Patent ID: 7955752
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell comprising at least one flow field plate including a plurality of flow channels that receive a reactant gas flow, wherein the flow channels are in an active region of the fuel cell and are separated into primary flow channels and secondary flow channels, said primary flow channels have one flow property and said secondary flow channels having another flow property so that the primary flow channels and the secondary flow channels have different reactant gas flow distributions, said at least one flow field plate further including a nozzle section having constricted channel portions for providing the reactant gas flow to the primary flow channels and the secondary flow channels, said constricted channel portions causing the reactant flow to be directed to the primary flow channels at sufficiently low flow rates and be directed to both the primary flow channels and the secondary flow channels at sufficiently high flow rates and wherein the primary flow channels are in operation over an entire current output operating range of the fuel cell and the secondary flow channels are in operation only for high current outputs of the fuel cell.