Fuel cell repeater unit

Abstract

An example interconnector of a fuel cell repeater unit includes a dimpled interconnector of a fuel cell repeater unit. The dimpled interconnector establishes at least a portion of an interconnector flow path operative to communicate airflow through the fuel cell repeater unit, the dimpled interconnector having a plurality of dimples.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fuel cell repeater comprising:
 a separator plate;   a frame establishing at least a portion of a flow path that is configured to fluidly couple a fuel supply with at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate, the flow path having a flow path perimeter, the flow path within the flow path perimeter configured to direct flow across the at least one fuel cell within a first plane; and   a dimpled interconnector portion that establishes at least a portion of an interconnector flow path operative to communicate airflow through the fuel cell repeater.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 1 , wherein the separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit that is positioned outside the flow path perimeter and is fluidly coupled with the flow path, the at least one conduit configured to direct flow within a second, different plane, wherein the first and second planes are nonparallel, and
 further including an insert establishing a plurality of openings at an interface of the flow path and the at least one conduit,   wherein the insert includes a portion extending circumferentially about a conduit perimeter of the at least one conduit, wherein the separator plate provides at least one side of the plurality of openings.   
     
     
         3 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 1 , including a plurality of dimples of the dimpled interconnector, wherein directly adjacent dimples of the plurality of dimples are spaced from each other a distance that is greater than a diameter of individual dimples of the plurality of dimples. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 1 , including a plurality of dimples of the dimpled interconnector, wherein directly adjacent dimples of the plurality of dimples are spaced from each other a distance that is about three times greater than a radius of individual dimples of the plurality of dimples. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 1 , including a plurality of dimples of the dimpled interconnector, wherein a radius of individual dimples of the plurality of dimples is from 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters, and the spacing between individual dimples of the plurality of dimples is from 1 to 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 1 , including a plurality of dimples of the dimpled interconnector, the dimples having a hemispherical cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . A fuel cell repeater comprising:
 a separator plate;   a frame establishing at least a portion of a fuel flow path that is configured to fluidly couple a fuel supply with at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate, the fuel flow path having a perimeter, the fuel flow path within the perimeter configured to direct flow across the at least one fuel cell within a first plane,   the separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit that is positioned outside the flow path perimeter and is fluidly coupled with the flow path, the at least one conduit configured to direct flow within a second, different plane, wherein the planes are nonparallel; and   a dimpled interconnector portion that establishes at least a portion of an interconnector flow path operative to communicate airflow through the fuel cell repeater unit, the dimpled interconnector having a plurality of dimples.   
     
     
         8 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein the dimples have a hemispherical cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein a radius of the dimples is from 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein individual dimples of the plurality of dimples are spaced about 3.0 millimeters from directly adjacent dimples. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein the dimples have a circular arc cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein the dimples have a truncated conical geometry. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein the dimples have a prismatic geometry. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel cell repeater of  claim 7 , wherein the dimples have a footprint that is cylindrical, ellipsoidal, square, tetragonal or polygonal. 
     
     
         15 . An interconnector of a fuel cell repeater unit, comprising:
 a dimpled interconnector of a fuel cell repeater unit, the dimpled interconnector establishes at least a portion of an interconnector flow path operative to communicate airflow through the fuel cell repeater unit, the dimpled interconnector having a plurality of dimples.   
     
     
         16 . The interconnector of  claim 15 , wherein directly adjacent dimples of the plurality of dimples are spaced from each other a distance that is greater than a diameter of individual dimples of the plurality of dimples. 
     
     
         17 . The interconnector of  claim 15 , wherein directly adjacent dimples of the plurality of dimples are spaced from each other a distance that is about three times greater than a radius of individual dimples of the plurality of dimples. 
     
     
         18 . The interconnector of  claim 15 , wherein a radius of individual dimples of the plurality of dimples is from 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters, and the spacing between individual dimples of the plurality of dimples is from 1 to 4 millimeters.