Bipolar plate for fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023096327-A1
Application number	US-202117491421-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2021
Priority date	Sep 30, 2021
Publication date	Mar 30, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bipolar plate is provided that includes a metal plate, at least one channel, a first coating, and a second coating. The metal plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge surface connecting the first surface to the second surface, and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface and connecting the first surface to the second surface. The at least one channel is formed in at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The first coating is formed on the at least one of the first surface and the second surface such that the first coating covers each of the at least one channel. The second coating is formed on the first edge surface and the second edge surface. Each of the at least one channel has a semi-circular shape and extends along the at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bipolar plate comprising:
a metal plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge surface connecting the first surface to the second surface, and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface and connecting the first surface to the second surface; at least one channel formed in at least one of the first surface and the second surface; a first coating formed on the at least one of the first surface and the second surface such that the first coating covers each of the at least one channel; and a second coating formed on the first edge surface and the second edge surface, each of the at least one channel having a semi-circular shape and extending along the at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

2 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the metal plate comprises stainless steel.

3 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the first coating covers an entirety of the at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

4 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the first coating is formed on an entirety of the metal plate such that the first coating covers the first surface, the second surface, the first edge surface, and the second edge surface.

5 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the first coating comprises manganese cobalt oxide.

6 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the second coating comprises a ceramic material.

7 . The bipolar plate according to claim 6 , wherein
the ceramic material includes yttria stabilized zirconia.

8 . The bipolar plate according to claim 7 , wherein
the second coating further comprises glass.

9 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the bipolar plate has a thickness of approximately 500 μm to 800 μm.

10 . The bipolar plate according to claim 1 , further comprising
a third coating formed on the at least one of the first surface and the second surface, the third coating including a reforming catalyst.

11 . A fuel cell stack comprising
a first fuel cell including:
a first cathode;
a first electrolyte comprising a first solid oxide ceramic material; and
a first anode comprising: a first metal substrate having at least one hole formed therein; and a first anode material formed on a surface of the first metal substrate and within each of the at least one hole;
a second fuel cell including:
a second cathode;
a second electrolyte comprising a second solid oxide ceramic material; and
a second anode comprising: a second metal substrate having at least one hole formed therein; and a second anode material formed on a surface of the second metal substrate and within each of the at least one hole; and
a bipolar plate formed between the first anode of the first fuel cell and the second anode of the second fuel cell, the bipolar plate comprising:
a metal plate having a first surface facing the first anode, a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the second anode, a first edge surface connecting the first surface to the second surface, and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface and connecting the first surface to the second surface;
at least one channel formed in the first surface and the second surface;
a first coating formed on the first surface and the second surface such that the first coating covers each of the at least one channel; and
a second coating formed on the first edge surface and the second edge surface, each of the at least one channel having a semi-circular shape and extending along the at least one of the first surface and the second surface

12 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , further comprising
a first metal mesh formed between the bipolar plate and the first anode of the first fuel cell; and a second metal mesh formed between the bipolar plate and the second anode of the second fuel cell.

13 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , wherein
the first coating covers an entirety of the at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

14 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , wherein
the first coating is formed on an entirety of the metal plate such that the first coating covers the first surface, the second surface, the first edge surface, and the second edge surface.

15 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , wherein
the first coating comprises manganese cobalt oxide.

16 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , wherein
the second coating comprises a ceramic material.

17 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 16 , wherein
the ceramic material includes yttria stabilized zirconia, and the second coating further comprises glass.

18 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , wherein
the bipolar plate has a thickness of approximately 500 μm to 800 μm.

19 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , further comprising
a third coating formed on the first surface and the second surface of the bipolar plate, the third coating including a reforming catalyst.

20 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 11 , further comprising
a screw that penetrates the first metal substrate of the first anode and the second metal substrate of the second anode.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Abdul Jabbar Mohammed Hussain
• Patil Sandeep

Classifications

• H01M8/025

  semicylindrical · CPC title

• H01M8/0236

  Glass; Ceramics; Cermets · CPC title

• H01M8/1213

  characterised by the electrode/electrolyte combination or the supporting material · CPC title

• H01M8/0232 Primary

  Metals or alloys · CPC title

• H01M8/0258

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