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A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell using hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen containing air as the oxidant. The fuel cell including a hydrogen side electrode; an air side electrode; an electrolyte positioned between the electrodes; a hydrogen diffuser/collector plate including hydrogen channels; a

A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell using hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen containing air as the oxidant. The fuel cell including a hydrogen side electrode; an air side electrode; an electrolyte positioned between the electrodes; a hydrogen diffuser/collector plate including hydrogen channels; and an air diffuser/collector plate including air channels. A method of operation of the fuel cell including introducing hydrogen into the hydrogen channels and introducing air into the air channels at a pressure of less than 5 psig and with a channel velocity of between about 0.15 and 7.0 meters/second.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of operating a PEM fuel cell havinga hydrogen side electrode,an air side electrode,an electrolyte positioned between and in electrical contact with said electrodes,an air diffuser/current collector plate positioned adjacent said air side electrode,a hydrogen side

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of operating a PEM fuel cell havinga hydrogen side electrode,an air side electrode,an electrolyte positioned between and in electrical contact with said electrodes,an air diffuser/current collector plate positioned adjacent said air side electrode,a hydrogen side diffuser/current collector plate positioned adjacent said hydrogen side electrode,wherein each of said plates includes gas diffusing channels for carrying a gas across said plates so as to expose said gas to one of said electrodes, the method comprising the steps of:(a) introducing hydrogen gas into hydrogen gas carrying channels on said hydrogen side diffuser/current collector plate;(b) passing said hydrogen gas through said channels to expose said hydrogen gas to said hydrogen side electrode;(c) introducing air at a pressure of from 0.1 psig to less than 5 psig into an air inlet to air carrying channels on said air side diffuser/current collector plate, through said channels at a channel air velocity of from about 0.15 to about 7.0 meters/second, and out of said channels through an air outlet from said channels; andmaintaining the pressure drop between said air inlet and said air outlet at from 0.1 to less than about 5 psi.