Abstract: A fuel cell has a hydrogen flow path adapted to pass hydrogen into communication with an anode catalyst of an MEA. A coolant flow path is adapted to pass coolant through the fuel cell to cool the fuel cell. An enclosure encompasses at least a portion of the hydrogen flow path, the coolant flow path, or both. A hydrogen vent is adapted to vent hydrogen from the enclosure without reliance upon any electrical device. The hydrogen vent can prevent a frame front from passing into the enclosure and can be made of a porous material such as cellulose, plastic (for example, a foamed plastic) or metal (for example a sintered metal). A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes passively venting hydrogen to maintain a hydrogen concentration level within the enclosure below about 4 percent. Additional enclosures with hydrogen vents may also be provided.
Abstract: A bipolar plate for use in a fuel cell stack includes a first plate having a first coolant face with a first set of coolant channels formed therein. A second plate has a second coolant face with a second set of coolant channels formed therein. The first and second coolant faces are adjacent to one another to intermittently cross-link the first and second sets of coolant channels over a region of the first and second coolant faces.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 9, 2004
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2010
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
Inventors:
Matthew J Beutel, Lee C Whitehead, Jeffrey A Rock, Michael D Cartwright
Abstract: One end of an air passage (32) facing a cathode (33B) of a fuel cell (36) forming a fuel cell stack (6) is connected to a first manifold (1A), and the other end is connected to a second manifold (1B). A water-absorbing material (30) is disposed at a position in contact with an air flow in the first manifold (1A) and second manifold (1B). The air is made to circulate according to a humidity state by changing over between a first air flow direction wherein air flows from the first manifold (1A) to the second manifold (1B) via the air passage (32), and a second air flow direction wherein air flows from the second manifold (1B) to the first manifold (1A) via the air passage (32), so a membrane electrolyte is efficiently humidified.
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