Flow Field Means (e.g., Flow Field Plate, Bipolar Separator, Etc.) Patents (Class 429/457)
  • Patent number: 8597806
    Abstract: A method for operating a passive, air-breathing fuel cell system is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more fuel cells, and a closed fuel plenum connected to a fuel supply. In some embodiments of the method, the fuel cell cathodes are exposed to ambient air, and the fuel is supplied to the anodes via the fuel plenum at a pressure greater than that of the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Joy Roberts, Joerg Zimmermann, Jeremy Schrooten
  • Patent number: 8597851
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes: a membrane-electrode assembly having a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes; a first separator having one main surface on which a first reactant gas channel is formed so as to bend; and a second separator having one main surface on which a second reactant gas channel is formed so as to bend. The first reactant gas channel is formed such that a first particular portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller in width than each of a portion located upstream of the first particular portion and a portion located downstream of the first particular portion, the first particular portion being within a region of the electrode and including a portion where the first reactant gas channel extending from an upstream end thereof first separates from the second reactant gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Miho Gemba, Yoichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8592094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrochemical generator (100) characterized by improved electrical insulation and reduced volume. The membrane electrochemical generator (100) is fed with gaseous reactants and comprises a multiplicity of reaction cells (101) assembled in a filter-press configuration. Each of said reaction cells (101) is delimited by a pair of bipolar sheets (102), formed by a metallic central body (110) integrated in a frame (111) made of polymeric material. The polymeric material may be of the thermoplastic or thermosetting type and the frame (111) is laid on the metallic central body (110) by molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marcello Liotta, Eduardo Trifoni
  • Patent number: 8586260
    Abstract: A fuel cell with multiple independent reaction regions comprises multiple fuel cell units. Each fuel cell unit comprises bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly located between the bipolar plates. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a proton exchange membrane and catalyst layers located at both sides of the proton exchange membrane, and the catalyst layers at least at one side of the proton exchange membrane are formed with multiple mutually independent catalyst sublayers. Different from the prior design concepts of striving to distribute reactants as uniformly as possible in the whole reaction area, the whole cell in this invention is divided into multiple independent reaction regions, and relevance of the reaction regions is eliminated. Therefore, by partitioning and reducing the amplitude of possible voltage difference, this invention is able to reduce electrochemical corrosion and maximize performance of each independent region and the whole fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Yong Gao
  • Patent number: 8574778
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a first end power generation unit and a first dummy unit adjacent to a power generation unit at one end of a stack body in a stacking direction. In the first end power generation unit, a first separator is stacked on the power generation unit, a first membrane electrode assembly is stacked on the first separator, a second separator is stacked on the first membrane electrode assembly, an electrically conductive plate is stacked on the second separator, and a third separator is stacked on the electrically conductive plate. A coolant is supplied to a coolant flow field formed between the power generation unit and the first end power generation unit, for cooling a second membrane electrolyte assembly of the power generation unit and the first membrane electrode assembly of the first end power generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Jinba, Shigeru Inai
  • Patent number: 8574782
    Abstract: An example fuel cell repeater includes a separator plate and a frame establishing at least a portion of a flow path that is operative to communicate fuel to or from at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate. The flow path has a perimeter and any fuel within the perimeter flow across the at least one fuel cell in a first direction. The separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit positioned outside the flow path perimeter. The conduit is outside of the flow path perimeter and is configured to direct flow in a second, different direction. The conduit is fluidly coupled with the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Yamanis, Justin R. Hawkes, Louis Chiapetta, Jr., Connie E. Bird, Ellen Y. Sun, Paul F. Croteau
  • Patent number: 8574780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell separator and a method of producing the fuel cell separator. A first separator and a second separator are provided as the fuel cell separators. Firstly, the first separator and the second separator are heated. Thus, an Fe rich layer is formed in a surface layer of each of the first separator and the second separator, and a Cr rich layer where a proportion of Cr is 60% or more is formed in an inner portion of each of the first separator and the second separator. Then, an electrolytic treatment is applied to each of the first separator and the second separator to remove the Fe rich layer. By the removal, the Cr rich layer is exposed to the outside on the outermost surface layer of each of the first separator and the second separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Satoru Terada, Daisuke Okonogi, Takahiro Takai, Masao Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 8574783
