WO2009078865A1 - Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées - Google Patents

Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009078865A1
WO2009078865A1 PCT/US2007/087873 US2007087873W WO2009078865A1 WO 2009078865 A1 WO2009078865 A1 WO 2009078865A1 US 2007087873 W US2007087873 W US 2007087873W WO 2009078865 A1 WO2009078865 A1 WO 2009078865A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
channels
ribs
anode
cathode
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2007/087873
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert Mason Darling
Original Assignee
Utc Power Corporation
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 Utc Power Corporation filed Critical Utc Power Corporation
Priority to PCT/US2007/087873 priority Critical patent/WO2009078865A1/fr
Publication of WO2009078865A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009078865A1/fr

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
    • 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
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • 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

  • the disclosure generally relates to fuel cells.
  • Fuel cells oftentimes incorporate channels for routing fluids.
  • an anode portion of a fuel cell typically incorporates an array of reactant ribs, with channels for routing fuel being located between the ribs.
  • a cathode portion of such a fuel cell typically incorporates an array of reactant ribs, with channels for routing oxidant being located between these ribs.
  • an exemplary embodiment of a fuel cell comprises: a plurality of anode channels operative to transport fuel; and a plurality of cathode channels operative to transport oxidant; each of the plurality of anode channels being narrower than each of the plurality of cathode channels.
  • An exemplary embodiment of a method comprises: providing an anode structure of a fuel cell configured to reduce Ohmic losses; and providing a cathode structure of the fuel cell configured to reduce oxidant transport losses.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a fuel cell.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a portion of another exemplary embodiment of a fuel cell.
  • Fuel cells and related methods involving performance-enhanced channel and rib sizing are provided, several exemplary embodiments of which will be described in detail.
  • the fuel is typically a hydrogen-rich stream for delivering hydrogen
  • the oxidant is typically a stream of air for delivering oxygen.
  • some embodiments involve the use of wider ribs at the anodes of the fuel cells and wider channels at the cathodes.
  • anode channels and correspondingly wider anode ribs
  • larger cathode channels and correspondingly narrower cathode ribs
  • oxygen in order to provide reduced transport losses
  • the dimensions of the ribs and channels on the fuel and air sides of the cell affect mass transport and Ohmic losses.
  • wide channels reduce losses associated with transport because more of the electrode is closer to the gas channels where the reactant concentration is highest.
  • the effective length over which the reactants diffuse is shorter.
  • Wide ribs reduce Ohmic losses for two reasons. Firstly, the contact area increases, which reduces contact resistance. Secondly, the effective path length for electronic transport is shorter, which reduces voltage losses within the gas-diffusion layers.
  • fuel cell 100 is a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell incorporating a membrane 102 that is oriented between catalyst layers 104, 106.
  • the catalyst layers and membrane define a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 108.
  • MEA membrane electrode assembly
  • the MEA is positioned between opposing substrates 110, 112 that function as gas diffusion layers, with the membrane electrode assembly and gas diffusion layers constituting a Unitized Electrode Assembly (UEA).
  • PEM Proton Exchange Membrane
  • anode structure 111 Adjacent to substrate 110 and opposing the membrane electrode assembly is an anode structure 111 , often known as an anode separator plate, that includes an array 113 of ribs (e.g., ribs 114, 116). Channels (e.g., channel 118) are located between the ribs.
  • each channel of array 113 is defined by a pair of adjacent ribs, a corresponding channel wall of the anode separator plate, and a corresponding portion of substrate 110.
  • channel 118 is defined by ribs 114 and 116, channel wall 120, and a portion 122 of substrate 110.
