The presently disclosed subject matter relates to devices, systems, and methods of producing an improved fluid flow assembly and liquid/gas diffusion layer in solid polymer electrolyte electrochemical cells. In one aspect, a fluid flow assembly for a polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer includes a flow field having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of discrete lands arranged within the flow field. A liquid/gas diffusion layer is positioned in communication with the flow field between the inlet and the outlet, the liquid/gas diffusion layer having a solid substrate through which a plurality of pores is formed. The disclosed bipolar plate flow field and liquid/gas diffusion layer could work together or separately with other types of porous transport layers or bipolar plates to enhance the water/gas transport. In these configurations, the lands can be arranged and configured such that the plurality of pores are substantially unobstructed by the lands.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to devices, systems, and methods of producing an improved fluid flow assembly and liquid/gas diffusion layer in solid polymer electrolyte electrochemical cells. In one aspect, a fluid flow assembly for a polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer includes a flow field having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of discrete lands arranged within the flow field. A liquid/gas diffusion layer is positioned in communication with the flow field between the inlet and the outlet, the liquid/gas diffusion layer having a solid substrate through which a plurality of pores is formed. The disclosed bipolar plate flow field and liquid/gas diffusion layer could work together or separately with other types of porous transport layers or bipolar plates to enhance the water/gas transport. In these configurations, the lands can be arranged and configured such that the plurality of pores are substantially unobstructed by the lands.

A separator for a fuel cell includes protrusions spaced apart from each other. The protrusions are configured to contact a power generation portion. The separator includes a gas passage that extends between two adjacent ones of the protrusions. The gas passage includes ribs that protrude toward the power generation portion. The ribs include first ribs spaced apart from each other in an arrangement direction of the protrusions and a second rib located between adjacent ones of the first ribs in the arrangement direction. A downstream end of each of the first ribs includes a separated portion separated from the power generation portion. An upstream end of the second rib includes an inclined portion inclined so as to become closer to the power generation portion toward a downstream side. At least part of the inclined portion is located downstream of at least part of the separated portion.

A separator for a fuel cell includes protrusions spaced apart from each other. The protrusions are configured to contact a power generation portion. The separator includes a gas passage that extends between two adjacent ones of the protrusions. The gas passage includes ribs that protrude toward the power generation portion. The ribs include first ribs spaced apart from each other in an arrangement direction of the protrusions and a second rib located between adjacent ones of the first ribs in the arrangement direction. A downstream end of each of the first ribs includes a separated portion separated from the power generation portion. An upstream end of the second rib includes an inclined portion inclined so as to become closer to the power generation portion toward a downstream side. At least part of the inclined portion is located downstream of at least part of the separated portion.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (10) for a fuel cell (100), comprising—an internal coolant flow field (33), which comprises a coolant channel (43), and—a first and a second flat side (11, 12) with a first and second reactant flow field (31, 32) respectively, which has at least one first and second channel structure (41, 42) respectively, wherein—the first and the second channel structure (41, 42) each form a trunk channel (44) and branch channels (46), wherein the branch channels (46) branch off in a branching region (48) from the respective trunk channel (44), and a first intermediate region (51) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the first channel structure (31), and a second intermediate region (52) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the second channel structure (32), wherein normal projections of the first and second intermediate region (51, 52) onto a center plane (56) of the bipolar plate (10), which center plane is arranged between the two flat sides (11, 12) of the bipolar plate (10), partially overlap so that an overlapping region (53) is formed. It is provided that the coolant channel (43) extends from an outer region (54), which is located outside the first and second intermediate region (51, 52), into the overlapping region (53), crossing a transit region (55) in the process, wherein the transit region (55) is a subregion of the normal projection of the first intermediate region (51) onto the center plane, which projects from the overlapping region (53).

