Fuel cell stacks, fuel cells, and vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stack (11) for a fuel cell (10), the stack comprising a separator plate (12) having a peripheral zone (35) having a pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c), the pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c) comprising a plate supply port (31a, 31b, 31c) and a plate discharge port (33a, 33b, 33c). The fuel cell comprises a membrane-electrode assembly (50) having a peripheral portion (52) provided with a pair of ports of an assembly (59a, 59b, 59c) having an assembly supply port (51a, 51b, 51c) and an assembly discharge port (53a, 53b, 53c). A pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c) are rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis of the plate, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stack for a fuel cell, a fuel cell, and a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In the field of fuel cells, it is known to make the flow of reactive gas and / or cooling fluid uniform while optimizing the number of reactants consumed so that the cells of the fuel cell operate uniformly and optimally. For this purpose, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 107968210 describes the use of bipolar plates having supply and discharge ports forming supply and discharge galleries and cathode plates and anode plates forming a membrane-electrode assembly. The anode and cathode plates and the membrane-electrode assembly are provided with supply and discharge ports for reactive gas and cooling fluid disposed on both sides of the anode, cathode plate and membrane-electrode assembly, and these ports are asymmetric with respect to the center of the separator plate and the membrane-electrode assembly, respectively.

[0003] However, these arrangements impose a geometric shape on the ports of the bipolar plate, that is to say, the shape of these ports, as well as the orientation of the bipolar plates relative to each other. In fact, all bipolar plates must be oriented in the same direction in order to define supply and discharge galleries with optimized cross-sections.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a new stack for a fuel cell that optimizes the fluid flow without imposing a shape on the ports of the bipolar plate or the orientation of any particular bipolar plate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a stack for a fuel cell. The stack is a separator plate extending parallel to a central plane, the central plane being perpendicular to the stack direction, and the separator plate is Circulating field and A separator plate comprising: a peripheral zone surrounding a circulating field and having a pair of plate ports, the pair of plate ports comprising a plate supply port and a plate discharge port, the plate supply port and discharge port of the pair of plate ports being fluidly connected by the circulating field, thereby the functional fluid circulating through the plate supply port also circulating through the plate discharge port of the pair of plate ports; A film-electrode assembly extending parallel to the midline and superimposed on a separator plate, The central part facing the cyclic field in the stacking direction, A membrane-electrode assembly comprising a peripheral portion surrounding a central portion and facing the peripheral zone in the stacking direction, comprising a pair of assembly ports, each of which comprises an assembly supply port and an assembly discharge port, the assembly supply port and the assembly discharge port superimposed on a plate supply port and a plate discharge port, respectively, thereby the functional fluid circulating through the plate supply port and the plate discharge port also circulates through the assembly supply port and the assembly discharge port, and each assembly and plate port defines a cross section parallel to the midline plane, The superimposed plate and assembly supply ports form part of a supply gallery parallel to the stacking direction, thereby supplying the functional fluid circulating within the supply gallery to the circulation field, and the superimposed discharge ports form part of a discharge gallery parallel to the stacking direction, thereby discharging the functional fluid that has flowed from the supply gallery into the circulation field through the discharge gallery.

[0006] According to the present invention, a pair of plate ports are symmetrical with respect to a 180-degree rotation around a central plate axis parallel to the stacking direction and passing through the center of the plate, and the two assembly ports belonging to a pair of assembly ports are asymmetrical with respect to a central MEA axis parallel to the stacking direction and passing through the center of the MEA.

[0007] The underlying idea of ​​this invention is to provide a separator plate that is symmetrical with respect to the plate center with respect to at least one pair of its plate ports, and a membrane-electrode assembly that is asymmetrical with respect to a central MEA axis parallel to the stacking direction and passing through the MEA center with respect to at least one pair of its assembly ports corresponding to the same functional fluid. For each pair of assembly ports associated with a given functional fluid, the supply and discharge ports of each pair of assembly ports are diametrically opposed to each other, and thus the membrane-electrode assembly is asymmetrical with respect to a central MEA axis parallel to the stacking direction and passing through the MEA center. Thus, fluid flow is optimized regardless of the shape of the plate ports or the orientation of the separator plates relative to each other.

[0008] These arrangements are particularly advantageous when multiple separator plates and multiple membrane-electrode assemblies are provided in the stack, for example, all separator plates can be identical and arranged alternately, rotated 180 degrees from one separator plate to the other around a central axis parallel to the stack direction A11 and passing through the center of each plate, and all membrane-electrode assemblies can be identical and arranged in the same orientation to one another. Thus, the construction of the stack is facilitated without compromising the optimization of the flow of functional fluids in the supply and discharge galleries.

[0009] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the stack, either alone or in all technically possible combinations, includes one or more of the following features:

[0010] The cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly supply port is advantageously 5% to 50%, preferably 8% to 33%, smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge port.

[0011] Each assembly port is defined by its respective peripheral edge formed by the surrounding portion. The periphery of the assembly supply port includes an overlapping portion and an overhanging portion. The peripheral edge of the assembly discharge port has an overlapping portion and a recessed portion. The overlapping portion of the assembly supply port has the same shape as the overlapping portion of the assembly discharge port, and The protruding portion is offset more towards the inside of the assembly supply port than the recessed portion is offset towards the inside of the assembly discharge port.

[0012] The overlapping portion of the assembly supply port is located between the protruding portion and the central portion.

[0013] The periphery of the assembly discharge port forms a corner.

[0014] The periphery of the assembly supply port forms a corner. The recessed portion forms at least one of the corners of the periphery of the assembly discharge port. None of the corners of the periphery of the assembly supply port are formed by protruding portions.

[0015] The central portion contains a proton exchange polymer membrane, which is surrounded by the peripheral portion and superimposed on a circulating field in the stacking direction.

[0016] A separator plate is a bipolar plate in which an anode plate and a cathode plate are superimposed.

[0017] This stack includes several membrane-electrode assemblies and several separator plates that are alternately superimposed in the stacking direction.

[0018] The separator plates are identical, and for each separator plate in the stack, the immediately successive separator plate in the stack in the stack direction is positioned at a position rotated 180 degrees about the central plate axis with respect to the said separator plate.

