WO2010087814A1 - Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate - Google Patents

Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010087814A1
WO2010087814A1 PCT/US2009/032078 US2009032078W WO2010087814A1 WO 2010087814 A1 WO2010087814 A1 WO 2010087814A1 US 2009032078 W US2009032078 W US 2009032078W WO 2010087814 A1 WO2010087814 A1 WO 2010087814A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
porous
flow field
plate
coolant
porous flow
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/032078
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nikunj Gupta
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/US2009/032078 priority Critical patent/WO2010087814A1/en
Publication of WO2010087814A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010087814A1/en

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
    • H01M8/0267—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
    • 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
    • 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

  • Fuel cells are useful for generating electrical energy based upon an electrochemical reaction.
  • metal plates are used in some designs for transporting the reactants within the fuel cell to achieve the desired electrochemical reaction.
  • Other designs include graphite plates.
  • Some fuel cells include solid graphite plates while others include porous graphite plates.
  • One issue associated with fuel cells including porous plates includes managing the moisture distribution within the fuel cell stack assembly. Another issue includes maintaining appropriate operating temperatures.
  • One approach at addressing these concerns includes using byproduct water that is produced as a result of the electrochemical reaction for purposes of providing evaporative cooling within the fuel cell.
  • One of the benefits of this approach is that there is no requirement for an external active circulating coolant loop as the liquid phase of the water byproduct is used for cooling purposes.
  • One drawback associated with that technique is that it is possible for there to be dry out of one or more porous plates.
  • An exemplary fuel cell device includes a plurality of electrode assemblies.
  • a first porous flow field plate is between two electrode assemblies.
  • a second porous flow field plate is between the two electrode assemblies.
  • a coolant flow plate is between the first and second porous flow field plates.
  • the coolant flow plate is solid and non-porous to isolate the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate.
  • the coolant flow plate has a plurality of coolant passages for carrying a coolant.
  • An exemplary method of operating a fuel cell device that has a plurality of electrode assemblies and first and second porous flow field plates between two of the electrode assemblies includes isolating the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate using a solid, non-porous coolant flow plate between the first and second porous flow field plates. A coolant flows through coolant passages in the coolant flow plate.
  • Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an example fuel cell device designed according to embodiment of this invention.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows selected portions of a fuel cell device 20.
  • a plurality of electrode assemblies 22 facilitate an electrochemical reaction for generating electrical power in a known manner.
  • the electrode assemblies 22 comprise a proton exchange membrane, gas diffusion layers and catalyst layers.
  • a first porous flow field plate 24 is positioned between two of the electrode assemblies 22.
  • the first porous flow field plate 24 includes a plurality of flow field channels 26 that carry a reactant to the corresponding electrode assembly
  • the first porous flow field plates 24 are on a cathode side of the adjacent electrode assembly 22.
  • a second porous flow field plate 28 is positioned between two of the electrode assemblies 22. As can be appreciated from the figure, a first porous flow field plate 24 and a second porous flow field plate 28 is provided between each two adjacent electrode assemblies 22.
  • the second porous flow field plates 28 include a plurality of flow field channels 30 for carrying a reactant fluid to the corresponding adjacent electrode assembly 22. In the illustrated example, the second porous flow field plates 28 are on an anode side of the corresponding electrode assemblies 22.
  • porous flow field plates 22 and 28 are porous, they are isolated from each other by a coolant flow plate 32 between them.
  • the example coolant flow field plate 32 is solid and non-porous.
  • the coolant flow field plate 32 comprises solid graphite.
  • the solid, non-porous coolant flow plate 32 isolates the first porous flow field plate 24 from the second porous flow field plate 28.
  • the coolant flow plate 32 facilitates an evaporative type of cooling technique within the example fuel cell device 20.
  • the coolant flow plate 32 includes a plurality of coolant channels 34 and 36 that carry liquid coolant.
  • the coolant flow channels 34 in the illustrated example are open toward the first porous flow field plate 24. Coolant in the channels 34 therefore provides moisture and an evaporative coolant effect to the first porous flow field plate 24.
  • the example coolant flow plate 32 also includes the coolant flow channels 36 open toward the second porous flow field plate 28.
  • the coolant flow channels 36 carry liquid coolant to provide moisture and evaporative cooling to the second porous flow field plate 28.
  • the coolant flow channels 34 are isolated from the coolant flow channels 36 so that there is no gas mixture or crossover of any gases from the different porous flow field plates.
  • One example includes a manifold exit for the coolant flow channels 34 that is separate from a manifold exit for the coolant flow channels 36.
  • the coolant flow plate 32 can provide the isolation between the porous flow field plates to improve the reliability of a fuel cell device having porous flow field plates on the anode and cathode sides.
  • the coolant flow plate 32 also facilitates cooling such as an evaporative cooling technique where the liquid coolant in the channels 34 and 36, for example, comprises a liquid phase of water produced as a byproduct during fuel cell operation.
  • Another feature of the coolant plate 32 in the illustrated example is that it does not increase the overall pitch or thickness of a fuel cell within the example device 20.
  • the first porous flow field plate 24 has a thickness ti.
  • the coolant flow plate 32 has a thickness t 2 .
  • the second porous plate 28 has a thickness t 3 .
  • the thickness ti is approximately equal to the thickness t 2 plus the thickness t 3 .
  • the total thickness between the electrode assemblies 22 corresponds to one of a fuel cell device in which two porous flow field plates of equal thickness are provided without a solid, non-porous coolant plate between them. With the illustrated example, therefore, there is no substantial increase in the bulk or size of a fuel cell device having the advantages of the disclosed example arrangement compared to another fuel cell device having two porous flow field plates without the advantages of the disclosed example.
  • Including the solid, non-porous coolant flow plate 32 between the porous flow field plates 24 and 28 eliminates the risk of gas ingestion or gas crossing over between the anode and the cathode through the porous flow field plates in any dry regions of the plates.
  • the disclosed example allows for achieving the benefits of a natural water management cooling technique without the drawbacks associated with potential flow field plate dry out.

