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. 07, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 01, 2005
Bernd Krause, Florersheim, DE;
Joerg Roth, Trebur, DE;
Bernd Krause, Florersheim, DE;
Joerg Roth, Trebur, DE;
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell that includes specially configured bipolar plates that separate the reactant gas flow field in an active area of the fuel cell into a primary flow channels and a secondary channels. In one embodiment, the primary flow channels are in use over the entire operating range of the fuel cell and the secondary flow channels are only in use at high cell current outputs. At low power demands, the primary channels operate at a voltage below 0.8 volts and provides a gas current density of more than 0.2 A/cm. The secondary flow channels have no gas supply and operate at mass transport limited conditions. Because of this design, voltage cycling is significantly reduced or eliminated, thus increasing the life of the fuel cell.