U.S. patent application number 13/127990 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-06 for fuel cell plate flow field.
Invention is credited to Robert A. Love, David A. Niezelski, Edward Gordon Schaub, John H. Whiton.
Application Number | 20110244370 13/127990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42170190 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110244370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Whiton; John H. ; et
al. |
October 6, 2011 |
FUEL CELL PLATE FLOW FIELD
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a fuel cell flow field plate is
disclosed in which a generally even flow distribution across the
flow field is provided. The method includes providing an inlet
manifold in fluid communication with the flow field. The flow field
includes multiple channels for which some of the channels receive
restricted flow from the inlet manifold as compared to other
channels. A relative pressure drop between the channels is altered
with a pressure drop feature to encourage fluid flow from the inlet
manifold to the channels with restricted flow, which results in a
generally even flow distribution across the flow field.
Inventors: |
Whiton; John H.; (South
Windsor, CT) ; Niezelski; David A.; (Manchester,
CT) ; Love; Robert A.; (Bloomfield, CT) ;
Schaub; Edward Gordon; (Windsor, CT) |
Family ID: |
42170190 |
Appl. No.: |
13/127990 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
November 17, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US08/83718 |
371 Date: |
May 6, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/514 ;
429/535 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/50 20130101;
H01M 8/04089 20130101; H01M 8/0258 20130101; H01M 8/026 20130101;
Y02P 70/50 20151101; H01M 2008/1095 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/514 ;
429/535 |
International
Class: |
H01M 8/04 20060101
H01M008/04; H01M 8/00 20060101 H01M008/00 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell plate flow field having
generally even flow distribution across the flow field, the method
comprising the steps of: providing an inlet manifold in fluid
communication with a flow field, the flow field having multiple
channels including first and second channels with second channels
receiving restricted fluid flow from the inlet manifold compared to
first channels; altering the relative pressure drop between the
first channels and the second channels with a pressure drop
feature; and encouraging fluid flow from the inlet manifold to the
second channels in response to the pressure drop feature to provide
generally even flow distribution between the first channels and the
second channels.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing step includes
the inlet manifold having a first width and the flow field having a
second width greater than the first width, and inlets to the flow
field arranged across the second width.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the providing step
includes the first and second channels extending along a length,
the first and second channels parallel with one another along the
length.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing step
includes a lateral inlet passage fluidly interconnecting the first
channels to one another, the lateral inlet passage fluidly
interconnected to the inlet manifold by inlet passages, a lateral
exhaust passage fluidly interconnecting the second channels to one
another, the lateral exhaust passage in fluid communication with an
exhaust manifold, the pressure drop feature provided by the first
and second channels being dead-ended by respectively extending from
the inlet and exhaust lateral passages to first and second terminal
ends, the first and second terminal ends respectively near the
exhaust and inlet lateral passages, the first and second channels
arranged in alternating relationship with one another.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing step
includes a restricted flow area at inlets to the second channels,
and the pressure drop feature includes a cross passage from the
first channel near first channel inlets to the second channel
beneath the restricted flow area.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cross passage
extends at an angle relative to a length of the first channels and
away from the restricted flow area to the second channels.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure drop
feature includes shallow channel portions in the first channels
providing a second channel depth that is less than a first channel
depth of the second channels.
8. A fuel cell comprising: a structure including a flow field
having multiple channels each with an inlet end, and a header in
fluid communication with the inlet ends, the header including a
restricted flow region in which fluid flow is restricted to the
inlet ends of a set of channels, and at least some of the channels
having a pressure drop feature configured to increase fluid flow to
the set of channels.
9. The fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the pressure drop
feature includes a cross passage from first channels near first
channel inlets to second channels beneath the restricted flow
area.
10. The fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein the cross passage
extends at an angle relative to a length of the first channels and
away from the restricted flow area to the second channels.
11. The fuel cell according to claim 9, comprising an inlet
manifold having a first width and the flow field having a second
width greater than the first width, and inlets to the flow field
arranged across the second width.
12. The fuel cell according to claim 11, wherein the restricted
flow region is arranged on either side of the flow field at the
inlet ends, the channels extending along a length from the inlet
header toward an exhaust header, the channels parallel with one
another along the length.
13. The fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the pressure drop
feature includes shallow channel portions in first channels
providing a second channel depth that is less than a first channel
depth of the second channels, the second channels arranged beneath
the restricted flow area.
