Abstract:
A device for use in a fuel cell includes a bipolar plate having a region encompassing a flow field, and at least one channel that is located outside of the region for conveying a seal fluid to limit leakage of a reactant gas from a fuel cell.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes conveying a first fluid flow therethrough disposed substantially transverse to a direction of a second fluid flow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of the second fluid flow. The heat exchanger further includes a web sheet having a plurality of webs and a plurality of tube recesses disposed between the webs of the plurality of webs. Each tube of the plurality of tubes is secured to a tube recess of the plurality of tube recesses. Forming a heat exchanger includes forming a web sheet having a plurality of webs and a plurality of tube recesses located between the webs. A plurality of tubes are formed and configured to convey a first fluid flow therethrough. The plurality of tubes are inserted into the plurality of tube recesses.
Abstract:
A cell stack assembly (10) includes a plurality of plates defining a primary cell stack portion having a primary air flow path (14), fuel flow path (24) and a primary coolant flow path (35); and an auxiliary coolant stack portion defining an auxiliary air flow path (26) and an auxiliary coolant flow path (16), the auxiliary air flow path being communicated with the primary air flow path, whereby water is condensed from air in the auxiliary air flow path.
Abstract:
A modular heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of heat exchanger sections arranged in a stacked configuration, wherein each heat exchanger section includes a plurality of conduits, and wherein each heat exchanger section includes a first plate and a second plate. Each plate has a plurality of conduit portions that are attached to the conduit portions of the other plate to form the conduits. A first fluid flow path extends through the conduits. The conduits within each heat exchanger section are separated from one another and a second fluid flow path extends between the conduits within the assembly and through the assembly and which is separated from the first fluid flow path.
Abstract:
A modular heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of heat exchanger sections arranged in a stacked configuration, wherein each heat exchanger section includes a plurality of conduits, and wherein each heat exchanger section includes a first plate and a second plate. Each plate has a plurality of conduit portions that are attached to the conduit portions of the other plate to form the conduits. A first fluid flow path extends through the conduits. The conduits within each heat exchanger section are separated from one another and a second fluid flow path extends between the conduits within the assembly and through the assembly and which is separated from the first fluid flow path.
Abstract:
An inlet fuel distributor (10-10d) has a permeable baffle (39, 54,54a, 60) between a fuel supply pipe (11, 83) and a fuel inlet manifold (12, 53, 53a, 63) causing fuel to be uniformly distributed along the length of the fuel inlet manifold. A surface (53, 68) may cause impinging fuel to turn and flow substantially omnidirectionally improving its uniformity. Recycle fuel may be provided (25, 71) into the flow downstream of the fuel inlet distributor. During startup, fuel or inert gas within the inlet fuel distributor and the fuel inlet manifold may be vented through a valve (57, 86) in response to a controller (58, 79) so as to present a uniform fuel front to the inlets of the fuel flow fields (58).
Abstract:
In a fuel cell stack, an inlet fuel distributor (15, 31, 31a, 31b) comprises a plurality of conduits of substantially equal length and equal flow cross section to uniformly distribute fuel cell inlet fuel from a fuel supply pipe (13) to a fuel inlet manifold (28). The conduits may be either channels (40-47; 64; 67) formed within a plate (39) or tubes (17-23). The channels may have single exits (65) or double exits (52, 53) into the fuel inlet manifold.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes conveying a first fluid flow therethrough disposed substantially transverse to a direction of a second fluid flow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of the second fluid flow. The heat exchanger further includes a web sheet having a plurality of webs and a plurality of tube recesses disposed between the webs of the plurality of webs. Each tube of the plurality of tubes is secured to a tube recess of the plurality of tube recesses. Forming a heat exchanger includes forming a web sheet having a plurality of webs and a plurality of tube recesses located between the webs. A plurality of tubes are formed and configured to convey a first fluid flow therethrough. The plurality of tubes are inserted into the plurality of tube recesses.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes positioned substantially transverse to a direction of airflow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of airflow. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of webs substantially integral to two or more tubes of the plurality of tubes, each web extending between and connected to adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. At least one tube of the plurality of tubes has a cross section with an aspect ratio greater than 1:1, relative to a substantially horizontal web.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a fuel cell flow field plate is disclosed in which a generally even flow distribution across the flow field is provided. The method includes providing an inlet manifold in fluid communication with the flow field. The flow field includes multiple channels for which some of the channels receive restricted flow from the inlet manifold as compared to other channels. A relative pressure drop between the channels is altered with a pressure drop feature to encourage fluid flow from the inlet manifold to the channels with restricted flow, which results in a generally even flow distribution across the flow field.