摘要:
An electrochemical cell assembly with structural improvements for improving cell operation. The electrochemical cell assembly may include at least one of an extended MEA and chamfered edges on the flow field plates for preventing the shorting of the anode and cathode flow field plates. Further, the flow field plates may include a pocket for providing an appropriate space to accommodate a gas diffusion media and applying an appropriate amount of compression to the gas diffusion media.
摘要:
A sealing technique is provided for forming complex and multiple seal configurations for fuel cells and other electrochemical cells. To provide a seal, for sealing chambers for oxidant, fuel and/or coolant, a groove network is provided extending through the various elements of the fuel cell assembly and a seal material is then injected into the groove network. Several structural improvements have been made to cell components in relation to this seal in place process to reduce manufacturing cost and improve the performance of the electrochemical cells.
摘要:
A membrane electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell assembly is provided with a modified catalyst layout. The modified catalyst layout improves reactant fluid flow along the membrane electrode assembly, reduces wear on the membrane electrode assembly and improves electrochemical cell efficiency during operation.
摘要:
An electrochemical cell assembly includes first and second flow field plates, first and second gas diffusion media disposed between the first and second flow field plates, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the first and second gas diffusion media. The membrane electrode assembly can include a proton exchange membrane, and a catalyst layer on the proton exchange membrane. The catalyst layout can be configured to omit the catalyst layer from a portion of the proton exchange membrane adjacent an edge region of one of the first and second gas diffusion media, thereby enabling at least a portion of the reactant fluid flow to first encounter a region of the membrane electrode assembly without the catalyst layer. The modified catalyst layout can improve reactant fluid flow along the membrane electrode assembly, reduce wear on the membrane electrode assembly and improve electrochemical cell efficiency during operation.
摘要:
A system for collecting current in an electrochemical cell stack is described. The system includes an end plate having an outer face facing away from the cell stack and an inner face opposite the outer face. The system also includes a plurality of connection ports on the end plate for the transmission of process fluids. A plurality of passageways in the end plate connect the connection ports to openings on the inner face, and allow the process fluids to pass through the end plate. The system also includes a flow field plate in electrical communication with the end plate to allow current to flow therebetween.
摘要:
An end assembly for an electrochemical cell stack is described. The end assembly includes an end plate having an outer face facing away from the cell stack and an inner face opposite the outer face. Passageways in the end plate that terminate at openings on the inner face allow process fluids to pass through the end plate. Overmolding on a portion of the passageways act as a protective barrier.
摘要:
Aspects of some embodiments of the present invention provide flow field plates that have been designed to include a flow field for uniformly distributing both a process gas/fluid and heat produced by an electrochemical reaction involving the process gas/fluid over an area covered by the flow field. Thus, for some embodiments of the present invention, in order to achieve a substantially uniform heat distribution and, possibly, in turn a substantially uniform reaction rate over the flow field, the process gas/fluid within each of the flow channels is preferably subjected to substantially the same heat exchange history as the process gas/fluid in any of the other flow channels. In some embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by making all of the flow channels substantially the same total length.
摘要:
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a balance-of-plant system and apparatus suited for regulating the operation of an electrolyzer cell stack. Specifically, in some embodiments, a balance-of-plant system and apparatus is operable to regulate the respective pressures of at least two reaction products relative to one another. Various examples are provided to demonstrate how the respective pressures of two reaction products can be regulated in relation to one another in a pressure following configuration, thereby regulating the pressure differential across an electrolyte layer according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention. Some of the examples provided also include design simplifications and alternatives that may reduce production costs of electrochemical cells configured according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention.
摘要:
A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each having an anode flow field plate, a cathode flow field plate and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the flow field plates. The anode and cathode flow field plates have primary channels and ribs separating the primary channels. At least a portion of the anode and cathode primary channels are disposed directly opposite one another with a membrane exchange assembly therebetween and with at least some of the ribs on the anode and cathode flow field plates located directly opposite one another to sandwich the membrane exchange assembly therebetween. The flow field plates can also have inlet distribution and outlet collection channels. Each of these distribution and collection channels is connected to a plurality of the primary channels, preferably located centrally, so as to improve flow distribution of the reactants.
摘要:
Aspects of some embodiments of the present invention provide flow field plates that have been designed to potentially reduce the unit cost of each flow field plate employed in an electrochemical cell stack. Thus, for some embodiments of the present invention an electrochemical cell includes a number of flow field plates each having a number of manifold apertures that all have the same area. A first one of the manifold apertures is used for a first process gas/fluid and a second one of the manifold apertures is used for a second process gas/fluid. The manifold apertures on the flow field plates align to form elongate channels that extend through the electrochemical cell as described in more detail herein.