Patent ID: 7592088
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A seal configuration for a fuel cell including a first bipolar plate and a second bipolar plate each disposed on opposite sides of a membrane electrode assembly, each of said first and second bipolar plates including a recess region disposed along an edge thereof, said seal configuration comprising: a first sub-gasket adhered to the recess region of the first bipolar plate; a second sub-gasket adhered to the recess region of the second bipolar plate, wherein said first and second sub-gaskets are disposed on opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly; a seal member disposed in said recess regions in said first and second bipolar plates and between said first and second sub-gaskets; and a reduced bypass region adjacent said recess region of said first bipolar plate and said recess region of said second bipolar plate, wherein said first and second sub-gaskets come into contact at an end adjacent said membrane electrode assembly and diverge at an opposite end of said reduced bypass region and extend into said recess region of said first bipolar plate and said recess region of said second bipolar plate respectively, at least one of said first and second sub-gaskets being in direct contact with said seal member.