Flow Field Means (e.g., Flow Field Plate, Bipolar Separator, Etc.) Patents (Class 429/457)
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Patent number: 10480082Abstract: The invention essentially consists in supplying fuel (either steam or a mixture of steam with CO2 or H2 or CH4) to distinct zones of a cell or a group of stacked cells and of an adjacent cell or group of adjacent stacked cells within a given (co-)electrolysis reactor or a SOFC fuel-cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Magali Reytier, Nicolas Bardi
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Patent number: 10483580Abstract: A solid state fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a ceramic electrolyte. The ceramic electrolyte includes a silicate oxyapatite represented by REy?xMxSiO6O27±?, where RE is a rare earth metal, M is an alkali metal, x is greater than 0 and less than 2, y ranges from 9.3 to 10, and ? ranges from 0 to 2. A method for making the solid state fuel cell is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: National Taipei University of TechnologyInventors: Sea-Fue Wang, Yi-Xin Liu, Ting-Ting Yang
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Patent number: 10476087Abstract: A fuel cell electricity generation unit including a single cell; first and second interconnectors; a separator; a metal frame member disposed between the separator and the first interconnector; and a gas sealing member having a contact portion in contact with the surfaces of the separator and the second interconnector. The unit has a contact overlap region overlapping with the contact portion in a first direction, and each of the gas sealing member, the separator, the frame member, the first interconnector, and the second interconnector is present in the contact overlap region. At least one of a first weld portion sealing between the separator and the frame member and a second weld portion sealing between the frame member and the first interconnector is formed at a position whose distance from the periphery of the single cell is greater than the distance between the periphery and the contact overlap region.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Morikawa
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Patent number: 10446859Abstract: An exemplary manifold assembly includes a gas inlet manifold configured to introduce a gas to a fuel cell. A gas outlet manifold is configured to direct gas away from the fuel cell. A drain channel connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. The drain channel is configured to carry liquid from the gas inlet manifold to the gas outlet manifold.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Tommy Skiba, Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 10403920Abstract: Provided is a fuel battery cell capable of suppressing absorption of water discharged from a manifold by a porous body disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and a separator, and so improving drainage performance. This fuel battery cell 1 includes: a porous passage 20c that is disposed to be opposed to a membrane electrode assembly 10m on a cathode side, and a separator 30 sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly 10m and the porous passage 20c, the separator including a cathode off-gas discharging through hole 32b through which cathode off-gas discharged from the porous passage 20c flows.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yusuke Watanabe
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Patent number: 10333158Abstract: A plate assembly includes a first plate and a second plate positioned adjacent to one another. The first plate includes a first sealing member formed thereon. The second plate includes a second sealing member formed thereon. The first sealing member includes a first end surface and first opposing sides extending from the first end surface. The second sealing member includes a second end surface and second opposing sides extending from the second end surface. The first and second sealing members are offset relative to one another by a first offset distance (D1) in a first longitudinal direction. By varying the sealing member's base width periodically, a greater sealing force is achieved. By offsetting alignment of pairs of sealing members along the seal path, uniform pressure along the seal path is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Siguang Xu, Xi Yang, Liang Xi
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Patent number: 10320012Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided having an active structure with an anode and cathode in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween, a fuel passage adjacent the anode for supplying fuel to the active structure, and an air passage adjacent the cathode for supplying air to the active structure. A porous ceramic layer is positioned between each of the anode and fuel passage and the cathode and air passage, the porous ceramic layers having a porosity configured to permit transport of fuel and air from the respective fuel and air passage to the respective anode and cathode. An inactive surrounding support structure is provided that is monolithic with the electrolyte and the porous ceramic layers, wherein the inactive surrounding support structure lacks the anode and cathode in opposing relation and the active structure resides within the inactive surrounding support structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
