Fuel cells separator plates

Wilkinson D P etal., 2001, Fuel Cell Separator Plate with Discrete Fluid Distribution Features. WO 01/48843. 

Koncar, G. J. and L. G. Marianowski. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell separator plate. U.S. Patent 5,942,347,1999. 

R. O. Loutfy and M. Heeht, U.S. Patent Number 6,511,766 Low Cost Molded Plastic Fuel Cell Separator Plate with Conductive Elements , January 28,2003. 

Beside the MEA the bipolar plates are the key components in a PEMFC stack in terms of their contribution to weight, volume, and costs. Bipolar plates contain a fine mesh of gas channels called the flow-field, to ensure a uniform distribution of the process gasses (hydrogen and oxygen) of fuel and air across both sides of the MEA and the removal of the reaction products. Furthermore, the bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells separate the individual cells from each other and guarantee an electrical connection between them in series. Substantial requirements for the bipolar plates are a high electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. 

A collection of individual fuel cells, separated by electrically conducting bipolar plates, connected in series. Stacks can range in size from a few watts as in portable fuel cells to hundreds kilowatts as in stationary fuel cells for combined heat and power. 

A stack is a multilayer construction of fuel cells separated by metal sheets (the interconnect plate ) guiding the flow of air and fuel to the individual cells. The number of repeated cell/interconnect plates determines the stack capacity. The stack is the heart of a fuel cell system (Figs. 20.4 and 20.5). 

John A. Turner, Ph.D., is a senior electrochemist in the Center for Basic Sciences at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His research is primarily concerned with direct conversion (photoelectrolysis) systems for hydrogen production from water. His monolithic photovoltaic-photoelectro-chemical device has the highest efficiency of any direct-conversion water-splitting device (>12%). Other work involves the study of new materials for fuel cell separators, corrosion of bipolar plates (fuel... 

Other important parts of the cell are 1) the structure for distributing the reactant gases across the electrode surface and which serves as mechanical support, shown as ribs in Figure 1-4, 2) electrolyte reservoirs for liquid electrolyte cells to replenish electrolyte lost over life, and 3) current collectors (not shown) that provide a path for the current between the electrodes and the separator of flat plate cells. Other arrangements of gas flow and current flow are used in fuel cell stack designs, and are mentioned in Sections 3 through 8 for the various type cells. 

The bipolar plate with multiple functions, also called a flow field plate or separation plate (separator), is one of fhe core components in fuel cells. In reality, like serially linked batteries, fuel cells are a serial connection or stacking of fuel cell unifs, or so-called unif cells fhis is why fuel cells are normally also called sfacks (Figure 5.1) [2]. The complicated large fuel cells or module can consist of a couple of serially connecfed simple fuel cells or cell rows. Excepf for the special unit cells at two ends of a simple stack or cell row, all the other unit cells have the same structure, shape, and functions. 

Mkaline Fuel Cell The electrolyte for NASA s space shnttle orbiter fuel cell is 35 percent potassinm hydroxide. The cell operates between 353 and 363 K (176 and I94°F) at 0.4 MPa (59 psia) on hydrogen and oxygen. The electrodes contain platinnm-palladinm and platinum-gold alloy powder catalysts bonded with polytetraflnoro-ethylene (PTFE) latex and snpported on gold-plated nickel screens for cnrrent collection and gas distribution. A variety of materials, inclnding asbestos and potassinm titanate, are used to form a micro-porous separator that retains the electrolyte between the electrodes. The cell structural materials, bipolar plates, and external housing are nsnally nickel-plated to resist corrosion. The complete orbiter fuel cell power plant is shown in Fig. 24-48. 

Subcell Approach Stumper et al.135 presented the subcell approach to measure localized currents and localized electrochemical activity in a fuel cell. In this method a number of subcells were situated in different locations along the cell s active area and each subcell was electrically isolated from each other and from the main cell. Separate load banks controlled each subcell. Figure 8 shows the subcells in both the cathode and anode flow field plates (the MEA also had such subcells). The current-voltage characteristics for the... 

Interestingly, research has started on single chamber SOFC (SC-SOFC) concepts. However, the SC-SOFC exhibits inherently low power density and is therefore primarily of academic interest. It has the potential to relax cell component requirements and probably to ease manufacture. The principle of SC-SOFC is that it is fed by an air fuel mixture which flows onto the PEN contained in a single compartment, avoiding the use of gas separator plates and high temperature sealants. The fluid may flow simultaneously or sequentially along the electrodes. Both electrodes are either built onto the same side of the electrolyte some distance apart or on opposite sides. Low temperature operation would apparently suppress direct combustion of the air fuel mixture provided the electrode materials chosen are highly selective towards their respective catalytic reactions. SC-SOFC stacks may hold prospects in specific applications where the reaction products are the prime focus. 

Major areas of application are in the field of aqueous electrochemistry. The most important application for perfluorinated ionomers is as a membrane separator in chloralkali cells.86 They are also used in reclamation of heavy metals from plant effluents and in regeneration of the streams in the plating and metals industry.85 The resins containing sulfonic acid groups have been used as powerful acid catalysts.87 Perfluorinated ionomers are widely used in worldwide development efforts in the held of fuel cells mainly for automotive applications as PEFC (polymer electrolyte fuel cells).88-93 The subject of fluorinated ionomers is discussed in much more detail in Reference 85. 

The indirect internal reformer (HR) is situated within the cell stack in separate reforming channels, where only the reforming reaction takes place. This concept features energetic coupling with the exothermic oxidation process. The main advantage is that no external heat exchanger is required, as the separator plate between HR and anode channel fulfills this function. The HR can be seen as an external reformer operating at fuel cell temperature. 

In fuel cells, carbon (or graphite) is an acceptable material of construction for electrode substrates, electrocatalyst support, bipolar electrode separators, current collectors, and cooling plates. 

Bipolar plates play an important role in fuel cell operation. " - Generally, the functions of bipolar plates can be summarized as (1) supply and separate reactant gases without introducing impurities (2) conduct electrons (3) remove the reaction... 

A fuel cell can be thought of as a cold-combustion power source that generates electrical energy directly from (stored) chemical energy. Due to minimal heat transfers, it is unfettered by conversion-efficiency hmitations characteristic of hot-combustion devices. Unlike batteries, but similar to internal combustion engines, a fuel cell is a continuous-flow system in which fuel and oxidant are externally supplied for operation. In a functional hydrogen-fuel cell, H2 gas is introduced through feed plates to the anode compartment. At the same time, but to the cathode in a separate chamber, O2 gas delivered. At the anode, H2 is oxidized to H ... 

---