Bipolar plates and regenerative fuel cell stacks including same

摘要

A bipolar plate and regenerative fuel cell stacks including the bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) alternately stacked. The bipolar plate comprises a plate main body formed of an electrically conductive material. The plate main body has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Each surface has reaction flow channels through which fluids pass. The reaction flow channels on the first surface have a plurality of ribs therebetween forming an interdigitate flow field pattern. The reaction flow channels on the second surface have a plurality of ribs therebetween forming an interdigitate flow field pattern or a flow field pattern different from an interdigitate flow field pattern, e.g., a serpentine flow field pattern.

主权项

1. A frame for a bipolar plate, said frame comprising:
a frame main body formed of an insulation material, said frame main body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; said frame main body having an aperture therethrough; and connection channels that are formed in the frame main body to connect to reaction flow channels in the bipolar plate; wherein the bipolar plate comprises: a plate main body formed of an electrically conductive material, said plate main body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, each surface having reaction flow channels through which fluids pass; manifolds formed on the plate main body in the form of an inlet to introduce a fluid to the reaction flow channels and an outlet to discharge the fluid from the reaction flow channels; connection channels that are formed on the plate main body to connect the reaction flow channels and the manifolds, wherein said connection channels have a length from the reaction flow channels to the manifolds and a cross section area sufficient to form an internal ionic solution resistor that reduces a shunt current; wherein the length and the cross section area of the connection channels are determined by a potential across the manifolds, conductivity of ionic solutions that pass through the connection channels, and maximum allowed shunt currents; said reaction flow channels on the first surface having a plurality of ribs therebetween forming an interdigitate flow field pattern, and said reaction flow channels on the second surface having a plurality of ribs therebetween forming an interdigitate flow field pattern or a flow field pattern different from an interdigitate flow field pattern.