Patent ID: 6261710
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
In a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell units, each said fuel cell unit having a membrane-electrode-assembly comprising a proton conductive, polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode electrode film on one face and a cathode electrode film on an opposite face, an anode current collector on said anode electrode film side of said membrane-electrode-assembly and a cathode current collector on said cathode film side of said membrane-electrode-assembly, and a separator plate disposed between said anode electrode film side of said membrane-electrode-assembly of one said fuel cell unit and said cathode electrode film side of said membrane-electrode-assembly of an adjacent said fuel cell unit having guide means for distributing fuel and oxidant gases to said anode electrode film side and said cathode electrode film side, respectively, the improvement comprising:said separator plate constructed of at least two coextensive sheet metal elements having substantially conforming non-linear shapes, said at least two coextensive sheet metal elements separated by a substantially uniform distance over their entire surfaces and forming a coolant flow space therebetween.