17815047. DISCRETE MICROCHANNELS AND MICROSTRUCTURES EMBEDDED IN METAL FOAM GAS DIFFUSION LAYER FOR PEM FUEL CELLS simplified abstract (TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA)
DISCRETE MICROCHANNELS AND MICROSTRUCTURES EMBEDDED IN METAL FOAM GAS DIFFUSION LAYER FOR PEM FUEL CELLS
Organization Name
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Inventor(s)
Yuqing Zhou of Ann Arbor MI (US)
Gaohua Zhu of Ann Arbor MI (US)
Ercan M Dede of Ann Arbor MI (US)
Hongfei Jia of Ann Arbor MI (US)
Debasish Banerjee of Ann Arbor MI (US)
DISCRETE MICROCHANNELS AND MICROSTRUCTURES EMBEDDED IN METAL FOAM GAS DIFFUSION LAYER FOR PEM FUEL CELLS - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17815047 titled 'DISCRETE MICROCHANNELS AND MICROSTRUCTURES EMBEDDED IN METAL FOAM GAS DIFFUSION LAYER FOR PEM FUEL CELLS
Simplified Explanation
The abstract of the patent application describes a fuel cell assembly that includes a stack consisting of a bipolar plate and a gas diffusion layer (GDL). The GDL is made of a microporous metal foam that contains embedded discrete microchannels or microstructures.
- The fuel cell assembly includes a stack with a bipolar plate and a gas diffusion layer made of a microporous metal foam.
- The microporous metal foam contains discrete microchannels or microstructures embedded within it.
Potential Applications:
- Fuel cell technology can be used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, and stationary power generation.
- This specific innovation can improve the performance and efficiency of fuel cells by enhancing the gas diffusion process.
Problems Solved:
- Fuel cell performance can be limited by inefficient gas diffusion, leading to reduced power output and efficiency.
- The use of a microporous metal foam with embedded microchannels or microstructures helps to overcome these limitations by improving gas diffusion within the fuel cell.
Benefits:
- Improved gas diffusion leads to enhanced performance and efficiency of the fuel cell assembly.
- The use of a microporous metal foam provides a lightweight and durable solution for the gas diffusion layer.
- The embedded microchannels or microstructures further enhance the gas diffusion process, optimizing the fuel cell's performance.
Original Abstract Submitted
A fuel cell (FC) assembly having a stack that includes a bipolar plate and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) composed of a microporous metal foam having embedded therein a plurality of discrete microchannels or a plurality of discrete microstructures.