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack including membrane-electrode assemblies and separators formed between each of the membrane-electrode assemblies is disclosed. The membrane-electrode assemblies may each include an electrolyte membrane, an anode formed on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode formed on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane. Each of the separators may include an anode separator facing the anode and a cathode separator facing the cathode. Each of the separators may include at least two manifolds, a channel separated from the manifolds and facing either the anode or the cathode, and a connection channel fluidly connecting the manifold and the channel. The separator may also include a buffer protrusion system in the connection channel configured to disperse the flow of the fuel or the oxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kah-Young Song, Jin-Hwa Lee, Sang-Il Han, Hee-Tak Kim, Tae-Yoon Kim, Sung-Yong Cho, Myoung-Ki Min, Geun-Seok Chai
  • Patent number: 8574781
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack. A fuel cell stack, an example of the fuel cell stack, is configured by alternately overlaying first electricity generating units and second electricity generating units in the horizontal direction. The first electricity units are each provided with a first fuel gas flow path, a first oxidant gas flow path, a second fuel gas flow path, and a second oxidant gas flow path, and the flow paths are set to the same phase in the overlaying direction. The second electricity generating units are each provided with a first fuel gas flow path, a first oxidant gas flow path, a second fuel gas flow path, and a second oxidant gas flow path which are set to the same phase in the overlaying direction and are set to a phase different from the phase of the flow paths of the first electricity generating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Goto, Narutoshi Sugita, Masaru Oda, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130280633
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system in which a plurality of electricity generating units each including a unit cell in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are formed on both sides of an electrolyte film to use an electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing agent to generate an electrical energy and a pair of separating plates which are disposed on both surfaces of the unit cell and have passages through which a fuel and an oxidizing agent are supplied to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are laminated in which the electricity generating unit has a structure where a fuel flowing direction and/or a flowing direction of the fuel or the oxidizing agent are different between neighboring electricity generating units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Posco
    Inventors: Seung Goo Kim, Choongmo Yang, Do Hyeong Kim, Joong Hwan Jun
  • Patent number: 8563181
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell having plural membrane-electrode assemblies and plates, fuel and oxidant humidifiers and heater exchanger. Heat exchange between a supply inlet and discharge outlet is carried out between first and second heat exchange mediums. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are directed to flow parallel to each other in the fuel cell. A circulation path is established through the fuel and oxidant humidifiers and the heat exchanger by interconnection among discharge outlet, heat exchanger, fuel and oxidant humidifiers, and inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 8557448
    Abstract: The fuel cell of the invention includes an electrolyte assembly, and a separator having one face as a gas flow path-forming face with a gas flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a reactive gas and the other face, which is reverse to the one face, as a refrigerant flow path-forming face with a refrigerant flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a refrigerant. The gas flow path-forming face of the separator has multiple linear gas flow paths that are arranged in parallel to one another, and a gas flow path connection structure that divides the multiple linear gas flow paths into plural linear gas flow path groups and connects at least part of the plural linear gas flow path groups in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama, Sogo Goto, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tomokazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8557466
    Abstract: A fuel cell having a capability of making uniform a water distribution in an in-plane direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane and supplying a reactive gas to an air electrode catalyst layer efficiently is provided. The fuel cell of the present invention has a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst electrodes, and a pair of metal separators. An air electrode separator has an oxidizing gas flow channel used to supply an oxidizing gas to the catalyst electrodes. The oxidizing gas flow channel is formed in such a manner that a flow channel near an oxidizing gas supply manifold and a flow channel near an oxidizing gas exhaust manifold are adjacent to each other in the same plane, and is formed in an S-shaped or spiral pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Masatoshi Teranishi
  • Patent number: 8557467
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the separators includes a fuel gas supply passage, four first bridges extending radially outwardly from the fuel gas supply section, and sandwiching sections connected to the first bridges. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the fuel gas supply section. Each of the sandwiching sections has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel. The four electrolyte electrode assemblies are arranged concentrically around the fuel gas supply section. A fuel cell stack includes such fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Yukihiko Kiyohiro, Tsutomu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8557481
    Abstract: Fuel cell comprising a stack of bipolar plates (1) and polymer films (2), in which the polymer films comprise a lip (3) that overhangs on all sides relative to the adjacent bipolar plates (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: David Olsommer
  • Patent number: 8557462
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack and a fuel cell system using the same are disclosed. The fuel cell stack may include an electricity generation unit generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction of fuel and oxidizer. The fuel cell stack may include a regulation member made of porous materials to disperse coolant flowed in through a cooling channel formed in the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Jin An, Jin-Hwa Lee
