University of Connecticut

Gas Research Institute

United Technologies Corporation

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

H Russell Kunz

James M Fenton

Murray Katz

Jung-Chou Lin

Robin J Guthrie

Francis J Luczak

Leonard J Bonville

Ruichun Jiang

Lawrence J Bregoli

Gary A Gruver

Rachid Zaffou

Michael B Cutlip

The present disclosure provides for a bipolar plate assembly for use in a fuel cell stack. The bipolar plate assembly includes: (a) at least one flow field layer defining a flow field portion and a perimeter portion; (b) at least one core assembly including at least one porous carbon layer and at least one impermeable layer; and (c) a cathode side reactant and an anode side reactant. The at least a first flow field layer is made from a porous carbon material and the perimeter portion is impregnated with a polymer material. The porous carbon layer is joined to: (i) the at least one impermeable layer on a first side by an adhesive material; and (ii) the flow field layer perimeter on a second side by a second adhesive material. The at least a first flow field layer defines reactant inlet and outlet ports and reactant flow passageways for each of the cathode side reactant and the anode side reactant. A method of making such a bipolar plate as described herein is also provided, as well as a method for rendering a layer of carbon material substantially impervious to a liquid agent such as an acid and rendering the porous carbon components wettable to retain an acidic liquid electrolyte. Fuel cell bipolar plates made in accordance with the teachings herein exhibit excellent heat transfer characteristics, and are particularly effective in conducting heat to the edge of a fuel cell stack.

Bipolar plate for fuel cell

A membrane electrode assembly comprising a composite membrane having a first major surface area and a second major surface area comprising a porous polymeric matrix containing ionically conductive solid and ionomeric binder, at least one protective layer disposed adjacent to the porous polymeric matrix membrane comprising an ionomeric binder and an ionically conductive solid, an anode comprising an oxidizing catalyst adjacent said first major surface area of said composite membrane and a cathode comprising a reducing catalyst adjacent said second major surface area of said composite membrane, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Membrane electrode assemblies using ionic composite membranes

Membranes, membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cells employing same, and process for preparing

A fuel cell electrical power generation apparatus comprises a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode and an electrolyte matrix containing a quantity of a molten carbonate electrolyte between the cathode and anode; and an electrolyte creepage barrier for substantially preventing electrolyte creepage at the anode of the fuel cell. The electrolyte creepage barrier comprises a relatively thin layer of a material which is poorly wet by the electrolyte disposed in such a way as to substantially prevent electrolyte creepage at the anode of the fuel cell. A related method for blocking creepage of molten carbonate electrolyte in a fuel cell comprises disposing a creepage barrier in such a way as to substantially prevent electrolyte creepage at the anode of the fuel cell.

Molten carbonate electrolyte creepage barrier

An electrolytic cell stack includes inactive electrolyte reservoirs at the upper and lower end portions thereof. The reservoirs are separated from the stack of the complete cells by impermeable, electrically conductive separators. Reservoirs at the negative end are initially low in electrolyte and the reservoirs at the positive end are high in electrolyte fill. During stack operation electrolyte migration from the positive to the negative end will be offset by the inactive reservoir capacity. In combination with the inactive reservoirs, a sealing member of high porosity and low electrolyte retention is employed to limit the electrolyte migration rate.

Electrolytic cell stack with molten electrolyte migration control

Ammonia gas is scrubbed from a gas stream in a bed of material soaked with acid, and the bed is regenerated by passing an oxygen containing gas therethrough. The preferred acid is phosphoric acid and the preferred support material is carbon in the form of porous particles. In a fuel cell system dual scrubbers alternately scrub ammonia from reform gas and are subsequently regenerated so as to provide the fuel cells with a continuous flow of substantially ammonia free hydrogen.

Regenerable ammonia scrubber

Porous cathodes for molten carbonate type fuel cells are made from perovskites. The perovskites tested to date all appear to be good cathode catalysts for the reduction of oxygen in molten carbonate electrolyte and are also stable in the electrolyte.

Growing community of inventors

Vernon, CT, United States of America

H Russell Kunz