Method for producing bipolar plates
Disclosed herein is a method of producing bipolar plates. In one embodiment, is method for producing bipolar plates, the method comprising (a) providing an electrically conductive sheet; and (b) cutting through the sheet to create therein at least one opening for a fluid, where the cut sheet includes a plurality of elongate parallel oxidant flow openings and where at least one oxidant inlet manifold opening and at least one oxidant outlet manifold opening are located at the ends of the elongate oxidant flow openings and in communication therewith.
1. A method for producing bipolar plates, the method comprising:
(a) providing an electrically conductive sheet; and
(b) cutting through the sheet to create therein at least one opening for a fluid,
where the cut sheet includes a plurality of elongate parallel oxidant flow openings and where at least one oxidant inlet manifold opening and at least one oxidant outlet manifold opening are located at the ends of the elongate oxidant flow openings and in communication therewith.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two rigid, flat plates.
3. The method according to claim 2 , in which the rigid, flat plates each include a non-stick coating.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two parallel rollers.
5. The method according to claim 4 , in which the parallel rollers each include a non-stick coating.
6. The method according to claim 1 , in which the cutting step is carried out using a die having at least one blade.
7. The method according to claim 6 , in which the die has two blades.
8. The method according to claim 7 , in which the two blades of the die are located side-by-side.
9. The method according to claim 6 , in which the die is a rule die or a flexible die.
10. The method according to claim 1 , in which the cut sheet is an oxidant flow field plate.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising a separator plate, wherein the separator plate is located in intimate contact with the oxidant flow field plate.
12. The method according to claim 11 , in which the separator plate is a cooling fin separator plate.
13. The method according to claim 1 , in which the cut sheet includes a plurality of oxidant inlet manifold openings and a plurality of oxidant outlet manifold openings.
14. The method according to claim 1 , in which the electrically conductive sheet is flexible graphite.
15. A method for producing bipolar plates, the method comprising:
(a) providing an electrically conductive sheet; and
(b) cutting through the sheet to create therein at least one opening for a fluid, wherein the cut sheet includes a plurality of elongate parallel fuel flow openings, and wherein the cut sheet includes at least one fuel inlet manifold opening and at least one fuel outlet manifold opening located at the ends of the elongate fuel flow openings and in communication therewith.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two rigid, flat plates.
17. The method according to claim 16 , in which the rigid, flat plates each include a non-stick coating.
18. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two parallel rollers.
19. The method according to claim 18 , in which the parallel rollers each include a non-stick coating.
20. The method according to claim 15 , in which the cutting step is carried out using a die having at least one blade.
21. The method according to claim 20 , in which the die has two blades.
22. The method according to claim 21 , in which the two blades of the die are located side-by-side.
23. The method according to claim 20 , in which the die is a rule die or a flexible die.
24. The method according to claim 15 , in which the openings carry a coolant and fuel combination.
25. The method according to claim 24 , in which the coolant and fuel combination is an alcohol.
26. The method according to claim 25 , in which the alcohol is methanol or ethanol.
27. The method according to claim 26 , in which the alcohol is methanol.
28. The method according to claim 15 , in which the cut sheet is a fuel flow field plate.
29. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising a separator plate.
30. The method according to claim 29 , in which the separator plate is a cooling fin separator plate.
31. The method according to claim 15 , in which the electrically conductive sheet is flexible graphite.