Flow Field Plate and Compressor Comprising Such Plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flow field plate for a solid state compressor cell, including an essentially flat body, having two opposite surfaces and an edge, provided with a channel plan for gas distribution, that extends from multiple locations at a border of the field plate to multiple locations at the surface of the essentially flat body wherein the essentially flat body is provided with recesses at both sides, the recesses at each side including a first set of parallel lanes, crossing a second set of parallel lanes.

Claims

1. A flow field plate for a solid-state compressor cell, comprising: an essentially flat body, having two opposite surfaces and an edge; provided with a channel plan for gas distribution, that extends from multiple locations at a border of the field plate to multiple locations at the surface of the essentially flat body; characterized in that the essentially flat body is provided with recesses at both sides, the recesses at each side comprising a first set of parallel lanes, crossing a second set of parallel lanes.

2. The flow field plate according to claim 1, wherein the flat body comprises through holes, extending from the first surface to the second surface.

3. The flow field plate according to claim 1, wherein the essentially flat body has a maximum thickness, defined as the length of a straight line from the one surface to the other surface, wherein less than 50% of the essentially flat body has the maximum thickness.

4. The flow field plate according to claim 1, formed out of multiple parts.

5. The flow field plate according to claim 4, wherein two parts of the essentially flat body besides a recess are separate parts.

6. The flow field plate according to claim 2, wherein the through holes have a size between 1 and 200 micron.

7. The flow field plate according to claim 1, comprising holes in the direction of the plane, having a size between 10 and 240 micron.

8. The flow field plate according to claim 1, wherein the flow field plate is at least partially elastic.

9. A solid state compressor cell, comprising: two cell plates, enclosing a channel structure, formed by a number of recesses provided on a surface of one of the cell plates, used for the transport of a coolant and connecting a fluid feed on one end thereof and to a fluid discharge on another end thereof; and comprising a number of recesses provided on the outer surfaces of the cell plates facing away from the other cell plate; at least two flow field plates according to any of the preceding claims, positioned on the recessed outer surfaces of the cell plates to form further channel structures for supplying a working fluid to, respectively diverting a working fluid away from, a proton exchange membrane; said proton exchange membrane.

10. The solid state compressor cell according to claim 8, wherein the field plates are clamped between the cell plates together with the membrane.

11. The solid state compressor cell according to claim 8, wherein the field plates are diffusion-bonded with the cell plates.

12. The solid state compressor cell according to claim 1, wherein the field, the cell plates and the membrane are sealed in a fluid-tight manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the invention; and

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention hereto proposes a flow field plate for a solid state compressor cell, comprising an essentially flat body having two opposite surfaces and an edge, provided with a channel plan for gas distribution, that extends from multiple locations at a border of the field plate to multiple locations at the surface of the essentially flat body wherein the essentially flat body is provided with recesses at both sides, the recesses at each side comprising a first set of parallel lanes, crossing a second set of parallel lanes.

[0011] It has appeared that a flow field plate comprising such channel plan has an increased distribution of the gas flow toward and from the membrane surface, which leads to a higher flow rate and a better use of the available membrane surface. Due to its architecture, the channel plan further decreases the mechanical resistance the gas undergoes, which further improves the performance of the compressor.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the flow field plate according to the invention claims the flat body comprises through holes, extending from the first surface to the second surface. Herewith the flow and distribution are further improved, and the mechanical resistance the gas undergoes further decreased. In particular a flow in both all directions of the plane, and the direction perpendicular thereto is allowed herewith.

[0013] In yet a further embodiment, the essentially flat body has a maximum thickness, defined as the length of a straight line from the one surface to the other surface, but less than 50% of the essentially flat body has this maximum thickness. At locations where the thickness is less than the maximum thickness, space for gas flow is available at the surface.

[0014] The flow field plate according to the invention may be formed out of multiple parts. This allows to create forms that cannot be achieved by state of the art techniques like etching, and—given the extreme small size of the recesses, channels and openings—also not yet by techniques like 3D printing. In particular two parts of the essentially flat body besides a recess may be separate parts.

[0015] The invention also relates to a solid state compressor cell, comprising two cell plates, enclosing a channel structure, formed by a number of recesses provided on a surface of one of the cell plates, used for the transport of a coolant and connecting a fluid feed on one end thereof and to a fluid discharge on another end thereof; and comprising a number of recesses provided on the outer surfaces of the cell plates facing away from the other cell plate, comprising at least two field plates as described above, positioned on the recessed outer surfaces of the cell plates to form further channel structures for supplying a working fluid to respectively diverting a working fluid away from a proton exchange membrane.

[0016] These field plates may be clamped between the cell plates together with the membrane, or diffusion-bonded with the cell plates. In any case, it is desired that the cell plates and the membrane are sealed in a fluid-tight manner.

[0017] It is also possible that the channel structure is configured for supplying a working fluid to or diverting a working fluid away from a proton exchange membrane. The channel structure may hereto connect directly to the membrane assembly, in a typical case consisting of a proton exchange membrane, on both sides sandwiched between a catalyst layer and optionally a gas diffusion layer. Alternatively, the channel structure may connect to a further channel structure provided in a further cell plate or flow plate, or enclosed between one of the two cell plates and said further cell plate or flow plate. In the direction of the plane, the size of the holes may preferably be between 10 and 240 micron, in the direction perpendicular it may be between 1 and 200 micron.

[0018] A thus formed flow plate has appeared to be mechanically sufficiently strong to withstand the forces in a compressor. Preferably the flow plate is made at least locally elastically deformable, in order to compensate for irregularities in the thickness of the membrane of the cell plates.