  • the channels of array 113 are anode channels, with the reactant or fuel of this embodiment that is provided to the anode channels being hydrogen or a hydrogen-rich gas.
  • a cathode structure 121 Adjacent to substrate 112 and opposing the membrane electrode assembly is a cathode structure 121, often known as a cathode separator plate, that includes an array 123 of ribs (e.g., ribs 124, 126). Channels (e.g., channel 128) are located between the ribs.
  • each channel of array 123 is defined by a pair of adjacent ribs, a corresponding channel wall of the cathode separator plate, and a corresponding portion of substrate 112.
  • channel 128 is defined by ribs 124 and 126, channel wall 130, and a portion 132 of substrate 112.
  • the channels of array 123 are cathode channels with the reactant provided to the cathode channels being air.
  • the anode channels and the cathode channels each typically is rectangular in cross section and exhibits a width in the range of approximately 1- 2 mm and a height in the range of approximately 0.3-1.0 mm.
  • various other dimensions and/or cross-sectional shapes can be used.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting a portion of fuel cell 100 of FIG. 1.
  • the UEA has been largely removed from FIG. 2 to show the relationship between the ribs and channels of the anode and the ribs and channels of the cathode.
  • the ribs of array 113 occupy more area along the surface of substrate 110 than the area along substrate 112 that the ribs of array 123 occupy.
  • the anode channels e.g., channel 118
  • the cathode channels e.g., channel 128) occupy.
  • each of the anode ribs and channels can be approximately 1.0 mm and 0.7 mm in width, respectively, whereas each of the cathode ribs and channels can be approximately 0.7 mm and 1.0 mm in width, respectively.
  • each of the anode ribs is at least partially aligned with a corresponding cathode rib. That is, each anode rib at least partially overlaps a corresponding cathode rib, and vice versa.
  • dashed lines extending from the edges of rib 124 that align with a portion of rib 114.
  • the force exerted on the UEA by a rib is at least partially transmitted to the corresponding rib instead of entirely to a location of the UEA that lacks a rib (i.e., a portion of the UEA corresponding to a channel).
  • This configuration tends to reduce a potential for damaging (e.g., shearing) the UEA.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a portion of another embodiment of a fuel cell. Notably, as was done in FIG. 2, a portion of the UEA of fuel cell 200 has been removed from FIG. 2 to show the relationship between the ribs and channels of the anode and the ribs and channels of the cathode.
  • fuel cell 200 is a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell incorporating a UEA 202 that includes a membrane (not shown), catalyst layers (not shown), and substrates 210 and 212 that function as gas diffusion layers.
  • An anode structure 211 is located adjacent to substrate 210 that includes an array 213 of ribs (e.g., ribs 214, 216). Channels (e.g., channel 218) are located between the ribs.
  • each channel of array 213 is defined by a pair of adjacent ribs, a corresponding channel wall of the anode, and a corresponding portion of substrate 210.
  • the channels of array 213 are anode channels, with the reactant or fuel of this embodiment that is provided to the anode channels being hydrogen or a hydrogen-rich gas.
  • Adjacent to substrate 212 is a cathode structure 221 that includes an array 223 of ribs (e.g., ribs 224, 226). Channels (e.g., channel 228) are located between the ribs.
  • each channel of array 223 is defined by a pair of adjacent ribs, a corresponding channel wall of the cathode, and a corresponding portion of substrate 212.
  • the channels of array 223 are cathode channels with the reactant provided to the cathode channels being air.
  • the anode ribs occupy more area along the surface of the adjacent substrate than the area occupied by the cathode ribs along the corresponding adjacent substrate.
  • the anode channels e.g., channel 218
  • the cathode channels e.g., channel 228, occupy. This configuration enables the anode structure to exhibit reduced Ohmic losses, while enabling the cathode structure to exhibit reduced transport losses.
  • each of the cathode ribs is positioned entirely within the span of the corresponding anode rib, as indicate by the dashed lines extending from ribs 224 and 226.
  • cathode ribs 224 and 226 are positioned within the span of anode rib 214. This configuration tends to reduce a potential for damaging the UEA 202 by transferring forces between the ribs of the opposing arrays of ribs..