[0019] This stack further comprises a reinforcing element or a sealing element, and the reinforcing element or the sealing element is interposed between on the one hand a peripheral part of one of the membrane - electrode assemblies near the overhanging part and on the other hand a peripheral part of the membrane - electrode assembly directly successive in the stack direction near the overhanging part, and the reinforcing element or the sealing element passes through the plate supply port of the separator plate separating these two membrane - electrode assemblies.

[0020] The cross - section of the assembly supply port forming part of the same supply gallery is of different areas for at least two different membrane - electrode assemblies of the stack.

[0021] Each separator plate comprises a connector at the peripheral part of the separator plate, and each connector is configured to receive a pin of the measuring module, and for each separator plate in the stack, the connectors of the separator plate and the connectors of the immediately successive separator plate in the stack are symmetrically arranged according to axial symmetry with respect to the central axis in the stack direction.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a fuel cell comprising the above - mentioned stack.

[0023] According to another advantageous aspect of the present invention, the fuel cell comprises, alone or in all technically possible combinations, one or more of the following features.

[0024] This fuel cell further comprises a functional fluid supply line connected to the supply gallery for supplying a functional fluid to the supply gallery and a discharge line connected to the discharge gallery for discharging the functional fluid from the discharge gallery, and the supply line and the discharge line are connected to the same end of the stack.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one of the above fuel cells.

[0026] The present invention is given by way of non-limiting example only and will become more apparent upon reading the following description made with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the stack of the fuel cell of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the connection between the module and the cell of the stack of bipolar plates of the fuel cell of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing the stack of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a top view of a bipolar plate and a membrane-electrode assembly. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane A-A' of the stack of the fuel cell of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane B-B' of the stack of the fuel cell of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a top view of a membrane-electrode assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a fuel cell 10 conforming to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The fuel cell 10 is intended to be used in a motor vehicle, for example, particularly an electric vehicle, and the electrical energy for supplying power to the motor is supplied, if not entirely, essentially by the fuel cell 10.

[0029] The fuel cell 10 comprises a stack 11 having a separator plate, in this case a bipolar plate 12.

[0030] Each bipolar plate 12 has two opposing outer surfaces: an anode surface and a cathode surface.

[0031] Each bipolar plate 12 is formed by two superimposed monopolar plates 13, the two monopolar plates 13 comprising a first pole plate 13A, here the cathode plate, and a second pole plate 13B, here the anode plate. The expression "two consecutive monopolar plates 13" refers to two cathode monopolar plates 13A and anode monopolar plates 13B that are related to form the same bipolar plate 12. The monopolar plates 13 are also simply called "pole plates 13". In a bipolar plate 12 formed by superimposing two such monopolar plates 13, the anode monopolar plate 13B forms the anode surface of the bipolar plate 12, and the cathode monopolar plate 13A forms the cathode surface of the bipolar plate 12. The anode and cathode surfaces of the bipolar plate 12 are the outer surfaces of the bipolar plate 12.

[0032] The two unipolar plates 13 are assembled in a sealed state. Each bipolar plate 12 has a substantially flat shape that extends along the median plane P12.

[0033] In this embodiment, the two related unipolar plates 13 forming the same bipolar plate 12 are made of metal and are welded or bonded together, or clamped together by a compressive force applied to the stack 11 according to the stacking direction A11.

[0034] The battery 10 includes a plurality of cells 14 made in the form of a stack of bipolar plates 12, where each cell 14 is formed between two consecutive bipolar plates 12. Thus, a stack 11 containing several stacked bipolar plates 12 consists of several individual cells 14 electrically connected in series. For each individual cell 14, the fuel cell 10 also includes a membrane-electrode assembly 50 belonging to the stack 11, which is interposed between two bipolar plates 12 associated with this cell 14. The membrane-electrode assembly 50 is also called an MEA 50 (an abbreviation for "membrane-electrode assembly"). Thus, the stack 11 includes several stacked bipolar plates 12 and several stacked MEAs 50, where the MEAs 50 are stacked between two consecutive bipolar plates 12. In particular, the MEAs 50, according to the stacking direction A11, are in contact with the cathode surface of the first bipolar plate 12 on one side and with the anode surface of the next bipolar plate 12 in the stack 11 on the other side.

[0035] Therefore, each bipolar plate 12 is common to two adjacent cells 14. Each membrane-electrode assembly 50 extends along a mean plane P50 parallel to two median planes P12 related to the bipolar plate 12 in which this membrane-electrode assembly 50 is placed.

[0036] The bipolar plates 12 and MEA 50 are stacked along the stacking direction A11. The stacking direction A11 is perpendicular to the median plane P12 of the stacked bipolar plates 12 and the mean plane P50 of the MEA 50. In other words, the median plane P12 is the plane that crosses the stacking direction A11. The longitudinal direction L and transverse direction T are also defined, and these form a reference frame perpendicular to the stacking direction A11. For each bipolar plate 12, the plate center C12 of this bipolar plate 12 is defined and located within the median plane P12.

[0037] The fuel cell 10 also includes two terminal plates 16 positioned on either side of the stack 11. The stack 11 is sandwiched between the two terminal plates 16 and compressed along the stack direction A11 between the terminal plates 16. The terminal plates 16 are made of, for example, aluminum.

[0038] The supply lines 17a, 17b, 17c and discharge lines 19a, 19b, 19c, shown as dashed lines in Figure 1, are connected to the fuel cell 10 at one of the terminal plates 16. In particular, the supply lines 17a, 17b, 17c and the discharge lines 19a, 19b, 19c are located at the same end of the stack 11. The supply lines 17a, 17b, 17c supply functional fluids to the fuel cell 10, and the discharge lines 19a, 19b, 19c discharge the functional fluids and any reaction products formed within the fuel cell 10. More specifically, there are three functional fluids, namely two reactive gases and one cooling fluid. The reactive gases are hydrogen and air. The air may be replaced with oxygen. The supply lines 17a, 17b, 17c supply hydrogen, cooling fluid, and air to the fuel cell 10, respectively. Emission lines 19a, 19b, and 19c each discharge hydrogen enriched with reaction products from the fuel cell 10, cooling fluid, and air, respectively.

