Abstract: The fuel cell is constituted by a plurality of elements disposed in electrical contact with one another, with each element comprising two porous electrodes, an electrolyte filling the gap situated between said electrodes, and two impermeable bipolar current collectors. One of the electrodes is fixed to a frame having a central orifice. One face of said frame includes grooves for conveying electrolyte from an inlet orifice to a manifold chamber which communicates with the electrolyte compartment, and further grooves for removing electrolyte therefrom to an outlet orifice. The electrolyte compartment is closed by another insulating frame to which the second electrode is fixed.In a preferred embodiment of the invention a separator is provided in the electrolyte compartment in the form of a grating constituted by insulating bars which are parallel to one another and to the direction of electrolyte flow, and constituting an integral part of one of the frames of the electrolyte compartment.

Abstract: A single fuel cell (20) is built up from a plurality of plane members (21, 32, 42, 24). A plurality of such cells are stacked together to constitute a fuel cell structure. Each fuel cell in the structure requires access to three independent fluid circuits: an electrolyte circuit including an inlet orifice (88A, 98A) and an outlet orifice (88B, 98B); a gas fuel circuit including inlet and outlet orifices (108); and an oxidant circuit which may be constituted by inlets and outlets in communication with ambient air. In the final structure, these circuits must be effectively sealed from one another and from the surroundings (except for the special case of ambient air oxidant). This invention improves such sealing by preventing unwanted seepage between adjacent ones of the plane members (21, 32, 42, 24) due to defects in planeness and parallelism of the individual plane members.

Abstract: The fuel cell structure is constituted by a plurality of cells disposed in electrical contact with one another, each cell comprising two porous electrodes, an electrolyte filling the gap between the said electrodes, and two impermeable bipolar current collectors. The bottom and top portions of the collectors (23) are provided on both faces thereof with grooves or hollows enabling the anode face of the collectors to be supplied with fuel and the cathode face to be supplied with oxidant. Elongate ribs (39, 37, 38) constitute distribution channels (35, 36) for the gas flows, the said channels supplying channels which run over the central conductive zones (24) of the collectors substantially vertically.

Abstract: The fuel cell structure is constituted by a plurality of cells disposed in electrical contact with one another, each cell comprising first and second porous electrodes (1,2), an electrolyte filling the gap between the said electrodes and two impermeable bipolar current collectors. The electrodes are pressed against opposite faces of a frame (3) having a central orifice (4). One face (10) of the frame includes first and second grooves (11) for conveying electrolyte from an inlet orifice (8A) to a distributing manifold (12) which is in communication with the electrolyte chamber, and for conveying electrolyte away from the electrolyte chamber to an exit orifice (8B). The electrolyte distribution network on the frame (3) is sealed by a thin film (15) which extends over said network and which is fixed to the frame, that one of the electrodes (1) which overlaps the said film (15) being fixed thereto.

Abstract: The fuel cell structure is constituted by a plurality of cells disposed in electrical contact with one another, each cell comprising two porous electrodes, an electrolyte filling the gap between the said electrodes, and two impermeable bipolar current collectors. One of the electrodes (2) is pressed against a frame (3) having a central orifice (4). One face of the said frame (3) includes grooves (11) for conveying electrolyte from an inlet orifice (8A) to a distribution manifold (12) which is in communication with the electrolyte compartment, and also for conveying electrolyte from the central compartment to an outlet orifice (8B). The electrolyte conveying network on the frame (3) is sealed by means of a second frame (55) made of insulating material and pressed over the said network. The frames are fixed together.