Patent ID: 8338057
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell assembly comprising: a first fluid flow field plate; a second fluid flow field plate; a membrane electrode assembly having first and second opposing faces, interposed between the first and second fluid flow field plates; a gasket, consisting of a single material, extending between the first and second fluid flow field plates and having first and second opposing faces forming respective first and second sealing surfaces therewith, the second face of the gasket also defining a third sealing surface, by which the gasket is in contact with only one face of the membrane electrode assembly; wherein the second face of the gasket has a region of increased compressibility associated with the third sealing surface compared to a region associated with the second sealing surface to permit the region associated with the third sealing surface to compress further than the region associated with the second sealing surface under the same applied pressure, wherein the region of increased compressibility associated with the third sealing surface has a higher cavity volume or cavity density than the region associated with the second sealing surface.