[0039] The order and relative arrangement of lines 17a, 17b, 17c, 19a, 19b, and 19c shown in Figure 1 are given as an example and can be changed depending on the application.

[0040] To measure the electrical characteristics of the cells 14, for example, the voltage across one or more cells 14, a measurement module 18 for at least one of the cells 14 is connected to the stack 11 of the bipolar plate 12. Each module 18 monitors the state of the stack 11 and allows for the adaptation of the operation of the fuel cell system 10.

[0041] Therefore, two consecutive unipolar plates 13 belonging to the same bipolar plate 12 are advantageously arranged back-to-back, forming at least one pocket 20 between them, on the edge of the bipolar plate 12, for example, on the peripheral edge of the bipolar plate 12 extending parallel to the lateral direction T.

[0042] Each pocket 20 is configured to accept a pin 22 of module 18 for measuring the electrical characteristics of cell 14.

[0043] More generally, the separator plate may include male or female electrical connectors, preferably located on the periphery of the separator plate. Pocket 20 is an example of such a female electrical connector.

[0044] The bipolar plates 12 are identical to each other. In this example, two consecutive bipolar plates 12 are stacked from head to tail, that is, one bipolar plate 12 is positioned relative to the other bipolar plate 12 at a position rotated 180 degrees around the central plate axis A12, which is parallel to the stacking direction A11 and passes through the plate center C12, as seen in Figure 2. Therefore, in an example where the module 18 is located on only one side of the stack 11, at least one pocket 20 of one of the two bipolar plates 12 is coplanar with the vicinity of the module 18. Alternatively, the module 18 can be located on both sides of the stack 11 such that each pocket 20 is coplanar with the vicinity of the module 18.

[0045] In the illustrated example, each bipolar plate 12 forms exactly two pockets 20 for receiving pins 22. For each bipolar plate 12, the receiving pockets 20 of the bipolar plate 12 are located in close proximity to each other, forming a connection zone 24A of the bipolar plate 12.

[0046] Each bipolar plate 12 also includes a complementary zone 24B. The complementary zone 24B of a bipolar plate 12 is a portion of the bipolar plate 12, preferably a smooth portion, over which the material constituting the plate extends. For each bipolar plate 12, the complementary zone 24B is parallel to the stacking direction A11 and is symmetrically positioned on the opposite side of the connecting zone 24A with respect to the central plate axis A12 passing through the plate center C12 of the bipolar plate 12. Thus, for any two consecutive bipolar plates 12 in the stack 11, the connecting zone 24A of one of the two plates 12 is positioned on the opposite side of the complementary zone 24B of the other bipolar plate 12, according to the stacking direction A11. For any three consecutive bipolar plates 12 of the stack 11, the connection zone 24A of one of the two plates 12 located between the two other bipolar plates 12 that frame it in the stacking direction A11 is positioned opposite each of the complementary zones 24B of the two other bipolar plates 12 that frame it in the stacking direction A11, according to the stacking direction A11.

[0047] As shown in Figure 2, the stack 11 comprises two columns 23 of the connection zone 24A, each of which extends along the stack direction A11. The two columns 23 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the central plate axis A12, which is parallel to the stack direction A11 and passes through the plate center C12 of each bipolar plate 12. In this example, the two columns 23 are located on either side of the cross-section of the stack, and the cross-section is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In the illustrated example, the module 18 is connected to only one of the columns 23 located at the top of Figure 2, leaving the other column unused. In variations not shown, other modules of the type of module 18 are connected to the other column of the connection zone 24A.

[0048] Any valid element in one column 23 of connection zone 24A can be transposed to the other column 23 of connection zone 24A. The following description will primarily focus on the column 23 to which module 18 is connected.

[0049] The second pocket 20 allows for four-wire measurement for each group of 20 cells 14. It is used for impedance measurement. In particular, each pocket 20 is shaped to interact with the pins 22.

[0050] Each module 18 includes, here, 10 aligned pins 22 configured to connect 10 pockets 20 to the module 18, i.e., 20 cells 14, and an additional pin 25 for connecting a second pocket 20 of one of the 20 cells 14, as shown in Figure 3. The 10 aligned pins 22 allow for the measurement of voltage between two consecutive pins 22 across two consecutive cells 14. The pins 22, 25 of module 18 are preferably identical.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, each connection zone 24A comprises two pockets 20, one of which is associated with one of the pins 22 of the module 18, and the other pocket 20 is configured to accept an additional pin 25.

[0052] The illustrated example includes two modules 18, however, the fuel cell 10 is not limited to two modules and can have more modules, such as 10 modules 18 for connecting 200 cells 14. Similarly, the number of pins 22 on each module 10 is not limited.

[0053] The additional pin 25 is positioned substantially parallel to the alignment of pins 20, preferably at the longitudinal end of the module 18. For example, the additional pin 25 is configured to inject current into the pocket 20 in which it is housed, thus enabling impedance measurements of the 20 cells 14.

[0054] Referring to Figure 4, each bipolar plate 12 comprises plate supply ports 31a, 31b, and 31c and plate discharge ports 33a, 33b, and 33c. In this example, a row of three plate ports 31a, 33b, and 33c is located on one side of the bipolar plate 12 with respect to the transverse direction T, and the three plate ports 31a, 33b, and 33c are aligned in the transverse direction T. Another row containing three other plate ports 31c, 31b, and 33a is located on the other side of the bipolar plate 12, and the three other plate ports 31c, 31b, and 33a are also aligned in the transverse direction T. Thus, in this example, each of the two rows is located near the respective longitudinal ends of the bipolar plate 12. However, other port arrangements are possible, such as one pair of ports, or several ports, being located along the longitudinal edge of the bipolar plate. Plate ports 31a, b, c, 33a, b, c are ports that penetrate the bipolar plates 12 according to the stack axis A11. Each bipolar plate 12 comprises a peripheral zone 35, three circulation fields 36, and six homogenization fields 38.

