Electrochemical fuel cell employing ambient air as the oxidant and
coolant
    1.
    发明授权
    Electrochemical fuel cell employing ambient air as the oxidant and coolant 失效
    使用环境空气作为氧化剂和冷却剂的电化学燃料电池

    公开(公告)号:US5470671A

    公开(公告)日:1995-11-28

    申请号:US171732

    申请日:1993-12-22

    摘要: An electrochemical fuel cell assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly which comprises an anode, a cathode having a surface thereof exposed to ambient air, and an ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. A seal forms a gas-impermeable barrier around the anode to which a gaseous fuel stream is supplied. The assembly further includes a thermally conductive plate having a plurality of thermally conductive members or fins extending from a major surface of the plate. The thermally conductive members contact portions of the exposed cathode surface. Adjacent thermally conductive members cooperate with the plate and the exposed cathode surface to form air conducting channels. Heat generated exothermically in the membrane electrode assembly is dissipated to the atmosphere through the thermally conductive members.

    摘要翻译: 电化学燃料电池组件包括膜电极组件,其包括阳极,其表面暴露于环境空气的阴极以及置于阳极和阴极之间的离子交换膜。 密封件在供给气态燃料流的阳极周围形成气体不可渗透的屏障。 组件还包括导热板,其具有从板的主表面延伸的多个导热构件或翅片。 导热构件接触暴露的阴极表面的部分。 相邻的导热构件与板和暴露的阴极表面配合以形成导气通道。 在膜电极组件中放热产生的热量通过导热部件散发到大气中。

    Method of fabricating an embossed fluid flow field plate
    2.
    发明授权
    Method of fabricating an embossed fluid flow field plate 失效
    制造浮雕流体流场板的方法

    公开(公告)号:US5527363A

    公开(公告)日:1996-06-18

    申请号:US165076

    申请日:1993-12-10

    IPC分类号: H01M8/02 H01M8/24 H01M2/14

    摘要: An embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical cells comprises two sheets of compressible, electrically conductive material. Each sheet has two oppositely facing major surfaces. At least one of the major surfaces has an embossed surface which has a fluid inlet formed therein. The embossed surface has at least one open-faced channel embossed therein extending from the fluid inlet for conducting pressurized fluid introduced at the fluid inlet. A metal sheet is interposed between each of the compressible sheets. The compressible, electrically conductive sheet preferably comprises graphite foil. A method of fabricating an embossed separator plate for use in conjunction with an electrochemical fuel cell comprises (1) providing two sheets of compressible, electrically conductive sheet material, (2) interposing a metal sheet between each of the compressible sheets, and (3) embossing an open-faced channel in at least one of the surfaces of the sheets facing away from the metal sheet.

    摘要翻译: 用于电化学电池的压花流体流场板包括两片可压缩的导电材料。 每片具有两个相对的主表面。 至少一个主表面具有形成在其中的流体入口的压花表面。 压花表面具有从流体入口延伸的至少一个敞开的通道,该开口通道从流体入口延伸,用于导入在流体入口处引入的加压流体。 金属片插入在每个可压缩片之间。 可压缩的导电片优选包括石墨箔。 一种制造与电化学燃料电池结合使用的压花隔板的方法包括(1)提供两片可压缩的导电片材,(2)在每个可压缩片材之间插入金属片,和(3) 在面向远离金属片的片材的至少一个表面中压印开放式通道。

    Embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical fuel cells
    3.
    发明授权
    Embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical fuel cells 失效
    用于电化学燃料电池的压花流体流场板

    公开(公告)号:US5521018A

    公开(公告)日:1996-05-28

    申请号:US459775

    申请日:1995-06-02

    IPC分类号: H01M8/02 H01M8/24 H01M8/04

    摘要: An embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical cells comprises two sheets of compressible, electrically conductive material. Each sheet has two oppositely facing major surfaces. At least one of the major surfaces has an embossed surface which has a fluid inlet formed therein. The embossed surface has at least one open-faced channel embossed therein extending from the fluid inlet for conducting pressurized fluid introduced at the fluid inlet. A metal sheet is interposed between each of the compressible sheets. The compressible, electrically conductive sheet preferably comprises graphite foil.

