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The cell stack can be operated as a fuel cell stack or as an electrolysis cell stack. The stack consists of a series of alternate fuel cell subassemblies with intervening electrolysis cell subassemblies, and interspersed cooling plates. The water produced and consumed in the two modes of operation m

The cell stack can be operated as a fuel cell stack or as an electrolysis cell stack. The stack consists of a series of alternate fuel cell subassemblies with intervening electrolysis cell subassemblies, and interspersed cooling plates. The water produced and consumed in the two modes of operation migrates between adjacent cell subassemblies. The component plates are annular with a central hydrogen plenum and integral internal oxygen manifolds. No fluid pumps are needed to operate the stack in either mode.

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A repeating component within an electrochemical cell stack comprising: (a) means forming a flat fuel cell electrolyte matrix; (b) a flat porous fuel cell electrolyte reservoir plate abutting said fuel cell electrolyte matrix and operable to draw and store product water from said fuel cell electrolyt

A repeating component within an electrochemical cell stack comprising: (a) means forming a flat fuel cell electrolyte matrix; (b) a flat porous fuel cell electrolyte reservoir plate abutting said fuel cell electrolyte matrix and operable to draw and store product water from said fuel cell electrolyte matrix when the stack is operating in a fuel cell mode; (c) a flat porous electrolysis cell electrolyte reservoir plate adjacent to said fuel cell electrolyte reservoir plate; (d) means forming a flat electrolysis cell electrolyte matrix abutting said electrolysis cell electrolyte reservoir plate, the latter being operable to draw water from said fuel cell electrolyte reservoir plate to said electrolysis cell electrolyte matrix for consumption when the stack is operating in an electrolysis cell mode; (e) a first formed metallic separator plate adjacent to said fuel cell electrolyte matrix; (f) a first flat current conductor plate adjacent to and in contact with said first formed plate; (g) a first insulating sheet adjacent said first conductor plate; (h) a second formed metallic separator plate adjacent to said electrolysis cell electrolyte matrix; (i) a second flat current conductor plate adjacent to and in contact with said second formed plate; (j) a second insulating sheet adjacent said second conductor plate; and (k) a flat cooling plate adjacent at least one of said insulating sheets.