Flow facilitator for improving operation of a fuel cell
    11.
    发明授权
    Flow facilitator for improving operation of a fuel cell 失效
    用于改善燃料电池运行的流动促进器

    公开(公告)号:US5935725A

    公开(公告)日:1999-08-10

    申请号:US896816

    申请日:1997-07-18

    IPC分类号: H01M8/02 H01M8/04 H01M8/24

    摘要: A fuel cell including an electrode assembly, a cell assembly mounted to the electrode assembly forming an anode and at least one cathode channel, and a flow facilitator located within each cathode channel. The flow facilitator functions as a wick during the operation of the fuel cell to drain fluid from the cathode channels. It also provides resistance to water vapor flow within the cathode channels, thereby increasing humidification of the fuel cell. Moreover, the flow facilitator increases residence time of oxidant within the cathode channels. The flow facilitator is preferably a thread made of any one or any combination of cotton, silk, fiberglass, nylon or polyester, and may be coated with polytetraflouroethylene. The flow facilitator may be a single element that is weaved in specific patterns through the cathode channels or it can include a plurality of elements, one element for each of the cathode channels. A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell formed by a bipolar plate, an electrode assembly with an electrolyte, and an anode channel. Each bipolar plate includes at least one cathode channel. The flow facilitator is weaved between and into a subset of the plurality of cathode channels.

    摘要翻译: 一种燃料电池,包括电极组件,安装到形成阳极的电极组件的电池组件和至少一个阴极通道,以及位于每个阴极通道内的流动促进器。 在燃料电池操作期间,流动促进器用作芯,以从阴极通道排出流体。 它还提供对阴极通道内的水蒸气流的阻力,从而增加燃料电池的加湿。 此外,流动促进剂增加氧化剂在阴极通道内的停留时间。 流动促进器优选是由棉,丝,玻璃纤维,尼龙或聚酯的任何一种或任何组合制成的螺纹,并且可以涂覆聚四氟乙烯。 流动促进器可以是通过阴极通道以特定图案编织的单个元件,或者可以包括多个元件,每个阴极通道的一个元件。 燃料电池堆包括多个燃料电池,由双极板形成的每个燃料电池,具有电解质的电极组件和阳极通道。 每个双极板包括至少一个阴极通道。 流动促进器在多个阴极通道的子集之间编织并进入其中。