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:
Jun. 30, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 26, 1996
David P Wilkinson, North Vancouver, CA;
Henry H Voss, West Vancouver, CA;
Nicholas J Fletcher, Vancouver, CA;
Mark C Johnson, Pheonix, AZ (US);
Eric G Pow, Vancouver, CA;
Ballard Power Systems Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Abstract
A fuel cell assembly within an electrochemical fuel cell stack has an anode layer and a cathode layer. A cooling layer is disposed adjacent the fuel cell assembly. Each layer comprises channels for directing a fluid stream from an inlet to a an outlet. The coolant stream channels extend such that, in operation, the coolest region of the cooling layer coincides with the region of the cathode layer having the highest concentration of oxygen (and/or the lowest water content), and the warmest region of the cooling layer coincides with the region of the cathode layer having the lowest concentration of oxygen (and/or the highest water content). The fuel stream channels extend such that, in operation, the fuel stream is directed to a region of the anode layer which coincides with the region of the cathode layer in which the oxidant stream has the lowest concentration of oxygen (and/or the highest water content) and is subsequently directed to a region of the anode layer which coincides with the region of the cathode layer in which the oxidant stream has the highest concentration of oxygen (and/or the lowest water content).