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:
Oct. 02, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 25, 2008
Kazuki Amemiya, Somers, CT (US);
Kazuki Amemiya, Somers, CT (US);
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), at least one separator plate disposed on a first side of the MEA, and at least one separator plate disposed on a second side of the MEA. The separator plate on the first side of the MEA may form a first group of channels for conducting a first reactant. The separator plate disposed on the second side of the MEA may form a second group of channels for conducting a second reactant. The first group of channels include a first set and a second set of channels alternatively positioned. Each of the first set of channels is positioned adjacent to a channel of the second set. Each of the two sets of channels includes an input controlled by an input valve and an output controlled by an output valve. The first group of channels forms an interdigitated flow field by closing the input valve of one of the two sets of channels and closing the output valve of the other of the two sets of channels, and forms a conventional flow field by opening both the input valve and the output valve.