  • Publication number: 20130266884
    Abstract: This invention relates to a unit cell for a flat-tubular solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolyzer, and a flat-tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a flat-tubular solid oxide electrolyzer using the same, and more particularly to a unit cell for a flat-tubular solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolyzer, wherein the unit cell includes a connector including connection parts, thus decreasing the thickness of the unit cell and reducing the size of a cell stack, and to a flat-tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a flat-tubular solid oxide electrolyzer using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sun-Dong KIM, Doo-Won SEO, In-Sub HAN, Ji-Haeng YU, Se-Young KIM, Sang-Kuk WOO
  • Patent number: 8551671
    Abstract: A unit cell of a fuel cell is formed by stacking a membrane electrode assembly between a first metal separator and a second metal separator in a stacking direction. A frame is provided in an outer end of the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member is formed on the frame. The seal member includes a first seal as a fuel gas seal, a second seal as a coolant seal, and a third seal as an oxygen-containing gas seal. The first seal, the second seal, and the third seal are offset from each other in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eri Ishikawa, Seiji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8551670
    Abstract: An electrochemical device and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, the electrochemical device may be used as a fuel cell and/or as an electrolyzer and includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), an anodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the anode of the MEA, a cathodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the cathode, a first bipolar plate in contact with the anodic gas diffusion medium, and a second bipolar plate in contact with the cathodic gas diffusion medium. Each of the bipolar plates includes an electrically-conductive, chemically-inert, non-porous, liquid-permeable, substantially gas-impermeable membrane in contact with its respective gas diffusion medium, as well as a fluid chamber and a non-porous an electrically-conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Giner Electrochemical Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Cortney K. Mittelsteadt, William A. Braff
  • Publication number: 20130260274
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (36) has vertical fuel cells (102) each sharing a half of a hybrid separator plate (100) which includes a solid fuel flow plate (105) having horizontal fuel flow channels (106) on one surface and coolant channels (108) on an upper portion of the opposite surface, bonded to a plain rear side of a porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plate (115) having vertical oxidant flow channels (118). Coolant permeates through the upper portion of the porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plates and enters the oxidant flow channels, where it evaporates as the water trickles downward through the oxidant flow field channels, thereby cooling the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher John Carnevale, Timothy W. Patterson, JR., Robert M. Darling, Paravastu Badrinarayanan, Michael L. Perry
  • Patent number: 8546037
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator of the present invention is a plate-shaped fuel cell separator including a reaction gas supply manifold hole 21, a reactant gas discharge manifold hole 22, a groove-shaped first reactant gas channel 131, and one or more groove-shaped second reaction gas channels 132 and 133, wherein the first reactant gas channel 131 includes a first portion 41 and a second portion 51 located upstream of the first portion 41, and a cross-sectional area of a first specified portion 81 which is a continuous portion including at least the first portion of the first reactant gas channel 131 and/or a cross-sectional area of a second specified portion 82 which extends continuously from at least a downstream end of the first reactant gas channel 131 is/are smaller than cross-sectional areas of the second reactant gas channels 132 and 133.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Takeguchi, Yoichiro Tsuji, Takashi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8546038
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator of the present invention is a plate-shaped fuel cell separator including a reaction gas supply manifold hole (21), a reactant gas discharge manifold hole (22), a groove-shaped first reactant gas channel (131), and one or more groove-shaped second reaction gas channels (132, 133), wherein the first reactant gas channel (131) includes a first portion (41) and a second portion (51) located upstream of the first portion (41), and a cross-sectional area of a continuous portion extending from the upstream end of the first reactant gas channel (131) and/or a cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the first reactant gas channel (131) which lies downstream of the first portion (41) is/are smaller than cross-sectional areas of the second reactant gas channels (132, 133).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Takeguchi, Yoichiro Tsuji, Takashi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8546040
    Abstract: In forming a fuel cell stack by stacking a plurality of fuel cell units, in order to provide a fuel cell in which the fuel cell stack can be stably bound, the supply of fuel and conduction of respective cells can be surely performed, and stable power generation is possible, the fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack 2 formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cell units 3 having a fuel electrode 33 and an oxidizer electrode 43. The oxidizer electrode has, in a plane orthogonal to a stacking direction of the fuel cell units, an elastic member (an oxidizer electrode diffusion layer) 41 that is arranged in parallel to a rigid supporting member 14 and has electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 8535842
    Abstract: Combustion heaters having internal combustion chambers are located adjacent the end cells of a stack of fuel cells to directly, conductively heat the end cells during cold start-up of the stack. Similar heater(s) may also be located within the stack when cold starting under extremely cold conditions. A method of combustion thawing a fuel cell stack is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Thompson, Robert L. Fuss
