초록 ▼

An electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing includes a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent membrane electrode assemblies. Passageways fluidly interconnecting the anodes to a fuel manifold and interconnecting the cathodes to an oxidant manifold a

An electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing includes a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent membrane electrode assemblies. Passageways fluidly interconnecting the anodes to a fuel manifold and interconnecting the cathodes to an oxidant manifold are formed between adjoining non-active surfaces of the pairs of separator plates. The passageways extend through one or more ports penetrating the thickness of one of the plates thereby fluidly connecting the manifold to the opposite active surface of that plate, and the contacted electrode. The non-active surfaces of adjoining separator plates in a fuel cell stack cooperate to provide passageways for directing both reactants from respective stack fuel and oxidant supply manifolds to the appropriate electrodes. The fuel and oxidant reactant streams passageways are fluidly isolated from each other, although they both traverse adjoining non-active surfaces of the same pair of plates. The present manifolding configuration simplifies the sealing mechanisms associated with the stack manifolds because reactant streams are not directed between the separator plates and resilient MEA seals. Coolant passages may also be conveniently provided between adjoining non-active surfaces of the pairs of separator plates.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An electrochemical fuel cell stack comprising:(a) a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies each comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed between said anode and cathode;(b) a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent pairs of s

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An electrochemical fuel cell stack comprising:(a) a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies each comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed between said anode and cathode;(b) a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent pairs of said plurality of membrane electrode assemblies, said pair of separator plates comprising:an anode plate having an active surface contacting an anode, and an oppositely facing non-active surface, anda cathode plate having an active surface contacting a cathode, and an oppositely facing non-active surface adjoining said non-active surface of said anode plate; and(c) a fuel supply manifold for directing a fuel stream to at least one of said anodes, and an oxidant supply manifold for directing an oxidant stream to at least one of said cathodes, and fuel and oxidant stream passageways fluidly connecting said fuel and oxidant supply manifolds to an anode and a cathode, respectively,wherein said fuel and oxidant stream passageways each traverse a portion of said adjoining non-active surfaces of a pair of said separator plates.