The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for inducing a secondary flow from a first groove in a bipolar plate of a fuel cell to a second groove in the bipolar plate over a first land in the bipolar plate wherein the land is adjacent to a compressed section of a gas diffusion layer in the fuel cell, and wherein the secondary flow increases locally available oxygen and hydrogen at the membrane electrode assembly adjacent to the compressed section of the gas diffusion layer.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for inducing a secondary flow from a first groove in a bipolar plate of a fuel cell to a second groove in the bipolar plate over a first land in the bipolar plate wherein the land is adjacent to a compressed section of a gas diffusion layer in the fuel cell, and wherein the secondary flow increases locally available oxygen and hydrogen at the membrane electrode assembly adjacent to the compressed section of the gas diffusion layer.

Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

The present disclosure relates to the field of fuel cells. The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell component, comprising a plate body, with the following provided on the plate body: an anode gas flow path leading from an anode inlet to an anode outlet; a cathode gas flow path leading from a cathode inlet to a cathode outlet; and a coolant flow path leading from a coolant inlet to a coolant outlet, the coolant flow path being configured such that coolant is partially diverted from the coolant inlet to a designated region of the plate body and mixes with an undiverted portion in the designated region, in order to enhance cooling capacity in the designated region by means of the mixed coolant. The present disclosure also relates to a fuel cell system and a heat management method for the fuel cell component.

A separator for a fuel cell includes protrusions and gas passage portions. The protrusions each include a contact surface configured to contact a power generation portion. The gas passage portions are each arranged between two adjacent ones of the protrusions. An upstream side and a downstream side are defined with reference to a direction in which reactant gas flows through the gas passage portions. The protrusions each include a downstream end. The contact surfaces of the protrusions each include a first groove extending along an extending direction of the protrusions. The downstream end of each of the protrusions includes a separation surface. The separation surface is continuous with the contact surface on the downstream side and separated from the power generation portion. The separation surface includes a second groove that is continuous with the first groove.

A separator for a fuel cell includes protrusions and gas passage portions. The protrusions each include a contact surface configured to contact a power generation portion. The gas passage portions are each arranged between two adjacent ones of the protrusions. An upstream side and a downstream side are defined with reference to a direction in which reactant gas flows through the gas passage portions. The protrusions each include a downstream end. The contact surfaces of the protrusions each include a first groove extending along an extending direction of the protrusions. The downstream end of each of the protrusions includes a separation surface. The separation surface is continuous with the contact surface on the downstream side and separated from the power generation portion. The separation surface includes a second groove that is continuous with the first groove.

Disclosed is an improved fuel cell apparatus. The fuel cell apparatus comprises at least one fuel cell, the fuel cell comprising two bipolar plates (200a 200b), one providing an anode side, and the other providing a cathode side, the fuel cell being configured to have a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and a membrane electrode assembly (422) disposed between the fuel inlets (201) and fuel outlets (203) of the bipolar plates. The at least one fuel cell is retained by a housing, the housing comprising a first outer plate and a second outer plate, each located on an opposite face of the at least one fuel cell. The housing further comprises a cooling element support which is adapted to support one or more fans that are adapted to provide an air flow toward the at least one fuel cell.

To provide an air-cooled fuel cell with increased durability and power generation performance. An air-cooled fuel cell wherein the air-cooled fuel cell includes a second separator, a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, a first separator and a cooling plate in this order; wherein a sum of a flow path width and rib width of third flow paths is larger than a sum of a flow path width and rib width of first flow paths and a sum of a flow path width and rib width of second flow paths; wherein, in a power generation region in which the first separator, the second separator and the cooling plate overlap with the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly when viewed from above, part of the first flow paths, part of the second flow paths, and part of the third flow paths intersect with each other.

To provide an air-cooled fuel cell with increased durability and power generation performance. An air-cooled fuel cell wherein the air-cooled fuel cell includes a second separator, a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, a first separator and a cooling plate in this order; wherein a sum of a flow path width and rib width of third flow paths is larger than a sum of a flow path width and rib width of first flow paths and a sum of a flow path width and rib width of second flow paths; wherein, in a power generation region in which the first separator, the second separator and the cooling plate overlap with the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly when viewed from above, part of the first flow paths, part of the second flow paths, and part of the third flow paths intersect with each other.