  • Patent number: 8535845
    Abstract: A seal structure is disclosed for forming a substantially fluid tight seal between a UEA and a plate of a fuel cell system, the seal structure including a sealing member formed in one fuel cell plate, a seal support adapted to span feed area channels in an adjacent fuel cell plate, and a seal adapted to cooperate with a UEA disposed between the fuel cell plates, the sealing member, and the seal support to form a substantially fluid tight seal between the UEA and the one fuel cell plate. The seal structure militates against a leakage of fluids from the fuel cell system, facilitates the maintenance of a velocity of a reactant flow in the fuel cell system, and a cost thereof is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Gerald W. Fly, Steven G. Goebel, Jeff D. Williams
  • Patent number: 8535843
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell bipolar plate in which an air gap or a material layer having a heat transfer coefficient lower than that of the bipolar plate is provided so as to reduce total amount of liquid water generated in a fuel cell, thereby preventing the occurrence of flooding and reducing the time required for cold start, enhancing durability, decreasing parasitic purge requirements, and enhancing operational stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Soo Whan Kim, Jong Jin Yoon, Kyu Taek Cho, Byung Ki Ahn, Jong Hyun Lee, Matthew M. Mench
  • Patent number: 8524412
    Abstract: A fuel cell component is provided, including a substrate disposed adjacent at least one radiation-cured flow field layer. The flow field layer is one of disposed between the substrate and a diffusion medium layer, and disposed on the diffusion medium layer opposite the substrate. The flow field layer has at least one of a plurality of reactant flow channels and a plurality of coolant channels for the fuel cell. The fuel cell component may be assembled as part of a repeating unit for a fuel cell stack. A method for fabricating the fuel cell component and the associated repeating unit for the fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Yeh-Hung Lai, Keith E. Newman, Gerald W. Fly, Ping Liu, Alan J. Jacobsen, William B. Carter, Peter D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 8518601
    Abstract: A gas separator for a fuel cell has a first plate that forms one face; a second plate that forms the other face of the gas separator; and a third plate located between the first plate and the second plate. The third plate has a cooling medium flow path forming hole defining a cooling medium flow path between the first plate and the second plate and is provided in at least part of an area overlapping an electrolyte layer and electrode layers in lamination. A flow rate regulator is provided in the cooling medium flow path and regulates a flow rate to have a higher flow rate during power generation of the fuel cell. A temperature distribution is determined according to an operating condition of the fuel cell or an environment surrounding the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Ose, Katsumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20130216925
    Abstract: The present invention includes an integrated planar, series connected fuel cell system having electrochemical cells electrically connected via interconnects, wherein the anodes of the electrochemical cells are protected against Ni loss and migration via an engineered porous anode barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.
  • Patent number: 8507150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell module provided with a fuel cell stack and a load-applying mechanism. The load-applying mechanism is provided with: a first clamping part that applies a first camping load, in the direction of stacking, to the gas seal part of the fuel cell stack; a second clamping part that applies to an electrolyte/electrode unit, in the aforementioned direction of stacking, a second clamping load that is lighter than the first clamping load; and a third clamping part that is provided on the first clamping part and, separately from the first clamping part, applies a third clamping load to the gas seal part in the aforementioned direction of stacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takahashi, Yukihiko Kiyohiro
  • Patent number: 8506787
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell having two or more diffusion bonded layers, which demonstrates a high degree of ruggedness, reliability, efficiency and attitude insensitiveness, is provided. The novel cell structure simplifies construction and operation of these cells. Also provided is a method for passive water removal from these cells. The inventive cell, as well as stacks made using these cells, is suitable for use in applications such as commercial space power systems, long endurance aircraft, undersea power systems, remote backup power systems, and regenerative fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Callahan, James F. McElroy, Alfred Meyer, William F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130202982
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes unit cells, a first side plate and a second side plate respectively attached to opposite lateral surfaces of the unit cells, and a first electricity collector and a second electricity collector arranged between the unit cells. Each of the unit cells includes a support body block. The support body block includes a first surface, a second surface parallel to the first surface, a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels existing between the first channels. Each of the unit cells further includes air electrodes formed on inner surfaces of the first channels, fuel electrodes formed on inner surfaces of the second channels, a first electricity collecting layer formed on the first surface and electrically connected to the air electrodes and a second electricity collecting layer formed on the second surface and electrically connected to the fuel electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: MIM CERAMICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8501364
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a water transport structure extending from fuel cell plates of the assembly into fuel cell assembly manifolds, wherein the water transport structure facilitates the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plates thereby minimizing the accumulation of liquid water and ice in the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jon P. Owejan, Thomas W. Tighe, Jeffrey A. Rock, Thomas A. Trabold, Steven R. Falta
