Title of Invention	A FUEL CELL INLET MANIFOLD FOR FUEL AND OXIDANT GASES
Abstract	A fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases formed internally within the gas flow field plates and characterised by a substantially triangLllar cross section, the largest side of the said cross section adjoining the entry to the individual flow field plates. The apex portion opposite the side is curved instead of pointed. A small turnig radius with is 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold in the individual flow field plates is provided at the p the gas into the flow field plates.

Title of Invention

A FUEL CELL INLET MANIFOLD FOR FUEL AND OXIDANT GASES

Abstract

A fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases formed internally within the gas flow field plates and characterised by a substantially triangLllar cross section, the largest side of the said cross section adjoining the entry to the individual flow field plates. The apex portion opposite the side is curved instead of pointed. A small turnig radius with is 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold in the individual flow field plates is provided at the p the gas into the flow field plates.

Full Text	This invention relates to a fuel cell inlet manifold for ftiel and oxidant gases. Fuel cells are power generation devices that produce an electric current through an electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidant. The most common fuel used in the fuel cell reaction is hydrogen gas, which itself could be derived from a variety of sources. The oxidant could be either pure oxygen or air. Since the theoretical voltage obtained from a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell is only 1.23 volts per cell, it is common practice to assemble several cells in series to form a fuel cell stack. Fuel and oxidant gases are supplied to the individual cells through manifolds and are then distributed inside single cells along passages or channels in flow field plates so as to supply reactant gases to the entire area of the electrodes, namely, the cathode and the anode. Fuel gas (a mixture containing hydrogen or pure hydrogen) is fed to the anode and oxidant gas (air or oxygen) is supplied to the cathode via the respective flow field plates. At the cathode, hydrogen ions from the anode and oxygen react electrochemically giving rise to an electric current and forming water as the product. The manifold proposed herein minimizes the pressure drop prior to the entry of the gases into the respective flow field plates; and facilitates uniform gas distribution across all the cells in the fuel cell stack. Various other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following further description thereof The fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases, according to this invention, is formed internally within the gas flow field plates and is characterized by a substantially triangular cross section, the largest side of the said cross section adjoining the entry to the individual flow field plates; the apex portion opposite the largest side is curved instead of pointed; a small turning radius which is 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plates is provided at the point of entry of the gas into the flow field plates. The equivalent diameter for a non-circular shape here is defined as four times the hydraulic radius of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plate; the hydraulic radius is in tom defined as the ratio of the area of cross section perpendicular to the direction of flow to the wetted perimeter. This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, the salient features of one of various possible embodiments of this invention. In Figure 1, the manifold M has a substantially triangular cross section, with the largest side S of the said cross section adjoining the entry E to the individual flow field plate; and the apex portion opposite the largest side A being curved instead of pointed. A small turning radius RM which is about 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plate at the point of entry of the gas into the flow field plates(equivalent diameter for a non-circular shape as defined above). This is shown in Figure 2. Conventionally, for a 90 degree turn, the turning radius would be zero, that is, it would be a sharp turn. By reasoning of the foregoing features, smooth flow of gases prior to entering the individual cells is maintained, that is to say, the pressure drop for flow along the gas inlet manifold would be smaller than that in the case of the known manifolds. In short, the proposed manifold optimizes the gas flow prior to entry into the flow field plates. The terms and expressions in this specification are of description and not of limitation, there being no intention in excluding any equivalence of the features illustrated and described, but it is understood that various other embodiments of the fiiel cell proposed herein are possible without departing foot the scope and ambit of this invention. We claim: 1. A fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases fumed intemal ly within the gas flow field plates and characterized by a substantially triangular cross section, the largest side of the said cross section adjoining the entry to the individual flow field plates; the apex portion opposite the largest side being curved instead of pointed; a small turning radius which is 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plates provided at the point of entry of the gas into the flow field plates. 2. A fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases substantially as herein described with reference to, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Full Text

