Plug Power has been granted a patent for a fuel cell system that includes a unique design with plate separators, gas diffusion layers, sub-gaskets, seals, and conductive traces. This innovation aims to improve the efficiency and performance of fuel cells. GlobalData’s report on Plug Power gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Plug Power, Reformer integrated fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. Plug Power's grant share as of May 2024 was 34%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Fuel cell system with improved sealing and conductive trace
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11955675B2) discloses a fuel cell system comprising a membrane electrode assembly, plate separators, gas diffusion layers, subgaskets, seals, and conductive traces. The system includes a unique design with subgaskets extending laterally towards the exterior ends, seals between plate separators and subgaskets, and conductive traces attached to the subgaskets for electrical connections. The subgaskets have top and bottom sides with conductive traces on each side, allowing for electrical connections between sensors or controllers. Additionally, the subgaskets and traces extend outwardly past the exterior ends, with the traces extending towards the membrane electrode assembly and plate separators in a specific configuration.
Furthermore, the patent details the inclusion of tabs on the subgaskets extending beyond the exterior ends, with additional traces on the same side as the conductive traces. The system also involves multiple subgaskets connected to different membrane electrode assemblies, vertically spaced along a vertical axis, with tabs located laterally for vertical offset. The conductive traces are metal traces printed on the subgaskets, and the components of the system are bonded together for efficient operation. Additionally, certain embodiments include thermocouple junctions formed by the conductive traces and second traces on the subgaskets, enhancing the functionality and performance of the fuel cell system.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Plug Power, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
