Bonding electrochemical cell components
First Claim
1. A fluid cooled bipolar plate assembly comprising:
- two electronically conducting fluid impermeable plates;
an electronically conducting cooling fluid permeable flow field bonded in electronic communication between the two electronically conducting plates; and
a frame disposed around a perimeter of the cooling fluid permeable flow field and bonded between the two electronically conducting plates, wherein the frame has channels for providing fluid communication between the cooling fluid permeable flow field and a fluid source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method for preparing subassemblies for an electrochemical cell or a stack of electrochemical cells, particularly a stack of fuel cells for the direct generation of electricity. The method includes bonding together two or more electrochemical cell components, such as plates, frames, flow fields, shims, gaskets, membranes and the like, to form subassemblies used to make an electrochemical cell stack. The bonding can be accomplished using either polymeric bonds (i.e., adhesives) where polymer and/or metal components are involved or metallurgical bonds (i.e., solder) where metal components are involved. The bonding provides tightly sealed cells and lower electronic contact resistances between components.
55 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A fluid cooled bipolar plate assembly comprising:
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two electronically conducting fluid impermeable plates;
an electronically conducting cooling fluid permeable flow field bonded in electronic communication between the two electronically conducting plates; and
a frame disposed around a perimeter of the cooling fluid permeable flow field and bonded between the two electronically conducting plates, wherein the frame has channels for providing fluid communication between the cooling fluid permeable flow field and a fluid source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 37, 38)
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24. A bipolar plate for electrochemical cells, comprising:
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two or more porous, electrically conducting sheets selected from expanded metal mesh, woven metal mesh, metal foam, conducting polymer foam, porous conductive carbon material or combinations thereof;
an electrically conducting gas barrier disposed in electrical contact between the sheets; and
a cell frame disposed around a periphery of any one of the two or more porous electrically conducting sheets, wherein the cell frame has at least one surface that is bonded to the gas barrier. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A bipolar plate for electrochemical cells, comprising:
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two porous metal sheet flowfields;
a metal sheet gas barrier metallurgically bonded between the two porous metal sheet flowfields; and
a cell frame disposed around a periphery of one or more of the two porous metal sheet flowfields, wherein the cell frame has at least one surface that is bonded to the metal sheet gas barrier. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 39)
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Specification