[0055] The peripheral zone 35 extends around the entire bipolar plate 12 and includes plate ports 31a, b, c, and 33a, b, c, homogenization field 38, and circulation field 36. The plate ports 31a, b, c, and 33a, b, and c are located in the peripheral zone, while the homogenization field 38 and circulation field 36 are surrounded by the peripheral zone 35. The peripheral zone 35 extends in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction A11, i.e., in a plane parallel to the median plane P12.

[0056] A first circulation field 36 is formed on the anode surface of the bipolar plate 12 and extends along the anode surface of the bipolar plate 12 between two first homogenization fields 38 in the longitudinal direction L. The two first homogenization fields 38 are positioned along the longitudinal direction L between the first circulation field 36 and plate ports 31a, b, c, and between plate ports 33a, b, and c, respectively. Hydrogen circulates from the plate supply port 31a to the plate discharge port 33a through one of the two first homogenization fields, the first circulation field 36, and the other of the two first homogenization fields 38. Thus, the plate supply port 31a is for hydrogen injection, and the plate discharge port 33a is for hydrogen discharge and may be enriched with reaction products.

[0057] A second circulation field 36 is formed on the cathode surface of the bipolar plate 12. It extends longitudinally L on the cathode surface of the bipolar plate 12 between two second homogenization fields 38. The two second homogenization fields 38 are positioned longitudinally L between the second circulation field 36 and plate ports 31a, b, c, and between plate ports 33a, b, and c, respectively. Air circulates from the plate supply port 31c through one of the two second homogenization fields 38, the second circulation field 36, and the other second homogenization field 38 to the plate discharge port 33c. Thus, the plate supply port 31c is for air injection, and the plate discharge port 33c is for air discharge and may be enriched with reaction products.

[0058] A third circulation field 36 is formed inside the bipolar plate 12. This extends between two final homogenization fields 38 in the longitudinal direction L between the two pole plates 13 of the bipolar plate 12. The two final homogenization fields 38 are positioned between the third circulation field 36 and the plate ports 31a, b, c, and between the plate ports 33a, b, and c, respectively, along the longitudinal direction L. The cooling fluid circulates from the plate supply port 31b through the two final homogenization fields 38, the third circulation field 36, and one of the final homogenization fields 38 to the plate discharge port 33b. Thus, the plate supply port 31b is for injecting the cooling fluid, and the plate discharge port 33b is for discharging it.

[0059] Each homogenization field 38 generally includes a channel connecting one of the plate ports 31a, b, c, or 33a, b, or c to the circulating field 36. In the illustrated example, the channels of the homogenization field 38 are similar to those of the channels of the circulating field 36, except for their orientation, here a sector orientation, and are formed in the same manner. This geometric shape allows for the distribution of the functional fluid throughout the circulating field 36, or for the functional fluid to be recovered from the circulating field 36 and discharged through the corresponding plate discharge ports 33a, b, or c.

[0060] For each reactive gas or cooling fluid, and therefore for each fluid circulation field of the cell, the two homogenization fields 38 are symmetrical according to axial symmetry with respect to a 180-degree rotation with respect to the central plate axis A12, both in terms of the shape of the homogenization fields 38 and the arrangement of the channels of the homogenization fields 38.

[0061] The plate supply ports 31a, b, c are defined by their respective peripheral portions 37a, b, c, and the plate discharge ports 33a, b, c are defined by their respective peripheral portions 41a, b, c, and the peripheral portions 37a, b, c and 41a, b, c are closed.

[0062] The plate supply ports 31a, 31b, and 31c are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the central plate axis A12 with respect to their respective plate discharge ports 33a, 33b, and 33c. The plate ports 31a and 33a, 31b and 33b, and 31c and 33c form their respective pairs of plate ports 39a, 39b, and 39c. Thus, the bipolar plate 12 has three pairs of plate ports 39a, b, and c through which hydrogen, cooling fluid, and air circulate, respectively. Thus, one pair of plate ports 39a, 39b, and 39c is associated with a given functional fluid.

[0063] For each pair of plate ports 39a, b, or c, the two plate ports 31a, b, or c and 33a, b, or c belonging to that pair of plate ports 39a, b, or c have a symmetrical shape according to axial symmetry with respect to the central plate axis A12, in other words, they have a symmetrical shape. For each pair of plate ports 39a, b, or c, the two plate ports 31a, b, or c and 33a, b, or c have the same area, and the peripheral portions 37a, b, or c and 41a, b, or c have a symmetrical shape according to axial symmetry with respect to the central plate axis A12. Plate ports 31a, b, c and 33a, b, c belonging to different pairs of plate ports 39a, b, c may have different areas, as shown in Figures 4 to 6.

[0064] In the illustrated example, the MEA 50 comprises a peripheral portion 52, assembly supply ports 51a, b, and c, assembly discharge ports 53a, b, and c, and a central portion 56. The peripheral portion 52 is perpendicular to the stacking direction A11 and extends in a plane parallel to the median plane P12. The peripheral portion 52 extends around the entire MEA 50 and comprises the assembly ports 51a, b, c, 53a, b, c, and the central portion 56 located within the peripheral portion 52. The assembly supply ports 51a, b, and c are separated by their respective peripheral portions 57a, 57b, and 57c, and the assembly discharge ports 53a, b, and c are separated by their respective peripheral portions 61a, 61b, and 61c, with the peripheral portions 57a, b, c, and 61a, b, c being closed. Here, the peripheral edges 57a, b, c and 61a, b, c are dashed lines that form polygons with corners, for example, four corners. More generally, the peripheral edges 57a, b, c and 61a, b, c are closed curves.

[0065] The assembly supply and discharge ports 51a, b, c and 53a, b, c of the MEA 50 are formed in the membrane-electrode assembly 50 and circulate the functional fluid through the MEA 50 along the stacking direction A11. Each assembly supply opening 51a, b, c extends one of the plate supply ports 31a, b, or c of the bipolar plate 12 along the stacking direction A11. Similarly, each assembly discharge port 53a, b, c extends one of the respective plate discharge ports 33a, b, or c along the stacking direction A11. In other words, the plate supply ports 31a, b, c face each assembly supply port 51a, b, c in the stacking direction A11. Similarly, each plate discharge port 33a, b, c faces each assembly discharge port 53a, b, c in the stacking direction A11. Each assembly supply and discharge port 51a, b, c, and 53a, b, and c define a cross section parallel to the plane of the MEA P50.