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Patent number: 10297853Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell with a dense barrier layer formed at or near the outer surface of the top and/or bottom electrode layers in a fuel cell stack. The dense barrier layer (DBL) acts as a seal to prevent gas in the electrode layer (either air in a cathode layer or fuel gas in an anode layer) from leaking out of the stack though the outer surface of the outermost electrode layers. The use of a DBL with porous outer electrode layers reduces the amount of gas escaping the stack and minimizes the chances for leak-induced problems ranging from decreases in performance to catastrophic stack failure.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Brian P. Feldman, Craig M. Adams, Zachary R. Patterson, Ayhan Sarikaya, Aravind Mohanram
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Patent number: 10273586Abstract: A separator plate and a frame member for an electrochemical cell are provided. The separator plate includes a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom to define a flow field. A pair of end features arranged along opposite sides of the flow field, each end feature extending substantially the length of the flow field. A periphery portion is provided having a first set of openings and a second set of openings. Wherein the plurality of protrusions and pair of end features extend from a plane defined by the periphery portion. The frame member includes features for facilitating assembly and reducing the risk of an over constrained condition. The frame member further having ports divided by a bridge member to support the frame member under operating pressures.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: PROTON ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Andrew Roemer, Blake Carter, Luke Dalton
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Patent number: 10177423Abstract: A temperature control device for a battery may include a fluid duct being flowable at least one of through and around by a fluid. The fluid duct may be delimited by at least one duct wall composed of an electrically conductive material. An outer side of the duct wall facing away from the fluid may include at least one electrically insulating insulation layer disposed thereon via at least one of a screen printing process and a stencil printing process. The at least one insulation layer may be composed of a plastic material.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventors: Oliver Heeg, Dominique Weinmann, Oleksandr Pavlov
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Patent number: 10164271Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: a unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of separators; a manifold; a gas introducing member; and a first member. A recess is formed at a gas lead-out port side of the gas introducing member so as to be connected to the gas lead-out port. The first member is provided such that a communication portion thereof communicates with the manifold. The gas introducing member is provided such that: the recess communicates with the communication portion; and when viewed from a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the gas lead-out port and a main surface of the first member overlap each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomohiro Kuroha, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Satoshi Otani, Yasushi Sugawara, Mitsuo Yoshimura
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Patent number: 10103390Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing fluid flow field plates with complex flow field geometries. The method includes locating an electrically conductive sheet on top of another electrically conductive sheet so that they are in intimate contact with each other. The sheets are sealed together, with a manifold opening cut through the sheets. A channel for a fluid is created by kiss cutting through the first sheet so that the channel is in fluid communication with the manifold opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Inventors: Thomas David Jones, Michel Meyer Bitton
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Patent number: 10062913Abstract: A fuel cell power module includes a cylindrical housing encasing a fuel cell stack and an air supply. The housing has a major interior surface. The fuel cell stack can be cylindrical or hexagonal, and comprises fuel cells having an anode and an anode flow field plate, a cathode and a cathode flow field plate, and a membrane electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode. The air supply is directed to the plurality of fuel cell cathode flow field plates via a plenum defined by a space between the fuel cell stack and the housing major interior surface. The hexagonal fuel cell stack can be formed by a plurality of fuel cell groups shaped such that when aligned the fuel cell groups together constitute the hexagonal fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: David E. Leger, Matthew P. Paone, Greg J. Montie, Sean MacKinnon, Raoul Kingma
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Patent number: 10044054Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell to be laminated while sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly forming a power generation region includes a source connection point tab for inputting and outputting an alternating current for internal resistance measurement, a sense connection point tab for detecting a potential of the alternating current input and output to and from the source connection point tab and separation portion configured to separate the sense connection point tab from a current path of the alternating current for internal resistance measurement from the source connection point tab to the power generation region.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Aoki, Masanobu Sakai, Kei Sugimoto
