Gasket being capable of measuring voltage and fuel cell system having the same
US7927758B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell system having an electricity generator that generates electricity by the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The electricity generator includes a membrane electrode assembly with a conductive polymer membrane, and anode and cathode electrode layers on opposite sides of the conductive polymer membrane. The electricity generator has a pair of separator plates facing the anode and cathode electrode layers of the membrane electrode assembly and having channels through which flow hydrogen containing fuel or oxygen containing gas. There is also a pair of gaskets provided on opposite sides of the ionic conductive polymer to enclose each edge of the anode and cathode electrodes so that fluid leakage is prevented between the ionic conductive polymer membrane and the separator plates, wherein at least one of the gaskets is used as a voltage measuring gasket including a nonconductive first frame and a conductive second frame. The voltage measuring gasket having the conductive frame is used for measuring the voltage of the unit cell, thereby preventing a bipolar plate from being damaged.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.