Patent ID: 6703155
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell stack comprising:first and second conductive end plates; a plurality of bipolar separator plates configured to be stacked between the conductive end plates, the bipolar separator plates respectively having a depth and a height dimension; a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies each having an anode and a cathode side, and each membrane electrode assembly being configured to be stacked between a pair of bipolar separator plates; and a power tap device including first and second electrically conductive major outer surfaces and a dielectric layer separating the first electrically conductive major outer surface from the second electrically conductive major outer surface, and wherein the power tap device has a depth and height dimension which generally corresponds to the depth and height dimension of the bipolar separator plates and being configured to be stacked between the conductive end plates with the bipolar separator plates and membrane electrode assemblies, and wherein the power tap device further includes a passageway to direct a source of fuel from one of the separator plates located on one side of the power tap device, to another one of the separator plates located on the other side of the power tap device.