Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ivan Daryl Chapman

Siguang Xu

Liang Xi

Xi Yang

Jeffrey Allan Rock

Matthew J Beutel

Benno Andreas-Schott

Mark William Keyser

Thomas P Migliore

William Henry Pettit

Michael K Budinski

Pinkhas A Rapaport

Charles Mackintosh

A fuel cell flow field plate providing a uniform gas flow pressure includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate. The first metal plate defines a first opening for providing a first reactant gas to a fuel cell with a first metal bead that surrounds the first opening. The first metal bead is an embossment that defines a first channel. A first plurality of tunnels provides a passage into and out of the first metal bead. Each tunnel of the first plurality of tunnels has an inlet tunnel section that leads to the first metal bead and an outlet tunnel section that extends from the first metal bead to provide the first reactant gas to first reactant gas flow channels defined by the first metal plate. Characteristically, the inlet tunnel section and the outlet tunnel section each having a curved cross section with an opened base side.

Tunnel cross section for more uniformed contact pressure distribution on metal bead seal at the intersection between bead and tunnel

A number of variations may include a product that may include a fuel cell stack assembly that may include at least one bipolar plate including at least one first raised bead which may include a first split corner which may include a first connection.

Seal contact pressure uniformity by inserting connection at bead corners

A fuel cell flow field plate providing a uniform gas flow pressure includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate. The first metal plate defines a first opening for providing a first reactant gas to a fuel cell with a first metal bead that surrounds the first opening. The first metal bead is an embossment in the second metal plate that defines a first channel. The first metal plate also defines a first pressure distributing structure that decreases pressure variation is a seal formed with the first metal bead. A second metal plate aligns with the first metal plate.

Reduction of pressure variation with stamped embossment at bead neighbors

A bipolar plate assembly and fuel cell stack with reduced leakage and a method of assembling a bipolar plate and fuel cell stack. The bipolar plates include&#x2014;in addition to reactant channels and coolant channels that are fluidly coupled to inlet and outlet flowpaths, integrally-formed seals to help reduce leakage by maintaining fluid isolation of the reactants and coolant as they flow through their respective channels and flowpaths. The size and shape of the seals promotes secure plate-to-plate contact, even during plate side-to-side misalignment that can occur when arranging the various plates into the stack.

Unsymmetric compact metal seal beads for fuel cell stack

An alignment system and method for assembling a fuel cell stack. Components of the fuel cell stack have internal alignment features and are aligned to a predetermined orientation during assembly. The system and method allow fuel cell stacks to be assembled within high tolerance levels while improving access to each component during assembly. Additionally, the system and method can provide additional rigidity to a fuel cell stack.

Aligning method for repeating and non-repeating units in a fuel cell stack

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a flow control device that controls a supply of a first phase fluid flowing through the fuel cell stack. A controller monitors at least one parameter of the fuel cell stack and controls the supply to generate pulses of reactant when the at least one parameter crosses a threshold to flush a second phase fluid from said fuel cell stack.

Fluid flow pulsing for increased stability in PEM fuel cell

A unitized plate such as a bipolar plate for a fuel cell assembly is provided. The unitized plate includes a plurality of active regions electrically insulated from one another, and a plurality of inlet and outlet apertures formed in the plate. Each of the active regions is in fluid communication with a dedicated inlet aperture adapted to selectively deliver gaseous reactants thereto. A fuel cell assembly having a plurality of independently operable fuel cell stack units, and a method for operating the fuel cell assembly, is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Victor, NY, United States of America

Ivan Daryl Chapman