14. A fuel cell comprising: a structure including a flow field
having first and second sets of channels, each channel of the first
set of channels extending from an inlet end to a first terminal
end, the inlet ends fluidly interconnected with one another by a
lateral inlet passage that is configured to receive fluid from an
inlet manifold, each channel of the second set of channels
extending from an exhaust end to a second terminal end, the exhaust
ends fluidly interconnected with one another by an lateral exhaust
passage that is configured to provide fluid to an exhaust manifold,
the first and second channels in alternating relationship with one
another with the first and second terminal ends arranged near the
lateral exhaust and inlet passages, respectively.
15. The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein the structure
includes the inlet manifold, the inlet manifold having a first
width and the lateral inlet passage having a second width that is
greater than the first width.
16. The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein the first and
second sets of channels extend from their respective lateral
passages to their respective terminal end along a length, the first
and second sets of channels parallel with one another along the
length.
17. The fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein laterally spaced
inlet passages fluidly interconnect the inlet manifold and the
lateral inlet passage, the inlet passages misaligned with the
channels of the first set of channels.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This disclosure relates to a fuel cell plate flow field
configuration.
[0002] A fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode arranged on
either side of a membrane electrode assembly. The anode and the
cathode are provided by a plate, which includes a flow field. The
anode plate flow field delivers fuel to the membrane electrode
assembly, and the cathode plate flow field delivers a reactant to
the membrane electrode assembly.
[0003] The flow fields are provided by multiple channels that are
provided fluid from an inlet manifold. The channels have been
arranged in a variety of configurations depending upon a variety of
factors, such as packaging constraints. Typically, it is desirable
to provide a manifold that is wider than inlets to the channels to
ensure a generally even distribution of flow across the channels.
Occasionally, it is not possible to supply each of the channel
inlets with unobstructed flow from the inlet manifold. As a result,
some of the channels receive a somewhat limited flow, which results
in an uneven distribution of flow across the flow field. Uneven
flow distribution can create temperature gradients across the plate
and reduce the efficiency of the chemical reactions within the fuel
cell. In the case of anode flow fields, insufficient hydrogen at a
location can create carbon corrosion of the anode plates. In the
case of cathode flow fields, insufficient oxygen at a location can
cause high temperatures and cell voltage dropoff.
[0004] What is needed is a fuel cell plate having a flow field with
a generally even flow distribution in configurations where it is
not possible to supply an uninhibited flow to at least some of the
channels.
SUMMARY
[0005] A method of manufacturing a fuel cell plate flow field is
disclosed in which a generally even flow distribution across the
flow field is provided. The method includes providing an inlet
manifold in fluid communication with the flow field. The flow field
includes multiple channels for which some of the channels receive
restricted flow from the inlet manifold as compared to other
channels. A relative pressure drop between the channels is altered
with a pressure drop feature to encourage fluid flow from the inlet
manifold to the channels with restricted flow, which results in a
generally even flow distribution across the flow field.
[0006] In one example, first and second sets of channels are
arranged in alternating relationship. Inlet passages from the inlet
manifold are misaligned with the first channels to encourage fluid
flow from across first set of channels in a balanced manner. In
another example, unobstructed channels include a shallow channel
portion to increase the pressure drop along those channels.
Cross-cuts can be used from the unobstructed channels to the
obstructed channels to reduce the pressure drop along the
obstructed channels.
[0007] What is needed is a fuel cell plate having a flow field with
a generally even flow distribution in configurations where it is
not possible to supply an uninhibited flow to at least some of the
channels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic view of a fuel cell.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example fuel cell plate having a
flow field.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the plate shown
in FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of another portion of the plate
shown in FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a plan view of another example fuel cell
plate.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the
fuel cell plate shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] A fuel cell 10 is shown in a highly schematic fashion in
FIG. 1. The fuel cell 10 includes a membrane electrode assembly 16
arranged between an anode 12 and a cathode 14. The membrane
electrode assembly 16 comprises a proton exchange membrane arranged
between gas diffusion layers, for example. The anode 12 and the
cathode 14 respectively provide fuel and reactant flow fields
provided by channels in a solid or porous plate. The flow fields
are fluidly connected to flow field inlets and exhausts using
either internal or external manifolds that are in fluid
communication with their respective fluid flow component.
[0015] A plate 18 is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 having internal inlet
and exhaust manifolds 20, 22. A flow field 24 is fluidly
interconnected between the inlet and exhaust manifolds 20, 22. In
the example, the inlet and exhaust manifolds are arranged on
opposite sides of the plate 18. Parallel channels 26 arranged
between risers 28 provide the flow field 24. In the example, the
channels 26 extend a length L and are parallel with one another
along the length without any significant bends. That is, there are
no right angle turns and a given channel does not double back on
itself as is typical with some flow fields. The flow field 24 has a
width W2 that is greater than the width of the inlet manifold 20.