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (10) for a fuel cell (100), comprising—an internal coolant flow field (33), which comprises a coolant channel (43), and—a first and a second flat side (11, 12) with a first and second reactant flow field (31, 32) respectively, which has at least one first and second channel structure (41, 42) respectively, wherein—the first and the second channel structure (41, 42) each form a trunk channel (44) and branch channels (46), wherein the branch channels (46) branch off in a branching region (48) from the respective trunk channel (44), and a first intermediate region (51) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the first channel structure (31), and a second intermediate region (52) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the second channel structure (32), wherein normal projections of the first and second intermediate region (51, 52) onto a center plane (56) of the bipolar plate (10), which center plane is arranged between the two flat sides (11, 12) of the bipolar plate (10), partially overlap so that an overlapping region (53) is formed. It is provided that the coolant channel (43) extends from an outer region (54), which is located outside the first and second intermediate region (51, 52), into the overlapping region (53), crossing a transit region (55) in the process, wherein the transit region (55) is a subregion of the normal projection of the first intermediate region (51) onto the center plane, which projects from the overlapping region (53).

An electrochemical module (EM) transfers a fluid across a membrane thereof using oxygen as a carrier gas. The EM has an anion exchange membrane (AEM) disposed between a first and second electrodes, each of which includes a catalyst. At an inlet side, the catalyst facilitates reaction of the fluid with carrier gas, such that an anion is formed. The anion is transported across the AEM in the presence of an electric field applied to the electrodes. At an outlet side, the catalyst facilitates dissociation of the anion back to the fluid and carrier gas. In some embodiments, the fluid comprises carbon dioxide, and the transporting by the EM is part of a heating/cooling cycle or a power generation cycle, or is used to capture carbon dioxide for storage or regeneration of stale air. In some embodiments, the fluid comprises water vapor, and the transporting by the EM dehumidifies air.

An electrochemical module (EM) transfers a fluid across a membrane thereof using oxygen as a carrier gas. The EM has an anion exchange membrane (AEM) disposed between a first and second electrodes, each of which includes a catalyst. At an inlet side, the catalyst facilitates reaction of the fluid with carrier gas, such that an anion is formed. The anion is transported across the AEM in the presence of an electric field applied to the electrodes. At an outlet side, the catalyst facilitates dissociation of the anion back to the fluid and carrier gas. In some embodiments, the fluid comprises carbon dioxide, and the transporting by the EM is part of a heating/cooling cycle or a power generation cycle, or is used to capture carbon dioxide for storage or regeneration of stale air. In some embodiments, the fluid comprises water vapor, and the transporting by the EM dehumidifies air.

The invention relates to a single corrugated fuel cell and a cell stack. The single cell comprises an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a membrane electrode assembly; the anode plate is of a corrugated structure and a plurality of anode channels and anode ribs are arranged on the anode plate in parallel; the cathode plate is of a corrugated structure engaged with the anode plate and a plurality of cathode channels and cathode ribs are arranged on the cathode plate in parallel; the membrane electrode assembly is arranged between the anode plate and the cathode plate. The single cell presents a corrugated structure in a width direction of the channel. A plurality of single cells are stacked in sequence to form a fuel cell stack. Compared with the prior art, the invention significantly increases the reaction area per unit volume of the fuel cell through the corrugated structural design, thereby improving the power density of the fuel cell. In addition, the present invention has little change to the existing processing and manufacturing technology, and thus has high production feasibility.

The invention relates to a single corrugated fuel cell and a cell stack. The single cell comprises an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a membrane electrode assembly; the anode plate is of a corrugated structure and a plurality of anode channels and anode ribs are arranged on the anode plate in parallel; the cathode plate is of a corrugated structure engaged with the anode plate and a plurality of cathode channels and cathode ribs are arranged on the cathode plate in parallel; the membrane electrode assembly is arranged between the anode plate and the cathode plate. The single cell presents a corrugated structure in a width direction of the channel. A plurality of single cells are stacked in sequence to form a fuel cell stack. Compared with the prior art, the invention significantly increases the reaction area per unit volume of the fuel cell through the corrugated structural design, thereby improving the power density of the fuel cell. In addition, the present invention has little change to the existing processing and manufacturing technology, and thus has high production feasibility.