Patent ID: 8574783
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell stack, comprising: a plurality of membrane-electrode assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of membrane-electrode assemblies comprises an electrolyte membrane, an anode formed on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode formed on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane; and a plurality of separators positioned between the membrane-electrode assemblies, each of the plurality of separators including an anode separator facing the anode and a cathode separator facing the cathode, at least two manifolds, a channel separated from the manifolds and facing at least one of the anode and the cathode, a connection channel in fluid communication with one of the at least two manifolds and the channel, and a buffer protrusion system formed within the connection channel and configured to disperse the flow of the fuel or the oxidant, the one of the at least two manifolds including an oxidant manifold, the channel including an oxidant channel, and the cathode separator including the oxidant manifold and the oxidant channel, the connection channel including a first flow path formed on an inner surface of the cathode separator from the oxidant manifold toward the oxidant channel and a second flow path in fluid communication with both an end portion of the first flow path and the oxidant channel in a thickness direction of the cathode separator, and the buffer protrusion system including a plurality of buffer protrusions alternately formed on opposite sides of the first flow path and the second flow path.