Patent ID: 7771884
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell stack module comprising: a) a fuel cell stack including an anode fuel cell stack and a cathode fuel cell stack and a plurality of individual fuel cell units; and b) a manifold for supplying fuel gas fluid and cathode air fluid to said respective anode and cathode fuel cell stacks in the fuel cell stack and to exhaust fuel gas exhaust fluid and cathode air exhaust fluid from said respective anode and cathode fuel cell stacks in the fuel cell stack, said manifold being attached to and integral with said fuel cell stack, and the manifold including, a partitioned anode fluid distribution element having a first anode surface and a second anode surface opposite the first anode surface, and the anode fluid distribution element including an anode fuel gas inlet chamber being adapted for flow of the supplied fuel gas fluid therethrough, and said anode fluid distribution element configured to route the supplied fuel gas fluid to the said fuel cell stack and to route the fuel gas exhaust fluid from said fuel cell stack; a partitioned cathode fluid distribution element overlying the anode fluid distribution element and having a first cathode surface and a second cathode surface opposite the first cathode surface, and the cathode fluid distribution element including a cathode air inlet chamber being adapted for flow of the supplied cathode air fluid therethrough, and the first cathode surface being in connection to the fuel cell stack, said cathode fluid distribution element configured to provide flow management for the supplied cathode air fluid to the fuel cell stack and for exhausting the cathode air exhaust fluid from the fuel cell stack, and the cathode fluid distribution element including a plurality of openings for fluid communication at the first cathode surface of the fluids between the manifold and the fuel cell stack; and a separator plate overlying the anode fluid distribution element and disposed between the anode and the cathode fluid distribution element, said plate including a first plate surface and a second plate surface opposite the first plate surface, said first plate surface being in connection to the second cathode surface and the second separator surface being in connection to the first anode surface, wherein the plate is configured to enclose the chambers such that the supplied fuel gas fluid flows in the anode gas inlet chamber in the anode fluid distribution element and the supplied cathode air fluid flows in the cathode air inlet chamber in the cathode fluid distribution element.