Patent ID: 7029780
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: F16K,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising: a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies each including a first gas diffusion electrode on one side of an ion exchange membrane and a second gas diffusion electrode on the other side; a plurality of reactant gas supply separators, each disposed between two of the plurality of membrane electrode assemblies; and a water supply manifold for supplying water to each of the plurality of reactant gas supply separators; wherein each one of the reactant gas supply separators includes: a first surface which faces the first gas diffusion electrode of one of the membrane electrode assemblies and has first reactant gas supply grooves for supplying first reactant gas; a second surface which faces to the second gas diffusion electrode of another one of the membrane electrode assemblies and has second reactant gas supply grooves for supplying second reactant gas; and water supply means for supplying water to the plurality of first reactant gas supply grooves; the water supply means includes at least one water supply groove formed on the second surface for introducing water from the water supply manifold; one or more communication holes for communicating from the second surface to the first surface; and a buffer section which is formed on the second surface and has a porous body for substantially uniformly distributing water from the water supply groove to the communication holes formed in a plurality of the reactant gas supply separators; the porous body extends along the second surface so that water can flow through the porous body along the second surface, and the porous body is hydrophilic; and the water supply manifold for supplying water is positioned below the buffer section.