A fluid flow plate for an electrochemical fuel cell assembly comprises a first plurality of fluid flow channels extending across an area of the flow plate to define a flow field of the fluid flow plate. An array of first fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the fluid flow channels. A gallery has a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of first fluid transfer points and at least two second peripheral edge portions each bounded by an array of second fluid transfer points disposed along fluid access edges of the fluid flow plate. The at least two second peripheral edge portions are disposed at oblique angles to the first peripheral edge portion such that the total length of the any of second fluid transfer points is at least as long as, and preferably longer than, the length of the array of first fluid transfer points. Disposing the at least two second peripheral edge portions at oblique angles to the first peripheral edge portion enables the lengths of the second peripheral edge portions of each gallery to be increased compared to the length of the first fluid transfer points (i.e. width of the active flow field area) which optimizes fluid distribution into the channels of the flow plate.

A fluid flow plate for an electrochemical fuel cell assembly comprises a first plurality of fluid flow channels extending across an area of the flow plate to define a flow field of the fluid flow plate. An array of first fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the fluid flow channels. A gallery has a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of first fluid transfer points and at least two second peripheral edge portions each bounded by an array of second fluid transfer points disposed along fluid access edges of the fluid flow plate. The at least two second peripheral edge portions are disposed at oblique angles to the first peripheral edge portion such that the total length of the any of second fluid transfer points is at least as long as, and preferably longer than, the length of the array of first fluid transfer points. Disposing the at least two second peripheral edge portions at oblique angles to the first peripheral edge portion enables the lengths of the second peripheral edge portions of each gallery to be increased compared to the length of the first fluid transfer points (i.e. width of the active flow field area) which optimizes fluid distribution into the channels of the flow plate.

The disclosure relates to a fuel cell, a bipolar plate and a bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell. The bipolar plate comprises: at least one distributing region; at least one first through hole which communicates with the distributing region via a circumferential opening on a sidewall as an inlet of a first reactant; and at least one second through hole which communicates with the distributing region via a circumferential opening on a sidewall as an outlet of a first reactant. Each of the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole has a cross section of approximately trapezoid with an arc edge or an oblique edge, and the circumferential opening is formed on a curved sidewall or on an oblique sidewall. The fuel cell has improved structural design of the bipolar plate to improve flow uniformity and hydrothermal management of the fuel cell, thereby improving large current discharge performance and power density of the fuel cell. It can improve power performance, fuel efficiency and cruising range of electric vehicles.

The disclosure relates to a fuel cell, a bipolar plate and a bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell. The bipolar plate comprises: at least one distributing region; at least one first through hole which communicates with the distributing region via a circumferential opening on a sidewall as an inlet of a first reactant; and at least one second through hole which communicates with the distributing region via a circumferential opening on a sidewall as an outlet of a first reactant. Each of the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole has a cross section of approximately trapezoid with an arc edge or an oblique edge, and the circumferential opening is formed on a curved sidewall or on an oblique sidewall. The fuel cell has improved structural design of the bipolar plate to improve flow uniformity and hydrothermal management of the fuel cell, thereby improving large current discharge performance and power density of the fuel cell. It can improve power performance, fuel efficiency and cruising range of electric vehicles.

Electrochemical systems comprising separator plates and the separator plates comprising a first individual plate and a second individual plate. The individual plate comprising: an electrochemically active region, at least one through-opening and a sealing bead. Conveying channels adjoin a bead flank of the sealing bead and the conveying channels connecting the through-opening and the sealing bead interior. A plurality of first weld sections connecting the two individual plates and the first weld sections extend in the direction of the first conveying channels and arranged between the first conveying channels.

Electrochemical systems comprising separator plates and the separator plates comprising a first individual plate and a second individual plate. The individual plate comprising: an electrochemically active region, at least one through-opening and a sealing bead. Conveying channels adjoin a bead flank of the sealing bead and the conveying channels connecting the through-opening and the sealing bead interior. A plurality of first weld sections connecting the two individual plates and the first weld sections extend in the direction of the first conveying channels and arranged between the first conveying channels.

A cooling plate assembly includes an anode half-plate having an anode upper surface and an opposing anode lower surface, and a cathode half-plate having a cathode upper surface and an opposing cathode lower surface, the cathode lower surface configured to engage the anode upper surface. The assembly further includes a cooling tube disposed between and engaging the anode upper surface and the cathode lower surface.

A process (30) for producing a distributor plate (1) for an electrochemical system, wherein the distributor plate (1) has at least one metal foil (2) having a first surface (3) and a second surface (4) and the process (30) has the following process steps: a) pretreatment (31) of the metal foil (2); b) mask formation (32) at least on the first surface (3) of the pretreated metal foil (2); c) structure formation (33) at least on the first surface (3) of the metal foil (2) provided with the mask (10), as a result of which a first fluid distributor structure (5) is formed; d) mask removal (36).

A process (30) for producing a distributor plate (1) for an electrochemical system, wherein the distributor plate (1) has at least one metal foil (2) having a first surface (3) and a second surface (4) and the process (30) has the following process steps: a) pretreatment (31) of the metal foil (2); b) mask formation (32) at least on the first surface (3) of the pretreated metal foil (2); c) structure formation (33) at least on the first surface (3) of the metal foil (2) provided with the mask (10), as a result of which a first fluid distributor structure (5) is formed; d) mask removal (36).

A fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer includes a sheet-like porous body layer, and a plurality of gas passage grooves formed on one surface of the porous body layer in parallel and formed in a zigzag shape or a wave shape respectively. As viewed in a plan view, a first rectangular region where circumscribes one gas passage groove and a second rectangular region where circumscribes a gas passage groove adjacent to the one gas passage groove overlap along a region in contact each other. An overlapping region where the first rectangular region and the second rectangular region overlap exists at any depth position of the grooves. According to the fuel cell gas supply and diffusion layer, it is possible to increase a power generation efficiency of a fuel cell.