Fuel cell stack liquid electrolyte migration prevention arrangement
US5156929A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells juxtaposed with one another in the stack and each including a pair of plate-shaped anode and cathode electrodes that face one another, and a quantity of liquid electrolyte present at least between the electrodes. A number of separator plates that are substantially impermeable to liquids but wettable by electrolyte is interposed between respective successive electrodes of adjacent ones of the fuel cells. Each such separator plate has edge portions situated at a periphery of the fuel stack and having a peripheral surface, and marginal surfaces respectively facing the successive electrodes and forming respective interfaces therewith. Migration of any electrolyte that may be present at one of the interfaces to the other of the interfaces and thus from one to the other of the adjacent fuel cells is prevented by providing a layer of a material that is non-wettable by the electrolyte at least on the peripheral surface of the separator plate, but advantageously also on the marginal surfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.