[0066] Similar to what was described for the bipolar plate 12, the assembly ports 51a, b, c and 53a, b, c, which are located symmetrically opposite to each other with respect to the central MEA axis A50 that is parallel to the stacking direction A11 and passes through the MEA center C50, form the respective pairs of assembly ports 59a, b, c. Thus, the MEA 50 comprises three pairs of assembly ports 59a, 59b, and 59c. Hydrogen circulates within one pair of assembly ports 59a, a cooling fluid circulates within one pair of assembly ports 59b, and air, possibly enriched with reaction products, circulates within one pair of assembly ports 59c. For at least one given pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c, the two assembly ports 51a, b or c and 53a, b or c belonging to this pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c are asymmetric with respect to the central MEA axis A50.

[0067] For at least one given pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c, possibly several pairs, or even for each pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c, the two assembly ports 51a, b or c and 53a, b or c of this given assembly ports 59a, b, c are advantageously located in different regions, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly supply port 51a, b or c is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge port 53a, b or c.

[0068] For at least one pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c, the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly supply ports 51a, b, or c is advantageously 5% to 50%, preferably 8% to 33%, smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge ports 53a, b, or c. The reduction factor between the cross-sectional areas of the assembly supply ports 51a, b, c and the assembly discharge ports 53a, b, c may differ between one pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c and the other pair. For example, the area reduction rate for one pair of assembly ports 59a may be 5% to 20%, the area reduction rate for one pair of assembly ports 59b may be 15% to 35%, and the area reduction rate for one pair of assembly ports 59c may be 10% to 30%. This makes it possible to adjust the flow conditions of each functional fluid, in particular, to ensure optimal reaction conditions for the two reactive gases on the one hand, and optimal cooling by the cooling fluid on the other hand.

[0069] The peripheral edges 41a, b, c and 61a, b, c of the plates and the assembly discharge ports 33a, b, c and 53a, b, c superimposed within the stack 11 may not exactly coincide, resulting in the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge port 53a, b, or c being smaller than, for example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the plate discharge port 33a, b, or c. However, the peripheral edges 41a, b, c and 61a, b, c of the superimposed plates and assembly discharge ports 33a, b, c and 53a, b, c may have the same shape. For example, the shape of the peripheral edge 53a of the assembly discharge port 61a may be less than 1x similar to the shape of the peripheral edge 41a of the plate discharge port 33a. This arrangement is particularly advantageous because it limits the risk of short circuits between the two bipolar plates 12.

[0070] The peripheral portions 57a, b, c of each assembly supply port 51a, b, c include overlapping portions and protruding portions, i.e., each includes overlapping portions 64a, 64b, 64c and protruding portions 65a, 65b, 65c. The peripheral portions 61a, b, c of each assembly discharge port 53a, b, c include overlapping portions and recessed portions, i.e., each includes overlapping portions 68a, 68b, 68c and recessed portions 69a, 69b, 69c. The following description focuses on pair 59a, but the same applies to pairs 59b and 59c. The overlapping portion 64a of assembly supply port 51a has the same shape as the overlapping portion 68a of assembly discharge port 53a after being rotated 180 degrees around the central MEA axis A50. In other words, the overlapping portions 64a and 68a are axially symmetric with respect to the central MEA axis A50. Conversely, the protruding portion 65a protrudes more toward the inside of the assembly supply port 51a than the recessed portion 69a protrudes toward the inside of the assembly discharge port 53a. In particular, when the assembly supply port 51a and the assembly discharge port 53a are superimposed such that the overlapping edges 64a and 68a coincide, as can be seen by comparing Figures 6 and 7, the protruding portion 65a is offset toward the inside of the port compared to the recessed portion 69a. Therefore, the protruding portion 65a is offset more toward the inside of the assembly supply port 51a than the recessed portion 69a is offset toward the inside of the assembly discharge port 53a. In other words, the protruding portion 65a can form an assembly supply port 51a with a smaller area than the assembly discharge port 53a, and the protruding portion 65a and recessed portion 68a are asymmetrical to each other. Therefore, the two assembly ports 51a, b, or c and 53a, b, or c of a given pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c are different in shape in the sense of having different geometric shapes, in addition to having different areas, as described above.

[0071] In the examples in Figures 4 and 5, the protruding portion 65a is a straight line connecting the two ends of the overlapping portion 64a. In particular, unlike the dashed recessed portion 68a, the protruding portion 65a does not form a corner where one or more cuts form one or more corners. For this reason, the protruding portion 65a does not form a corner of the peripheral portion 57a. More precisely, the protruding portion 65a forms a corner of the peripheral portion 57a ​​only by intersecting with the overlapping portion 64a, and does not itself form one or more corners of the peripheral portion 57a.

[0072] The linear shape allows for maintaining the simplest possible geometric shape of the peripheral portion 57a ​​in order to limit pressure loss and optimize the circulation of the functional fluid, in this case air, through the assembly supply port 51a.

[0073] The overlapping portion 64a is ideally located between the protruding portion 65a and the central portion 56. Therefore, the protruding portion 65a is the part of the peripheral portion 57a ​​furthest from the central portion 56. This makes it possible to keep potential turbulence away from the central portion 56 and limit the supply imbalance that may result from it.

[0074] The central portion 56 faces the circulating field 36 and completely covers the circulating field 36 according to the stacking direction A11. As can be understood from the following description, the periphery of the central portion 56 may overlap with the inner edge of the peripheral portion 52.

[0075] Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the central portion 56 includes a membrane 58, which is a proton exchange polymer membrane. The membrane 58 extends parallel to the median plane P12, facing the circulating field 36 along the stacking direction A11, and is substantially flat. The membrane 58 is preferably coplanar with the peripheral portion 52. Both sides of the membrane 58 parallel to the median plane P12 may be covered with a catalyst layer. In the illustrated example, the membrane 58 extends beyond the circulating field 36, particularly when the central portion 56 overlaps with a portion of the peripheral portion 52.

