WO2002059988A2 - Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow fields - Google Patents
Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow fields Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002059988A2 WO2002059988A2 PCT/US2001/048888 US0148888W WO02059988A2 WO 2002059988 A2 WO2002059988 A2 WO 2002059988A2 US 0148888 W US0148888 W US 0148888W WO 02059988 A2 WO02059988 A2 WO 02059988A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- flow
- channels
- reactant
- fuel cell
- interdigitated
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0258—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
- H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
- H01M8/2483—Details of groupings of fuel cells characterised by internal manifolds
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Definitions
- This invention relates to reactant flow fields in a fuel cell having partly low pressure flow through reactant flow field channels and partly interdigitated flow field 5 channels.
- the electrochemical reactions in fuel cells are well known.
- the reactants in alkaline, acid, or solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells are hydrogen or a hydrogen rich fuel at the anode, and an oxygen or air oxidant at the cathode. It is known to use o interdigitated reactant flow fields to minimize concentration polarization within fuel cells operating with dilute reactants.
- Interdigitated reactant flow fields in which entrance gas flow channels do not directly connect to exit gas flow channels, thereby force the reactant gas to flow into an adjacent layer of the fuel cell.
- the forced convection cannot be achieved effectively without an increase in the pressure drop across the flow field.
- the increased pressure drop requires a higher pressurization of the reactant gas, thereby consuming a greater proportion of the electricity which is o generated by the fuel cell, which is called parasitic power.
- the suitability of fuel cells for any particular utilization is at least partly dependent upon its overall efficiency, including not only the efficiency of generating the electricity, but the cost (in power) of generating that electricity.
- the overall efficiency of the fuel cell is of paramount importance, particularly in mobile equipment, such as vehicles, which not 5 only must transport a load, and the fuel cell, but also the fuel which is to be utilized, in one form or another. Disclosure of Invention
- This invention can provide fuel cells which take advantage of the reactant utilization obtainable with interdigitated reactant flow fields without requiring prohibitive parasitic power resulting from the need for increased pressure. 5
- This invention is predicated on the discovery that the reactant utilization advantage of interdigitated flow fields is not necessary when the reactant concentration has been depleted only slightly, but rather the advantage of interdigitated flow fields becomes operative part way through the reactant flow field, when the reactant concentration has been significantly depleted.
- the invention is o further predicated on the discovery that the reduction in reactant concentration utilizing a reactant flow field which is only partially interdigitated can be substantially the same as the reactant concentration in which the entire reactant flow field is interdigitated, while at the same time decreasing by approximately one-half the pressure necessary to effect such reactant utilization.
- the reactant flow field of a fuel cell is configured partly with flow-through flow channels and partly configured with interdigitated flow channels.
- the flow-through flow channels are upstream of the interdigitated flow channels.
- the hybrid flow channels may be implemented in a straight flow field or a flow field which is folded o one or more times.
- the junction between flow-through flow field channels and interdigitated flow field channels may be adjacent to a manifold, or may be intermediate the manifolds.
- Fig. 1 is a simplified, sectioned, side elevation view of a conventional 5 interdigitated fuel cell reactant flow field.
- Fig. 2 is a stylized, simplified sectioned side elevation view of a hybrid reactant flow field according to the present invention.
- Fig. 3 is a simplified schematic illustration of a folded reactant flow field according to the present invention.
- Fig. 4 is a simplified schematic illustration of a three-fold reactant flow field with the transition between flow-through flow field channels and interdigitated flow field channels being remote from a flow manifold.
- Fig. 1 is a simplified illustration of a conventional interdigitated flow field.
- the flow field plate 9 has end ridges 10 and additional ridges 11 which separate the flow field plate 9 into inlet channels 13 and outlet channels 14.
- the flow as is shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, is from the inlet channels, beneath the intermediate ribs 11, and then out through the outlet channels 14.
- the flow field plate 0 9 is positioned adjacent to an additional, porous plate of the fuel cell, typically a reactant support plate, into which reactant is forced by convection as it flows beneath the intermediate ribs 11.
- a greater concentration of the reactant gas reaches the adjacent, porous electro catalyst support plate by means of the forced convention created by the interdigitated flow field than is normally achieved simply by diffusion 5 of the gases from flow-through flow field channels.
- the present invention comprises a hybrid reactant oxidant flow field configuration illustrated, simplistically, in Fig. 2.
- the hybrid reactant flow field plate 16 includes ribs 17 that define parallel flow-through flow field channels 18, and a serpentine rib 20 that defines inlet channels 21 and o outlet channels 22.
- a serpentine rib 20 as shown, other structure (such as that shown in Fig. 1) may be utilized to define the interdigitated flow field channels.
- the reactant is air
- air entering an inlet manifold 25 will include a substantially normal amount of oxygen (about 21%); however, the oxygen in the air becomes depleted as the air travels along the flow fields and the oxygen diffuses and 5 is consumed by the process.
