Fuel cell system utilizing ion exhange membranes and bipolar plates

Patent · Tue Nov 20 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5493152

Adlhart, O J

Fuel cell assemblies and methods for manufacturing same are disclosed, the fuel cell assemblies comprising a stacked configuration of fuel cell laminates, each including a catalytic fuel electrode, a catalytic oxygen electrode, and an electrolyte therebetween the electrolyte comprising an ion exchange membrane, bipolar plates separating each laminate so that the opposite surfaces of each bipolar plate contacts the fuel and oxygen electrodes, respectively, fuel gas flow channel in the bipolar plate for supplying fuel to the fuel electrodes, and oxygen gas flow channels in the bipolar plates for supplying oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen electrodes, the fuel and oxygen gas flow channels being substantially perpendicular to each other. In a preferred embodiment a particular perfluorosulfonic acid membrane is employed as the electrolyte, the surfaces of the bipolar plates are treated so as to render them hydrophillic, so that water produced in the cell can be collected at the edges thereof, and the configuration of the bipolar plates is such that the diffusion paths for the oxygen-containing gas is as short as practical. The method disclosed for manufacturing such fuel cell assemblies comprises preparing the fuel cell laminates by bonding catalytic fuel electrodes and catalytic oxygen electrodes to opposite surfaces of an electrolyte member comprising an ion exchange membrane, and stacking the laminates alternatingly with the bipolar plates described above so that the plates contact fuel and oxygen electrodes on the opposite surfaces thereof, and providing means for collecting current from the top and bottom of the stacked configuration.

• Assignee: Engelhard Minerals and Chemicals Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4175165
• OSTI ID: 5493152
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
BONDING
CATALYSTS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
FABRICATION
FUEL CELLS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
JOINING
LAMELLAE
MANUFACTURING
MEMBRANES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
SULFONIC ACIDS
WATER REMOVAL