[0076] Each MEA 50 film 58 is sandwiched between two gas diffusion layers 77, also known as GDL, an acronym for "gas diffusion layer," as seen in Figures 6 and 7. Each gas diffusion layer 77 extends parallel to the median plane P12 and is interposed between the central portion 56 of the MEA 50 and the opposing bipolar plate 12 along the stacking direction A11.

[0077] The MEA 50 advantageously includes a support frame 76 for supporting the central portion 56, and in particular for supporting the membrane 58. The support frame 76 then forms the peripheral portion 52. In the example of Figure 5, the support frame 76 clamps the outer edge of the membrane 58 in the stacking direction A11 to hold the membrane 58. The support frame 76 then surrounds the entire membrane 58 that overlaps with the peripheral portion 52 in the stacking direction A11.

[0078] In modified versions not shown, instead of the support frame 76, the same membrane, such as membrane 58, can form both the central portion 56 and the peripheral portion 52. The support frame 76 is preferably composed of two substantially identical half-frames made of a polymer film, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) known abbreviated as PET, or polyethylene naphthalate known abbreviated as PEN, intended to be in planar contact with each other. In the latter case, the two half-frames are assembled to each other, for example, by adhesive.

[0079] In the illustrated example, each gas diffusion layer 77 completely covers the central portion 56 facing it, in particular the membrane 58, and advantageously overlaps the peripheral portion 52, i.e., the inner edge of the support frame 76 that sandwiches the membrane 58. The gas diffusion layers 77 are advantageously made of a porous material, allowing reactive gases to diffuse from the circulating field 36 into the membrane 58 when the cell 14 is operating. In particular, one of the two GDLs 77 is in contact with the cathode surface of one of the bipolar plates 12 of the stack 11, so that air can diffuse through the GDL 77 until it reaches the membrane 58, and the other GDL 77 is in contact with the anode surface of the next bipolar plate 12 in the stack, allowing hydrogen to diffuse through the GDL 77 into the membrane 58. The central portion 56 sandwiched between the GDLs 77 is stretched according to the mean plane P50.

[0080] The seal 79 interposed between the bipolar plate 12 and the MEA 50 in the stacking direction A11 allows the functional fluid to circulate only in circulation fields 36 dedicated to the functional fluid, such as the reaction field 36 on the cathode side of the bipolar plate 12 for air or oxygen and the reaction field 36 on the anode side of the bipolar plate 12 for hydrogen, thereby preventing the functional fluid from mixing.

[0081] The stack 11 may further comprise spacers 80, as shown in Figures 4 to 6. A given spacer 80 is associated with a given protruding portion 65a, b, or c of the MEA 50. These spacers 80 are sandwiched along the stack direction A11 between the peripheral portions 52 of two consecutive MEA 50 in the stack 11, in the vicinity of the protruding portions 65a, b, c of the MEA 50 to which the spacer is associated, and facing one of the plate supply ports 31a, b, c of the bipolar plate 12 that separates the two MEA 50, corresponding to the assembly supply ports 51a, b, c. Preferably, such spacers 80 have axial dimensions that separate the two MEA 50 and pass through one of the plate supply ports 31a, b, or c of the bipolar plate 12 that faces the associated assembly supply ports 51a, b, c. When cell 10 is operating, ideally each spacer 80 is in contact with the two MEAs 50 interposed between them. The spacers 80 help limit or eliminate potential vibrations of the peripheral portions 52, particularly the protruding portions 65a, b, and c, resulting from the circulation of the functional fluid through the supply ports 51a, b, and c. These spacers 80 are studs applied to the MEAs 50, for example, made of the same material as the seal or integrated with the peripheral portions 52.

[0082] In variations not shown, several spacers 80 may be present for each protruding portion 65a, b, or c.

[0083] In another modification not shown, the spacer may extend from a sealing element that is free or supported by the MEA, the sealing element interposed between the MEA in the stack and a bipolar plate in contact with this MEA in the stack direction. More precisely, the spacer extends inward from the sealing element towards the nearest assembly port. Preferably, such a spacer passes through one of the plate supply ports 51a, b, or c of a bipolar plate 12 that separates two consecutive MEAs 50 in the stack 11. When the cell 10 is operating, each spacer is in contact with the two MEAs 50 interposed between them. The sealing element is, for example, a seal that prevents the reactive fluid from circulating along the peripheral portion 52 near the overhang portions 65a, b, or c.

[0084] In another modified example not shown, the spacers form a pair of spacers, and as a result, two of the spacers of the pair are aligned in the stacking direction and supported by the MEA on both sides of the MEA in the stacking direction. Preferably, such spacers are in contact with the MEA and the spacers supported by the next MEA in the stack.

[0085] In stack 11, the plate and assembly supply ports 31a, b, c and 51a, b, c, and the plate and assembly discharge ports 33a, b, c and 53a, b, c together form the internal supply galleries 81a, 81b, 81c and discharge galleries 83a, 83b, and 83c of stack 11, also known in English as the "internal manifold." In particular, the three supply galleries 81a, b, c and the three discharge galleries 83a, b, c are formed by the plate and assembly supply ports 31a, b, c and 51a, b, c, and the plate and assembly discharge ports 33a, b, c and 53a, b, c. Similar to the ports, pairs of galleries 89a, 89b, and 89c are defined corresponding to the plate ports 31a, b, c and 33a, b, c pairs 39a, b, c and 59a, b, c, and assembly ports 51a, b, c and 53a, b, c. The following description will only describe the supply gallery 81a and the discharge gallery 83a, but it is also applicable to the supply galleries 81b, 81c and the discharge galleries 83b, 83c. The useful cross section of the supply gallery 81a is defined by the smallest cross section of the ports forming the supply gallery 81a, i.e., the cross section of the assembly supply port 51a. The useful cross section of the discharge gallery 83 is defined by the cross section of the assembly discharge port 53a, according to plane P50. Therefore, for one pair of galleries 89a, the useful cross-sectional area of ​​the supply gallery 81a is smaller than the useful cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge gallery 83a, as a result of the fact that the cross-sectional area of ​​each assembly supply port 51a is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge port 53a.

