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. 06, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2005
Jon P. Owejan, Honeoye, NY (US);
Chunxin Ji, Rochester, NY (US);
Thomas A. Trabold, Pittsford, NY (US);
Michael Cartwright, Naples, NY (US);
Steven G. Goebel, Victor, NY (US);
Jon P. Owejan, Honeoye, NY (US);
Chunxin Ji, Rochester, NY (US);
Thomas A. Trabold, Pittsford, NY (US);
Michael Cartwright, Naples, NY (US);
Steven G. Goebel, Victor, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell including a water blocking layer positioned between anode gas flow channels and a gas diffusion media. The blocking layer prevents water from propagating through the gas diffusion media layer and entering the anode flow channels, while allowing gas from the flow channels to flow through the diffusion media layer to the membrane. A water accumulation channel can be provided around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer where blocked water is accumulated, and allowed to expand during cell freezing. A porous capillary wick can be provided in the accumulation channel for wicking water to the inlet end of the flow channels where it is used to humidify the anode gas coming into the fuel cell. The wick can have a tapered configuration so that it has a larger diameter at the gas input end of the flow channels.