Commissariat a L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives

Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa

Garlock France Sas

Psa Automobiles Sa

Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Societe Anonyme

Patrick Le Gallo

Xavier Glipa

Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier

Christian Rouaud

Francis Roy

Michel Lefrancois

Damien Lemasson

Philippe Caplain

Eric Pinton

Jean-Marie Gentzbittel

Sylvie Begot

Richard Levoy

Fabien Harel

Fabienne Le Guyadec

Magali Reytier

Michel Planque

Remi Vincent

Rémi Vincent

Jean-Marc Le Canut

Mathias Gerard

Pierre Baurens

Jean-Luc Sarro

Pascal Schott

Guillaume Joncquet

Sadok Garnit

Géry Adriansen

Francis Résidence Les Vignes De Bures - Roy

A fuel cell, including: first and second electrochemical cells; a two-pole plate arranged between the first and second electrochemical cells, including a conductor support delimiting a first flow channel facing the first electrochemical cell and extending between an air inlet and a water outlet, and including a first conductive coating attached to the conductor support at the air inlet of the first flow channel and including a second conductive coating fastened to the conductor support at the middle part of the first flow channel, the second conductor coating having an electrical surface resistance greater than that of the first conductive coating.

Fuel cell with optimized operation

The invention relates to a cooling system for a fuel cell (), comprising a main heat-transfer-fluid circuit including a main circulation pump () and a heat exchanger () with the exterior, which feed an upstream pipe () supplying the fluid to the cells () of the fuel cell, said fluid leaving the cells via a downstream pipe () in order to return to the main pump. The system is characterised in that a secondary circuit, comprising a secondary circulation device () that circulates the fluid in an alternate manner, is connected in parallel with the main circuit to the upstream () and downstream () pipes and in that one or more controlled valves () allow the main circuit and the secondary circuit to operate independently.

Cooling system for a fuel cell

The invention relates to a cooling system for a fuel cell, comprising a main heat-transfer-fluid circuit including a circulation pump () and a heat exchanger () with the exterior, which feed an upstream pipe () supplying the fluid to the cells () of the fuel cell, said fluid leaving the cells via a downstream pipe () in order to return to the main pump. The invention is characterized in that the main circuit comprises a three-port controlled valve () on each upstream () and downstream () pipe, the third available port () of the upstream pipe () being connected to the inlet of the pump () and the third available port () of the downstream pipe () being connected to the outlet of the pump in order to establish a secondary fluid circuit.

A high-temperature electrolyser including a stack of electrolysis cells in which steam is made to flow both at a cathode and at an anode. The architecture of the electrolyzer is configured to have each cathode inlet end and anode inlet end close to an oxygen, or respectably hydrogen, collection duct portion. With the structure, a buffer volume of steam is created around the oxygen and hydrogen collectors, which therefore constitutes a simple and effective sealing mechanism within the electrolyser.

High-temperature electrolyser (HTE) with improved operating safety

A high-temperature module for electrolysis of water with improved operational safety, in which steam containing at most 1% hydrogen can be made to flow simultaneously in each cathode and in each anode, as a draining gas, of a stack of cells. The stack of cells is housed in a sealed case and a mechanism for clamping by compression of the stack is included. The risks of leaks likely to cause impairments of efficiency and breakages of all or part of a stack EHT electrolyzer are reduced, while a high level of efficiency is provided due to the fact that satisfactory electrical conduction is maintained by compression of the stack.

High temperature electrolyzer (HTE) having a stack of electrolysis cells and improved operating reliability and high efficiency

An electrolyser including a stack of a plurality of elementary electrolysis cells, each cell including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte provided between the cathode and the anode. An interconnection plate is interposed between each anode of an elementary cell and a cathode of a following elementary cell, the interconnection plate being in electric contact with the anode and the cathode. A pneumatic fluid is to be brought into contact with the cathodes, and the electrolyser further includes a mechanism ensuring circulation of the pneumatic fluid in the electrolyser for heating it up before contacting the same with the cathodes.

High temperature electrolyser with temperature homogenisation device

An electrolyser for generating hydrogen including a plurality of elementary electrolysis cells including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte provided between the cathode and the anode. An interconnection plate is interposed between the anode of an elementary cell and a cathode of a following elementary cell, in electric contact with the anode and the cathode, and includes a cathodic compartment, an anodic compartment for circulation of fluid to the cathode and the anode respectively, and a chamber for collecting a gas generated at the cathode, separated from the cathodic compartment and the anodic compartment by first and second walls respectively, the first wall at least having a thickness allowing diffusion of the gas through the first wall from the cathodic compartment to the chamber.

High temperature electrolyser with hydrogen recovery device

The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, of the type that comprises anode and cathode bipolar half plates () which are placed next to one another. The central part of each bipolar half plate comprises an active zone (), while the periphery thereof comprises a plurality of cut-outs () which are intended to form at least two oxidant tanks, two fuel tanks and two coolant tanks. Moreover, at least one bipolar half plate comprises at least one connecting rib () between a peripheral cut-out and the active zone. Projecting out from the outer face, each coolant tank cut-out is surrounded by a sealing rib () and the periphery of each bipolar half plate comprises a rib () for sealing the active zone, which connects the coolant tank sealing ribs and which surrounds the oxidant and fuel tanks. Furthermore, each channel formed by a rib segment () between two coolant tanks is blocked by a blocking means ().

Bipolar plate for fuel cell, comprising sealing ribs

The invention mainly concerns a fuel cell seal () designed to be affixed on a bipolar plate () in the form of a membrane whereof the profile corresponds approximately to the peripheral frame () of the bipolar plate () and comprising a central opening () coinciding approximately with the central zone () dispensing the reagents of the bipolar plate (). The invention also concerns a fuel cell comprising an electrode membrane assembly () which includes in particular an active region (), which is the site of anode and cathode reactions, and a peripheral frame () and which is sandwiched between two bipolar plates () whereon is affixed the inventive seal ().

Seal and fuel cell comprising same affixed on the bipolar plates

A sealing joint comprises, compressed between two parts, a stack of flexible strips separated by offset supports (); an envelop () surrounds this structure () and ensures its sealing. Under compression, the strips distort around the supports becoming very stiff for little distortion. Thus, we can rightly be wary of the consequences regarding the relief of strain on the material, notably at high temperatures.

Sealing joint with laminated internal structure for very high temperatures

The seal can be used at high temperature. It is composed of a central flexible graphite core () maintained in its shape by two metal cups () that do not touch. It is all surrounded by a tight sheath () enabling the flexible core () to be maintained in a neutral atmosphere such as a partial vacuum or a neutral gas.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Appolinard, France

Patrick Le Gallo