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Patent number: 10033060Abstract: There is a need to improve the positioning accuracy in stacking gas separators. A guide section 58 provided in a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 50 has first and second guide members 52 arranged to be parallel to each other and away from each other in a horizontal direction and extended in a stacking direction of the gas separators. The gas separator has first and second engagement elements 28 provided at corresponding positions to the first and the second guide members 52 to have a concave and/or convex shape formed along its outer periphery. A manufacturing method of a fuel cell includes a stacking step of stacking a plurality of members including gas separators by engaging the first engagement element with the first guide member and engaging the second engagement element with the second guide member.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuhiro Watanabe
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Patent number: 10006461Abstract: A fuel cell stack (10) comprises a plurality of fuel cells each with a chamber (K) for electrolyte with at least one inlet (114) and at least one outlet (116), and an inlet header (45) to supply electrolyte to all the cells in parallel. Each cell comprises a first plate (12) to define the electrolyte chamber (K), a second plate (13) to define an oxidizing gas chamber (0) and a third plate (14) to define a fuel gas chamber (H), each of these plates (12-14) also defining a side chamber (36) adjacent to but sealed from the corresponding chambers (K, 0, H), so the side chambers (36) defines an electrolyte outlet channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: AFC ENERGY PLCInventors: Martin Thomas, Andreas Karl Backstrom
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Patent number: 9935327Abstract: Composite members, a fuel cell and manufacturing method, where the composite members are mounted on a base and comprise a first insulator and a second insulator layered on either side of an interconnector, exposed in a chamfered portion on opposite corners. Between a pair of the composite members is formed an electrolyte film. An anode is formed so as to cover the anode surface of the electrolyte film and an anode-side protrusion. The anode formed at the top of anode-side protrusion is stripped, forming a flat exposed surface on the top of the anode-side protrusion. A cathode is formed so as to cover the cathode surface of the electrolyte film and a cathode-side protrusion. The cathode formed on the top of the cathode-side protrusion is stripped using a spatula, a blade, etc., forming a flat exposed surface on the top of the cathode-side protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shinichiro Imura
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Patent number: 9853300Abstract: A bipolar plate structure for a fuel cell includes a cathode bipolar plate having a first flow field section to form cathode channels between the first flow field section and a first gas diffusion layer and a first land section to form coolant channels. An anode bipolar plate has a second flow field section to form anode channels between the second flow field section and a second gas diffusion layer and a second land section to form coolant channels. The cathode channels have an interdigitated channel structure, and the anode channels have a parallel channel structure. An air inlet manifold hole is formed along one of two long-side edge portions of a reaction region in the cathode and anode bipolar plates. An air outlet manifold hole is formed along the other of the two long-side edge portions of the reaction region.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Hee Seok Jeong
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Patent number: 9847537Abstract: A system and method of controlling an air blower for a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes determining an operation amount of an air blower to secure a sufficient air flow rate under present operating conditions and obtaining information regarding clogging of an air channel or information regarding a back pressure using the operation amount of the air blower. In addition, a maximum operating range of the air blower is changed based on whether a present state is an air channel-clogged state or a back pressure-increased state.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sang Uk Kwon, Nam Woo Lee, Heon Joong Lee
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Patent number: 9825320Abstract: A process for manufacturing membrane electrode units (MEU) for fuel cell is disclosed, said MEU have two electrochemically active electrodes which are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Andrew Van Dyke, William Smith
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Patent number: 9799897Abstract: In a fuel cell, a cathode passage extends from an oxidizing gas supply hole to an oxidizing gas discharge hole. A turn interval at which a flow direction of an oxidizing gas returns to an original direction in an upstream-side passage region is different from the turn interval in a downstream-side passage region. A ratio between the turn interval in the upstream-side passage region and the turn interval in the downstream-side passage region is set to 1.1:1 to 3:1. The upstream-side passage region is overlapped with a most downstream-side passage portion of an anode passage with a membrane electrode assembly interposed between the upstream-side passage region and the most downstream-side passage portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroya Nakaji, Naohiro Takeshita, Hideki Kubo, Takashi Kondo, Seiji Mizuno, Norishige Konno
