Fuel cell with reduced mass transfer limitations

摘要

This disclosure related to polymer electrolyte member fuel cells and components thereof.

主权项

1. A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, comprising:
an electrochemical package comprising a cathode, an anode, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode; a first and a second bipolar plate; an anode compartment disposed between the first bipolar plate and the anode of the electrochemical package; and a cathode compartment disposed between the second bipolar plate and the cathode of the electrochemical package,wherein
at least one of the first bipolar plate and the second bipolar plate is a bipolar plate assembly comprising:
a flat bipolar plate with a porous spacer attached to one side and a formed metal sheet attached to the other side, ortwo formed metal sheets attached to each other wherein the formed metal sheets provide open flowfields between the bipolar plate assemblies and the electrochemical packages; wherein
the formed metal sheet(s) is a corrugated metal sheet comprising ridges and grooves, orthe formed metal sheet(s) comprises a plurality of protrusions, at least one of the anode compartment or the cathode compartment comprises an open flowfield, the electrochemical package is in direct contact with at least one of the bipolar plate assembly, the porous spacer, or one of the formed metal sheets, and to the extent present, the porous spacer(s) is chosen from a metal foam, a graphite foam, an expanded metal mesh, and a metal wire mesh.