Bipolar plate with microgrooves for improved water transport
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0772406
(2007-07-02)
|
등록번호 |
US-8277986
(2012-10-02)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Trabold, Thomas A.
- Dadheech, Gayatri Vyas
- Abd Elhamid, Mahmoud H.
- Zhang, Yan
- Newman, Keith E.
- Rock, Jeffrey A.
- Spencer, Steven J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- GM Global Technology Operations LLC
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face.
One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face.
대표청구항
▼
1. A product comprising: a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a base portion, a first face, and an opposite second face;a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels formed in the base portion;a co
1. A product comprising: a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a base portion, a first face, and an opposite second face;a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels formed in the base portion;a coolant fluid flow field defined in the second face, the coolant fluid flow field comprising a plurality of cooling channels formed in the base portion; anda plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face, with the proviso that the microgrooves do not extend through the base portion wherein the substrate comprises at least a first electrically conductive layer over the base portion and wherein the plurality of microgrooves are formed in or through the first electrically conductive layer. 2. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microgrooves extends into the base portion. 3. A product as set forth in claim 1 further compromising a hydrophilic layer over at least a portion of the first electrically conductive layer. 4. A product as set forth in claim 3 wherein no hydrophilic layer overlies the microgrooves. 5. A product as set forth in claim 3 wherein the hydrophilic layer overlies the microgrooves. 6. A product as set forth in claim 3 wherein the microgrooves extend through the first electrically conductive layer. 7. A product as set forth in claim 3 wherein the microgrooves extend through the first electrically conductive layer and into the base portion. 8. A product as set forth in claim 3 wherein no hydrophilic layer and no electrically conductive layer overlies the microgrooves. 9. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the microgrooves communicates with one of the channels. 10. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein each channel is defined by a floor and at least one wall and wherein the microgrooves are formed at least in the floor. 11. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the microgrooves are randomly oriented with respect to each other. 12. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the microgrooves is formed in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of one of the channels. 13. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the microgrooves is v-shaped. 14. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the microgrooves is rectangular. 15. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the microgrooves is semi-circular. 16. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the microgrooves is trapezoidal. 17. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the microgrooves is sinusoidal. 18. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the depths of the microgrooves are 0.1% to 30% of the depths of the channels. 19. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the widths of the microgrooves are 0.1% to 30% of the widths of the channels. 20. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the channels is u-shaped. 21. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the channels is rectangular. 22. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the channels is v-shaped. 23. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the channels is trapezoidal. 24. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the channels is sinusoidal. 25. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the product further comprises: a plurality of fuel cell bipolar plates; anda soft goods portion positioned between adjacent fuel cell bipolar plates and facing the reactant gas flow fields, wherein the soft goods portions comprises an anode and a cathode on opposite faces of a polymer electrolyte membrane. 26. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a metal or a metal alloy. 27. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a carbon-composite material. 28. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the microgrooves have widths or depths ranging from about 1 μm to about 50 μm. 29. A process comprising: providing a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a base portion, a first face comprising a plurality of lands and channels formed in the base portion, and an opposite second face comprising a plurality of cooling channels formed in the base portion; at least one of a first electrically conductive layer or a hydrophilic layer over the substrate and forming microgrooves in or through at least one of the substrate, electrically conductive layer or hydrophilic layer with the proviso that the microgrooves do not extend through the base portion. 30. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the microgrooves are formed in or through the first electrically conductive layer. 31. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the microgrooves are formed in or through the hydrophilic layer. 32. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the forming microgrooves comprises at least one of stamping, molding, machining, laser micromachining, chemical etching, or mechanical scribing. 33. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the microgrooves have a cross-sectional shape that is at least one of triangular, square, rectangular, semi-circular, trapezoidal, or sinusoidal. 34. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the microgrooves are formed in at least one surface defining the channel. 35. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the channels are each defined by at least one wall and a floor and wherein the microgrooves are formed in the floor. 36. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the channels are each defined by at least one wall and wherein the microgrooves are formed in the wall. 37. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the channels have a cross-sectional shape that is at least one of rectangular, u-shaped, v-shaped, trapezoidal, or sinusoidal. 38. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein providing the fuel cell bipolar plate comprises a stamping process. 39. A process as set forth in claim 38 wherein the microgrooves are formed by a secondary process that does not include stamping. 40. A process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the base portion consists essentially of a metal or a metal alloy, or comprises a carbon-composite material. 41. A product comprising: a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a base portion, a first face, and an opposite second face;a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels formed in the base portion;a coolant fluid flow field defined in the second face, the coolant fluid flow field comprising a plurality of cooling channels formed in the base portion; anda plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face, with the proviso that the microgrooves do not extend through the base portion wherein the substrate comprises at least a first electrically conductive layer over at least a portion of the base portion, and a hydrophilic layer over at least a portion of the first electrically conductive layer. 42. A product as set forth in claim 41 wherein no hydrophilic layer overlies the microgrooves. 43. A product as set forth in claim 41 wherein the hydrophilic layer overlies the microgrooves. 44. A product as set forth in claim 41 wherein the microgrooves extend through the hydrophilic layer. 45. A product as set forth in claim 41 wherein the microgrooves extend through the hydrophilic layer and into the base portion.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
-
Marchand, Marielle; Lebaigue, Olivier; Amblard, Michel; Bador, Bruno; Heurtaux, Fabien; Lisse, Jean-Pierre, Bipolar plates for fuel cell and fuel cell comprising same.
-
Matthew Howard Fronk ; Rodney Lynn Borup ; Jay S. Hulett ; Brian K. Brady ; Kevin M. Cunningham, Corrosion resistant PEM fuel cell.
-
Trabold,Thomas A; Owejan,Jon P, Flow field geometries for improved water management.
-
Yasuo Takashi,JPX ; Nakaoka Toru,JPX ; Hamada Akira,JPX ; Miyake Yasuo,JPX ; Yoshimoto Yasunori,JPX ; Karakane Mitsuo,JPX, Polymer electrolyte fuel cell showing stable and outstanding electric-power generating characteristics.
-
Vyas, Gayatri; Cheng, Yang-Tse; Abd Elhamid, Mahmoud H.; Mikhail, Youssef M., Ultra-low loadings of Au for stainless steel bipolar plates.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.