US4292379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Variable area fuel cell process channels
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1980-04-28
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Granted: 1981-09-29
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Expires: 2000-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell arrangement having a non-uniform distribution of fuel and oxidant flow paths, on opposite sides of an electrolyte matrix, sized and positioned to provide approximately uniform fuel and oxidant utilization rates, and cell conditions, across the entire cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Kothmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0258; H01M8/0265; H01M8/0267; H01M8/04; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04067; H01M8/04074; H01M8/24; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2484; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An improved fuel cell of the type wherein a fuel is passed through a plurality of fuel channels on one side of an electrolyte from a fuel inlet to a fuel outlet, and an oxidant is passed through a plurality of oxidant channels on the other side of the electrolyte from an oxidant inlet to an oxidant outlet, said fuel and oxidant channels arranged so that one of said fuel channel inlets is positioned closer to said oxidant channel inlets than another one of said fuel channel inlets, and one of said oxidant channel inlets is positioned closer to said fuel channel inlets than another one of said oxidant channel inlets, the improvement comprising: the flow area of one of said fuel channels being different than the flow area of another one of said fuel channels, and the flow area of one of said oxidant channels being different than the flow area of another one of said oxidant channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An improved fuel cell of the type wherein a fuel is passed through a plurality of fuel channels on one side of an electrolyte from a fuel inlet to a fuel outlet, and an oxidant is passed through a plurality of oxidant channels on the other side of the electrolyte from an oxidant inlet to an oxidant outlet, said fuel and oxidant channels arranged so that one of said fuel channel inlets is positioned closer to said oxidant channel inlets than another one of said fuel channel inlets, and one of said oxidant channel inlets is positioned closer to said fuel channel inlets than another one of said oxidant channel inlets, the improvement comprising: the flow area of one of said fuel channels being different than the flow area of another one of said fuel channels, and the flow area of one of said oxidant channels being different than the flow area of another one of said oxidant channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the flow area of said one fuel channel is smaller than the flow area of said another fuel channel, said one fuel channel corresponding to a fuel channel inlet farther from said oxidant channel inlets, and wherein the flow area of said one oxidant channel is smaller than the flow area of said another oxidant channel, said one oxidant channel corresponding to an oxidant inlet farther from said fuel channel inlets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising a plate having a plurality of fuel channels on one side thereof and a plurality of oxidant channels on the opposite side, the size of said fuel channels varying in a predetermined fashion from one to another, and the size of said oxidant channels varying in a predetermined fashion from one to another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising a plate having a plurality of fuel channels on one side thereof and a plurality of oxidant channels on the opposite side, the size of said fuel channels varying in a predetermined fashion from one to another, and the size of said oxidant channels varying in a predetermined fashion from one to another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bipolar plate of claim 3 wherein said fuel channels are parallel and coextending, and said oxidant channels are parallel and coextending.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced fuel channels on one side thereof and a plurality of spaced oxidant channels on the opposite side, the spacing among respective fuel channels varying in a predetermined fashion, and the spacing among respective oxidant channels varying in a predetermined fashion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced fuel channels on one side thereof and a plurality of spaced oxidant channels on the opposite side, the spacing among respective fuel channels varying in a predetermined fashion, and the spacing among respective oxidant channels varying in a predetermined fashion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bipolar plate of claim 5 wherein said fuel channels are parallel and coextending and said oxidant channels are parallel and coextending.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fuel cell comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two generally rectangular bipolar plates, said plates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on the other side of said electrolyte, said fuel channels extending from a first inlet side of said rectangular plates to a second opposite outlet side, said oxidant channels extending from a third inlet side of said plates to a fourth opposite outlet side, the flow area defined by said fuel channels varying from one fuel channel to another in a predetermined manner, and the flow area defined by said oxidant channels varying from one oxidant channel to another in a preselected manner.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fuel cell comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two generally rectangular bipolar plates, said plates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on the other side of said electrolyte, said fuel channels extending from a first inlet side of said rectangular plates to a second opposite outlet side, said oxidant channels extending from a third inlet side of said plates to a fourth opposite outlet side, the flow area defined by said fuel channels varying from one fuel channel to another in a predetermined manner, and the flow area defined by said oxidant channels varying from one oxidant channel to another in a preselected manner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
The fuel cell of claim 7 wherein the flow area of said fuel channels varies from a larger area at the corner of said plates which is adjacent said third oxidant inlet side to a smaller area at the corner of said plates which is adjacent said fourth oxidant outlet side, and wherein the flow area of said oxidant channels varies from a larger area at the corner of said plates which is adjacent said first fuel inlet side to a smaller area at the corner of said plates which is adjacent said second fuel outlet side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fuel cell system comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two bipolar plates, said plates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on another side of said electrolyte, said fuel and oxidant channels each having an inlet and an outlet, said channels sized and configured to vary in a predetermined manner such that more fuel is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channel inlets than is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channel outlets, and more oxidant is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel inlets than is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel outlets, means for providing fuel to said fuel channel inlets and means for providing oxidant to said oxidant channel inlets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fuel cell system comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two bipolar plates, said plates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on another side of said electrolyte, said fuel and oxidant channels each having an inlet and an outlet, said channels sized and configured to vary in a predetermined manner such that more fuel is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channel inlets than is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channel outlets, and more oxidant is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel inlets than is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel outlets, means for providing fuel to said fuel channel inlets and means for providing oxidant to said oxidant channel inlets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
A fuel cell system comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two bipolar plates, said plates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on another side of said electrolyte, said fuel and oxidant channels each having an inlet and an outlet, said fuel channels sized and configured to vary in a predetermined manner such more fuel is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channels inlets than is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channel outlets, means for providing fuel to said fuel channel inlets and means for providing oxidant to said oxidant channel inlets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
106 words
A fuel cell system comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two bipolar plates, said plates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on another side of said electrolyte, said fuel and oxidant channels each having an inlet and an outlet, said fuel channels sized and configured to vary in a predetermined manner such more fuel is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channels inlets than is passed through the fuel channels nearest the oxidant channel outlets, means for providing fuel to said fuel channel inlets and means for providing oxidant to said oxidant channel inlets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A fuel cell system comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two bipolar plates, said lates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on another side of said electrolyte, said fuel and oxidant channels each having an inlet and an outlet, said oxidant channels sized and configured to vary in a predetermined manner such that more oxidant is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel inlets than is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel outlets, means for providing fuel to said fuel channel inlets and means for providing oxidant to said oxidant channel inlets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
A fuel cell system comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode disposed between two bipolar plates, said lates defining fuel channels on one side of said electrolyte and oxidant channels on another side of said electrolyte, said fuel and oxidant channels each having an inlet and an outlet, said oxidant channels sized and configured to vary in a predetermined manner such that more oxidant is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel inlets than is passed through the oxidant channels nearest the fuel channel outlets, means for providing fuel to said fuel channel inlets and means for providing oxidant to said oxidant channel inlets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-28 | 1985-03-30 | 1985-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-28 | 1989-03-30 | 1989-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-28 | 1993-03-30 | 1993-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |