The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 1993
Filed:
Sep. 26, 1991
Henry H Voss, North Vancouver, CA;
Clarence Y Chow, Vancouver, CA;
Ballard Power Systems Inc., North Vancouver, CA;
Abstract
A coolant flow field plate for use in association with a solid polymer fuel cell comprises, in a major surface, a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, at least one coolant distribution channel in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and disposed near the perimeter of the plate. At least one central exhaust channel extends along a diagonal of the coolant flow field plate. The central exhaust channel is proximate to the center of the plate and in fluid communication with the coolant outlet. A plurality of coolant flow channels extend from the coolant distribution channels to the central exhaust channel. In the preferred embodiment, the coolant flow channels form a rib-cage pattern with the central exhaust channel. The coolant flow field plate is designed to increase the lifetime of solid polymer fuel cells by imposing lower temperatures near the periphery of the cell plates, and thereby protect the integrity of the seal where the reactant gases are sealed against external leakage.