FLUID FLOW PLATE FOR A FUEL CELL

摘要

A bipolar fluid flow plate for an electrochemical assembly comprises a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending across a face of the flow plate to define a first fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate and a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending across a face of the flow plate to define a second fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate. The pluralities of first fluid flow channels and second fluid flow channels both occupying a common channel plane. An array of first fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the first fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the first fluid flow channels. An array of second fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the second fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the second fluid flow channels. A first fluid gallery has a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of first fluid transfer points and has a second peripheral edge portion forming a first fluid communication edge of the fluid flow plate. A second fluid gallery has a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of second fluid transfer points and has a second peripheral edge portion forming a second fluid communication edge of the fluid flow plate. The first fluid gallery occupies a first gallery plane and the second fluid gallery occupies a second gallery plane different from the first gallery plane. Both the first gallery plane and the second gallery plane are disposed within the channel plane. This structure enables the feeding of multiple different fluids into coplanar channels across the full width of a flow field.

主权项

1. A fluid flow plate for an electrochemical assembly, comprising:
a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending across a face of the flow plate to define a first fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate; a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending across a face of the flow plate to define a second fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate, the pluralities of first fluid flow channels and second fluid flow channels both occupying a common channel plane; an array of first fluid transfer points disposed along an edge of the first fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the first fluid flow channels; an array of second fluid transfer points disposed along an edge of the second fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the second fluid flow channels; a first fluid gallery having a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of first fluid transfer points and having a second peripheral edge portion forming a first fluid communication edge of the fluid flow plate, a second fluid gallery having a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of second fluid transfer points and having a second peripheral edge portion forming a second fluid communication edge of the fluid flow plate, wherein the first fluid gallery occupies a first gallery plane and the second fluid gallery occupies a second gallery plane different from the first gallery plane, and in which both the first gallery plane and the second gallery plane are disposed within the channel plane.