Patent ID: 6723461
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A PEM fuel cell including a water management system, comprising:a proton exchange membrane having an anode catalyst layer on a first major face thereof and a cathode catalyst layer on a second major face thereof; a first porous plate positioned adjacent said anode catalyst layer and a second porous plate positioned adjacent said cathode catalyst layer; first means for directing fuel reactant gas into, through and out of said first porous plate for reaction on said anode catalyst layer of said proton exchange membrane, said first means including a fuel reactant gas inlet and a fuel reactant gas outlet; second means for directing oxidant reactant gas into, through and out of said second porous plate for reaction on said cathode catalyst layer of said proton exchange membrane, said second means including an oxidant reactant gas inlet and an oxidant reactant gas outlet; a water transport means for directing water into, through and out of said first and second porous plates, said water transport means including a water inlet and a water outlet; characterized by the improvement comprising: at least one of said reactant gas inlets being disposed for placing corresponding reactant gas entering through said one reactant gas inlet in contact with water within said water transport means for humidifying said corresponding reactant gas; and said oxidant reactant gas outlet being adjacent to said water inlet for condensing water from said oxidant reactant gas, thereby removing water from and thereby cooling said oxidant reactant gas.