Patent ID: 9567679
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: C25B,H01M,Y02E

Claim:
1. An electrochemical cell comprising: a pair of bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly located between the pair of bipolar plates, wherein the membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode, a cathode, and a proton exchange membrane disposed therebetween; a first seal defining a high pressure zone, wherein the first seal is located between the bipolar plates and configured to contain a first fluid within the high pressure zone; a second seal defining an intermediate pressure zone, wherein the second seal is located between the bipolar plates and configured to contain a second fluid within the intermediate pressure zone; and a pair of flow structures having gas diffusion layers, wherein the flow structures are positioned between the bipolar plates on each side of the membrane electrode assembly; wherein the first seal is configured to leak the first fluid into the intermediate pressure zone when the first seal unseats; and wherein at least one of the bipolar plates includes a first component and a second component and has a cascade seal configuration arranged between the first component and the second component, and the first component and the second component define a void that houses the flow structures and the membrane electrode assembly.