Undulating structure for fuel cell flow field

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12021275-B2
Application number	US-202117302906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2021
Priority date	May 15, 2020
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

An undulating structure for use in a fuel cell includes a plurality of peaks and valleys. A method of making a structure for use in a fuel cell includes providing a mesh or screen sheet having one or more edges, forming the mesh or screen sheet into an undulating structure and treating one or more of the edges. A flow field for a fuel cell, comprising at least one metal mesh or screen, wherein the at least one metal mesh or screen includes a plurality of peaks and valleys. A fuel cell, comprising a first corrugated mesh or screen positioned within an anode of the fuel cell, a second corrugated mesh or screen positioned within a cathode of the fuel cell, and a membrane positioned between the first corrugated mesh or screen and the second corrugated mesh or screen.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell, comprising:
providing a mesh or screen sheet having one or more edges;
using rollers to form the mesh or screen sheet into an undulating structure; and
treating one or more of the edges;
wherein the treating one or more of the edges includes at least one of weaving one or more of the edges, flattening one or more of the edges, hemming one or more of the edges, compressing one or more of the edges, folding one or more of the edges, cutting one or more of the edges, fusing one or more of the edges, brushing one or more of the edges, or encapsulating one or more of the edges; and then

pressing or flattening the undulating structure with a calendering roller.

2. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein a height of the pressed or flattened undulating structure is between 0.2 mm and 1.5 mm.

3. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein a yield strength of the pressed or flattened undulating structure is between 5 kgF/cm2 and 200 kgF/cm2.

4. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
further comprising cleaning or passivating the undulating structure.

5. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cleaning or passivating includes one or more of ultrasonic treatment, acid wash, immersion treatment, and electrochemical treatment.

6. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mesh or screen sheet is woven wire.

7. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mesh or screen sheet is expanded metal.

8. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the undulating structure includes a pleated feature.

9. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the undulating structure includes a corrugated feature.

10. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the undulating structure includes a serpentine feature.

11. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein a height of the undulating structure is in the range of 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm.

12. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein a distance between adjacent peaks of the undulating feature is in the range of 0.2 mm to 3.0 mm.

13. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the screen or mesh sheet is formed of stainless steel, Chromium, Niobium, Zirconium, Nickel, Silver, Titanium, or alloys thereof.

14. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 13 ,
wherein the stainless steel is austenitic stainless steel.

15. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the screen or mesh sheet comprises wire having a diameter between 0.015 inches to 0.0005 inches.

16. A method of making a structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the screen or mesh sheet is a mesh having dimensions of 30 mesh to 500 mesh.

Assignees

• Nuvera Fuel Cells Llc

Inventors

• Blanchet Scott
• Van Boeyen Roger

Classifications

• H01M8/0263

  having meandering or serpentine paths · CPC title

• H01M8/0232 Primary

  Metals or alloys · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/026 Primary

  characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth · CPC title

• H01M8/0254

  corrugated or undulated · CPC title