GB2606890A - Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stacks and power supply systems - Google Patents

Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stacks and power supply systems Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2606890A
GB2606890A GB2209282.9A GB202209282A GB2606890A GB 2606890 A GB2606890 A GB 2606890A GB 202209282 A GB202209282 A GB 202209282A GB 2606890 A GB2606890 A GB 2606890A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
outflow
reactant gas
array
inflow
apertures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB2209282.9A
Other versions
GB202209282D0 (en
GB2606890A8 (en
Inventor
Reynolds Christopher
Blanch Ojea Roland
Maynard Neill
Cartwright Richard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AFC Energy PLC
Original Assignee
AFC Energy PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AFC Energy PLC filed Critical AFC Energy PLC
Publication of GB202209282D0 publication Critical patent/GB202209282D0/en
Publication of GB2606890A8 publication Critical patent/GB2606890A8/en
Publication of GB2606890A publication Critical patent/GB2606890A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • 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
    • H01M8/026—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth
    • 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
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • 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
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • 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
    • H01M8/08—Fuel cells with aqueous electrolytes
    • 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
    • H01M8/08—Fuel cells with aqueous electrolytes
    • H01M8/083—Alkaline fuel cells
    • 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
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2250/00—Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
    • H01M2250/20—Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
    • 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
    • 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
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

A reactant gas plate (200, 300) for conveying a reactant gas in an electrochemical cell (100), comprises a reactant gas volume (210, 310) having an inflow array (224, 324) of spaced- apart inflow apertures (222, 322), to allow reactant gas to flow into the reactant gas volume (210, 310); and an outflow array (234, 334) of spaced-apart outflow apertures (232, 332), to allow reactant gas to flow out of the reactant gas volume (210, 310), the outflow array (234, 334) having a proximal end (227, 327) and a distal end (228, 328); a collector channel (240, 340) having a proximal end (215, 315) and a distal end (216, 316), extending adjacent the outflow array (234, 334) and in fluid communication with the reactant gas volume (210, 310) through the outflow apertures (232, 332); and an exhaust port (250, 350) in fluid communication with the collector channel (240, 340) at the distal end (216, 316), to allow reactant gas to flow out of the reactant gas plate (200, 300). The outflow array (234, 334) has a proximal half (221, 321) coterminous with the proximal end (227, 327), and a distal half (223, 323) coterminous with the distal end (228, 328). The outflow apertures (232, 332) are arranged to reduce the hydrodynamic resistance for reactant gas flowing through the proximal half (221, 321) of the outflow array (234, 334) relative to the hydrodynamic resistance for reactant gas flowing through the distal half (223, 323), operable to bias the flow of reactant gas towards the proximal end (215, 315) of the collector channel (240, 340).

Claims (17)

1. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) for conveying a reactant gas in an electrochemical cell (100), comprising: a reactant gas volume (210, 310) having an inflow side (220, 320) and an opposite outflow side (230, 330), each having a respective proximal and distal end; an inflow array (224, 324) of spaced-apart inflow apertures (222, 322), extending along the inflow side (220, 320), to allow reactant gas to flow into the reactant gas volume (210, 310); and an outflow array (234, 334) of spaced-apart outflow apertures (232, 332), extending along the outflow side (230, 330), to allow reactant gas to flow out of the reactant gas volume (210, 310), the outflow array (234, 334) having a proximal end (227, 327) and a distal end (228, 328); a collector channel (240, 340) having a proximal end (215, 315) and a distal end (216, 316), extending adjacent the outflow array (234, 334) and in fluid communication with the reactant gas volume (210, 310) through the outflow apertures (232, 332); and an exhaust port (250, 350) in fluid communication with the collector channel (240, 340) at the distal end (216, 316), to allow reactant gas to flow out of the reactant gas plate (200, 300); the outflow array (234, 334) having a proximal half (221, 321) coterminous with the proximal end (227, 327), and a distal half (223, 323) coterminous with the distal end (228, 328); wherein the outflow apertures (232, 332) are arranged to reduce the hydrodynamic resistance for reactant gas through the proximal half (221, 321) of the outflow array (234, 334) relative to the hydrodynamic resistance for reactant gas through the distal half (223, 323) of the outflow array (234, 334), operable to bias the flow of reactant gas towards the proximal end (215, 315) of the collector channel (240, 340).
2. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the proximal half (221 , 321) of the outflow array (234, 334) includes a greater number of outflow apertures (232, 332) than the distal half (223, 323) of the outflow array (234, 334); optionally, the proximal half (221, 321) of the outflow array (234, 334) includes at least 50% more outflow apertures (232, 332) than the distal half (223, 323).
3. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, each pair of neighbouring outflow apertures (232, 332) being spaced apart by a respective outflow spacing (Do); the proximal half (221, 321) of the outflow array (234, 334) having a first mean outflow spacing and the distal half (223, 323) of the outflow array (234, 334) having a second mean outflow spacing; wherein the first mean outflow spacing is less than the second mean outflow spacing; optionally, the first mean outflow spacing between successive outflow apertures (232, 332) is at most 50% of the second mean outflow spacing.
4. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, each outflow aperture (232, 332) having a respective mean cross-sectional area; the outflow apertures (232, 332) in the proximal half (221, 321) having a first mean cross- sectional area, and the outflow apertures (232, 332) in the distal half (223, 323) having a second mean cross-sectional area; wherein the first mean cross-sectional area is greater than the second mean cross-sectional area; optionally, the first mean cross-sectional area of the outflow apertures (232, 332) is at least 10% greater than the second mean cross-section area.
5. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, each outflow aperture (232, 332) having a length (l_o); the outflow apertures (232, 332) in the proximal half (221, 321) having a first mean length, and the outflow apertures (232, 323) in the distal half (223, 323) having a second mean length; wherein the first mean length of the outflow apertures (232, 332) is less than the second mean length; optionally, the first mean length of the outflow apertures (232, 332) is at most 90% of the second mean length.
6. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the inflow array (224, 324) having a proximal end (217, 317) and a distal end (218, 318); a proximal half (211, 311) of the inflow array (224, 324) being coterminous with the proximal end (217, 317) and a distal half (213, 313) being coterminous with the distal end (218, 318); wherein the inflow apertures (222, 322) are arranged to increase the hydrodynamic resistance for reactant gas flowing through the proximal half (211, 311) of the inflow array (224, 324) relative to the hydrodynamic resistance for reactant gas flowing through the distal half (213, 313) of the inflow array (224, 324), operable to bias the flow of reactant gas into the reactant gas volume (210, 310) towards the exhaust port (250, 350).
7. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the distal half (213, 313) of the inflow array (224, 324) includes a greater number of inflow apertures (222, 322) than the proximal half (211, 311); optionally, the distal half (213, 313) of the inflow array (224, 324) includes at least 10% more inflow apertures (222, 322) than the proximal half (211, 311).
8. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, each inflow aperture (222, 322) having a respective mean cross-sectional area; the inflow apertures (222, 322) in the proximal half (211, 311) of the inflow array (224, 324) having a first mean cross-sectional area, and the inflow apertures (222, 322) in the distal half (213, 313) having a second mean cross-sectional area; wherein the second mean cross- sectional area is greater than first mean cross-sectional area; optionally, the second mean cross-sectional area of the inflow apertures (222, 322) is at least 10% greater than the first mean cross-section area.
9. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, each inflow aperture (222, 322) having a length (U); the inflow apertures (222, 322) in the proximal half (211 , 311) of the inflow array (224, 324) having a first mean length, and the inflow apertures (222, 322) in the distal half (213, 313) of the inflow array (224, 324) having a second mean length; wherein the first mean length is greater than the second mean length; optionally, the first mean length of the inflow apertures (222, 322) is at least 10% greater than the second mean length.
10. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the collector channel (240, 340) comprising a recess (240, 340) into the reactant gas plate (200, 300), the recess (240, 340) having a recess side (242, 342) opposite the outflow array (234, 334); wherein the recess side (242, 342) diverges from the outflow array (234, 334) with distance along the outflow array (234, 334), from the proximal end (215, 315) of the collector channel (240, 340) towards the distal end (216, 316); optionally, the recess side (242, 342) diverges from the outflow array (234, 334) at one or more angle of 2° to 10°.
11. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in claim 10, having a plate thickness (T) adjacent the collector channel (240, 340), and the recess (240, 340) having a mean collector depth (Tc) of at least 50% of the plate thickness (T); optionally, the mean collector depth (Tc) is greater than 1 mm and the plate thickness (T) is 2 mm to 10 mm.
12. A reactant gas plate (200, 300) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the collector channel (240, 340) includes a plurality of reinforcement bosses (241 , 341).
13. An electrochemical cell (400) comprising an oxidising gas plate (200, 300), to convey oxidising gas; a fuel gas plate (300, 200), to convey fuel gas; an electrolyte plate (100), to convey an electrolyte fluid; an anode plate (420) and a cathode plate (410); the electrolyte plate (100) including an electrolyte volume (110); the cathode plate (410) arranged between the electrolyte volume (110) and the reactant gas volume (210, 310) of the oxidising gas plate (200, 300), and the anode plate (420) arranged between the electrolyte volume (110) and the reactant gas volume (310, 210) of the fuel gas plate (300, 200); operable to generate a potential difference between the anode plate (420) and the cathode plate (410); wherein one or both of the oxidising gas plate (200, 300) and the fuel gas plate (300, 200) is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12.
14. An electrochemical cell stack (500) comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells (400) as claimed in claim 13, electrically connected to each other in series, operable to generate a potential difference across the electrochemical stack (500).
15. A power supply system (600) for charging or powering an electrical device, comprising an electrochemical stack (500) as claimed in claim 14, and a power supply control system (610) electrically connected to the electrochemical stack (500), and having a connector mechanism (612), operable to electrically connect the power supply control system (610) to an electrical device.
16. A power supply system (600) as claimed in claim 15, comprising an ammonia cracker system (620), for processing ammonia to produce hydrogen gas; and a fuel conveyor channel (622) connecting the ammonia cracker system (620) to the electrochemical stack (500), operable to convey the hydrogen gas from the ammonia cracker system (620) to the electrochemical stack (500).
17. A power supply system (600) as claimed in claim 15 or 16, configured to charge an electric vehicle.
GB2209282.9A 2019-12-04 2020-12-03 Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stacks and power supply systems Pending GB2606890A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1917740.1A GB2589611A (en) 2019-12-04 2019-12-04 Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stack and power supply systems
PCT/GB2020/053101 WO2021111137A1 (en) 2019-12-04 2020-12-03 Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stacks and power supply systems