Abstract

An example fuel cell device includes a plurality of electrode assemblies. A first porous flow field plate is between two of the electrode assemblies. A second porous flow field plate is between the two of the electrode assemblies. A coolant flow plate is between the first and second porous flow field plates. The coolant flow plate is solid and non-porous to isolate the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate. The coolant flow plate has a plurality of coolant passages for carrying a coolant.

Description

FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY HAVING POROUS WATER TRANSPORT PLATES AND A NON-POROUS COOLANT PLATE
BACKGROUND
[oooi] Fuel cells are useful for generating electrical energy based upon an electrochemical reaction. There are various known fuel cell designs. For example, metal plates are used in some designs for transporting the reactants within the fuel cell to achieve the desired electrochemical reaction. Other designs include graphite plates. Some fuel cells include solid graphite plates while others include porous graphite plates.
[0002] One issue associated with fuel cells including porous plates includes managing the moisture distribution within the fuel cell stack assembly. Another issue includes maintaining appropriate operating temperatures. One approach at addressing these concerns includes using byproduct water that is produced as a result of the electrochemical reaction for purposes of providing evaporative cooling within the fuel cell. One of the benefits of this approach is that there is no requirement for an external active circulating coolant loop as the liquid phase of the water byproduct is used for cooling purposes. One drawback associated with that technique is that it is possible for there to be dry out of one or more porous plates.
[0003] If a porous plate were to dry out in some cases it is possible for there to be gas crossover between adjacent fuel and airflow field plates (e.g., gas ingestion). When the porous plates are sufficiently wet, gas from the flow fields will not pass through the plate into an adjacent plate. If a flow field plate is dry, however, the gas may pass through the plate and into an adjacent plate. If the gases are not properly separated, the electrochemical reaction will not occur as desired. In some cases, dry out of a porous plate can cause failure of the fuel cell.
[0004] It is desirable to be able to have the advantages of evaporative cooling techniques while reducing the risk of porous plate dry out.
SUMMARY
[0005] An exemplary fuel cell device includes a plurality of electrode assemblies. A first porous flow field plate is between two electrode assemblies. A second porous flow field plate is between the two electrode assemblies. A coolant flow plate is between the first and second porous flow field plates. The coolant flow plate is solid and non-porous to isolate the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate. The coolant flow plate has a plurality of coolant passages for carrying a coolant.
[0006] An exemplary method of operating a fuel cell device that has a plurality of electrode assemblies and first and second porous flow field plates between two of the electrode assemblies includes isolating the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate using a solid, non-porous coolant flow plate between the first and second porous flow field plates. A coolant flows through coolant passages in the coolant flow plate.
[0007] The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an example fuel cell device designed according to embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Figure 1 schematically shows selected portions of a fuel cell device 20.
A plurality of electrode assemblies 22 facilitate an electrochemical reaction for generating electrical power in a known manner. In one example, the electrode assemblies 22 comprise a proton exchange membrane, gas diffusion layers and catalyst layers.
[oooio] A first porous flow field plate 24 is positioned between two of the electrode assemblies 22. The first porous flow field plate 24 includes a plurality of flow field channels 26 that carry a reactant to the corresponding electrode assembly
22. In the illustrated example, the first porous flow field plates 24 are on a cathode side of the adjacent electrode assembly 22.
[oooii] A second porous flow field plate 28 is positioned between two of the electrode assemblies 22. As can be appreciated from the figure, a first porous flow field plate 24 and a second porous flow field plate 28 is provided between each two adjacent electrode assemblies 22. The second porous flow field plates 28 include a plurality of flow field channels 30 for carrying a reactant fluid to the corresponding adjacent electrode assembly 22. In the illustrated example, the second porous flow field plates 28 are on an anode side of the corresponding electrode assemblies 22.
[oooi2] Although the porous flow field plates 22 and 28 are porous, they are isolated from each other by a coolant flow plate 32 between them. The example coolant flow field plate 32 is solid and non-porous. In one example, the coolant flow field plate 32 comprises solid graphite. The solid, non-porous coolant flow plate 32 isolates the first porous flow field plate 24 from the second porous flow field plate 28.
[oooi3] The coolant flow plate 32 facilitates an evaporative type of cooling technique within the example fuel cell device 20. The coolant flow plate 32 includes a plurality of coolant channels 34 and 36 that carry liquid coolant. The coolant flow channels 34 in the illustrated example are open toward the first porous flow field plate 24. Coolant in the channels 34 therefore provides moisture and an evaporative coolant effect to the first porous flow field plate 24. [oooi4] The example coolant flow plate 32 also includes the coolant flow channels 36 open toward the second porous flow field plate 28. The coolant flow channels 36 carry liquid coolant to provide moisture and evaporative cooling to the second porous flow field plate 28.
