초록 ▼

A Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack is disclosed having multiple layers between a first end plate and a second end plate. Themultiple layers define multiple fuel cell sub-stacks disposed in parallel and electrically isolated from each other intermediate the end plates. At the end plates

A Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack is disclosed having multiple layers between a first end plate and a second end plate. Themultiple layers define multiple fuel cell sub-stacks disposed in parallel and electrically isolated from each other intermediate the end plates. At the end plates, the fuel cell sub-stacks are electrically connected in series. At least some layers of the fuel cell stack comprise shared layers shared between multiple sub-stacks, and at least some layers of the multiple layers comprise dedicated layers for corresponding fuel cell sub-stacks. The shared layers include a fluid flow plate assembly and a membrane electrode assembly, while the dedicated layers comprise gas diffusion layers. The fluid flow plate assembly is fabricated of a non-conductive material and has multiple conductive fluid flow sub-plates, each of which aligns to a respective sub-stack of the fuel cell stack.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A fluid flow plate assembly for a fuel cell comprising:a fluid flow plate having at least one flow channel;wherein said fluid flow plate is divided into multiple fluid flow sub-plates, said multiple fluid flow sub-plates being laterally displaced and co-planar within said fluid flo

[ We claim:] [1.] A fluid flow plate assembly for a fuel cell comprising:a fluid flow plate having at least one flow channel;wherein said fluid flow plate is divided into multiple fluid flow sub-plates, said multiple fluid flow sub-plates being laterally displaced and co-planar within said fluid flow plate, each fluid flow sub-plate being electrically insulated from other fluid flow sub-plates of said multiple fluid flow sub-plates; andsaid at least one flow channel communicating fluid either to or from at least one fluid flow sub-plate of said multiple fluid flow sub-plates of said fluid flow plate.