Modularized fuel cell devices and fluid flow plate assemblies

摘要

A fuel cell module may include a membrane electrode assembly, two gas diffusion layers, two current collectors, two sealing members, a fluid flow plate assembly. The fluid flow plate assembly may include a first manifold, a second manifold, and a fluid flow channel. The membrane electrode assembly may include at least one membrane for fuel cell reactions. The two gas diffusion layers may be respectively coupled with two opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. The two current collectors respectively coupled with the two gas diffusion layers, and the two sealing members respectively coupled with the two current collectors. The fluid flow plate assembly may be coupled with the membrane electrode assembly at a first side of the two opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly, with at least a corresponding one of the two gas diffusion layers, at least a corresponding one of the two current collectors, and at least a corresponding one of the two sealing members coupled between the fluid flow plate assembly and the first side of the membrane electrode.

主权项

1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a first fuel cell module including a first fluid flow plate assembly, wherein the first fluid flow plate assembly includes:
a first manifold having a fluid inlet for receiving an incoming fluid, the first manifold extending along a first direction and providing a channel for transporting the incoming fluid partially along the first direction, the first manifold having at least one distribution outlet, wherein the first manifold releases at least one portion of the incoming fluid as a released fluid through the at least one distribution outlet;a second manifold having a fluid outlet for discharging a discharged fluid, the discharged fluid comprising at least one portion of the incoming fluid, the second manifold extending along a second direction and providing a channel for transporting the discharged fluid partially along the second direction, the second manifold receiving the discharged fluid through at least one discharged fluid inlet on the second manifold; andat least one first fluid flow channel coupled between the first manifold and the second manifold and between at least one of the at least one distribution outlet and at least one of the at least one discharged fluid inlet for distributing at least one portion of the released fluid, the at least one first fluid flow channel having multiple channel sections extending in at least two directions and extending substantially along a first fluid distribution plane, the at least one portion of the released fluid flowing through the at least one first fluid flow channel and to the at least one of the at least one discharged fluid inlet as at least one portion of the discharged fluid; a second fuel cell module including a second fluid flow plate assembly, wherein the second fluid flow plate assembly includes:
a third manifold having a fluid inlet for receiving an incoming fluid, the third manifold extending along the first direction and providing a channel for transporting the incoming fluid partially along the first direction, the third manifold having at least one distribution outlet, wherein the third manifold releases at least one portion of the incoming fluid as a released fluid through the at least one distribution outlet;a fourth manifold having a fluid outlet for discharging a discharged fluid, the discharged fluid comprising at least one portion of the incoming fluid, the fourth manifold extending along the second direction and providing a channel for transporting the discharged fluid partially along the second direction, the fourth manifold receiving the discharged fluid through at least one discharged fluid inlet on the fourth manifold; andat least one second fluid flow channel coupled between the third manifold and the fourth manifold and between at least one of the at least one distribution outlet and at least one of the at least one discharged fluid inlet for distributing at least one portion of the released fluid, the at least one second fluid flow channel having multiple channel sections extending in at least two directions and extending substantially along a second fluid distribution plane, the at least one portion of the released fluid flowing through the at least one second fluid flow channel and to the at least one of the at least one discharged fluid inlet as at least one portion of the discharged fluid; wherein the first direction is substantially parallel with the first fluid distribution plane and the second fluid distribution plane, and the second direction is substantially parallel with the first fluid distribution plane and the second fluid distribution plane; and a flexible external tubular section coupled between the first manifold of the first fluid flow plate assembly and the third manifold of the second fluid flow plate assembly, wherein the flexible external tubular section enables a flow of the incoming fluid between the first fuel cell module and the second fuel cell module.