摘要:
An alignment system and method for assembling a fuel cell stack. Components of the fuel cell stack have internal alignment features and are aligned to a predetermined orientation during assembly. The system and method allow fuel cell stacks to be assembled within high tolerance levels while improving access to each component during assembly. Additionally, the system and method can provide additional rigidity to a fuel cell stack.
摘要:
A separator plate for a fuel cell is provided including a first support element and a series of second support elements extending from a first surface of the plate. A series of apertures are disposed between the first support element and the series of second support elements for communicating a reactant gas therethrough for delivery to a flow field of the separator plate.
摘要:
A flow field geometry formed in a separator plate of a fuel cell includes a plurality of straight inlet legs including a first lateral inlet leg laterally offset from a first inlet leg and a dividing junction associated with each of the plurality of straight inlet legs. The dividing junction divides a straight inlet leg into a plurality of branched legs. A number of a first set of branched legs associated with the first lateral inlet leg is greater than a number of a set of branched legs associated with the first inlet leg.
摘要:
A PEM fuel cell includes a cathode plate for directing a first fluid along a surface thereof. An anode plate directs a second fluid along a surface thereof. An MEA is oriented in a first direction. The MEA includes an anode face opposing the anode plate and a cathode face opposing the cathode plate. A plate margin includes first and second header apertures oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first seal is disposed between the anode plate and the MEA. The first seal defines a first fluid communication path between the first header aperture and the anode plate. A second seal is disposed between the cathode plate and the MEA. The second seal defines a second fluid communication path between the second header aperture and the cathode plate. The first and second seals allow the first and second fluid to flow through respective passages thereon in a direction parallel the first direction.
摘要:
A brick laying system where an operator such as a mason works proximate a moveable platform having a robotic arm assembly, a mortar applicator with a mortar transfer device, and a brick transfer device to build structures. The robotically assisted brick laying system may also contain a stabilizer having a disturbance sensing and a disturbance correcting component that provides compensation for disturbances caused by load shifting, movement of the platform, wind, operator movement, and the like. In addition, the robotically assisted brick laying system has a sensing and positioning component for controlling placement of the moveable platform and robotic arm assembly. The interoperability of the system with a mason or skilled operator removes much of the manual labor component of brick laying, allowing the mason more time to focus on craftsmanship and quality, thus improving the end product and the overall working conditions of the mason.
摘要:
A fuel cell in a fuel cell stack that provides a transition from nested bipolar plates in the active region of the stack to non-nested bipolar plates in the inactive regions of the stack without giving up the reduced stack thickness provided by the nested plates or changing the size of the flow channels. Particularly, the diffusion media layers in the fuel cells are removed in the inactive regions where the bipolar plates are non-nested so that the volume necessary to maintain the size of the flow channels is provided without the need to increase the distance between adjacent MEAs. A thin shim can be provided between the membranes and the plates in the inactive regions to support the membrane where the diffusion media layer has been removed to prevent the membrane from intruding into the flow channels and blocking the reactive flow.
摘要:
A diffusion media for use in a PEM fuel cell which includes a relieved edge region relative to the interior region of the diffusion media. The outer perimeter or portion of the diffusion media that will interface with a sealing gasket is pre-compressed. The pre-compressed diffusion media lowers the compression stress on the MEA at the gasket interfaces, enabling a more uniform compression on the entirety of the MEA surfaces during the build, compression, and later operation of a fuel cell stack.
摘要:
A hydrogen fuel cell stack has at least two segments of fuel cells each having reactant gas passages. The reactant gas passages of each fuel cell in each segment are arranged in parallel with each other. Flow of fuel cell fluids is in a gravity assisted downward direction. Gravity assisted flow directs water formed in each cell to lower removal points of the stack segments. Adjacent segments are separated by either a separator segment formed as an integral unit with the stack or the segments are joined and an external piping system directs flow to differing stack areas. A cathode flow enters at a first stack end and a hydrogen anode flow enters the stack at an opposite end, such that cathode and anode flows are counter-current to each other. A coolant flow is normally injected adjacent to and flows parallel with the cathode flow, but can also be directed by the piping system to any or all segments in series or parallel.
摘要:
A device and method are provided to allow the flowpaths in a fuel cell stack to be reconfigured dependent on reactant gas throughput in order to maintain appropriate pressure drop, sufficient velocities, and reactant concentrations of each cell of a fuel cell stack.
摘要:
Clearance gaps in the inactive feed regions of a fuel cell stack are controlled by non-bonded, non-nested bipolar plates to provide reactant flow uniformity and pressure within fuel cells and fuel cell stacks utilizing nested bipolar plates in the active feed regions and non-nested bipolar plates in the inactive feed regions.