Patent ID: 7531264
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling fluid flow to a stack of fuel cell flow field plates, the method comprising steps of: providing in each fuel cell flow field plate of said stack of plates a fluid supply aperture for conducting a supply of fluid to a number of said plates in said stack, said fluid supply aperture forming an elongated supply manifold extending through said stack; flowing said supply of fluid into said elongated supply manifold; laterally diverting a part of said supply of fluid to an elongated distribution manifold to feed each of said number of said plates, said elongated distribution manifold forming a fluid conduit extending through said stack and communicating said fluid to a plurality of inlet grooves, wherein said number of said plates are each fed in parallel from said elongated supply manifold, and said laterally diverting is performed in a manner to avoid turbulence in said elongated supply manifold from adversely affecting supply of fluid to downstream ones of said number of plates.