United Technologies Corporation

International Fuel Cells, LLC

Clearedge Power Corporation

Utc Power Corporation

Warren L Luoma

Richard D Breault

Ronald G Martin

William A Taylor

Roger C Emanuelson

Robert P Roche

A fuel cell separator plate assembly () includes a separator plate layer () and flow field layers (). In one disclosed example, the separator plate layer () comprises graphite and a hydrophobic resin. The hydrophobic resin of the separator plate layer () serves to secure the separator plate layer to flow field layers on opposite sides of the separator plate layer. In one example, at least one of the flow field layers () comprises graphite and a hydrophobic resin such that the flow field layer is hydrophobic and nonporous. In another example, two graphite and hydrophobic resin flow field layers are used on opposite sides of a separator plate layer. One disclosed example includes all three layers comprising graphite and a hydrophobic resin.

Fuel cell separator plate assembly

A seal structure 58 between adjacent porous plates 18, 20 and a method of making the seal structure for an electrochemical cell are disclosed. Various construction details are developed which facilitate fabrication and assembly. In one embodiment, the adjacent porous plates are electrolyte reservoir plates joined together at a three-layer seal structure to form an integral assembly.

Electrochemical cell assembly

A seal structure 58 between adjacent porous plates 18,20 and a method of making the seal structure for an electrochemical coil are disclosed. Various construction details are developed which facilitate fabrication and assembly. In one embodiment, the adjacent porous plates are electrolyte reservoir plates joined together at a three-layer seal structure to form an integral assembly.

Method for making a seal structure for an electrochemical cell assembly

A thin electrochemical cell separator plate with greatly improved properties is made by molding and then graphitizing a mixture of preferably 50 percent high purity graphite powder and 50 percent carbonizable thermosetting phenolic resin, the graphite molding powder particles having a specified preferred shape and a size distribution requiring 31 to 62 weight percent of the particles to be less than 45 microns in size.

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Manchester, CT, United States of America

Warren L Luoma