This configuration presents a challenge of evenly distributing
fluid across the flow field 24. Specifically, the channels outboard
of the inlet manifold 20 are typically starved of fluid, resulting
in an uneven chemical reaction at the proton exchange membrane and
hot-cold spots on the plate 18 or carbon corrosion on the anode
side.
[0016] In one example, the channels 26 are divided into first and
second sets of channels 34, 36 arranged in alternating relationship
with one another to provide an interdigitated flow field. The first
set of channels 34 are fluidly interconnected by a lateral inlet
passage 32, extending a width W2, that is supplied fluid from the
inlet manifold 20 through discrete, spaced apart inlet passages 30.
In the example, the inlet passages 30 are generally evenly spaced
laterally from one another and misaligned with the channels in the
first set of channels 34. This misalignment encourages even fluid
distribution across the first set of channels 34. Each channel of
the first set of channels 34 extends from the lateral inlet passage
32 to a first terminal end 38, best shown in FIG. 4.
[0017] Each channel of the second set of channels 36 extend from a
second terminal end 40, which is arranged near the lateral inlet
passage 32 (best shown in FIG. 3), to a lateral exhaust passage 42
that fluidly interconnects the second set of channels 36 with one
another. In the example, there is a pair of lateral exhaust
passages 42 interconnected to and parallel with one another,
extending the width W2, as best shown in FIG. 4. The first terminal
ends 38 are arranged near the lateral exhaust passages 42. Discrete
exhaust passages 44 fluidly connect the lateral exhaust passages 42
to the exhaust manifold 22.
[0018] In operation, fluid is supplied to the first set of channels
34 by the inlet manifold 20 via the inlet passages 30. Since the
first set of channels 34 is dead-ended at the first terminal ends
38, fluid will flow into the gas diffusion layer of the membrane
electrode assembly 16, for example, and into the second set of
channels 36. This interdigitated arrangement of channels provides a
pressure drop feature between the first and second sets of channels
34, 36 that evenly distributes flow across the flow field 24. Fluid
from the gas diffusion layer is provided to the proton exchange
membrane for chemical reaction. From the second set of channels 36,
fluid is returned to the exhaust manifold 22.
[0019] Another plate 118, which has an external inlet manifold 46,
is shown in FIG. 5. Fluid is supplied to a header within the plate
118, which provides the lateral inlet passage 132, through inlet
passages 48. Flow from the inlet passages 48 encounters baffles 50
that distribute the flow within the header. The flow field 124 has
a width W2 that is wider than the width of the manifold 46, W1.
Flow to the first set of channels 134 is generally unobstructed. In
the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the flow becomes choked at the
extremities within the header at a restricted flow region 52 such
that flow to the second set of channels 136 is obstructed. Risers
128 separate the first and second sets of channels 134, 136.
[0020] Obstructed flow to the second set of channels 136 would
create a pressure drop across a length L of the second set of
channels 136. To counter this pressure drop and provide an even
flow distribution across the flow field 124, cross-cuts or cross
passages 54 are arranged from some of the first set of channels 134
near the header and extending at an angle and away from the header
into the second set of channels 136 beneath the restricted flow
region 52. The cross passages 54 can also be arranged perpendicular
to the channels. As a result, flow will be evenly distributed
across the flow field 124 from the inlet manifold 46 to the exhaust
manifold through passages 56.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 6, another pressure drop feature is shown
that can be used instead of or in addition to the cross passages 54
in the plate 118. The first set of channels 134, which would
otherwise be unobstructed, include shallow channel portions 58
providing a smaller cross-sectional area that create a pressure
drop across the length L of the first set of channels 134. The
second set of channels 136 include a channel depth D1 that is
greater than the channel depth D2 associated with the shallow
channel portion 58, which is arranged near the header. The first
set of channels 134 may transition from the depth D2 at the shallow
channel portion 58 to the depth D1 further downstream. The length
of the shallow channel portion 58 and its depth are selected to
achieve a desired pressure drop that results in an even flow
distribution across the flow field 124. The term "depth" is also
intended to include width.
[0022] Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker
of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain
modifications would come within the scope of the claims. For that
reason, the following claims should be studied to determine their
true scope and content.
* * * * *