Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system for a fuel cell (2), comprising a main heat-transfer-fluid circuit including a main circulation pump (6) and a heat exchanger (8) with the exterior, which feed an upstream pipe (12) supplying the fluid to the cells (4) of the fuel cell, said fluid leaving the cells via a downstream pipe (14) in order to return to the main pump. The system is characterised in that a secondary circuit, comprising a secondary circulation device (30) that circulates the fluid in an alternate manner, is connected in parallel with the main circuit to the upstream (12) and downstream (14) pipes and in that one or more controlled valves (10, 16) allow the main circuit and the secondary circuit to operate independently.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid delivery head for an electrochemical cell, for example a fuel cell. The delivery head combines the inlets and outlets of the lines for delivering the fluids, notably hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen delivery line feeds an active part of the fuel cell and includes a cavity in communication with a discharge pipe via a solenoid valve. The invention performs several functions with a minimum of elements and with reduced bulk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system for a fuel cell (2), comprising a main heat-transfer-fluid circuit including a main circulation pump (6) and a heat exchanger (8) with the exterior, which feed an upstream pipe (12) supplying the fluid to the cells (4) of the fuel cell, said fluid leaving the cells via a downstream pipe (14) in order to return to the main pump. The system is characterised in that a secondary circuit, comprising a secondary circulation device (30) that circulates the fluid in an alternate manner, is connected in parallel with the main circuit to the upstream (12) and downstream (14) pipes and in that one or more controlled valves (10, 16) allow the main circuit and the secondary circuit to operate independently.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid delivery head for an electrochemical cell, for example a fuel cell. The delivery head combines the inlets and outlets of the lines for delivering the fluids, notably hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen delivery line feeds an active part of the fuel cell and includes a cavity in communication with a discharge pipe via a solenoid valve. The invention performs several functions with a minimum of elements and with reduced bulk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a draining device for a fuel cell (FC). The effluents from a hydrogen FC comprising a recirculation circuit have to be regularly drained in order to guarantee optimum operation. The draining devices of the prior art are characterized by significant variations in the hydrogen concentration of the effluents. The invention consists in incorporating the draining means in the device for separating the liquid and gas phases of the effluents. Advantageously, means for fine regulation of the draining flow rate are provided, which makes it possible to limit the losses of hydrogen the drained effluents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell bipolar plate (22) comprising at least one ridge (47, 23a, 33a, 40a, 27a, 35a, 41a, 23a) on at least one of the faces (51) thereof, such as seal at least one fluid circuit in the cell from among the oxidant, fuel and coolant inlet circuits and the oxidant, fuel and coolant outlet circuits, said circuits being formed by stacking openings which are provided in the plate (22) and which form an inlet and an outlet for the oxidant and the fuel (33, 40, 35, 41) respectively and openings which form an inlet and an outlet for the coolant (23, 27) respectively during the assembly of the constituent cells (1) of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel cell comprising an electrode-membrane (5) unit disposed between two bi-polar plates (3) and (4), also comprising at least one electroconductive cross-member (6) arranged between one of the bi-polar plates (4) and the electrode-membrane unit (5) in order to keep the bipolar plates at a distance, wherein the electrode membrane unit (5) is configured in such a way that it can divide the area (10) defined by the bi-polar plates into at least one channel for the passage of a first gas (8) and at least one channel for the passage of a second gas (9). Fuel cell consisting of a cell stack.