Fuel cell fluid flow field plates

• Main Authors: ADCOCK PAUL L, MITCHELL PHILIP J, HOOD PETER D, FOSTER SIMON E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2012
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

A bipolar fluid flow flied plate for a fuel cell delivers fuel to a porous anode electrode and oxidant to an adjacent porous cathode electrode. The flow field plate comprises an electrically conductive, non-porous sheet into which fluid flow conduits are formed. A first fluid flow channel is patterned into a first face of the sheet and a second fluid flow channel patterned into the opposite face of the sheet. The pattern of the first channel comprises an interdigitated comb that co-operates with a pattern of the second channel comprising a continous serpentine path, so that no portion of the first channel directly overlies the pattern of the second channel over a substantial active area of the sheet. This allows the channels to be formed with combined depths that exceed the total plate thickness, thereby increasing fluid flow volumes.