Gas block mechanism for water removal in fuel cells
The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for cathode-side disposal of water in an electrochemical fuel cell. There is a cathode plate. Within a surface of the plate is a flow field comprised of interdigitated channels. During operation of the fuel cell, cathode gas flows by convection through a gas diffusion layer above the flow field. Positioned at points adjacent to the flow field are one or more porous gas block mediums that have pores sized such that water is sipped off to the outside of the flow field by capillary flow and cathode gas is blocked from flowing through the medium. On the other surface of the plate is a channel in fluid communication with each porous gas block mediums. The method for water disposal in a fuel cell comprises installing the cathode plate assemblies at the cathode sides of the stack of fuel cells and manifolding the single water channel of each of the cathode plate assemblies to the coolant flow that feeds coolant plates in the stack.
- Research Organization:
- Hybrid Power Generation Systems, LLC, Torrance, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC02-97EE50470
- Assignee:
- Hybrid Power Generation Systems, LLC (Torrance, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- 6,686,084
- Application Number:
- 10/039,503
- OSTI ID:
- 1174711
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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