Current collector supported fuel cell

Abstract

A current collector for a fuel cell stack physically supports the fuel cell stack within a fuel cell and one or more elements of the fuel cell stack are deposited on the current collector in thin layers Gases of the fuel cell flow to and from an electrode element of the fuel cell stack through the current collector.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure describes electrochemical power systems, and more specifically, current collector supported fuel cells. Background technique [0002] Key components of a fuel cell stack include the anode, cathode, electrolyte and current collector. In many fuel cell stack designs, the electrolyte is sandwiched between the anode and cathode to form the basic cell stack, and there can be multiple stacks, connected in series or parallel in the fuel cell. The multilayer structure of the battery stack is connected to two current collectors, which direct current to or from the electrodes. The current collector is designed to expose as much of the electrode surface as possible for gas exchange. [0003] Fuel cell types include Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC - detailed below), Proton Conducting Ceramic Fuel Cells, Alkaline Fuel Cells, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, Molten Carbide Fuel Cells, Solid Acid Fuel Cells batteries and direct me...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

But thinner electrodes and electrolytes can compromise structural integrity

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