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Patent number: 9793556Abstract: A gasket for sealing two mating surfaces of a fuel cell is described. The gasket has a core layer comprising exfoliated vermiculite. The core layer is interposed between a first and second coating layer, the said coating layers each comprising glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic material. Methods for producing gaskets according to the invention are also described. A solid oxide cell or a solid oxide cell component comprising one or more of the gaskets; use of the gasket to improve sealing properties in a solid oxide cell; and a method of producing a solid oxide cell or of sealing a solid oxide cell comprising incorporating at least one of the gaskets into the solid oxide cell are also defined.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.Inventors: Markus Rautanen, Olli Himanen, Jari Kiviaho, John Hoyes
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Patent number: 9768455Abstract: The fuel cell device includes an electrode assembly. A gas diffusion layer is on each side of the electrode assembly. A solid, non-porous plate is adjacent each of the gas diffusion layers. A hydrophilic soak up region is near an inlet portion of at least one of the gas diffusion layers. The hydrophilic soak up region is configured to absorb liquid water from the electrode assembly when the fuel cell device is shutdown.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Paravastu Badrinarayanan, Timothy W. Patterson
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Patent number: 9716286Abstract: An active cell is prepared by dispensing first electrode sub-layers, pressing in physical structures to partially embed them in an uppermost sub-layer, and dispensing more first electrode sub-layers wherein dispensing is in order of increasing porosity, then drying the sub-layers to form a first electrode layer. An electrolyte layer is then formed thereon. Further preparation includes dispensing second electrode sub-layers over the electrolyte layer, pressing in physical structures to partially embed them in an uppermost sub-layer, and dispensing more second electrode sub-layers wherein dispensing is in order of decreasing porosity, then drying the sub-layers to form a second electrode layer. A laminated stack is formed, then the physical structures are pulled out. Sintering then forms the active cell with active passages embedded in and supported by the sintered electrode layers, and with decreasing porosity in the electrode layers in a thickness direction away from the electrolyte layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2017Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
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Patent number: 9627705Abstract: A system and method for aligning and reducing the relative movement between adjacent fuel cells within a fuel cell stack. The inter-cell cooperation between fuel cells along a stacking dimension is enhanced by one or more datum placed along the edge of a bipolar plate that makes up a part of a cell-containing assembly. The datum is shaped along a thickness that substantially coincides with the cell stacking dimension to avoid shifting between adjacently-stacked cells that may otherwise arise out of the occurrence of a significant acceleration along the dimension that defines the major surfaces of the plates, cells and their respective assemblies. By having the datum be integrally formed with numerous stacked cells, the need to affix individual tabs each plate is avoided.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David A. Martinchek, Robert C. Thompson
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Patent number: 9614230Abstract: The invention relates to methods and articles for coupling a fuel cell layer to a second structure. The fuel cell layer includes a superior fuel cell surface, an inferior fuel cell surface, and a perimeter fuel cell surface. An adhesive structure is adhered to the superior, inferior, and perimeter fuel cell surfaces to form a coupling or seal between the fuel cell layer and the second structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Jeremy Schrooten, Ales Horky, Paul Sobejko, Robert J. Porter
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Patent number: 9547212Abstract: An electrochromic device including an electrochromic stack and a support, the electrochromic stack successively including: a first current collector; a first electrochromic electrode; an electrolyte; a second electrochromic electrode; a second current collector. The support and the electrochromic stack are separated by a dielectric layer and a heating system in contact with the support. Further, the heating system is sized to modify at least one of the optical characteristics of the electrochromic device.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Christophe Dubarry, Sami Oukassi
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Patent number: 9539897Abstract: In this fuel cell vehicle, a radiator, a protruding region of a casing, and a connecting bar of a fuel cell stack are arranged in a front box in the listed order from the front toward the rear in the direction in which the vehicle travels. A first end plate and a second end plate are fixed directly on a frame member via mounting members, and the frame member is fixed to a vehicle body frame. After an external load has been transmitted from the radiator and the protruding region of the casing to the first end plate and the second end plate, the external load is transmitted to the vehicle body frame via a side frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nariyuki Yoshinaga, Hideharu Naito