    摘要翻译: 用于电化学电池的压花流体流场板包括两片可压缩的导电材料。 每片具有两个相对的主表面。 至少一个主表面具有形成在其中的流体入口的压花表面。 压花表面具有从流体入口延伸的至少一个敞开的通道,该开口通道从流体入口延伸,用于导入在流体入口处引入的加压流体。 金属片插入在每个可压缩片之间。 可压缩的导电片优选包括石墨箔。

    Electrochemical cell with fluid distribution layer having integral
sealing capability
    5.
    发明授权
    Electrochemical cell with fluid distribution layer having integral sealing capability 失效
    具有集成密封能力的流体分布层的电化学电池

    公开(公告)号:US5976726A

    公开(公告)日:1999-11-02

    申请号:US846653

    申请日:1997-05-01

    IPC分类号: H01M8/02 H01M8/10 H01M8/24

    摘要: An electrochemical fuel cell comprises a pair of separator plates and a pair of fluid distribution layers interposed between the separator plates. At least one of the fluid distribution layers comprises a sealing region and an electrically conductive, fluid permeable active region, and a preformed sheet material extending into each of the sealing region and the active region. An ion exchange membrane is interposed between at least a portion of the fluid distribution layers, and a quantity of electrocatalyst is interposed between at least a portion of each of the fluid distribution layers and at least a portion of the membrane, thereby defining the active region. Compression of the preformed sheet material by urging of the pair of plates towards each other renders the at least one fluid distribution layer substantially fluid impermeable in a direction parallel to the major planar surfaces, in the sealing region. The performed sheet material included in the at least one fluid distribution layer thus has intrinsic sealing capability. This approach reduces or eliminates the need for separate gaskets or sealing components and integrates several functions, such as sealing, fluid distribution, and current collection, in a single layer.

    摘要翻译: 一种电化学燃料电池包括一对分隔板和一对介于隔板之间的流体分布层。 流体分配层中的至少一个包括密封区域和导电的,可流体渗透的有源区域,以及延伸到每个密封区域和活性区域中的预成型片材。 在至少一部分流体分配层之间插入离子交换膜,并且在每个流体分配层的至少一部分和至少一部分膜之间插入一定量的电催化剂,由此限定有源区 。 通过使一对板彼此推动来压缩预成型片材使得至少一个流体分配层在密封区域中在平行于主平面的方向上基本上不可渗透。 因此,包含在至少一个流体分配层中的所执行的片材具有固有的密封能力。 这种方法减少或消除了对单独的垫片或密封部件的需求,并且在单层中集成了诸如密封,流体分配和电流收集的几个功能。

    Method and apparatus for detecting and locating perforations in
membranes employed in electrochemical cells
    6.
    发明授权
    Method and apparatus for detecting and locating perforations in membranes employed in electrochemical cells 失效
    用于检测和定位在电化学电池中使用的膜中穿孔的方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US5763765A

    公开(公告)日:1998-06-09

    申请号:US719342

    申请日:1996-09-25

    摘要: A method and apparatus detects and locates perforations in membranes used in electrochemical cells. The membrane has first and second oppositely facing major planar surfaces. The first surface is exposed to a first reactant fluid, preferably a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen, while the second surface is exposed to a second reactant fluid, preferably ambient air comprising oxygen. The first and second reactant fluids are substantially fluidly isolated from each other by the membrane when no perforations are present in the membrane. The first reactant fluid contacts the second reactant fluid when at least one perforation is present in the membrane. The first and second reactant fluids exothermically react upon contact, preferably in the presence of a catalyst, to generate heat, which is then detected using an infrared thermal detector or thermal imaging device or a layer of thermally sensitive film positioned in proximity with the membrane.

    摘要翻译: 一种方法和装置检测并定位在电化学电池中使用的膜中的穿孔。 膜具有第一和第二相对面的主平面。 第一表面暴露于第一反应物流体,优选包含氢气的气体混合物,而第二表面暴露于第二反应物流体,优选包含氧的环境空气。 当膜中没有穿孔时,第一和第二反应物流体通过膜基本上流体地隔离。 当膜中存在至少一个穿孔时,第一反应物流体接触第二反应物流体。 第一和第二反应物流体在接触时放热反应,优选在催化剂存在下放热反应产生热量,然后使用红外热检测器或热成像装置或位于膜附近的热敏膜层进行检测。