INTERNES ELEKTROLYT-ZUFUEHRUNGSSYSTEM FUER BETRIEBSSICHEREN TRANSPORT DURCH EINE BRENNSTOFFZELLENBATTERIE.

摘要

Fuel cell stack (58) incorporating an internal electrolyte supply system employing a variety of arrangements of grooves (78) and passages (80)(82) in bipolar plates (62) of the multiplicity of repeating fuel cells (60) to route gravity-assisted flowing electrolyte throughout the stack. The grooves (78) route electrolyte flow along series of first paths which extend horizontally through the cells between the plates thereof. The passages route electrolyte flow along series of second paths (82) which extend vertically through the stack so as to supply electrolyte to the first paths (78, 80) in order to expose the electrolyte to the matrices (66) of the cells. Wicks may be employed in the grooves for facilitating transfer of the electrolyte to the matrices as well as providing support for the matrices. Additionally, the passages (82) may by-pass certain of the grooves and supply electrolyte directly to other of the grooves. Dual grooves can be utilized as an alternative to single grooves. Finally, the passages may be connected to the grooves by a step which produces a cascading electrolyte flow.