초록 ▼

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes fuel cell units arranged along a common axis in a stack with an inner periphery of the fuel cell units defining a fuel flow channel through which the fuel can flow in an axial direction. Current collectors are electrically connected to the fuel cell units at

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes fuel cell units arranged along a common axis in a stack with an inner periphery of the fuel cell units defining a fuel flow channel through which the fuel can flow in an axial direction. Current collectors are electrically connected to the fuel cell units at the top and bottom of the stack. One or more diffusion cell units are stacked below the lower current collector and have an inner periphery defining a continuation of the fuel flow channel. The fuel inlet allows the introduction of hydrogen fuel to the top end of the flow channel while the bottom end of the flow channel below the diffusion cell units is blocked. Water vapor and inert gases collecting at the bottom end of the fuel flow channel diffuse out through the diffusion cell units to maintain the electrical generating efficiency of the active fuel cell units. Diffusion cell units may be mounted in the middle of the stack where fuel is fed in from both ends of the stack.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising:(a) a plurality of fuel cell units defining an outer periphery and arranged along a common central axis in a stack, the fuel cell units including a polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the stacked fuel cell units have an inner periphery defining a fuel

1. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising:(a) a plurality of fuel cell units defining an outer periphery and arranged along a common central axis in a stack, the fuel cell units including a polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the stacked fuel cell units have an inner periphery defining a fuel flow channel through which fuel can flow in an axial direction; (b) an electrically conductive current collector electrically connected to a fuel cell unit at one end of the stack of fuel cell units and an electrically conductive current collector electrically connected to a fuel cell unit at another end of the stack of fuel cell units; (c) a fuel supply inlet at one end of the stack to direct fuel therethrough to the fuel flow channel; and (d) at least one diffusion cell unit mounted at the end of the stack of fuel cell units opposite to that at which the fuel inlet is located and at a position below the current collector at that end of the stack, the diffusion cell unit comprising at least a layer of diffuser material, the diffusion cell unit having an outer periphery and an inner periphery that defines a continuation of the fuel flow channel, the diffuser material formed to diffuse water vapor from the fuel flow channel outwardly therethrough from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the diffusion cell unit, the fuel flow channel being closed at an end thereof adjacent to the diffusion cell unit.