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Patent number: 9437894Abstract: An electrode layer is provided by forming first and second sublayers containing input passages and exhaust passages, respectively. Electrode material is positioned around a first portion of first and second pluralities of spaced-apart removable physical structures to at least partially surround the structures thereby forming an active cell portion in each sublayer. Ceramic material is positioned around second portions to form a passive support structure in each sublayer. Another passive support structure is formed opposite the first, with the active cell portion therebetween. The sublayers are laminated, the physical structures are pulled out, and the laminated sublayers are sintered to reveal spaced-apart input passages from one end of the layer through the active cell portion, and spaced-apart exhaust passages from the active cell portion to a side of the layer adjacent the other end, the input and exhaust passages embedded in and supported by the sintered electrode and ceramic materials.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
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Patent number: 9397326Abstract: The invention relates to a battery (1) comprising a casing having one or more gas vents (3) and a manifold (4) arranged to collect gas emerging from the gas vents wherein the manifold is fixed to the casing using a double sided adhesive gasket (6).Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Enersys LimitedInventors: Kenneth Michael Partington, Gerard Chevalier
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Patent number: 9368815Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a separator. The separator includes a reactant gas inlet manifold, a reactant gas outlet manifold, a reactant gas channel, an inlet connection channel, an inlet buffer portion, an outlet buffer portion, and an outlet connection channel. A pressure drop through the inlet buffer portion is less than a pressure drop through the reactant gas channel when a reactant gas flows from the reactant gas inlet manifold to the reactant gas channel. A pressure drop through the outlet buffer portion is less than a pressure drop through the outlet connection channel when the reactant gas flows from the reactant gas channel to the reactant gas outlet manifold.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shuji Sato, Masahiko Sato
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Patent number: 9368822Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte membrane that suppresses swelling and shrinkage caused by water retained in the electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell, improves the durability of the electrolyte membrane, and obtains excellent power generation characteristics with a low resistance. The electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell includes, as a reinforcing membrane, a nonwoven fabric composed of an electrolyte material and PVDF bicomponent fibers 2a, thereby improving the durability of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, the bicomponent fiber 2a has pores 23 that can effectively retain generated water, thereby improving battery performance under the condition of a low humidity.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya Kikuzumi, Masahiro Mori
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Patent number: 9252437Abstract: An apparatus preventing over-cooling of a fuel cell is provided that includes a cooling fluid manifold which is mounted to a stack of the fuel cell and through which cooling fluid flows therethrough. End plates are arranged on both ends of the stack of a fuel cell, and at least one protrusion is provided on one surface of each of the end plates. The at least one protrusion is disposed inside a cooling fluid manifold to reduce the flow amount of the cooling fluid which flows in and out between the separating plates through the cooling fluid manifold.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Hyundia Motor CompanyInventors: Yoo Chang Yang, Sang Mun Jin, Sung Ho Lee
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Patent number: 9123921Abstract: Bipolar plates useful for fuel cell applications include a plate body having a channel-defining surface that is at least partially coated with a hydrophilic layer. This hydrophilic layer comprises residues of a silane-coupling agent in a sufficient amount such portions of the first hydrophilic layer have a contact angle less than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard H. Blunk, Feng Zhong, Darren R. Dunphy
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Patent number: 9099697Abstract: A fuel cell battery comprises stacked cells, comprising a superposition of plates, called bipolar plates, between which assemblies comprising both an electrolytic membrane and an electrode on each side of the membrane are placed. The plates are provided, on their periphery, with apertures serving to deliver reactive gases, and with apertures serving to evacuate reaction products, the apertures of adjacent plates being aligned in order to form supply or evacuation manifolds that pass right through the stack of cells. The apertures of the manifolds are encircled by individual ring joints that are separated from one another and separate from the bipolar plates, certain joints forming sealing joints between the aperture and a cell, and other joints forming injectors for a fluid to be delivered to a cell or to be evacuated from a cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventor: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Patent number: 9088021Abstract: A system and method for processing the electric signals from a plurality of fuel cells in a fuel cell system is disclosed. Groups of the plurality of fuel cells, such as five bipolar plates, are electrically coupled to a conductive compressible connector or a circuit board, where some of the bipolar plates have a plate contactor for providing the electrical contact to either the conductive compressible connector or the circuit board. The system allows for the processing of the electric signals of every cell using fewer electrical components, thereby reducing the amount of space required and the costs associated therewith.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Jeff D. Williams
