Lynntech Power Systems, Ltd.

Lynntech, Inc.

Stan Simpson

Oliver J Murphy

Alan J Cisar

Carlos E Salinas

King-Tsai Jeng

Dacong Weng

Homayoun Moaddel

A subassembly for a stack of electrochemical cells that includes a porous metal sheet having a first face and a second face with a hydrophobic, carbonaceous gas diffusion layer disposed within the pores along the first face of the porous metal sheet. The second face of the porous metal sheet defines a flow field while that portion of the porous metal sheet filled with the gas diffusion layer forms a current collector. The subassembly may further include a metal gas barrier metallurgically bonded to the second face of the porous metal sheet to act as a gas barrier between the porous metal sheet and a second porous metal sheet having a second gas diffusion layer disposed within the pores along a face of the second porous metal sheet. Preferably, the gas diffusion layers are applied as a paste to the porous metal sheet and then dried.

Unitized barrier and flow control device for electrochemical reactors

The invention provides for reducing the number of parts and the number of interfaces found in certain types of chemical reactors, particularly in electrochemical reactors, and especially in the type or reactor known as a fuel cell or fuel cell stack This reduction comes from the use of a unified structure that combines the functions normally carried out by several components in the unit, particularly by combining the functions of the gas distribution structure and the gas diffusion structure, the gas distribution structure and the gas barrier structure, or all three structures into a single, unitary, metallic part. This offers the advantages of simplified design, better performance, and lighter weight.

Thin, light weight bipolar plates for use in electrochemical cells are rapidly, and inexpensively manufactured in mass production by die casting, stamping or other well known methods for fabricating magnesium or aluminum parts. The use of a light metal, such as magnesium or aluminum minimizes weight and simultaneously improves both electrical and thermal conductivity compared to conventional carbon parts. For service in electrochemical cells these components must be protected from corrosion. This is accomplished by plating the surface of the light weight metal parts with a layer of denser, but more noble metal. The protective metal layer is deposited in one of several ways. One of these is deposition from an aqueous solution by either electroless means, electrolytic means, or a combination of the two. Another is deposition by electrolytic means from a non-aqueous solution, such as a molten salt.

Lightweight metal bipolar plates and methods for making the same

The invention provides for reducing the number of parts and the number of interfaces found in certain types of chemical reactors, particularly in electrochemical reactors, and especially in the type or reactor known as a fuel cell or fuel cell stack. This reduction comes from the use of a unified structure that combines the functions normally carried out by several components in the unit, particularly by combining the functions of the gas distribution structure and the gas diffusion structure, the gas distribution structure and the gas barrier structure, or all three structures into a single, unitary, metallic part. This offers the advantages of simplified design, better performance, and lighter weight.

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San Pedro, CA, United States of America

Stan Simpson