- the air By the time the air reaches a transition 26 between the flow-through flow field channels 18 and the interdigitate channels 21, 22, the air is sufficiently depleted that the interdigitated flow fields will provide a substantial improvement in oxygen concentration, due to the forced convection of the air beneath the serpentine rib 20 into the adjacent electro-catalyst support plate. Then the air o flows through the exit channels and an exit manifold 27 to a suitable exhaust, or any form of recovery or reutilization apparatus, as desired.
- the relative balance between flow-through reactant flow field channels and interdigitated flow field channels will be differently determined.
- the flow-through channels should occupy as great a percentage of the flow path length as is possible without reducing the reactant concentration by more than a few percent, depending upon the design goals in any utilization of the present invention.
- a balance between the degree of reduction in reactant concentration and the reduction in required pressure drops will be achieved to suit the particular implementation of the invention.
- a fuel cell reactant flow field plate 31 is shown in a folded configuration in which the oxidant enters through an inlet manifold 32, passes through a portion 34 of the plate 31 which has flow-through reactant flow field channels, then is turned by a flow reversing manifold 35 so as to flow through a portion 37 of the plate 31 which has interdigitated reactant flow field channels, after which the reactant flows through an exit manifold 38 to exhaust.
- the transition between the portions 34 and 37 need not occur at the manifold 35, but may be mid-way between the manifold 35 and either of the manifolds 32, 38, as is illustrated in Fig. 4.
- the reactant flows through an inlet manifold 40, through a first portion 41 which comprises flow-through reactant flow field channels, through a reversing manifold 43 and a second portion 45 which has flow-through reactant flow field channels, and thence through a portion 46 which has interdigitated reactant flow field channels, through a reversing manifold 48 and a portion 49 which has interdigitated flow field channels, and thence through an exit manifold 50 to exhaust.
- the transition 52 between the flow-through channels and the interdigitated channels may be located anywhere between the manifolds to suit any utilization of the present invention.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10197105T DE10197105T5 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-17 | Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow |
JP2002560214A JP4111831B2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-17 | Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow field |
AU2002246689A AU2002246689A1 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-17 | Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow fields |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/751,591 | 2000-12-29 | ||
US09/751,591 US6472095B2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2000-12-29 | Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow fields |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002059988A2 true WO2002059988A2 (en) | 2002-08-01 |
WO2002059988A3 WO2002059988A3 (en) | 2002-10-10 |
Family
ID=25022685
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/048888 WO2002059988A2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-17 | Hybrid fuel cell reactant flow fields |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6472095B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4111831B2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002246689A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE10197105T5 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002059988A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8541411B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2013-09-24 | Glaxosmithkline Llc | Benzimidazole derivatives as PI3 kinase inhibitors |
US9812715B2 (en) | 2008-11-17 | 2017-11-07 | Audi Ag | Fuel cell plate flow field |
Families Citing this family (26)
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US7011904B2 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2006-03-14 | General Electric Company | Fluid passages for power generation equipment |
EP1447869A1 (en) | 2003-02-15 | 2004-08-18 | Haldor Topsoe A/S | Interconnect device, fuel cell and fuel cell stack |
JP4682511B2 (en) * | 2003-12-02 | 2011-05-11 | 日産自動車株式会社 | Solid oxide fuel cell |
EP1977463B1 (en) * | 2005-12-28 | 2014-11-05 | Ballard Power Systems Inc. | Fuel cell flow field channel with partially closed end |
WO2008056518A1 (en) * | 2006-10-19 | 2008-05-15 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel battery |
US8679703B2 (en) * | 2008-04-18 | 2014-03-25 | United Technologies Corporation | Fuel cell component with interdigitated flow fields |
US9196913B2 (en) | 2009-01-08 | 2015-11-24 | Audi Ag | Multiple transition flow field and method |
WO2010080080A1 (en) * | 2009-01-08 | 2010-07-15 | Utc Power Corporation | Multiple transition flow field and method |
US20110236783A1 (en) * | 2009-01-16 | 2011-09-29 | Darling Robert M | Interdigitated flow field for solid plate fuel cells |
JP5321086B2 (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2013-10-23 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Fuel cell |
US20100304259A1 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2010-12-02 | Searete Llc. A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using high thermal conductivity materials during charge and discharge |
US8715875B2 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2014-05-06 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | System and method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using thermal conductivity materials based on mobile device states and vehicle states |
