Fuel cell water management system and method

Abstract

Systems and methods for transporting accumulated water in a fuel cell system are disclosed. Briefly described, in one aspect, a system comprises a fuel cell flow field plate with at least one channel disposed on a surface of the fuel cell flow field plate, and at least one water management fin residing on a wall of the channel such that when the accumulated water is transported along the channel the water management fin guides the accumulated water.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for transporting accumulated water from a fuel cell system, the method comprising: guiding the accumulated water from a top portion of a water management fin to a bottom portion of the water management fin, the water management fin residing in a channel of a fuel cell flow field plate; and guiding the accumulated water from the bottom portion of the water management fin to a channel root in the channel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising transporting the accumulated water along the channel root to an outlet. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: collecting the accumulated water from an edge of the channel, the edge of the channel defined by a joining of a wall of the channel with a surface of the fuel cell flow field plate; and guiding the collected accumulated-water along the wall of the channel to the water management fin. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: generating two opposing vortices of gas, each gas vortex generated by one of two opposing water management fins residing on opposite sides of the channel, wherein each water management fin comprises the bottom portion in proximity to the channel root, wherein each water management fin is aligned with respect to the channel root at a helix angle (α), and wherein the two gas vortices facilitate transport of the accumulated water along the channel root. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: directing a flow of a gas through at least the channel with a plurality of water management microfins formed on a gas diffusion layer (GDL) material, the GDL material adjacent to a surface of the fuel cell flow field plate. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the direction of the flow of the gas corresponds to a direction of the channel, and wherein an orientation of the plurality of water management microfins corresponds to a helix angle (α) of the water management fins. 
     
     
         34 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for transporting accumulated water from a fuel cell system, the method comprising: collecting an accumulation of water in at least one channel of a flow field plate; and directing a flow direction of a gas through at least the channel with a plurality of water management microfins formed on a gas diffusion layer (GDL) material, the GDL material adjacent to a surface of the fuel cell flow field plate. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the water management microfins are aligned with the channel at a helix angle (α). 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the plurality of water management microfins are formed by a plurality of fibers of the GDL material oriented in a same direction, and wherein the alignment at the helix angle (α) results from cutting the GDL material. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the water management microfins are formed by a plurality of score lines on the surface of the GDL material, and wherein the alignment at the helix angle (α) results from rolling the GDL material with at least one score line on a roller transporting the GDL material. 
     
     
         43 . A method for transporting accumulated water from a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system comprising:
 a fuel cell flow field plate;   at least one channel having a generally “U” shaped cross-section disposed on a surface of the fuel cell flow field plate, the channel having a top portion approximate the surface of the fuel cell flow field plate and a channel root away from the surface of the fuel cell flow field plate; and   at least one water management fin residing on a wall of the channel and arranged within the channel and contacting the flow field plate surface, such that when the accumulated water is transported along the channel, the water management fin guides at least some of the accumulated water towards a channel root,   wherein the water management fin comprises:   a top portion approximately at least substantially flush with the flow field plate surface;   a bottom portion extending towards a channel root of the channel; and   a face portion disposed between the top and bottom portions and protruding outward from the wall of the channel,   wherein the accumulated water transported along the channel is guided by the fin face from proximate the top portion of the fin towards the bottom portion of the fin to the channel root, and   wherein the method comprises: guiding the accumulated water from a top portion of a water management fin to a bottom portion of the water management fin; and   guiding the accumulated water from the bottom portion of the water management fin to a channel root in the channel.