Patent ID: 8865362

Claim:
A bipolar plate ( 1 ) in combination with a sealant ( 50 , 70 ) for a PEM fuel cell, wherein the bipolar plate ( 1 ) has an anode side with first flow channels ( 20 ) for transport of a proton-donating fuel or a cathode side with second flow channels ( 12 ) for transport of proton-accepting fluid, or both, wherein the sealant ( 50 , 70 ) is provided parallel with the bipolar plate ( 1 ) for sealing the bipolar plate against an adjacent electrolytic membrane ( 40 ), wherein the bipolar plate is provided with a groove ( 14 a , 14 b ) for accommodating the sealant ( 50 , 70 ), wherein the groove ( 14 a , 14 b ) is along all edges of the bipolar plate ( 1 ), wherein the sealant ( 50 , 70 ) is elastomeric and has first fluid channels ( 74 a , 74 b ) and second fluid channels ( 54 a , 54 b ) across the sealant ( 50 , 70 ), wherein the first fluid channels ( 74 a , 74 b ) have a different geometry than the second fluid channels ( 54 a , 54 b ), wherein the sealant is a first sealant and a second sealant with the second sealant being separate from the first sealant, and wherein the first sealant ( 70 ) is separated from the second sealant ( 50 ) by the electrolytic membrane ( 40 ) between the sealants ( 50 , 70 ); a) wherein the first sealant ( 70 ) is provided only on the anode side and has first corrugations in the sealant providing first fluid channels ( 74 a , 74 b ) and is connected to the first flow channels ( 20 ) of the anode side, wherein the first fluid channels ( 74 a , 74 b ) transport proton-donating fluid across the sealant ( 57 ) and along the first flow channels ( 20 ) in the bipolar plate, and b) wherein the second sealant ( 50 ) is provided only on the cathode side and has second corrugations in the sealant providing second fluid channels ( 54 a , 54 b ) and is connected to the second flow channels ( 12 ) of the cathode side, wherein the second fluid channels ( 54 a , 54 b ) transport proton-accepting fluid across the sealant ( 50 ) and along the second flow channels ( 12 ) in the bipolar plate.