Patent ID: 7985505
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a fuel cell comprising an electrode having a surface; and at least one spacer secured to the electrode surface, wherein the spacer has a surface that defines a channel that extends from a first port across the spacer surface to a second port, and the first port is configured to receive a fluid and provide the fluid to the channel, the channel is configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough to the second port, and the second port is configured to receive the fluid from the channel, and the channel has a portion that opens toward the electrode such that the fluid is in contact with the electrode surface as the fluid flows from the first port through the channel to the second port; wherein the electrode is one of a plurality of electrodes, the spacer is one of a plurality of spacers, and the fluid is one of two fluids, a first fluid being an oxidant bearing gas and a second fluid being an electrolyte solution; and wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is a cathode, at least one of the plurality of electrodes is a metal hydride anode, and at least one of the plurality of electrodes is a third electrode, a first spacer of the plurality of spacers is in contact with the cathode and has a channel to carry the first fluid and a second spacer of the plurality of spacers is in contact with the third electrode and has a channel to carry the second fluid.