Fuel cell sub-assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein are aspects of methods, systems, and devices forming fuel cell sub-assemblies including placing a gasket with a peripheral seal defining a central aperture of the gasket on at least one of an anode flow plate and a cathode flow plate then placing a gas diffusion layer having less rigidity than the gasket within said within said central aperture wherein the gas diffusion layer is substantially uniformly spaced by a predetermined spacing from the inside facing surface of the gasket for forming a gallery.

1 . A method of forming of a fuel cell sub-assembly comprising;
 placing a gasket with a peripheral seal defining a central aperture of the gasket on at least one of an anode flow plate and a cathode flow plate;   placing a gas diffusion layer having less rigidity than the gasket within said within said central aperture; and,   wherein the gas diffusion layer is substantially uniformly spaced by a predetermined spacing from the inside facing surface of the gasket for forming a gallery.   
     
     
         2 . The method of fuel  claim 1 , wherein the gas diffusion layer is configured to substantially fill the central aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas diffusion layer is substantially planar. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a gasket and gas diffusion layer are placed on each of the cathode flow plates and the anode flow plates. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising adding a proton exchange membrane between the cathode flow plate and the anode flow plate. 
     
     
         6 . A fuel cell sub-assembly comprising;
 a gasket comprising a peripheral seal for a fuel cell assembly, the peripheral seal defining a central aperture;   a gas diffusion layer for providing diffused gases to a proton exchange membrane of a fuel cell, the gas diffusion layer located within the central aperture; and   wherein the gasket includes a channel extending from its inside facing surface into the peripheral seal for providing a fluid connection to a fluid transfer conduit and the at least one connection point is adjacent to the channel.   
     
     
         7 . A fuel cell sub-assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the sub-assembly includes at least two distinct connection points where the gasket is in contact with the gas diffusion layer. 
     
     
         8 . A fuel cell sub-assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein gas diffusion layer is substantially rectangular defined by four outwardly facing surfaces and the central aperture is substantially rectangular defined by four inwardly facing surfaces of the peripheral seal, and the or each connection point is located between a particular one of the four surfaces of the gas diffusion layer and a particular one of the four surfaces of the gasket. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel cell sub-assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the gas diffusion layer is of a porous material having spaces between gas diffusion layer material, and at the or each connection point, and the material of the gasket may be comingled with the material of the gas diffusion layer.