Fluid distribution surface for solid oxide fuel cells

• US 6,509,113 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Keegan, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alejandro, R.
• Application Number:
  US09/738,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20020076600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/38, 429/39, 429/30, 204/252, 204/257, 204/263, 204/269, 204/275.1, 210/321.64, 210/321.72, 210/321.75, 210/321.81
• US Class Current: 429/465
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0258 characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/026 characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0265 the reactant or coolant channels having varying cross sections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2432 Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by an electrode fluid distributor. The electrode fluid distributor comprises a fluid passageway having a first end with an inlet and a second end with an outlet. A baffle is included that diagonally traverses the fluid passageway from the first end to the second end, and from a base of the fluid passageway toward an at least partially open side of the fluid passageway. The baffle defines at least a portion of a first reservoir and at least a portion of a second reservoir, with the inlet defining at least a portion of one end of the first reservoir and the outlet defining at least a portion of one end of the second reservoir. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet over the baffle. The first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

Claims

1. An electrode fluid distributor, comprising:

a fluid passageway having a first end with an inlet, a second end with an outlet, with a baffle diagonally traversing the fluid passageway from the first end to the second end and from a base of the fluid passageway toward an at least partially open side of the fluid passageway, and defining at least a fist portion of a first reservoir and at least a second portion of a second reservoir, with the inlet defining at least the first portion of the first reservoir and the outlet defining at least the second portion of the second reservoir,

wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet over the baffle, and wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

2. The electrode fluid distributor as in claim 1, further wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the base which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

3. The electrode fluid distributor as in claim 1, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the inlet and which is greater than about 90% than proximate the outlet.

4. The electrode fluid distributor as in claim 1, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the base which is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the outlet and which is greater than about 90% than proximate the inlet.

5. The electrode fluid distributor as in claim 1, wherein said baffle has a dimension in a direction from the base to the open portion that is constant along the length of the fluid passageway.

6. The electrode fluid distributor as in claim 1, wherein said baffle has a dimension in a direction from the base to the open portion that varies along the length of the fluid passageway.

7. The electrode fluid distributor as in claim 1, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the fist reservoir has a first width proximate the open side, the first width is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the inlet and is greater than about 90% than proximate the outlet, flier wherein the first width, proximate the base is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the outlet and is greater than about 90% than proximate the inlet, and further wherein the first width is about 50% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate a midpoint between the inlet and the outlet, such that the baffle is twisted between the inlet and the outlet.

8. A solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising:

a first cell having an anode;

a second cell having a cathode;

an electrode fluid distributor, comprising a first surface in electrical contact with the anode of the first cell and in fluid communication with the anode of the first cell the first surface including a fluid passageway having a first end with an inlet, a second end with X outlet, with a baffle diagonally traversing the fluid passageway from the first end to the second;

end and from a base of the fluid passageway toward an at least partially open side of the fluid passageway, and defining at least a first portion of a first reservoir and at least a second portion of a second reservoir, with the inlet defining at least the first portion of the first reservoir and the outlet defining at least the second portion of the second reservoir;

wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet over the baffle, and wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the, open side which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

9. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, further wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the base which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

10. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the inlet and which is greater than about 90% than proximate the outlet.

11. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is less than about 5% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the inlet and which is greater than about 95% than proximate the outlet.

12. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is less than about 1% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the inlet and which is greater than about 99% than proximate the outlet.

13. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the base which is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the outlet and which is greater than about 90% than proximate the inlet.

14. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the base which is less than about 5% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the outlet and which is greater than about 95% than proximate the inlet.

15. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, the fluid passageway having a width, wherein the first reservoir has a width proximate the base which is less than about 10% of the width of the fluid passageway proximate the inlet and which is greater than about 90% than proximate the outlet.

16. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, wherein said baffle has a dimension in a direction from the base to the open portion that is constant along the length of the fluid passageway.

17. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, wherein said baffle has a dimension in a direction from the base to the open portion that varies along the length of the fluid passageway.

18. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 8, further comprising a second surface configured for fluid communication and electrical contact with the cathode of the second cell.