ELECTROCHEMICAL POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE CELL STACKS

摘要

An electrochemical polymer electrolyte membrane cell stack is disclosed that comprises one or more fuel cell cassettes (1), each fuel cell cassette (1) having at least one membrane electrode assembly (2), fuel flow field (3) and oxidant flow field (4). Within each fuel cell cassette (1), each membrane electrode assembly (2) has at least one manifold opening (9) for the passage of reactant manifolds through the fuel cell cassette (1) and all such manifolds openings are bonded about the perimeter by a sealant. Each flow field (3, 4) has at least one manifold opening (9) and each manifold openings (9) on a flow field (3, 4) that does not correspond to a manifold providing reactant for distribution to such flow field (3, 4) is bonded about the perimeter by a sealant. Each fuel cell cassette (1) may contain other typical components of a electrochemical polymer electrolyte membrane cell stack, such as separators plates (6) or coolant flow fields (5), which have manifold openings (9) that may or may not be bonded about the perimeter. The membrane electrode assembly (1), flow fields (3,4,5), and other components are stacked and encapsulated along their peripheral edges by a resin such that th entire periphery (18) of the fuel cell cassette (1) is encapsulated together by the resin to form the fuel cell cassette (1).