Patent ID: 6329093
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising a cell laminate, said cell laminate comprising a plurality of unit cells that are laid one upon another via conductive separators, each of said unit cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes that are arranged across said polymer electrolyte membrane and respectively have a catalytic reaction layer, and a unit for feeding a supply of gaseous fuel containing gaseous hydrogen to one of said electrodes and for feeding a supply of oxidant gas containing oxygen to the other of said electrodes,wherein said polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack further comprises:an inlet manifold that distributes supplies of the gaseous fuel, the oxidant gas, and cooling water through the cell laminate in a first direction from a unit cell on one end of said cell laminate to a unit cell on the other end of said cell laminate; andan outlet manifold that discharges exhausts of the gaseous fuel, the oxidant gas, and the cooling water through the cell laminate in a direction opposite to the first direction from the unit cell on the other end of said cell laminate to the unit cell on the one end of said cell laminate.