Abstract: An electrochemical-cell stack assembly is provided. The assembly has an electrochemical-cell stack and a compression system that holds the electrochemical-cell stack in a state of compression. The compression system has a first endplate and a second endplate positioned at opposite ends of the electrochemical-cell stack. The compression system has a set of tension members coupled to the first endplate and the second endplate that maintain a fixed distance between the first endplate and the second endplate. The compression system has a compression plate disposed between the second endplate and the electrochemical-cell stack. The compression system has a compression member in contact with the compression plate, wherein the compression member is configured to transfer a force to the compression plate. The compression system has a locking nut fastened to the second plate. The locking nut secures the position of the compression member and compression plate relative to the second endplate.

Abstract: An electrochemical-cell stack assembly is provided. The assembly has an electrochemical-cell stack and a compression system that holds the electrochemical-cell stack in a state of compression. The compression system has a first endplate and a second endplate positioned at opposite ends of the electrochemical-cell stack. The compression system has a set of tension members coupled to the first endplate and the second endplate that maintain a fixed distance between the first endplate and the second endplate. The compression system has a compression plate disposed between the second endplate and the electrochemical-cell stack. The compression system has a compression member in contact with the compression plate, wherein the compression member is configured to transfer a force to the compression plate. The compression system has a locking nut fastened to the second plate. The locking nut secures the position of the compression member and compression plate relative to the second endplate.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a pair of bipolar plates, and the membrane electrode assembly has a total active area measured in an x-y plane that is generally perpendicular to the z-axis. Each bipolar plate includes a plurality of common passages extending generally parallel to the z-axis. The total active area of the membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of base active areas arranged co-planar in the x-y plane along an x-axis.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack having a plurality of electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells include a membrane electrode assembly comprising a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells also include an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and the anode plate defines a plurality of channels that form an anode flow field facing the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells further include a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the cathode flow field comprises a porous structure.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack having a plurality of electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells include a membrane electrode assembly having an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween. The electrochemical cells also include an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and the anode plate defines a plurality of channels that form an anode flow field facing the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells further include a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the cathode flow field comprises a porous structure.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack is provided. The electrochemical cell stack has a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each electrochemical cell has a membrane electrode assembly which includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the catalyst layer and the anode layer. Each electrochemical cell also has an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode flow field includes a porous structure having a plurality of pores having an average pore size. The plurality of electrochemical cells has a first electrochemical cell positioned at a first end of the electrochemical cell stack. The porous structure of the first electrochemical cell has an average pore size greater than the average pore size of the porous structures of the plurality of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack having a plurality of electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells include a membrane electrode assembly comprising a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells also include an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and the anode plate defines a plurality of channels that form an anode flow field facing the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells further include a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the cathode flow field comprises a porous structure.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a pair of bipolar plates, and the membrane electrode assembly has a total active area measured in an x-y plane that is generally perpendicular to the z-axis. Each bipolar plate includes a plurality of common passages extending generally parallel to the z-axis. The total active area of the membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of base active areas arranged co-planar in the x-y plane along an x-axis.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a pair of bipolar plates, and the membrane electrode assembly has a total active area measured in an x-y plane that is generally perpendicular to the z-axis. Each bipolar plate includes a plurality of common passages extending generally parallel to the z-axis. The total active area of the membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of base active areas arranged co-planar in the x-y plane along an x-axis.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack having a plurality of electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells include a membrane electrode assembly comprising a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells also include an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and the anode plate defines a plurality of channels that form an anode flow field facing the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells further include a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the cathode flow field comprises a porous structure.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack having a plurality of electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells include a membrane electrode assembly having an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween. The electrochemical cells also include an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and the anode plate defines a plurality of channels that form an anode flow field facing the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells further include a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the cathode flow field comprises a porous structure.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack is provided. The electrochemical cell stack has a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each electrochemical cell has a membrane electrode assembly which includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the catalyst layer and the anode layer. Each electrochemical cell also has an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode flow field includes a porous structure having a plurality of pores having an average pore size. The plurality of electrochemical cells has a first electrochemical cell positioned at a first end of the electrochemical cell stack. The porous structure of the first electrochemical cell has an average pore size greater than the average pore size of the porous structures of the plurality of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell stack has electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells have a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane therebetween. The electrochemical cells have an anode plate and a cathode plate with the MEA interposed therebetween, and a cathode flow field between the cathode plate and catalyst layer. The anode plate or the cathode plates are formed of uncoated 316 stainless steel. Portions of the cathode or anode plate have an arithmetic average roughness from about 5 ?in to about 35 ?in. The cathode flow field is a porous structure. Surface regions on a side of the porous structure facing the MEA are smooth and align with a subgasket of the MEA.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack having a plurality of electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis. The electrochemical cells include a membrane electrode assembly comprising a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells also include an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and the anode plate defines a plurality of channels that form an anode flow field facing the anode catalyst layer. The electrochemical cells further include a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the cathode flow field comprises a porous structure.

Abstract: An electrochemical-cell stack assembly is provided. The assembly has an electrochemical-cell stack and a compression system that holds the electrochemical-cell stack in a state of compression. The compression system has a first endplate and a second endplate positioned at opposite ends of the electrochemical-cell stack. The compression system has a set of tension members coupled to the first endplate and the second endplate that maintain a fixed distance between the first endplate and the second endplate. The compression system has a compression plate disposed between the second endplate and the electrochemical-cell stack. The compression system has a compression member in contact with the compression plate, wherein the compression member is configured to transfer a force to the compression plate. The compression system has a locking nut fastened to the second plate. The locking nut secures the position of the compression member and compression plate relative to the second endplate.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a pair of bipolar plates, and the membrane electrode assembly has a total active area measured in an x-y plane that is generally perpendicular to the z-axis. Each bipolar plate includes a plurality of common passages extending generally parallel to the z-axis. The total active area of the membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of base active areas arranged co-planar in the x-y plane along an x-axis.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged in a stack configuration extending along a z-axis, wherein each fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a pair of bipolar plates, and each membrane electrode assembly has a total active area measured in an x-y plane that is generally perpendicular to the z-axis. Each bipolar plate includes a plurality of common passages extending generally parallel to the z-axis. The total active area of each membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of base active areas arranged co-planar in the x-y plane along an x-axis.

Abstract: A method of managing humidification for a fuel cell power system comprising, supplying air to a cathode inlet stream of a fuel cell. Detecting a fuel cell parameter associated with the humidity of the cathode inlet stream. Selectively operating the fuel cell in either an active humidification mode or a deactive humidification mode based on the fuel cell parameter, wherein the active humidification mode includes adding water to the cathode inlet stream and the deactive humidification mode includes adding no water to the cathode inlet stream.

Abstract: This disclosure related to polymer electrolyte member fuel cells and components thereof, including fuel cell electrodes.

Abstract: A flow field for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The flow field includes a porous metallic structure including an inlet port and a plurality of channels stamped in the structure. The plurality of channels is in fluid communication with the inlet port to receive a reactant gas and configured to cause the reactant gas to diffuse through the porous metallic structure between adjacent channels.