Modular unit fuel cell assembly

Abstract

A modular unit fuel cell is disclosed, which comprises a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), an anode current collector/porous transport layer (PTL), a bipolar separator plate (BSP), a corrugated or finned spring cooling and transport structure, a cathode current collector/PTL and an anode frame. In this embodiment, air is passed through the finned spring cooling and transport structure and the air acts as both the cathode reactant and as a coolant.

1 . A PEM modular unit fuel cell assembly, comprising:
 a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode side and a cathode side;   an anode porous transport layer (PTL) having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the first side of anode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the anode side of the MEA;   a conductive bipolar separator plate having a first side and a second side, the first side of the conductive separator plate juxtaposed and in electrical contact with the second side of the anode gas flow field;   a spring fin heat transfer structure having a first side and a second side, the first side of the heat transfer structure juxtaposed to the second side of the conductive separator plate; and   a cathode PTL having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the first side of cathode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the second side of the spring fin heat transfer structure.   
     
     
         2 . A PEM modular unit fuel cell assembly, comprising:
 a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode side and a cathode side;   an anode porous transport layer (PTL) having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the first side of anode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the anode side of the MEA;   a conductive bipolar separator plate having a first side and a second side, the first side of the conductive separator plate juxtaposed and in electrical contact with the second side of the anode gas flow field;   a spring fin heat transfer structure having a first side and a second side, the first side of the heat transfer structure juxtaposed to the second side of the conductive separator plate; and   a cathode PTL having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the second side of cathode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the cathode side of the MEA.   
     
     
         3 . A fuel cell stack assembly, comprising:
 a first end plate and a second end plate, the second end plate being aligned with the first end plate;   at least one modular unit fuel cell assembly interposed between the first end plate and the second end plate; and   a compression structure;   wherein said at least one modular unit fuel cell assembly comprises:
 a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode side and a cathode side; 
 an anode porous transport layer (PTL) having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the first side of anode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the anode side of the MEA; 
 a conductive bipolar separator plate having a first side and a second side, the first side of the conductive separator plate juxtaposed and in electrical contact with the second side of the anode gas flow field; 
 a spring fin heat transfer structure having a first side and a second side, the first side of the heat transfer structure juxtaposed to the second side of the conductive separator plate; and 
 a cathode PTL having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the first side of cathode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the second side of the spring fin heat transfer structure. 
   
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 3 :
 wherein the at least one modular unit fuel cell assembly comprises a first modular unit fuel cell assembly and second modular unit fuel cell assembly; and   wherein a cathode PTL of the first modular unit fuel cell assembly is disposed adjacent an MEA of the second modular unit fuel cell assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first end plate comprises a cathode end plate and the second end plate comprises an anode end plate; the fuel cell stack assembly further comprising:
 a cathode termination structure disposed between the cathode end plate and the first modular unit fuel cell assembly; and   wherein the cathode termination structure comprises a termination spring fin heat transfer structure.   
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the cathode termination structure further comprises a cathode PTL disposed between the termination spring fin heat transfer structure and an MEA of the first modular unit fuel cell assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first end plate comprises a cathode end plate and the second end plate comprises an anode end plate; the fuel cell stack assembly further comprising:
 an anode termination structure disposed between the anode end plate and the second modular unit fuel cell assembly; and   wherein the anode termination structure comprises a termination spring fin heat transfer structure.   
     
     
         8 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 3 :
 wherein the first end plate comprises a cathode end plate and the second end plate comprises an anode end plate;   wherein the at least one modular unit fuel cell assembly comprises a cathode modular unit fuel cell assembly, an anode modular unit fuel cell assembly, and a center modular unit fuel cell assembly;   wherein a cathode PTL of the cathode modular unit fuel cell assembly is disposed adjacent an MEA of the center modular unit fuel cell assembly; and   wherein a cathode PTL of the center modular unit fuel cell assembly is disposed adjacent an MEA of the anode modular unit fuel cell assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a cathode termination structure disposed between the cathode end plate and the cathode modular unit fuel cell assembly; and   wherein the cathode termination structure comprises a termination spring fin heat transfer structure.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel cell stack assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the cathode termination structure further comprises a cathode PTL disposed between the termination spring fin heat transfer structure and an MEA of the cathode modular unit fuel cell assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A fuel cell stack assembly, comprising:
 a first end plate and a second end plate, the second end plate being aligned with the first end plate;   at least one modular unit fuel cell assembly interposed between the first end plate and the second end plate; and   a compression structure;   wherein said at least one modular unit fuel cell assembly comprises:
 a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an anode side and a cathode side; 
 an anode porous transport layer (PTL) having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the first side of anode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the anode side of the MEA; 
 a conductive bipolar separator plate having a first side and a second side, the first side of the conductive separator plate juxtaposed and in electrical contact with the second side of the anode gas flow field; 
 a spring fin heat transfer structure having a first side and a second side, the first side of the heat transfer structure juxtaposed to the second side of the conductive separator plate; and 
 a cathode PTL having a first and second side, comprising a three-dimensional open structure suitable for gas diffusion as well as electrical and heat conduction, the second side of cathode PTL is juxtaposed with and in electrical contact with the cathode side of the MEA.