  • Patent number: 8501363
    Abstract: A fuel cell plate is disclosed, the fuel cell plate including a first unipolar plate, a second unipolar plate cooperating with the first unipolar plate to form a bipolar plate having a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, a reactant inlet, and a reactant outlet, and a coolant flow channel in fluid communication with the coolant inlet formed intermediate the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate, the coolant flow channel having a second portion disposed between a first portion and a third portion thereof adjacent to the reactant outlet, wherein the second portion is spaced apart from the reactant inlet at a first distance and the first portion and the third portion are each spaced apart from the reactant inlet at a distance greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Steven J. Spencer
  • Patent number: 8492053
    Abstract: A flow field plate having a low resistance coating for fuel cell applications is described. In one embodiment, the flow field plate includes a metal plate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface defining a plurality of channels for directing flow of a first gaseous composition; and an activated carbon coating disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the plate, the activated carbon coating having a surface resistance of less than about 20 m?·cm2, the surface resistance being stable. Fuel cells incorporating the flow field plates and methods of making the flow field plates are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
  • Publication number: 20130183598
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell. A separator of the fuel cell includes a sandwiching section for sandwiching an electrolyte electrode assembly, a bridge section, and a reactant gas supply section. A fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel are formed in the sandwiching section. A fuel gas supply channel, a fuel gas return channel, and an oxygen-containing gas supply channel are formed in the bridge section. A fuel gas supply passage a fuel gas discharge passage and an oxygen-containing gas supply passage are formed in the reactant gas supply section. The bridge section is provided integrally with the reactant gas supply section, and surrounds the entire outer circumference of the sandwiching section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8486567
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte. At least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode is provided with a substantially uniform superficial relief pattern formed by a plurality of substantially uniform projections and has an electrical conductivity gradient between peaks of the projections and valleys between the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Qinbai Fan, Ronald Stanis
  • Publication number: 20130177829
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells. The fuel cell stack includes a lower end plate, a load plate, and a fuel cell support member. The lower end plate is positioned at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction for placing the stack body on the lower end plate. The load plate is provided at the other end of the stack body for applying a load to the stack body in the stacking direction. The fuel cell support member is provided between the load plate and the stack body, and includes a composite layer made of alumina fiber and vermiculite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Homma
  • Publication number: 20130177827
    Abstract: A separator for fuel cell includes a corrugated portion formed to have a corrugated cross section where a first groove that is concave to a first surface to form a flow path for a first fluid on the first surface and a second groove that is concave to a second surface opposite to the first surface to form a flow path for a second fluid on the second surface are arranged alternately and repeatedly. Each of the second grooves has at least one shallower groove section formed to have a less depth from the second surface than depth of a remaining groove section and provided to form a communication flow channel on the first surface side, which is arranged to communicate between two flow path spaces for the first fluid that are adjacent to each other across the shallower groove section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Okabe, Hiroya Nakaji, Makoto Yoshida, Shigetaka Hamada, Takuya Kurihara, Kenji Sato, Hideaki Tanaka, Nobuhiko Nakagaki, Junji Ueda, Katsuhiko Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20130177828
    Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes sandwiching sections that sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies therebetween, bridge sections, and a reactant gas supply section. The electrolyte electrode assemblies are sandwiched between the sandwiching sections. A fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel are formed in each of the sandwiching sections. A fuel gas supply channel, a fuel gas return channel, and an oxygen-containing gas supply channel are formed in each of the bridge sections. A fuel gas supply passage, a fuel gas discharge passage, and an oxygen-containing gas supply passage extend through the reactant gas supply section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi Kotani
  • Patent number: 8481223
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack for generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing gas including a plurality of electricity generating units and a fastening member is disclosed. The plurality of electricity generating units are configured for an electrochemical reaction between the fuel and the oxidizing gas to generate electrical energy, and the fastening member combines the plurality of electricity generating units into a stack. Each electricity-generating unit includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and separators that are provided on each side of the MEA. Each separator comprises a channel on a surface facing the MEA. The channel is divided into a multiple of 2 sub-channels that is greater than 2 on a surface of the separator, and the sub-channels have substantially the same fluid passage length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Won Suh
