A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side, a first gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly, and a first flow field plate contacting the first gas diffusion layer. The first flow field plate includes a reactant
A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side, a first gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly, and a first flow field plate contacting the first gas diffusion layer. The first flow field plate includes a reactant inlet, a reactant outlet, and a plurality of flow field chambers separated from one another by at least one rib. The reactant inlet is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib and the reactant outlet is separated from the plurality of flow field chambers by at least one rib. The ribs are configured to force a reactant flowing from the reactant inlet to the reactant outlet to enter the first gas diffusion layer at least twice.
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1. A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side;a first gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly;a first flow field plate having a surface, the surface in contact with the first gas diffusion layer, the first fl
1. A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side;a first gas diffusion layer adjacent the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly;a first flow field plate having a surface, the surface in contact with the first gas diffusion layer, the first flow field plate including: a first reactant inlet channel formed on the surface;a first reactant outlet channel formed on the surface;a plurality of ribs formed on the surface;a plurality of first flow field chambers physically separated from one another by ones of the plurality of ribs, the plurality of ribs and the plurality of first flow field chambers physically separating the first reactant inlet channel from the first reactant outlet channel, the plurality of ribs and the plurality of first flow field chambers being configured to force a reactant to leave the plurality of first flow field chambers and to enter the first gas diffusion layer at least twice. 2. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the reactant leaves the plurality of first flow field chambers at least three times before reaching the first reactant outlet channel. 3. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the reactant is delivered to the first reactant inlet channel at a pressure between about 50 kPa above ambient pressure and about 200 kPa above ambient pressure. 4. The fuel cell of claim 3, wherein the reactant exits the plurality of first flow field chambers at a pressure between about ambient pressure and about 100 kPa above ambient pressure. 5. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein a pressure at the first reactant inlet channel is between about 50 kPa and about 200 kPa higher than a pressure at the first reactant outlet channel. 6. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air, hydrogen, methanol, diesel, chemical hydrides and combinations thereof. 7. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first flow field plate comprises a stamped metal plate. 8. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first flow field chambers are generally parallel. 9. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first flow field chambers are interdigitated flow field channels. 10. The fuel cell of claim 1, further comprising: a second gas diffusion layer adjacent the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly;a second flow field plate in contact with the second gas diffusion layer, the second flow field plate including: a second reactant inlet channel opposite the first reactant outlet channel of the first flow field plate;a second reactant outlet channel opposite the first reactant inlet channel of the first flow field plate;a plurality of second flow field chambers separated from one another by at least one rib, wherein the second reactant inlet channel is separated from the plurality of second flow field chambers by at least one rib and the second reactant outlet channel is separated from the plurality of second flow field chambers by at least one rib, and wherein the ribs are configured to force a reactant flowing from the second reactant inlet channel to the second reactant outlet channel to enter the second gas diffusion layer at least twice, and wherein the reactant of the second flow field plate generally flows in a direction opposite the reactant of the first flow field plate. 11. A reactant flow field comprising: a first reactant channel;a second reactant channel;a plurality of ribs;a plurality of flow field chambers located between the first reactant channel and the second reactant channel, the plurality of flow field chambers and at least one of the plurality of ribs physically separating the first reactant channel from the second reactant channel, the plurality of ribs and the plurality of flow field chambers being configured to force a reactant to leave the plurality of flow field chambers at least twice before reaching the second reactant channel. 12. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein the reactant leaves the plurality of flow field chambers at least three times before reaching the second reactant channel. 13. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein the reactant is delivered to the first reactant channel at a pressure between about 50 kPa above ambient pressure and about 200 kPa above ambient pressure. 14. The reactant flow field of claim 13, wherein the reactant leaves the plurality of flow field chambers at a pressure between about ambient pressure and about 100 kPa above ambient pressure. 15. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein a pressure at the first reactant channel is between about 50 kPa and about 200 kPa higher than a pressure at the second reactant channel. 16. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air, hydrogen, methanol, diesel, chemical hydrides and combinations thereof. 17. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein the plurality of flow field chambers are defined by a stamped metal plate. 18. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein the plurality of flow field chambers extend generally parallel to one another. 19. The reactant flow field of claim 11, wherein the plurality of flow field chambers are interdigitated flow field channels. 20. A fuel cell, comprising: a membrane electrode assembly having a first side and a second side;a first gas diffusion layer located adjacent to the first side of the membrane electrode assembly;a first flow field plate having a first surface, the first surface positioned adjacent to and facing the first gas diffusion layer, the first flow field plate including: a first inlet located at a first end of the first flow field plate;a first outlet located at a second end of the first flow field plate;a plurality of first inlet channels in unimpeded fluid communication with the first inlet, the plurality of first inlet channels extending in a first direction;a plurality of first outlet channels in unimpeded fluid communication with the first outlet, the plurality of first outlet channels extending in the first direction;a plurality of first flow field chambers extending in the first direction; anda first wall structure, the first wall structure including a plurality of ribs and a portion extending in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, the portion, the plurality of first flow field chambers, and the plurality of ribs physically separating the first inlet from the first outlet, the plurality of ribs and the plurality of first flow field chambers being configured to force a reactant to leave the plurality of first flow field chambers and enter the first gas diffusion layer at least twice. 21. The fuel cell of claim 20, further comprising: a second gas diffusion layer located adjacent to the second side of the membrane electrode assembly;a second flow field plate having a second surface, the second surface positioned adjacent to and facing the second gas diffusion layer, the second flow field plate including: a second inlet located at a first end of the second flow field plate;a second outlet located at a second end of the second flow field plate;a plurality of second inlet channels in unimpeded fluid communication with the second inlet, the plurality of second inlet channels extending in the first direction;a plurality of second outlet channels in unimpeded fluid communication with the second outlet, the plurality of second outlet channels extending in the first direction; anda second wall structure, the second wall structure including a portion extending in the second direction that is transverse to the first direction, the portion physically separating the plurality of second inlet channels from the plurality of second outlet channels. 22. The fuel cell of claim 20 wherein the plurality of first outlet channels are offset with respect to the plurality of first inlet channels in the second direction. 23. The fuel cell of claim 20 wherein the first flow field chambers are staggered with respect to the plurality of first inlet channels in the second direction.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Yi, Jung S.; Puhalski, Jonathan, Fuel cell having interdigitated flow channels and water transport plates.
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