FLUID FLOW PLATE FOR A FUEL CELL

摘要

A fluid flow plate for an electrochemical assembly has a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending across an active area 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 the active area of the flow plate to define a second fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate. 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 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 and the second fluid gallery are shaped such that the combined lengths of the second peripheral edge portions are longer than the first peripheral edge portion of the second fluid gallery or the first fluid gallery. Increasing the lengths of the second peripheral edge portions of each gallery to the maximum possible length compared to the length of fluid transfer points (i.e. width of the active flow field area) optimises fluid distribution into the channels of the flow plate.