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Patent number: 9065096Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of unit cells, bypass resistors, and connective resistors. The unit cells are connected in series and/or in parallel. The connected resistors are disposed between the unit cells connected in series and disconnected by heat due to resistance at a small current value in comparison to an current collector. The bypass resistors are connected in parallel to the unit cells or the unit cells connected in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seung-Tae Lee, Jan-Dee Kim, Jun-Won Suh
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Patent number: 9054349Abstract: Bipolar plates useful for fuel cell applications include a plate body having a channel-defining surface that is at least partially coated with a hydrophilic layer. This hydrophilic layer comprises residues of a silane-coupling agent in a sufficient amount such portions of the first hydrophilic layer have a contact angle less than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard H. Blunk, Feng Zhong, Darren R. Dunphy
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Publication number: 20150147674Abstract: An object is to provide a solid electrolyte laminate that allows a large amount of gas to be supplied to a fuel electrode while having improved strength and a method for manufacturing such a solid electrolyte laminate. A solid electrolyte laminate 1 includes a solid electrolyte layer 2, a first electrode layer 3 disposed on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer 4 disposed on another side of the solid electrolyte layer. At least the first electrode layer, which forms a fuel electrode, includes a bonding layer 3a bonded to the solid electrolyte layer and a porous layer 3b having continuous pores and integrally formed on the bonding layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Naho Mizuhara
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Patent number: 9034535Abstract: There is provided a flexible circuit board capable of preventing corrosion and elution of a conductor layer constituting a current collector even under high-temperature and high-voltage working conditions while achieving sufficient electric connection with an MEA. A flexible circuit board having a current collector of a fuel cell provided thereon includes an insulating flexible base material 1, a plurality of openings 5 that supply fuel or air, the openings 5 being provided in a specified region so as to penetrate through the flexible base material 1 in a thickness direction, a plating film 6 that constitutes the current collector, the plating film 6 being formed on front and back surfaces of the flexible base material 1 in the specified region and on inner walls of the openings 5, a surface treatment film 9 formed on the plating film 6 and having corrosion resistance higher than that of the plating film.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: NIPPON MEKTRON, LTDInventor: Masanori Hirata
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Publication number: 20150132678Abstract: A method of assembling a fuel cell plate assembly, the method comprising: placing a bipolar plate on a build point platform (1602); placing a prefabricated first fluid diffusion layer on, and in alignment with, the bipolar plate (1606); dispensing a first track of adhesive adjacent both the bipolar plate and a peripheral edge of the first fluid diffusion layer (1610); and, placing a prefabricated MEA and second fluid diffusion layer in sealing engagement with the first track of adhesive and thereby forming a seal between the bipolar plate, the peripheral edge of the first fluid diffusion layer and the MEA and second fluid diffusion layer (1612) wherein the method comprises lowering the build point platform (1604, 1608) before or after any or all of the placing or dispensing steps (1302, 1606, 1610, 1612).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventor: Peter David Hood
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Publication number: 20150132679Abstract: A fuel cell interconnect includes a first side containing a first plurality of channels and a second side containing a second plurality of channels. The first and second sides are disposed on opposite sides of the interconnect. The first plurality of channels are configured to provide a serpentine fuel flow field while the second plurality of channels are configured to provide an approximately straight air flow field.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventor: James F. MCELROY
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Patent number: 9029041Abstract: To an internal vessel that houses cells of a solid oxide fuel cell, an external vessel is further disposed. In the internal vessel, a plurality of planar cells is disposed vertically with a gap between the cells, a mixed gas of a fuel and air is descended from top down through the gap having a predetermined width between the cells, and, at a bottom portion of the housing space, the mixed gas is burned to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Horiuchi, Yasue Tokutake, Shigeaki Suganuma, Jun Yoshiike, Fumimasa Katagiri
