Patent ID: 7939219

Claim:
Apparatus comprising: a non-electrode, non-matrix fuel cell component to be disposed within a fuel cell, the non-electrode, non-matrix fuel cell component being one of a cathode current collector, an anode current collector and a bipolar plate, the fuel cell being operated in an operating temperature range and storing a baseline carbonate electrolyte in a electrolyte matrix storage area which is abutted by an electrode of the fuel cell, the baseline carbonate electrolyte having a melting point in the operating temperature range of the fuel cell so as to be a liquid in the operating temperature range of the fuel cell, and the non-electrode, non-matrix fuel cell component having: one or more storage areas which are not in direct contact with the electrode and are not in direct contact with the electrolyte matrix storage area when the non-electrode, non-matrix fuel cell component is disposed in said fuel cell; and a delayed addition solid carbonate electrolyte disposed in one or more of said one or more storage areas, said delayed addition solid carbonate electrolyte being of a pre-selected content so as to have a melting point above the highest temperature in the operating temperature range of the fuel cell so as to obtain delayed time release melting of the delayed addition solid carbonate electrolyte in the operating temperature range of the fuel cell, which is lower than the melting point of the delayed addition solid carbonate electrolyte, during the time when said non-electrode, non-matrix fuel cell component is disposed in said fuel cell.