Patent ID: 7335436

Claim:
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack comprising: two cell units, each cell unit comprising: a catalyzed membrane formed by catalyzing both surfaces of an electrolyte layer; a fuel flow field portion including fuel supply passages; an air flow field portion including air supply passages, wherein the fuel flow field portion and the air flow field portion are formed along opposite surfaces of the catalyzed membrane, and wherein at least one of the fuel and the air flow field portions comprises a parallel flow field and an orthogonal flow field, wherein the parallel flow field induces either fuel or air flow in a direction parallel to the surface of the catalyzed membrane, and wherein the orthogonal flow field induces air or fuel flow, depending on the fuel or air flow in the parallel flow field, respectively, in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the catalyzed membrane, such that one of the fuel and the air flow field portions induces fuel flow, and the other induces air flow; a fuel supply pipeline and an air supply pipeline inserted into the respective fuel and air supply passages, wherein the fuel and air supply pipelines are tubular and have fuel and air openings, respectively, connected to the respective fuel and air supply passages, wherein portions of the fuel and air supply passages are sealed by sealing members such that fuel from the fuel supply pipeline is directed to the fuel supply passages, wherein the fuel is not supplied to the air flow field portion, wherein air from the air supply pipeline is directed to the air supply passages, and wherein the air is not supplied to the fuel flow field portion; two bipolar plates each in contact with an outer surface of each of the fuel flow field portion and the air flow field portion; two cooling members each of which includes heat dissipating fins, wherein each of the cooling members is located on a surface of the each of the cell units; and two current collectors, one mounted on each of the upper and bottom ends of the cell stack, wherein the collectors comprise a plurality of members having conductivity and capable of protecting the cell stack from external impacts.