초록 ▼

The invention provides a fuel cell stack including a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the separator plate, MEA, and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded at least in part by the encapsulating material. The fuel cell stack also includes a first opening through the

The invention provides a fuel cell stack including a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the separator plate, MEA, and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded at least in part by the encapsulating material. The fuel cell stack also includes a first opening through the plate body to the first face from the second face, and an open channel in the second face extending from the opening toward a periphery of the plate. The invention also provides a fuel cell stack having a first face including an opening for passage of a reactant therethrough, a first reactant flow field defined thereon, and a first raised surface formed thereon substantially surrounding the opening. The first raised surface is configured and adapted to mate with a second surface on a face of an adjacent plate to create a flow obstruction for encapsulating material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel cell stack comprising: a) a bipolar plate assembly comprising a first generally planar plate body having: i) a first generally planar face comprising a first reactant flow field; andii) a second generally planar face parallel to the first face defining a first opening that connects to a fi

1. A fuel cell stack comprising: a) a bipolar plate assembly comprising a first generally planar plate body having: i) a first generally planar face comprising a first reactant flow field; andii) a second generally planar face parallel to the first face defining a first opening that connects to a first open channel in the second planar face, wherein the first open channel extends from the first opening toward a periphery of the plate and entirely penetrates through the first generally planar plate body to connect with the first reactant flow field to define a first fluid flow path;b) a first membrane electrode assembly having a first face in operable communication with the first reactant flow field;c) a reactant manifold in fluid communication with the reactant flow field by way of the first fluid flow path, the reactant manifold being adapted and configured to facilitate transport of a reactant through the fuel cell stack; andd) a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the bipolar separator plate assembly, membrane electrode assembly and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded and defined at least in part by the encapsulating material. 2. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the bipolar plate assembly further comprises a second generally planar plate body having: a) a third generally planar face; andb) a fourth generally planar face in intimate contact with the second face. 3. The fuel cell stack of claim 2, wherein: a) the third generally planar face defines a second reactant flow field; andb) the fourth generally planar face defines a second opening through the second plate and a second open channel in the fourth planar face extending from the opening toward a periphery of the second plate, wherein the second flow field, second opening and second open channel further cooperate to define a second fluid flow path. 4. The fuel cell stack of claim 3, further comprising a second membrane electrode assembly having a first face in operable communication with the second reactant flow field. 5. The fuel cell stack of claim 2, wherein the second and fourth faces cooperate to define a coolant flow field within the separator plate including a channel extending from the coolant flow field toward the periphery of the plate. 6. The fuel cell stack of claim 2, wherein the second and fourth faces cooperate to define at least one of (i) a reactant flow passage extending from a reactant flow field on at least one of the first and third planar face of the bipolar plate assembly toward a periphery of the bipolar plate assembly, and (ii) a coolant flow passage extending from a coolant flow field inside the bipolar plate assembly toward a periphery of the bipolar plate assembly. 7. The fuel cell stack of claim 6, wherein at least one of the flow passages terminates at an edge of the bipolar plate assembly at a port, the port having a perimeter defined at least in part by the second and fourth faces. 8. The fuel cell stack of claim 7, wherein the edge of the plate proximate the port defines a concavity for receiving a plenum mold insert. 9. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the second planar face defines a sealant channel therein that substantially surrounds the first opening and the first open channel. 10. The fuel cell stack of claim 9, wherein the sealant channel includes first and second ends proximate a periphery of the first plate body. 11. The fuel cell stack of claim 9, further comprising encapsulating material disposed in the sealing channel. 12. The fuel cell stack of claim 11, wherein the encapsulating material disposed in the sealing channel substantially fluidly isolates the reactant channel from the coolant channel. 13. The fuel cell stack of claim 2, wherein the first plate body and second plate body are an integral structure joined together at the second planar face and the fourth planar face. 14. The fuel cell stack of claim 13, wherein the first plate body and second plate bodies are joined by a conductive adhesive seal. 15. The fuel cell stack of claim 14, wherein the conductive adhesive seal is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: (i) a resin material that is chemically compatible with material of the first plate body and the second plate body; and (ii) an adhesive material. 16. The fuel cell stack of claim 14, wherein the reactant manifold is internal. 17. A fuel cell stack comprising: a) a bipolar plate assembly comprising a first generally planar plate body having: i) a first generally planar face comprising a first reactant flow field; andii) a second generally planar face parallel to the first face defining a first opening that connects to a first open channel in the second planar face, wherein the first open channel extends from the first opening toward a periphery of the plate and entirely penetrates through the first generally planar plate body to connect with the first reactant flow field to define a first fluid flow path;b) a first membrane electrode assembly having a first face in operable communication with the first reactant flow field;c) a reactant manifold in fluid communication with the reactant flow field by way of the first fluid flow path, the reactant manifold being adapted and configured to facilitate transport of a reactant through the fuel cell stack; andd) a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the bipolar plate assembly, membrane electrode assembly and reactant manifold, wherein the encapsulating material is bounded by the raised surfaces. 18. The fuel cell stack of claim 17, wherein the raised surface is an electrically insulating material. 19. The fuel cell stack of claim 17, wherein the raised surface is on both of the generally planar faces. 20. A fuel cell stack comprising: a) a bipolar plate assembly comprising a first generally planar plate body having: i) a first generally planar face comprising a first reactant flow field; andii) a second generally planar face parallel to the first face defining a first opening that connects to a first open channel in the second planar face, wherein the first open channel extends from the first opening toward a periphery of the plate and entirely penetrates through the first generally planar plate body to connect with the first reactant flow field to define a first fluid flow path;b) a first membrane electrode assembly having a first face in operable communication with the first reactant flow field;c) a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the bipolar plate assembly and the membrane electrode assembly, wherein the encapsulating material has a negative impression of a manifold insert; andd) a reactant manifold in fluid communication with the reactant flow field by way of the first fluid flow path, the reactant manifold being adapted and configured to facilitate transport of a reactant through the fuel cell stack, wherein the reactant manifold is defined in part by the negative impression of the encapsulating material.