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des piles à combustible et des procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées. A cet égard, une pile à combustible représentative (100) comprend : une pluralité de canaux d'anode (118) pouvant être utilisés pour transporter un combustible ; et une pluralité de canaux de cathode (128) pouvant être utilisés pour transporter un oxydant. Chacun des canaux de la pluralité de canaux d'anode (118) est plus étroit que chacun des canaux de la pluralité de canaux de cathode (128). En outre, les nervures (114, 116) entre les canaux d'anode (118) sont plus larges que les nervures (124, 126) entre les canaux de cathode (128). Notamment, la structure d'anode de la pile à combustible est configurée pour réduire les pertes ohmiques et la structure de cathode de la pile à combustible est configurée pour réduire les pertes de transport d'oxydant.
PCT/US2007/087873 2007-12-18 2007-12-18 Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées WO2009078865A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2007/087873 WO2009078865A1 (fr) 2007-12-18 2007-12-18 Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2007/087873 WO2009078865A1 (fr) 2007-12-18 2007-12-18 Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009078865A1 true WO2009078865A1 (fr) 2009-06-25

Family

ID=39645480

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2007/087873 WO2009078865A1 (fr) 2007-12-18 2007-12-18 Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2009078865A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012090049A1 (fr) * 2010-12-28 2012-07-05 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Pile à combustible

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020064702A1 (en) * 1998-12-30 2002-05-30 Gibb Peter R. Fuel cell fluid flow field plate and methods of making fuel cell flow field plates
US20030194595A1 (en) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-16 Gibb Peter R. Flow field plate assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell
US20060065520A1 (en) * 2004-09-28 2006-03-30 Ballantine Arne W Separator plates, ion pumps, and hydrogen fuel infrastructure systems and methods for generating hydrogen
US20070087256A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-04-19 Takayuki Hirashige Fuel cell

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020064702A1 (en) * 1998-12-30 2002-05-30 Gibb Peter R. Fuel cell fluid flow field plate and methods of making fuel cell flow field plates
US20030194595A1 (en) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-16 Gibb Peter R. Flow field plate assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell
US20060065520A1 (en) * 2004-09-28 2006-03-30 Ballantine Arne W Separator plates, ion pumps, and hydrogen fuel infrastructure systems and methods for generating hydrogen
US20070087256A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-04-19 Takayuki Hirashige Fuel cell

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012090049A1 (fr) * 2010-12-28 2012-07-05 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Pile à combustible

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7569301B2 (en) Fuel cell
US20070178359A1 (en) Bipolar plate for fuel cell
US7851105B2 (en) Electrochemical fuel cell stack having staggered fuel and oxidant plenums
US6740444B2 (en) PEM fuel cell with alternating ribbed anodes and cathodes
US20060275645A1 (en) Electrochemical fuel cell stack with integrated anode exhaust valves
US8304127B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
US20110300465A1 (en) Fuel cell stack
US8148032B2 (en) Fuel cell and fuel cell stack
US9083017B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
KR20130030116A (ko) 막전극 조립체 및 연료전지 스택
US20090068519A1 (en) Fuel cell and method of manufacturing the same
US7883814B2 (en) Fuel cell separator with integral seal member
US9780400B2 (en) Fuel cell having an empty space gap between the separator and electrode
US9065089B2 (en) Fuel cell
CN102714321B (zh) 燃料电池及具有燃料电池的车辆
US8815464B2 (en) Fuel cell
JP2011150853A (ja) 固体高分子型燃料電池
WO2009078865A1 (fr) Piles à combustible et procédés associés de dimensionnement de canal et de nervure à performances optimisées
US7745043B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
US20180102555A1 (en) Gasket for fuel cell
US20080076003A1 (en) Structure of gasket for preventing contamination of fuel cell stack
US20220246949A1 (en) Fuel cell stack comprising variable bipolar plates
US20070003814A1 (en) Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack
JP4727910B2 (ja) 燃料電池
JP3866246B2 (ja) 燃料電池

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 07865783

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 07865783

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1