000. Web.
Jones, Daniel O. Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method. United States.
Jones, Daniel O. Sat . "Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872827.
@article{osti_872827,
title = {Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method},
author = {Jones, Daniel O},
abstractNote = {A fluid flow passage bridgepiece for insertion into an open-face fluid flow channel of a fluid flow plate is provided. The bridgepiece provides a sealed passage from a columnar fluid flow manifold to the flow channel, thereby preventing undesirable leakage into and out of the columnar fluid flow manifold. When deployed in the various fluid flow plates that are used in a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, bridgepieces of this invention prevent mixing of reactant gases, leakage of coolant or humidification water, and occlusion of the fluid flow channel by gasket material. The invention also provides a fluid flow plate assembly including an insertable bridgepiece, a fluid flow plate adapted for use with an insertable bridgepiece, and a method of manufacturing a fluid flow plate with an insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}