COOLING ELEMENT FOR FUEL CELLS

摘要

The invention relates to a cooling element for use in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), especially a high-temperature PEFC. Said cooling element is monolithically designed and has a comb-type structure. The recesses between the ribs of the cooling element are used for accepting individual fuel cells parallel to one another. Matching openings in the individual fuel cells that are to be inserted into the recesses and the ribs of the cooling element allow for a continuous conduit system for delivering and discharging the operating material. The cooling element further comprises a continuous conduit system along the stack axis in order to conduct a coolant therethrough. Said conduit system is entirely disconnected from the conduit system for the operating material such that advantageously, the coolant circuit is not affected when individual fuel cells are replaced. Advantageously, current bridges can be mounted on the ribs of the cooling element in order to transmit the current between the individual cells.