DIFFUSER COLLECTOR FOR FUEL CELLS INTENDED TO GENERATE ELECTRIC POWER HAVING A FLOW FIELD WITH INTERDIGITATED COIL.

摘要

The present invention presents a diffuser collector with a flow pattern based on the fusion of two of the most effective concepts for distributing the flow: coil or interdigitated. In the diffuser collector only one flow inlet is used to pass the reactants to three distributers: two lateral coil distributers (changes of flow direction in a U form) and a central flow distributer, this latter element leading the flow to the spaces generated by the coils and applying the concept of interdigitated flow to the distribution. The present design maintains the two most sought after characteristics in distribution plates: a low pressure drop and a high uniformity in the species concentration. The invention includes two distributing plates, the membrane-catalyst assembly, two collector plates and two fastening plates for sealing the distributing plates to the membrane electrode assembly. Both sides of the inventive diffuser collector, anode and cathode, are used i.e., this may be used for distri buting the fuel and/or the oxidant.