[oooi5] The coolant flow channels 34 are isolated from the coolant flow channels 36 so that there is no gas mixture or crossover of any gases from the different porous flow field plates. One example includes a manifold exit for the coolant flow channels 34 that is separate from a manifold exit for the coolant flow channels 36.
[oooiό] One feature of the illustrated example is that it can provide the isolation between the porous flow field plates to improve the reliability of a fuel cell device having porous flow field plates on the anode and cathode sides. The coolant flow plate 32 also facilitates cooling such as an evaporative cooling technique where the liquid coolant in the channels 34 and 36, for example, comprises a liquid phase of water produced as a byproduct during fuel cell operation. [oooi7] Another feature of the coolant plate 32 in the illustrated example is that it does not increase the overall pitch or thickness of a fuel cell within the example device 20. In this example, the first porous flow field plate 24 has a thickness ti. The coolant flow plate 32 has a thickness t2. The second porous plate 28 has a thickness t3. In this example, the thickness ti is approximately equal to the thickness t2 plus the thickness t3. In this regard, the total thickness between the electrode assemblies 22 corresponds to one of a fuel cell device in which two porous flow field plates of equal thickness are provided without a solid, non-porous coolant plate between them. With the illustrated example, therefore, there is no substantial increase in the bulk or size of a fuel cell device having the advantages of the disclosed example arrangement compared to another fuel cell device having two porous flow field plates without the advantages of the disclosed example.
[00018] Including the solid, non-porous coolant flow plate 32 between the porous flow field plates 24 and 28 eliminates the risk of gas ingestion or gas crossing over between the anode and the cathode through the porous flow field plates in any dry regions of the plates. At the same time, it is possible to configure the porous flow field plates and the solid non-porous coolant flow plate in a manner that does not increase the cell pitch or thickness. The disclosed example allows for achieving the benefits of a natural water management cooling technique without the drawbacks associated with potential flow field plate dry out.
[oooi9] The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSI claim:
1. A fuel cell device, comprising: a plurality of electrode assemblies; a first porous flow field plate between two of the electrode assemblies; a second porous flow field plate between the two of the electrode assemblies; and a coolant flow plate between the first and second porous flow field plates, the coolant flow plate being solid and non-porous to isolate the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate, the coolant flow plate having a plurality of coolant passages for carrying a coolant.
2. The fuel cell device of claim 1, wherein the coolant passages are open toward at least one of the porous flow field plates.
3. The fuel cell device of claim 1, wherein some of the coolant passages are open toward one of the porous flow field plates and others of the coolant passages are open toward the other of the porous flow field plates.
4. The fuel cell device of claim 1, wherein the first porous flow field plate has a first thickness, the second porous flow field plate has a second thickness, the coolant flow plate has a third thickness and the first thickness is approximately equal to the second thickness plus the third thickness.
5. The fuel cell device of claim 1, wherein the first porous flow field plate is adjacent one of the two of the electrode assemblies and the second porous flow field plate is adjacent the other one of the two of the electrode assemblies.
6. The fuel cell device of claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises liquid water resulting from operation of the fuel cell device.
7. A method of operating a fuel cell device having a plurality of electrode assemblies, a first porous flow field plate between two of the electrode assemblies and a second porous flow field plate between the two of the electrode assemblies, the method comprising the steps of: isolating the first porous flow field plate from the second porous flow field plate using a solid, non-porous coolant flow plate between the first and second porous flow field plates; and flowing a coolant through coolant passages in the coolant flow plate.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the coolant passages are open toward at least one of the porous flow field plates.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein some of the coolant passages are open toward one of the porous flow field plates and others of the coolant passages are open toward the other of the porous flow field plates.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first porous flow field plate has a first thickness, the second porous flow field plate has a second thickness, the coolant flow plate has a third thickness and the first thickness is approximately equal to the second thickness plus the third thickness.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first porous flow field plate is adjacent one of the two of the electrode assemblies and the second porous flow field plate is adjacent the other one of the two of the electrode assemblies.
12. The method of claim 11, comprising using liquid water resulting from operation of the fuel cell device as the coolant.
PCT/US2009/032078 2009-01-27 2009-01-27 Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate WO2010087814A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2009/032078 WO2010087814A1 (en) 2009-01-27 2009-01-27 Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2009/032078 WO2010087814A1 (en) 2009-01-27 2009-01-27 Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010087814A1 true WO2010087814A1 (en) 2010-08-05

