DESIGN OF TUNNEL LAYOUT FOR A MORE UNIFORMED CONTACT PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION AT THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN METAL BEAD SEAL AND TUNNEL

摘要

A fuel cell flow field plate providing a uniform gas flow pressure includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate. The first metal plate defines a first opening for providing a first reactant gas to a fuel cell with a first metal bead that surrounds the first opening. The first metal bead is an embossment in the second metal plate that defines a first channel. A first plurality of tunnels provides a passage into and out of the first metal bead. Each tunnel of the first plurality of tunnels has an inlet tunnel section that leads to the first metal bead and an outlet tunnel section that extends from the first metal bead to provide the first reactant gas to first reactant gas flow channels defined by the first metal plate. Characteristically, the inlet tunnel section is offset from the outlet tunnel section.