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:
Sep. 21, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2001
Jung S. Yi, Mansfield, CT (US);
Deliang Yang, Vernon, CT (US);
Richard D. Breault, North Kingstown, RI (US);
Albert P. Grasso, Vernon, CT (US);
Glenn W. Scheffler, Thiland, CT (US);
UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell includes fuel and oxidant flow field plates ( ) having fuel and oxidant channels ( ), and water channels, the ends ( ) of which that are adjacent to the corresponding reactant gas inlet manifold ( ) are dead ended, the other ends ( ) draining excess water into the corresponding reactant gas exhaust manifold ( ). Flow restrictors ( ) maintain reactant gas pressure above exit manifold pressure, and may comprise interdigitated channels ( ). Solid reactant gas flow field plates have small holes ( ) between reactant gas channels ( ) and water drain channels ( ). In one embodiment, the fuel cells of a stack may be separated by either coolant plates ( ) or solid plates ( ) or both. In a second embodiment, coolant plates ( ) have weep holes ( ) that inject water into the ends ( ) of the reactant gas water channels which are in the region of the inlet manifold ( ), thereby assuring humidification of the reactants.