IP Library Granted Patent US 7,067,213
Granted Patent B2
US 7,067,213 · App. 10/380,356 · Granted Jun 27, 2006

Flow field plate geometries

Assignee: The Morgan Crucible Company PLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,067,213
App. No.
10/380,356
Granted
Jun 27, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flow field plate for a fuel cell or electrolyser comprises on at least one face an assembly of channels comprising one or more gas delivery channels, and a plurality of gas diffusion channels of width less than 0.2 mm connecting thereto.

Claims (14)

1. A fuel cell flow field plate comprising on at least one face an assembly of channels comprising one or more gas delivery channels, and a plurality of gas diffusion channels of width less than 0.2 mm connecting thereto;

wherein the gas delivery channels are wider than the gas diffusion channels.

2. An electrolyser flow field plate comprising on at least one face an assembly of channels comprising one or more gas delivery channels, and a plurality of gas diffusion channels of width less than 0.2 mm connecting thereto;

wherein the gas delivery channels are wider than the gas diffusion channels.

3. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery channels comprise one or more primary channels of a width greater than 1 mm, and a plurality of secondary gas delivery channels of a width less than 1 mm connecting thereto.

4. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas diffusion channels form a branched structure.

5. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the gas diffusion channels are of varying width forming a branched structure of progressively diminishing channel width.

6. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a first assembly of channels for gas delivery and a second assembly of channels for removal of reactant products.

7. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first and second assemblies of channels are interdigitated.

8. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 1 , wherein channels decrease in depth with diminishing width.

9. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas diffusion channels are provided in a sufficient density over the surface of the flow field plate as to form an integral gas diffusion layer.

10. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 1 , comprising an electrically conductive core and a non-conductive frame.

11. A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of flow field plates as claimed in claim 9 .

12. A flow field plate as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the gas delivery channels comprise one or more primary channels of a width greater than 1 mm, and a plurality of secondary gas delivery channels of a width less than 1 mm connecting thereto.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2006
From: BOFF, JAMES CHARLES; TURPIN, MARK CHRISTOPHER
To: THE MORGAN CRUCIBLE COMPANY PLC
Reel/Frame 017079/0603 →
Priority Claims (8)
GB 0103390.1 · Feb 12, 2001 · national
GB 0103391.9 · Feb 12, 2001 · national
GB 0110910.7 · May 3, 2001 · national
GB 0110911.5 · May 3, 2001 · national
GB 0110912.3 · May 3, 2001 · national
WO PCT/GB01/03584 · Aug 8, 2001 · international
GB 0124448.2 · Oct 11, 2001 · national
GB 0127525.4 · Nov 16, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040023100A1 · Feb 5, 2004