Patent ID: 8227132
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A direct liquid feed fuel cell stack comprising: a first end plate and a second end plate facing each other; and a plurality of unit cell modules removably mounted between inner surfaces of the first and the second end plates, the plurality of unit cells modules including at least one unit cell, and each unit cell including an electrolyte membrane surrounded by an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, wherein: the inner surfaces of the first and second end plates comprise sliding grooves configured to slidably install the unit cell modules into the first and second end plates in such a manner where a planar face of the unit cell is substantially perpendicular to planar faces of the first and second end plates and to slidably remove the unit cell modules from the first and second end plates, the sliding grooves on the inner surface of the first end plate include therein pads configured to contact terminals of the unit cell modules, the pads being electrically connected in series by circuit lines of an electrical circuit arranged in a region of the sliding grooves of the first end plate, the sliding grooves on the inner surface of the second end plate include therein ports to contact liquid fuel inlets and liquid fuel outlets of the unit cell modules, the unit cell is contained within a solid case and has an electrical terminal in direct contact with one sliding groove of the first end plate, and one liquid fuel inlet and one liquid fuel outlet arranged at a portion of the anode plate are in direct contact with one sliding groove of the second end plate, and at least one circuit line connects an anode electrode of one unit cell in one of the plurality of unit cell modules to a cathode electrode of one unit cell in an adjacent one of the plurality of unit cell modules.