ELECTROCHEMICAL FUEL CELL COMPRISED OF A SERIES OF CONDUCTIVE COMPRESSION GASKETS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

摘要

A novel electrochemical fuel cell comprising at least one fuel cell assembly comprising a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) interposed between an anode separator (62, 63) and a cathode separator (66, 67). The MEA comprises a solid polymer electrolyte or Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) interposed between an anode and a cathode, each electrode comprising electrocatalyst. The anode separator (62, 63) contains the fuel flow field distribution features necessary to communicate the fuel to said anode. The cathode separator (66, 67) contains the oxidant flow field distribution features necessary to communicate the oxidant to said cathode. In addition, a heat Transfer (HT) separator (64, 65) may be integrated into said fuel cell assembly. Each of the said anode, cathode and HT separators are made up of a respective series of multiple conductive compression gaskets possessing inter-related fluid distribution channel and manifold features that form inter-communicating systems for the distribution of fuel, oxidant and HT fluid.