Abstract: An exemplary method of providing an electrolyte for a fuel cell comprises including a electrolyte precursor within a fuel cell. An electrolyte is generated within the fuel cell from the precursor. An exemplary fuel cell system includes a cell stack assembly. A manifold is associated with the cell stack assembly. An electrolyte precursor is within at least one of the cell stack assembly or manifold for generating an electrolyte within a fuel cell.
Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell manifold seal retainer assembly includes a bracket and a retainer. The bracket is mountable to a manifold of the fuel cell stack. The retainer extends closer to a fuel cell stack then the manifold when the retainer is mounted to the bracket and when the bracket is mounted to the manifold. The retainer limits movement of a seal away from an installed position.
Abstract: A fuel cell separator plate assembly (20) includes a separator plate layer (22) and flow field layers (24, 26). In one disclosed example, the separator plate layer (22) comprises graphite and a hydrophobic resin. The hydrophobic resin of the separator plate layer (22) serves to secure the separator plate layer to flow field layers on opposite sides of the separator plate layer. In one example, at least one of the flow field layers (24, 26) comprises graphite and a hydrophobic resin such that the flow field layer is hydrophobic and nonporous. In another example, two graphite and hydrophobic resin flow field layers are used on opposite sides of a separator plate layer. One disclosed example includes all three layers comprising graphite and a hydrophobic resin.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 16, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 24, 2014
Assignee:
ClearEdge Power, LLC
Inventors:
Richard D. Breault, Warren L. Luoma, Robert P. Roche