摘要:
The present invention discloses a method of efficiently manufacturing fuel cells having coated bipolar plates. The present invention contemplates the laser welding together of individual plates already having a coating thereon to form the bipolar plates that are used in a fuel cell. The laser welding of the coated plates together does not result in sensitization of the plates to a magnitude sufficient to cause an undesirable level of corrosion resistance. This result is achieved regardless of the presence of the organic coating in the region of the plates being welded and regardless of the ablating of the organic coating by the laser beam.
摘要:
Fuel cells are provided that are at least partially resistant to corrosion, including the use of components that are comprised of materials that are at least partially resistant to corrosion. The fuel cells include subgasket materials and designs, involving geometric arrangements of the subgasket that reduce oxygen permeation from, the cathode to the anode side of the membranes and/or hydrogen permeation from the anode to the cathode side of the membranes. In addition to using protonically non-conductive subgasket materials with lower oxygen and/or hydrogen permeabilities, versus ionomeric subgaskets which are protonically conducting and have high O2 permeation rates, the elimination of the microporous layer (e.g., coated onto the diffusion medium) directly beneath the permeable subgasket materials will also reduce production of corrosive species. The elimination of direct contact between the bipolar plate material surface and PFSA ionomer membrane material also prevents corrosion to the metal bipolar plates.
摘要:
In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a polymeric porous conductive layer proximate the plate body, with the porous conductive layer having a porosity sufficient to result in a water contact angle of the surface of less than 40°.
摘要:
In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a hydrophilic electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the hydrophilic electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a composite conductive coating having a water contact angle of less than 40° adhered to the plate body. In at least one embodiment, the composite coating comprises a polymeric conductive layer adhered to the plate body having an exterior surface, and a particulate carbon layer adhered to the exterior surface of the polymeric conductive layer.
摘要:
An improved bipolar plate stainless steel alloy comprises, in weight percent, about 20% to about 30% chromium, about 10% to about 25% nickel, about 1% to about 9 % molybdenum, and up to about 4% copper, where the weight percentage of chromium plus nickel plus molybdenum is greater than about 51 percent. The weight percentage of chromium plus molybdenum may be greater than about 1.66 times the weight percentage of nickel. In addition, the ratio of chromium equivalents to nickel equivalents may be greater than about 1.66.
摘要:
A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes an outer layer of a metal oxide or other material that makes the plate hydrophilic. The particular metal oxide and the thickness of the metal oxide layer are selected so that hydrofluoric acid generated by the fuel cell continuously etches away the layer at a predetermined rate so that a surface of the layer is free of contaminants over the entire life of the fuel cell. If the fuel cell does not employ a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, then a separate hydrofluoric acid source can be provided that injects a low level solution of hydrofluoric acid into one or both of the reactant gas streams.
摘要:
A bi-polar plate is provided for a fuel cell stack. The bi-polar plate has improved surface wettability. The bi-polar plate includes a body including at least approximately ninety percent by weight of a metal and defining at least one flow channel. At least about 0.05 percent and up to 100 percent by weight of silicon is disposed on a surface of the at least one flow channel to form a high energy surface to form a high energy surface for the bi-polar plate. This can be achieved by adding from 0.5 to 10 weight % silicon to the steel. The percent of silicon is pre-determined based on a desired wettability of the high energy surface of the at least one flow channel.
摘要:
A magnetic filtration apparatus to separate ferrous contaminant material from a working fluid. The separation apparatus has a housing that is divided into a plurality of filtration chambers, each chamber having an elongate magnetic core to generate a magnetic field to entrap the contaminant material as it flows through the filter body. A fluid communication passageway is provided between the first and second chambers and is positioned such that the fluid exposure to the magnetic fields is maximized.
摘要:
A magnetic filtration apparatus to separate ferrous contaminant material from a working fluid. The separation apparatus has a housing that is divided into a plurality of filtration chambers, each chamber having an elongate magnetic core to generate a magnetic field to entrap the contaminant material as it flows through the filter body. A fluid communication passageway is provided between the first and second chambers and is positioned such that the fluid exposure to the magnetic fields is maximised.
摘要:
A magnetic filter device capable of separating contaminant material from a working fluid. The device includes an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the device and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the device. The filter further includes an elongate magnetic core comprising at least four columns of magnets. At least two magnetic columns include a north polarity extending over the length of the columns and at least two columns have a south polarity extending substantially the length of the columns. The four columns are positioned lengthways around a central longitudinal axis of the core in alternating north and south polarity thereby generating a magnetic field of alternating high and low field intensity in the region around the magnetic core exterior.