Patent ID: 7159841

Claim:
A fuel cell operable with a quantity of fuel and a quantity of an oxidizer to produce electrical power, the fuel cell comprising: a fuel cell body including a labyrinth system structured to permit the fuel and the oxidizer to flow therethrough; at least a first catalyst in fluid communication with the labyrinth; and at least a first microvalve operably disposed within at least a portion of the labyrinth; wherein the first microvalve includes a valve body, and deflectable member operable upon the application of a voltage from a voltage source; a valve body having a first end and a second end, the valve body including an elongated flow channel formed therein and extending substantially longitudinally between the first and second ends to permit substantially longitudinal flow of the fluid therethrough and between the first and second ends; and the deflectable member disposed on the valve body, the deflectable member including at least a first piezoelectric portion that is piezoelectrically operable to deflect the deflectable member between an open position and a closed position upon the application of a voltage, the deflectable member in the closed position being operable to resist the flow of the fluid through the flow channel.