WATER MANAGEMENT IN AN AIR-BREATHING FUEL CELL

摘要

A fuel cell apparatus comprises a membrane-electrode assembly and a gas diffusion layer disposed over the membrane-electrode assembly and a perforated ventilation plate. A textile layer is positioned adjacent to the perforated ventilation plate and is configured to allow passage of air through the textile layer and to allow wicking of water within the layer. The textile layer is formed from fibres woven or otherwise overlaid relative to one another in a manner which leaves open spaces for air transport through the layer but each fibre is formed of strands of material that wick water through the material, both transverse to the plane of the layer and along / in the plane of the layer.