Family

ID=42395864

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/032078 WO2010087814A1 (en) 2009-01-27 2009-01-27 Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010087814A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020008285A1 (en) * 2018-07-03 2020-01-09 International Business Machines Corporation Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an anode structure containing a porous region

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6050331A (en) * 1994-05-20 2000-04-18 International Fuel Cells L.L.C. Coolant plate assembly for a fuel cell stack
US20020114990A1 (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-08-22 Fly Gerald W. Fuel cell with variable porosity gas distribution layers

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6050331A (en) * 1994-05-20 2000-04-18 International Fuel Cells L.L.C. Coolant plate assembly for a fuel cell stack
US20020114990A1 (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-08-22 Fly Gerald W. Fuel cell with variable porosity gas distribution layers

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020008285A1 (en) * 2018-07-03 2020-01-09 International Business Machines Corporation Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an anode structure containing a porous region
GB2587585A (en) * 2018-07-03 2021-03-31 Ibm Rechargable lithium-ion battery with an anode structure containing a porous region
GB2587585B (en) * 2018-07-03 2021-08-25 Ibm Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an anode structure containing a porous region

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1517392B1 (en) Solid high polymer type cell assembly
JP4741643B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
JP5791940B2 (en) Fuel cell stack with water discharge structure
US8221935B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
JP5318382B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
JP5180484B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
KR20120051496A (en) Refrigerant system of fuel cell for vehicle
KR20150048407A (en) Fuel cell stack having dummy cell
US11108058B2 (en) Bipolar plate and fuel cell
US7645537B2 (en) Multi-cell fuel cell layer and system
EP2643876B1 (en) Co-flow / counter-flow fuel cell or electrolysis cell
JP2010282866A (en) Fuel cell stack
US7824817B2 (en) Fuel cell
JP5638427B2 (en) Fuel cell
US11450865B2 (en) Fuel cell system having improved gas diffusion layers and motor vehicle having a fuel cell system
WO2010087814A1 (en) Fuel cell assembly having porous water transport plates and a non-porous coolant plate
JP4613030B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
US9005836B2 (en) Solid oxide fuel cell stack
KR20200000913A (en) The separator for fuel cell
KR101544402B1 (en) Separator assembly for fuel cell
US20080182145A1 (en) Basic cell structure for fuel cell equipped with sealing means
CN115997311A (en) Bipolar plate and fuel cell stack having channel dividing portions present in active region
US20050277008A1 (en) Equalizer channel in fuel cells
JP2010118214A (en) Fuel cell
JP2018529190A (en) Fuel cell to optimize air humidification

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: 09839389

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: 09839389

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1