Patent ID: 6569554
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
Fuel cell battery comprising a stack of planar cells includinga) electrochemically active PEN plates and interconnectors arranged in an alternating sequence, b) the PEN plates and the interconnectors each having a first edge and a second edge between which a straight or curved zone of substantially constant width extends, c) the zone being subdividable into sectors extending between the first and second edges, d) the interconnectors having profilings permitting first and second fluids to be separately conducted through the cells, e) entry points for the first fluid at the first edge of each sector, entry points for the second fluid at the second edge of each sector, and outlet points for both fluids, f) the outlet points opening into a common passage for the entire cell stack, and g) the second fluid being a heat carrier medium for reaction heat which is liberated at the PEN plates when in operation, the interconnectors being single layered and having a profile so that the second fluid is always conducted in contact with the PEN plates; the interconnectors defining a turning region at the first edge for reversing a flow direction of the second fluid that is parallel to the interconnector; and means for removing a portion of the heat generated by the PEN plates through radiation and preheating the second fluid with at least a portion of the radiation removed from the cell stack so that the second fluid enters the cell stack relatively hot compared to an unheated fluid and thermal stresses generated in the PEN plates through contact with the second fluid are kept relatively low compared to contact with the unheated fluid and prevented from harming the PEN plates.