  • Patent number: 8470489
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of producing bipolar plates. In one embodiment, is method for producing bipolar plates, the method comprising (a) providing an electrically conductive sheet; and (b) cutting through the sheet to create therein at least one opening for a fluid, where the cut sheet includes a plurality of elongate parallel oxidant flow openings and where at least one oxidant inlet manifold opening and at least one oxidant outlet manifold opening are located at the ends of the elongate oxidant flow openings and in communication therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: EnergyOr Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Jones
  • Patent number: 8470488
    Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a carbide coating that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. Suitable carbides include, but are not limited to, chromium carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, niobium carbide and zirconium carbide. The carbide coating is then polished or textured by a suitable process, such as laser or chemical etching, to provide a surface morphology that makes the coating more hydrophilic, and further reduces the contact resistance on its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Gayatri Vyas, Youssef M. Mikhail, Thomas A. Trabold
  • Patent number: 8465880
    Abstract: There has been a problem that the cell units cannot bear the load exerted on the units while being stacked since a fuel cell stack including a refrigerant channel formed between cell units each having an even number of electrolyte/electrode structures (MEA) and metal separators which are alternated does not have any structure supporting the separators forming the refrigerant channel in a stacking direction. In order to solve the above problem, in each of a first power generating unit and a second power generating unit, projections formed at the buffer portions of the separators are disposed in the same positions in the stacking direction with the MEA interposed therebetween. Since between the first and second power generating units, the projections of the buffer portions are staggered, the projections of the first and second power generating units are thereby disposed in the same positions in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Masaaki Sakano, Masaru Oda, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8465879
    Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell includes a pair of plates. Each plate has an active area, a header area, and a perimeter area. The perimeter area is disposed adjacent an edge of the plate. The perimeter area is also disposed adjacent to each of the active area and the header area. At least one of the plates includes a raised support feature having an inboard side and an outboard side. The plates are joined in the perimeter area between the outboard side of the raised support feature and the edges of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel P. Miller, Steven J. Spencer, Robert Thompson, Matthew J. Beutel, Siguang Xu
  • Publication number: 20130149629
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel-cell power generation system includes a fuel cell that generates electricity by electrochemical reaction using fuel and an oxidizer and a resin module that includes a flow path through which fuel, air, or water flows, inner walls defining the flow path being made of resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corporation, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130149630
    Abstract: A seal structure is disclosed for forming a substantially fluid tight seal between a UEA and a plate of a fuel cell system, the seal structure including a sealing member formed in one fuel cell plate, a seal support adapted to span feed area channels in an adjacent fuel cell plate, and a seal adapted to cooperate with a UEA disposed between the fuel cell plates, the sealing member, and the seal support to form a substantially fluid tight seal between the UEA and the one fuel cell plate. The seal structure militates against a leakage of fluids from the fuel cell system, facilitates the maintenance of a velocity of a reactant flow in the fuel cell system, and a cost thereof is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Patent number: 8455150
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of adjacently stacked fuel cell modules each of which includes a plurality of adjacently aligned fuel cells that are connected in electrical series. The current flow between adjacent fuel cells is achieved across diffusion media of said adjacent fuel cells. First and second reactant channels are formed in the reactant carrier plates for separately delivering two different reactants along each reactant carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Thorsten Rohwer
  • Patent number: 8450024
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrode layers arranged on each surface of the electrolyte membrane respectively, and first and second separators that are formed by processing a metal plate and are arranged so as to sandwich the membrane electrode assembly. At a position outside a position facing the membrane electrode assembly, the separators have an opening that constitutes a reaction gas flow path that is roughly perpendicular to a surface direction of the membrane electrode assembly. The first separator has a folded back part that is formed by folding back at least part of the metal plate of the position at which the opening is formed toward the membrane electrode assembly side along a boundary line on the membrane electrode assembly side of the opening as a fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Nagasawa, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Takuji Nagano, Kazutaka Ilsuka, Rie Takami, Naotoshi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20130130145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a media supply plate (10) for a fuel cell stack (12) comprising at least one anode gas terminal (14) and at least one cathode gas terminal (16). According to the invention the media supply plate (10) further comprises at least one anode waste gas terminal (18) and at least one cathode waste gas terminal (20). The invention further relates to a fuel cell system (52) using such a media supply plate (10) as well as a method for producing such a fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: STAXERA GmbH
    Inventor: STAXERA GmbH