[0086] As shown in modified examples not illustrated, assembly supply ports that jointly define the same supply gallery within the same stack do not all have the same cross-section. For example, two different assembly supply ports have different cross-sectional areas. Thus, the supply gallery has a variable useful cross-section along its extension according to the stack direction. For example, the MEA is configured such that the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly supply port increases in one circulation direction of the functional fluid. This allows for better optimization of the functional fluid flow because, in addition to adapting the useful cross-sectional area of ​​the supply gallery, the useful cross-section is adapted along the same gallery.

[0087] The supply galleries 81a, b, c are connected to their respective supply lines 17a, b, c, supplying hydrogen, cooling fluid, and air to their respective supply galleries 81a, b, c, and the discharge galleries 83a, b, c are connected to their respective discharge lines 19a, b, c, which discharge hydrogen, cooling fluid, and air, and optionally reaction products, enabling the cell 10 to operate and, in particular, generate electricity.

[0088] Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of MEA 150. Embodiments of MEA 150 identical to those of MEA 50 described in Figures 1 to 6 are referred to by the same reference numerals and are again not described in detail. MEA 150 can be used in the same manner as MEA 50, in particular as a replacement for MEA 50 in stack 11.

[0089] MEA 150 differs from MEA 50 in that it has assembly supply ports 151a, b, c that replace assembly supply ports 51a, b, c. Each supply port 151a, b, c is defined by peripheral portions 157a, b, c that replace peripheral portions 57a, b, c. Peripheral portions 157a, b, c are closed dashed lines, and each peripheral portion 157a, b, c forms a polygon with corners.

[0090] The supply ports 151a, b, and c are provided on the membrane-electrode assembly 150. Each assembly supply port 151a, b, and c defines a cross section parallel to the plane of the MEA P150.

[0091] For MEA 50, in MEA 150, the assembly ports 151a, b, c and 53a, b, c, which are arranged parallel to the stacking direction A11 and symmetrically opposite each other with respect to the central MEA axis A150 passing through the MEA center C150, form the pairs of assembly ports 159a, 159b, and 159c, replacing each pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c, and being similar to each pair of assembly ports 59a, b, c. Therefore, MEA 150 has three pairs of assembly ports 159a, 159b, and 159c. In the following description, only one pair of ports 159a will be described, but the same applies to the pair of ports 159b and 159c. For at least one pair of assembly ports 159a, the two assembly ports 151a and 53a belonging to this pair of assembly ports 159a are asymmetrical with respect to the central axis A150.

[0092] With respect to one pair of assembly ports 159a, the two assembly ports 151a and 53a have advantageously different geometric shapes, and in particular the assembly supply port 151a has a smaller cross-sectional area than the assembly discharge port 53a.

[0093] Advantageously, the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly supply port 151a is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the assembly discharge port 53a by the same coefficient as described for MEA 50.

[0094] The rate of reduction between the cross-sectional areas of the assembly supply ports 151a, b, c and the assembly discharge ports 53a, b, c may differ for different pairs of assembly ports 159a, 159b, 159c, as described for MEA 50.

[0095] The peripheral portions 157a, b, c of the assembly supply ports 151a, b, c include their respective overlapping portions 164a, 164b, and 164c, and protruding portions 165a, 165b, and 165c. The following description focuses on pair 159a, but the same applies to pairs 159b and 159c. The overlapping portion 164a of the assembly supply port 151a has the same shape as the overlapping portion 68a of the assembly discharge port 53a after being rotated 180 degrees around the central axis A150. In other words, the overlapping portions 164a and 68a are symmetrical according to the axial symmetry around the central axis A150. The protruding portion 165a is offset more toward the inside of the assembly supply port 151a than the recessed portion 69a is offset toward the inside of the assembly discharge port 53a. Unlike the earlier embodiment shown by MEA 50, the protruding portion 165a of MEA 150 is a dashed line forming one or more corners. According to an unillustrated variation, the protruding portion may be a curve.

[0096] Therefore, the supply galleries 81a, b, c and the discharge galleries 83a, b, c are optimized for their useful cross-sections. This is achieved thanks to the MEA 50 or 150 and is independent of the orientation of the bipolar plate 12 positioned within the stack 11, which is symmetrical with respect to the central axis A12 to enable the use of module 18. Thus, along with the supply galleries 81 optimized to improve the efficiency of cell 10, it is possible to combine the use of module 18, in which pins 22, 25 are inserted into pockets 20 to monitor the state of the stack 11.

[0097] The embodiments and modifications described above can be combined to generate new embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stack (11) for a fuel cell (10), wherein the stack (11) is A separator plate (12) extending parallel to the central plane (P12), wherein the central plane (P12) is perpendicular to the stacking direction (A11), and the separator plate (12) is, Circulating field (36) and A peripheral zone (35) surrounding the circulating field (36) and comprising a pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c), wherein the pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c) comprises plate supply ports (31a, 31b, 31c) and plate discharge ports (33a, 33b, 33c), and the plate supply ports (31a, 31b, 31c) and plate discharge ports (33a, 33b, 33c) of the pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c) are fluidly connected by the circulating field (36), thereby allowing the functional fluid circulating through the plate supply ports (31a, 31b, 31c) to also circulate through the plate discharge ports (33a, 33b, 33c) of the pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c), and the peripheral zone (35), A separator plate (12) is provided, A film-electrode assembly (50; 150) extending parallel to the median plane (P12) and superimposed on the separator plate (12), A central portion (56) facing the circulating field (36) according to the stacking direction (A11), A peripheral portion (52) surrounding the central portion (56) and facing the peripheral zone (35) along the stacking direction (A11), comprising a pair of assembly ports (59a, 59b, 59c; 159a, 159b, 159c), wherein the pair of assembly ports (59a, 59b, 59c; 159a, 159b, 159c) comprises assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) and assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c), and the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) and the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c) respectively comprise the plate supply ports and The functional fluid is superimposed on the plate discharge ports (31a, 31b, 31c, 33a, 33b, 33c), and thereby the functional fluid circulating through the plate supply ports (31a, 31b, 31c) and the discharge ports (33a, 33b, 33c) also circulates through the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) and the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c), and each assembly and plate port (51a, 51b, 51c, 53a, 53b, 53c, 31a, 31b, 31c, 33a, 33b, 33c; 151a, 151b, 151c) defines a peripheral portion (52) that is parallel to the median plane (P12), A membrane-electrode assembly (50; 150) comprising, The superimposed plate supply ports and assembly supply ports (31a, 31b, 31c, 51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) form part of a supply gallery (81a, 81b, 81c) parallel to the stacking direction (A11), thereby supplying the functional fluid circulating within the supply gallery (81a, 81b, 81c) to the circulation field (36), and the superimposed The plate discharge port and the assembly discharge port (33a, 33b, 33c, 53a, 53b, 53c) form part of the discharge gallery (83a, 83b, 83c) parallel to the stack direction (A11), thereby the functional fluid that flows from the supply gallery (81a, 81b, 81c) into the circulation field (36) is discharged by the discharge gallery (83a, 83b, 83c). The aforementioned stack (11) is The pair of plate ports (39a, 39b, 39c) are parallel to the stacking direction (A11) and are symmetrical when rotated 180 degrees around the central plate axis (A12) passing through the center of the plate (C12). A stack (11) characterized in that two assembly ports (59a, 59b, 59c, 159a, 159b, 159c) belonging to the pair of assembly ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c, 53a, 53b, 53c; 153a, 153b, 153c) are parallel to the stack direction (A11) and asymmetric with respect to the central MEA axis (A50, A150) passing through the MEA center (C50).

