Patent ID: 8048584
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell assembly, comprising: a plurality of fuel cell bundles arranged in longitudinally extending orientation in a housing; each fuel cell bundle comprising a multiplicity of microfibrous fuel cells arranged in longitudinally extending orientation in the fuel cell bundle, in a multiplicity of fuel cell sub-bundle structures each comprising multiple microfibrous fuel cells circumferentially arranged around a central member comprising a common current collector or hollow tube; each microfibrous fuel cell comprising an inner current collector and a membrane surrounding the inner current collector and each microfibrous fuel cell of a sub-bundle in contact at an outer surface with the outer common current collector or hollow tube of the sub-bundle, thereby defining bore and shell sides of the microfibrous fuel cells; each fuel cell bundle including seal members providing fluid communication with the bore sides of the microfibrous fuel cells and separate fluid communication with the shell sides of the microfibrous fuel cells; wherein the housing is compartmentalized by compartment-forming members arranged to define leak-tightly separated compartments in the housing including a central compartment, first and second intermediate compartments, and first and second end compartments; multiple fluid inlets and outlets in communication with the housing arranged for separately passing fuel-containing fluid, oxidant-containing fluid and heat exchange fluid through respective ones of the central, intermediate and end compartments and through the fuel cell bundles; and the fuel cell bundles being arranged in relation to the compartment forming members for passing the fuel-containing fluid through one of the bore and shell sides of the microfibrous fuel cells and separately passing the oxidant-containing fluid through the other of the bore and shell sides of the microfibrous fuel cells.