US20100304258A1 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2010-12-02 | Chan Alistair K | System and method of altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using high thermal conductivity materials |
US9065159B2 (en) | 2009-05-26 | 2015-06-23 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | System and method of altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using microchannels |
US8802266B2 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2014-08-12 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | System for operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using microchannels based on mobile device states and vehicle states |
US8101293B2 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2012-01-24 | The Invention Science Fund I, Llc | System for altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using high thermal conductivity materials based on states of the device |
US8263006B2 (en) * | 2009-05-31 | 2012-09-11 | Corning Incorporated | Reactor with upper and lower manifold structures |
US8916313B2 (en) * | 2009-07-16 | 2014-12-23 | Ford Motor Company | Fuel cell |
US20110014537A1 (en) * | 2009-07-16 | 2011-01-20 | Ford Motor Company | Fuel cell |
US9166243B2 (en) | 2009-12-18 | 2015-10-20 | United Technologies Corporation | Flow battery with interdigitated flow field |
EP2387091A1 (en) * | 2010-05-14 | 2011-11-16 | The European Union, represented by the European Commission | Fuel cell |
GB201008979D0 (en) * | 2010-05-28 | 2010-07-14 | Acal Energy Ltd | Fuel cells |
JP5680760B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2015-03-04 | ユーティーシー パワー コーポレイション | Evaporative cooling fuel cell with water passage improved by wick |
US9755250B2 (en) * | 2013-07-25 | 2017-09-05 | Audi Ag | Method of making a fuel cell component having an interdigitated flow field configuration |
US11056698B2 (en) | 2018-08-02 | 2021-07-06 | Raytheon Technologies Corporation | Redox flow battery with electrolyte balancing and compatibility enabling features |
US11271226B1 (en) | 2020-12-11 | 2022-03-08 | Raytheon Technologies Corporation | Redox flow battery with improved efficiency |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5641586A (en) * | 1995-12-06 | 1997-06-24 | The Regents Of The University Of California Office Of Technology Transfer | Fuel cell with interdigitated porous flow-field |
US5686199A (en) * | 1996-05-07 | 1997-11-11 | Alliedsignal Inc. | Flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell |
US6146780A (en) * | 1997-01-24 | 2000-11-14 | Lynntech, Inc. | Bipolar separator plates for electrochemical cell stacks |
US6159629A (en) * | 1998-12-17 | 2000-12-12 | Ballard Power Systems Inc. | Volume effecient layered manifold assembly for electrochemical fuel cell stacks |
US6207312B1 (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2001-03-27 | Energy Partners, L.C. | Self-humidifying fuel cell |
US6284206B1 (en) * | 1999-03-22 | 2001-09-04 | International Fuel Cells, Llc | Compact selective oxidizer assemblage for a fuel cell power plant |
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US4988583A (en) * | 1989-08-30 | 1991-01-29 | Her Majesty The Queen As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence Of Her Majesty's Canadian Government | Novel fuel cell fluid flow field plate |
US4973530A (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1990-11-27 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Fuel cell water transport |
CA2242176C (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2009-01-27 | Ballard Power Systems Inc. | Solid polymer fuel cell system and method for humidifying and adjusting the temperature of a reactant stream |
CA2241566A1 (en) * | 1998-06-23 | 1999-12-23 | Bondface Technology Inc. | Flow field plate |
US6303245B1 (en) * | 1999-08-27 | 2001-10-16 | Plug Power Inc. | Fuel cell channeled distribution of hydration water |
-
2000
- 2000-12-29 US US09/751,591 patent/US6472095B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-12-17 JP JP2002560214A patent/JP4111831B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-12-17 WO PCT/US2001/048888 patent/WO2002059988A2/en active Application Filing
- 2001-12-17 DE DE10197105T patent/DE10197105T5/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-12-17 AU AU2002246689A patent/AU2002246689A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5641586A (en) * | 1995-12-06 | 1997-06-24 | The Regents Of The University Of California Office Of Technology Transfer | Fuel cell with interdigitated porous flow-field |
US5686199A (en) * | 1996-05-07 | 1997-11-11 | Alliedsignal Inc. | Flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell |
US6146780A (en) * | 1997-01-24 | 2000-11-14 | Lynntech, Inc. | Bipolar separator plates for electrochemical cell stacks |
US6207312B1 (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2001-03-27 | Energy Partners, L.C. | Self-humidifying fuel cell |
US6159629A (en) * | 1998-12-17 | 2000-12-12 | Ballard Power Systems Inc. | Volume effecient layered manifold assembly for electrochemical fuel cell stacks |
US6284206B1 (en) * | 1999-03-22 | 2001-09-04 | International Fuel Cells, Llc | Compact selective oxidizer assemblage for a fuel cell power plant |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9812715B2 (en) | 2008-11-17 | 2017-11-07 | Audi Ag | Fuel cell plate flow field |
US8541411B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2013-09-24 | Glaxosmithkline Llc | Benzimidazole derivatives as PI3 kinase inhibitors |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE10197105T5 (en) | 2005-05-12 |
US6472095B2 (en) | 2002-10-29 |
JP2004523065A (en) | 2004-07-29 |
WO2002059988A3 (en) | 2002-10-10 |
US20020086200A1 (en) | 2002-07-04 |
AU2002246689A1 (en) | 2002-08-06 |
JP4111831B2 (en) | 2008-07-02 |
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