End plate for fuel cell, has recirculation body mounted inside chamber wall, at which supply channel reaches, to separate chamber into gas supply part reaching one orifice and gas recirculation part reaching other orifice

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This invention describes a specially engineered end plate for a fuel cell, which incorporates internal chambers and devices for managing fuel (such as hydrogen or oxygen) and cooling fluids within the structure of the plate itself. By integrating gas recirculation and mixing devices—such as a recirculation body that divides the chamber and mixes incoming new gas with recirculated gas—this design simplifies and compacts the fuel cell's gas and liquid management systems, making the overall assembly more efficient, reliable, and adaptable for applications like vehicles.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Automotive fuel cell systems, as in hydrogen-powered electric vehicles, where space and weight constraints are critical.
• Portable or stationary fuel cell power generation units, benefiting from compact and integrated fluid management.
• Backup power supplies for critical infrastructure that require reliable and easily replaced fuel cell modules.
• Industrial applications utilizing fuel cells for energy with simplified installation, maintenance, and operation.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Reduced size and weight of the fuel cell system due to integration of fluid and gas management within the end plate, making it ideal for vehicle use or space-limited installations.
• Simplified assembly and maintenance, since the integration minimizes the number of external connections, components, and potential leakage points.
• Improved reliability, as fewer joints and parts mean less potential for failure or leakage.
• Potential reduction in manufacturing costs owing to simplified parts and easier automation.
• Enhanced modularity and ease of swap-out or replacement of fuel cell stacks, which can benefit vehicle serviceability or modular power systems.
• Better thermal management, as cooling functions can be integrated efficiently in the end plate.

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Patent Abstract

An end plate has a structural block with a chamber (P1h) delimited by the block`s walls, and extending between orifices of an inner side (B10) of the block. The chamber is associated to a supply channel opening on an outer side (B11). A recirculation body (E6h) is mounted inside the chamber wall, at which the channel reaches, to separate the chamber into a gas supply part (P12h) reaching one orifice and a gas recirculation part (P11h) reaching the other orifice. The body has a mixing element to mix new gas from the channel and recirculation part and to transport the mixture to the latter orifice.