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202209282D0 GB202209282D0 (en) 2022-08-10
GB2606890A8 GB2606890A8 (en) 2022-11-23
GB2606890A true GB2606890A (en) 2022-11-23

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GB1917740.1A Withdrawn GB2589611A (en) 2019-12-04 2019-12-04 Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stack and power supply systems
GB2209282.9A Pending GB2606890A (en) 2019-12-04 2020-12-03 Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stacks and power supply systems

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GB1917740.1A Withdrawn GB2589611A (en) 2019-12-04 2019-12-04 Reactant gas plates, electrochemical cells, cell stack and power supply systems

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WO (1) WO2021111137A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB202100554D0 (en) 2021-01-15 2021-03-03 Afc Energy Plc Corralled air inflow manifold

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070178359A1 (en) * 2006-01-27 2007-08-02 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Bipolar plate for fuel cell
WO2010067453A1 (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-17 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
EP2937926A1 (en) * 2012-12-18 2015-10-28 Posco Energy Co. Ltd. Solid oxide fuel cell having vertical channel and transverse channel

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6551736B1 (en) * 2000-10-30 2003-04-22 Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc. Fuel cell collector plates with improved mass transfer channels
GB0913836D0 (en) 2009-08-07 2009-09-16 Afc Energy Plc Fuel cell
EA027764B1 (en) 2011-02-04 2017-08-31 ЭйЭфСи ЭНЕРДЖИ ПиЭлСи Fuel cells
GB2540592B (en) * 2015-07-22 2022-02-23 Afc Energy Plc Fuel cell stack insert

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070178359A1 (en) * 2006-01-27 2007-08-02 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Bipolar plate for fuel cell
WO2010067453A1 (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-17 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
EP2937926A1 (en) * 2012-12-18 2015-10-28 Posco Energy Co. Ltd. Solid oxide fuel cell having vertical channel and transverse channel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB202209282D0 (en) 2022-08-10
WO2021111137A1 (en) 2021-06-10
GB201917740D0 (en) 2020-01-15
GB2606890A8 (en) 2022-11-23
GB2589611A (en) 2021-06-09

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