Patent ID: 6127055
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A fuel cell system comprising:a membrane electrode assembly comprising:a corrugated conductive cathode sheet;a corrugated conductive anode sheet; anda corrugated sheet of electrolyte held between said conductive cathode sheet and said conductive anode sheet;a base plate having:a surface having a plurality of ribs;a bipolar plate having a first surface and a plurality of ribs projecting from the first surface, the ribs on the first surface of the bipolar plate being are spaced apart in a manner that allows the ribs on the first surface of the bipolar plate to nest between the ribs on the surface of the base plate, so that the membrane electrode assembly may be held against the surface of the base plate by the ribs on the first surface of the bipolar plate while the membrane electrode assembly is held against the first surface of the bipolar plate by the ribs of the base plate, so that a first reactant chamber is formed between the membrane electrode assembly and the surface of the base plate and a second reactant chamber is formed between the membrane electrode assembly and the first surface of said bipolar plate.