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Patent number: 9029039Abstract: A cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells or electrolysis cells has a combination of flow patterns between anode gas and cathode gas internally in each of the cells and between the cells relative to each other such that cathode and anode gas internally in a cell flows in either co-flow, counter-flow or cross-flow and further that anode and cathode gas flow in one cell has co-flow, counter-flow or cross-flow relative to the anode and cathode gas flow in adjacent cells.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/SInventors: Sune Danø, Mads Find Madsen, Jens Ulrik Nielsen, Harald Usterud
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Publication number: 20150125777Abstract: A separator for fuel cells is provided. The separator includes: a base material; an underlying alloy layer formed on the base material; and a gold plate layer formed on the underlying alloy layer. The separator is characterized in that the underlying alloy layer is formed of an M1-M2-M3 alloy (where M1 is at least one element selected from Ni, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Sn, M2 is at least one element selected from Pd, Re, Pt, Rh, Ag and Ru, and M3 is at least one element selected from P and B).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2015Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventor: Nobuaki MUKAI
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Patent number: 9023555Abstract: A monolithic fuel cell device is provided by forming anode and cathode layers by dispensing paste of anode or cathode material around pluralities of spaced-apart removable physical structures to at least partially surround the structures with the anode or cathode material and then drying the paste. An electrolyte layer is provided in a multi-layer stack between the cathode layer and the anode layer thereby forming an active cell portion. The multi-layer stack is laminated, and then the physical structures are pulled out to reveal spaced-apart active passages formed through each of the anode layer and cathode layer. Finally, the laminated stack is sintered to form an active cell comprising the spaced apart active passages embedded in and supported by the sintered anode material and sintered cathode material.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
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Patent number: 9023543Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature-sensitive bypass device for discharging condensed water from a fuel cell stack, in which a bypass line is provided between an end plate and a separator located at the outermost cell adjacent to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a temperature-sensitive valve for opening and closing the bypass line is provided on the inner side of the end plate such that the temperature-sensitive valve is opened when an excessive amount of condensed water is introduced into the inlet of the stack during cold start-up, thereby easily discharging the excessive amount of condensed water present in the inlet of the stack through the bypass line.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Sang Mun Chin
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Patent number: 9023547Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes a sandwiching section, first and second bridges connected to the sandwiching section, a fuel gas supply section connected to the first bridge and an oxygen-containing gas supply section connected to the second bridge. The sandwiching section sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly, and has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel separately. In the sandwiching section, a plurality of first projections are arranged in a zigzag pattern in a direction in which the first bridge extends, and the first projections at least protrude toward the fuel gas channel to contact an anode.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Homma, Tsutomu Takahashi, Tetsuya Ogawa
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Publication number: 20150118592Abstract: The present invention relates to a reversible electrochemical cell, such as an electrolysis cell for water splitting or for conversion of carbon dioxide and water into fuel. The present invention relates also to an electrochemical cell that when operated in reverse performs as a fuel cell. The electrochemical cell comprises gas5 diffusion electrodes and a porous layer made of materials and having a structure adapted to allow for a temperature range of operation between 100-374° C. and in a pressure range between 3-200 bars.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Frank Allebrod, Christodoulos Chatzichristodoulou, Pia Lolk Mollerup, Mogens Bjerg Mogensen
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Patent number: 9017895Abstract: A fuel cell plate assembly includes a first plate having a feed region and an active region. A plurality of flow channels is formed in the first plate and connects the feed region and the active region. The first plate further includes a first step oriented transverse to the flow channels in the feed region and a second step oriented transverse to the flow channels in the active region. The second step is formed only in the flow channels of the first plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Gerald W. Fly, Steven J. Spencer