Flow field configuration for fuel cell plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10446860-B2
Application number	US-201114123666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2011
Priority date	Jun 23, 2011
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a plate for a fuel cell includes the steps of providing flow channels in a fuel cell plate. Multiple fuel cell plates are joined into a cell stack assembly. A blocking plate is affixed to the fuel cell plate and at least partially obstructs the flow channels. The blocking plate is affixed to the fuel cell plate after the plates have been arranged into the cell stack assembly. The resulting fuel cell provides a fuel cell plate having a perimeter with an edge. The fuel cell plate includes flow channels extending to the edge. The blocking plate is affixed to the fuel cell plate at the edge to at least partially block the flow channel. In this manner, an inexpensive fuel cell plate may be used, and the blocking plate can be configured to create terminated flow channels, which may be used to provide an interdigitated flow field.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell assembly comprising:
providing flow channels in a plurality of fuel cell plates;
joining the plurality of fuel cell plates into a cell stack assembly;
permanently affixing a first blocking plate to the cell stack assembly so that the first blocking plate completely obstructs ends of a first set of the flow channels at a first side of the cell stack assembly and does not obstruct ends of a second set of the flow channels at the first side of the cell stack assembly, wherein the first blocking plate includes a first support member that extends along a length of a first one of the fuel cell plates at a first end of the cell stack assembly, a second support member that extends along a length of a second one of the fuel cell plates at a second end of the cell stack assembly opposite to the first end of the cell stack assembly, and a first plurality of blocking members that each extend from the first support member to the second support member; and
permanently affixing a second blocking plate to the cell stack assembly so that the second blocking plate completely obstructs ends of the second set of the flow channels at a second side of the cell stack assembly opposite to the first side of the cell stack assembly and does not obstruct ends of the first set of the flow channels at the second side of the cell stack assembly, the first set of the flow channels alternating with the second set of the flow channels, the permanently affixing of the first and second blocking plates to the cell stack assembly thereby forming interdigitated flow fields within the cell stack assembly, wherein the second blocking plate includes a third support member that extends along the length of the first one of the fuel cell plates at the first end of the cell stack assembly, a fourth support member that extends along the length of the second one of the fuel cell plates at the second end of the cell stack assembly, and a second plurality of blocking members that each extend from the third support member to the fourth support member.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the providing includes forming the flow channels to extend to respective edges of respective outer perimeters of the plurality of fuel cell plates.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the providing includes forming the flow channels as parallel flow channels.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the providing includes forming the parallel flow channels to extend to respective pairs of opposing edges of the plurality of fuel cell plates.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the providing includes gang milling the parallel flow channels.

6. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising securing an external manifold to the cell stack assembly.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the securing includes providing a manifold cavity between the blocking plate and the external manifold.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell plate is a porous fuel cell plate.

9. A fuel cell comprising:
a fuel cell plate having a perimeter providing a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the fuel cell plate including flow channels extending to the first edge and to the second edge;
a first blocking plate affixed to the fuel cell plate at the first edge to completely obstruct ends of a first set of the flow channels including every other one of the flow channels at the first edge and to not obstruct ends of a second set of the flow channels including every other one of the flow channels at the first edge, wherein the first blocking plate includes a first support member that extends parallel to the fuel cell plate, a second support member that extends parallel to the fuel cell plate, and a first plurality of blocking members that each extend from the first support member to the second support member;
an external manifold secured to the fuel cell plate such that a manifold cavity is provided between the first blocking plate and the external manifold, wherein the first blocking plate is integrally formed with the external manifold such that the first blocking plate and the external manifold form a unitary structure; and
a second blocking plate affixed to the fuel cell plate at the second edge to completely obstruct ends of flow channels not obstructed by the first blocking plate at the second edge and to not obstruct ends of flow channels completely obstructed by the first blocking plate at the second edge, wherein the second blocking plate includes a third support member that extends parallel to the fuel cell plate, a fourth support member that extends parallel to the fuel cell plate, and a second plurality of blocking members that each extend from the third support member to the fourth support member,
wherein the first and second blocking plates completely obstructing ends of the flow channels forms an interdigitated flow field within the fuel cell plate.

10. The fuel cell according to claim 9 , further comprising a sealant adhering the first and second blocking plates to the fuel cell plate.

11. The fuel cell according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second blocking plates are made of a phenolic laminate.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second blocking plates are made of a phenolic laminate.

Assignees

• Madden Thomas H
• Patterson Timothy W
• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Madden Thomas H
• Patterson Timothy W

Classifications

• H01M8/0263

  having meandering or serpentine paths · CPC title

• H01M8/241

  with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0258 Primary

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/2404

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/1004 Primary

  characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title