This invention relates to a fuel cell inlet manifold for ftiel and oxidant gases.
Fuel cells are power generation devices that produce an electric current through an electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidant. The most common fuel used in the fuel cell reaction is hydrogen gas, which itself could be derived from a variety of sources. The oxidant could be either pure oxygen or air. Since the theoretical voltage obtained from a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell is only 1.23 volts per cell, it is common practice to assemble several cells in series to form a fuel cell stack.
Fuel and oxidant gases are supplied to the individual cells through manifolds and are then distributed inside single cells along passages or channels in flow field plates so as to supply reactant gases to the entire area of the electrodes, namely, the cathode and the anode. Fuel gas (a mixture containing hydrogen or pure hydrogen) is fed to the anode and oxidant gas (air or oxygen) is supplied to the cathode via the respective flow field plates. At the cathode, hydrogen ions from the anode and oxygen react electrochemically giving rise to an electric current and forming water as the product.
The manifold proposed herein minimizes the pressure drop prior to the entry of the gases into the respective flow field plates; and facilitates uniform gas distribution across all the cells in the fuel cell stack.
Various other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following further description thereof
The fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases, according to this invention, is formed internally within the gas flow field plates and is characterized by a substantially triangular cross section, the largest side of the said cross section adjoining the entry to the individual flow field plates; the apex portion opposite the largest side is curved instead of pointed; a small turning radius which is 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plates is provided at the point of entry of the gas into the flow field plates.
The equivalent diameter for a non-circular shape here is defined as four times the hydraulic radius of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plate; the hydraulic radius is in tom defined as the ratio of the area of cross section perpendicular to the direction of flow to the wetted perimeter.

This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, the salient features of one of various possible embodiments of this invention.
In Figure 1, the manifold M has a substantially triangular cross section, with the largest side S of the said cross section adjoining the entry E to the individual flow field plate; and the apex portion opposite the largest side A being curved instead of pointed.
A small turning radius RM which is about 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening from the manifold into the individual flow field plate at the point of entry of the gas into the flow field plates(equivalent diameter for a non-circular shape as defined above). This is shown in Figure 2. Conventionally, for a 90 degree turn, the turning radius would be zero, that is, it would be a sharp turn.
By reasoning of the foregoing features, smooth flow of gases prior to entering the individual cells is maintained, that is to say, the pressure drop for flow along the gas inlet manifold would be smaller than that in the case of the known manifolds.
In short, the proposed manifold optimizes the gas flow prior to entry into the flow field plates.
The terms and expressions in this specification are of description and not of limitation, there being no intention in excluding any equivalence of the features illustrated and described, but it is understood that various other embodiments of the fiiel cell proposed herein are possible without departing foot the scope and ambit of this invention.

We claim:
1. A fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases fumed intemal ly within the gas
flow field plates and characterized by a substantially triangular cross section, the
largest side of the said cross section adjoining the entry to the individual flow field
plates; the apex portion opposite the largest side being curved instead of pointed; a
small turning radius which is 0.5 to 2.0 times the equivalent diameter of the opening
from the manifold into the individual flow field plates provided at the point of entry
of the gas into the flow field plates.
2. A fuel cell inlet manifold for fuel and oxidant gases substantially as herein described
with reference to, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

551-mas-2001-abstract.pdf

551-mas-2001-assignement.pdf

551-mas-2001-claims filed.pdf

551-mas-2001-claims granted.pdf

551-mas-2001-correspondnece-others.pdf

551-mas-2001-correspondnece-po.pdf

551-mas-2001-description(complete)filed.pdf

551-mas-2001-description(complete)granted.pdf

551-mas-2001-drawings.pdf

551-mas-2001-form 1.pdf

551-mas-2001-form 19.pdf

551-mas-2001-form 26.pdf

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Patent Number

210248

Indian Patent Application Number

551/MAS/2001

PG Journal Number

50/2007

Publication Date

14-Dec-2007

Grant Date

25-Sep-2007

Date of Filing

06-Jul-2001

Name of Patentee

SPIC SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Applicant Address

MOUNT VIEW ,111 MOUNT ROAD,GUINDY, CHENNAI 600032,

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	RAMKUMAR PERUMAL	111 MOUNT ROAD,GUINDY, CHENNAI 600032,
2	GURUVIAH VELAYUTHAM	111 MOUNT ROAD,GUINDY, CHENNAI 600032,
3	PARTHASARATHI SRIDHAR	111 MOUNT ROAD,GUINDY, CHENNAI 600032,
4	KAVERIPATNAM SAMBAN DHATHATHREYAN	111 MOUNT ROAD,GUINDY, CHENNAI 600032,

PCT International Classification Number

H01M8/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA