Title:
PEM FUEL CELL PASSIVE WATER MANAGEMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2004114434
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
Water flow field inlet manifolds (33, 37) are disposed at the fuel cell stack (11) base. Water flow field outlet manifolds (34, 38) are located at the fuel cell stack top. Outlet and inlet manifolds are interconnected (41-43, 47, 49, 50) so gas bubbles leaking through the porous water transport plate cause flow by natural convection, with no mechanical water pump. Variation in water level within a standpipe (58) controls (56, 60, 62, 63) the temperature or flow of coolant. In another embodiment, the water is not circulated, but gas and excess water are vented from the water outlet manifolds. Water channels (70) may be vertical. A hydrophobic region (80) provides gas leakage to ensure bubble pumping of water. An external heat exchanger (77) maximizes water density differential for convective flow.
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Inventors:
GRASSO ALBERT P (US)
SCHEFFLER GLENN W (US)
VAN DINE LESLIE L (US)
DUFNER BRYAN F (US)
BREAULT RICHARD D (US)
SCHEFFLER GLENN W (US)
VAN DINE LESLIE L (US)
DUFNER BRYAN F (US)
BREAULT RICHARD D (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2004/019570
Publication Date:
January 27, 2005
Filing Date:
June 17, 2004
Export Citation:
Assignee:
UTC FUEL CELLS LLC (US)
GRASSO ALBERT P (US)
SCHEFFLER GLENN W (US)
VAN DINE LESLIE L (US)
DUFNER BRYAN F (US)
BREAULT RICHARD D (US)
GRASSO ALBERT P (US)
SCHEFFLER GLENN W (US)
VAN DINE LESLIE L (US)
DUFNER BRYAN F (US)
BREAULT RICHARD D (US)
International Classes:
H01M2/00; H01M2/02; H01M2/08; H01M2/12; H01M2/14; H01M2/36; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/04; H01M8/10; H01M; (IPC1-7): H01M8/00; H01M2/00; H01M2/02; H01M2/08; H01M2/14; H01M2/12; H01M2/36
Foreign References:
| US6355368B1 | 2002-03-12 |
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