2. The stack (11) according to claim 1, wherein the area of ​​the cross-section of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) is advantageously 5% to 50%, preferably 8% to 33%, smaller than the area of ​​the cross-section of the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c).

3. Each assembly port (51a, 51b, 51c, 53a, 53b, 53c; 151a, 151b, 151c) is defined by the respective peripheral edges (57a, 57b, 57c, 61a, 61b, 61c; 157a, 157b, 157c) formed by the peripheral portion (52). The peripheral portion (57a, 57b, 57c; 157a, 157b, 157c) of the assembly supply port (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) includes overlapping portions (64a, 64b, 64c; 164a, 164b, 164c) and protruding portions (65a, 65b, 65c; 165a, 165b, 165c), The peripheral edges (61a, 61b, 61c) of the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c) include overlapping portions (68a, 68b, 68c) and recessed portions (69a, 69b, 69c), The overlapping portions (64a, 64b, 64c; 164a, 164b, 164c) of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) are the same shape as the overlapping portions (68a, 68b, 68c) of the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c), The protruding portions (65a, 65b, 65c; 165a, 165b, 165c) are offset more toward the inside of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) than the recessed portions (69a, 69b, 69c) are offset toward the inside of the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c). The stack (11) according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The stack (11) according to claim 3, wherein the overlapping portions (64a, 64b, 64c; 164a, 164b, 164c) of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) are positioned between the protruding portions (65a, 65b, 65c; 165a, 165b, 165c) and the central portion (56).

5. The peripheral edges (61a, 61b, 61c) of the assembly discharge ports (53a, 53b, 53c) form corners. The peripheral edges (57a, 57b, 57c) of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c) form corners. The recessed portions (69a, 69b, 69c) form at least one of the corners of the peripheral portions (61a, 61b, 61c) of the assembly discharge port (53a, 53b, 53c), None of the corners of the peripheral edges (57a, 57b, 57c) of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c) are formed by the protruding portions (65a, 65b, 65c). The stack (11) according to claim 3 or claim 4.

6. The stack (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central portion (56) includes a proton exchange polymer membrane (58), the central portion (56) is surrounded by the peripheral portion (52), and is superimposed on the circulating field (36) according to the stacking direction (A11).

7. The stack (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the separator plate (12) is a bipolar plate (12) comprising a superimposed anode plate (13B) and a cathode plate (13A).

8. A stack (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising several film-electrode assemblies (50) alternately superimposed in the stacking direction (A11), and several separator plates (12).

9. The stack (11) according to claim 8, wherein the separator plates (12) are identical, and for each separator plate (12) in the stack (11), the separator plate (12) immediately following the separator plate (12) in the stack (11) is positioned at a location rotated 180 degrees around the central plate axis (A12) relative to the separator plate (12).

10. The stack (11) according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a reinforcing element (80) or a sealing element, wherein the reinforcing element (80) or the sealing element is interposed on the one hand between the peripheral portion (52) of one of the membrane-electrode assemblies (50;150) near the protruding portion (65a, 65b, 65c; 165a, 165b, 165c) and on the other hand between the peripheral portion (52) of the membrane-electrode assembly (50;150) that follows immediately after the protruding portion (65a, 65b, 65c; 165a, 165b, 165c) in the stacking direction (A11), and the reinforcing element (80) or the sealing element passes through the plate supply ports (31a, 31b, 31c) of the separator plate (12) that separates the two membrane-electrode assemblies (50;150).

11. The stack (11) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cross-section of the assembly supply ports (51a, 51b, 51c; 151a, 151b, 151c) that form part of the same supply gallery (81a, 81b, 81c) has different areas for at least two different membrane-electrode assemblies (50; 150) of the stack (11).

12. The stack (11) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein each separator plate (12) is provided with a connector (20) on its peripheral edge (21), and each connector (20) is configured to accept a pin (22) of a measuring module (18), and for each separator plate (12) in the stack (11), the connector (20) of the separator plate (12) in the stack (11) and the connector (20) of the directly continuous separator plate (12) are arranged axially symmetric with respect to the central plate axis (A12) according to the stack direction (A11).

13. A fuel cell (10) comprising a stack (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The fuel cell (10) according to claim 13, further comprising: supply lines (17a, 17b, 17c) connected to the supply galleries (81a, 81b, 81c) for supplying functional fluid to the supply galleries (81a, 81b, 81c); and discharge lines (19a, 19b, 19c) connected to the discharge galleries (83a, 83b, 83c) for discharging the functional fluid from the discharge galleries (83a, 83b, 83c), wherein the supply lines and discharge lines (81a, 81b, 81c, 83a, 83b, 83c) are connected to the same end of the stack (11).

15. A vehicle comprising at least one fuel cell (10) as described in claim 14.

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