초록 ▼

A self-humidifying polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly has an ion-exchange membrane interposed between hydrogen and oxygen diffusion layers to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA is in turn interposed between a pair of current collector plates having flow field channe

A self-humidifying polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly has an ion-exchange membrane interposed between hydrogen and oxygen diffusion layers to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA is in turn interposed between a pair of current collector plates having flow field channels for flowing the reactants adjacent the respective diffusion layers to produce corresponding anodic and cathodic electrochemical reactions. Various embodiments of the assembly incorporate one or more of the following features: interdigitated flow field channels, countercurrent reactant flows, opposing channel alignment, and uncatalyzed membrane hydration enhancement zones.

대표청구항 ▼

[We claim:] [1.]a fuel flow field plate having a fuel stream inlet, a fuel stream outlet, and means for flowing a fuel stream therebetween; andan oxidant flow field plate having an oxidant stream inlet, an oxidant stream outlet, and means for flowing an oxidant stream therebetween, said oxidant and

[We claim:] [1.]a fuel flow field plate having a fuel stream inlet, a fuel stream outlet, and means for flowing a fuel stream therebetween; andan oxidant flow field plate having an oxidant stream inlet, an oxidant stream outlet, and means for flowing an oxidant stream therebetween, said oxidant and fuel streams having countercurrent stream flows in said diffusion layers, for flowing a fuel stream and said means for flowing an oxidant stream employing forced convection of said stream through one of said diffusion layers.