Flow Plates

Flow plates are one of the most critical components of a fuel cell system. Morphic has developed a technology that makes it possible to manufacture flow plates faster, less expensively and to a higher quality than was previously possible.

In simple terms, a fuel cell consists of an electrolyte with two electrodes on either side. Flow plates are mounted outside the electrodes, between which the supplied fuel (e.g. hydrogen or methanol) reacts with oxygen. A complete system can contain hundreds of cells.

A Crucial Component

Flow plates account for a large share of the total cost, and their ability to efficiently conduct hydrogen is crucial for the system’s electricity generation capacity. The plates have a pattern of surface channels or tracks for conducting the gas. The pattern is unique for each fuel cell manufacturer.

So far, the pattern on the plates has mostly been produced by milling, etching or injection molding. These methods, however, are time-consuming and costly, and have limitations in terms of the design and types of material that can be used.

Faster, Less Expensively and to a Higher Quality

In Morphic’s patented method the patterns on the plates are created by subjecting the plates to a powerful impact that produces a very high, dynamic pressure for a fraction of a second.

The technology offers several advantages: the production time per plate is shortened drastically while the ability to achieve much more intricate details in the pattern of the plate results in a more efficient flow. The material used for the plate can be selected based on the required conductivity, corrosion resistance and price, rather than the requirements of the manufacturing process.