Fuel cell assembly and method of making the same
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsChristopher Beatty, David Champion, Gregory S. Herman, Peter Mardilovich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell assembly in accordance with a present invention includes a substrate including a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region and a fuel cell carried by the substrate.
Claims69
A method of making a fuel cell assembly, comprising the steps of:
- providing a relatively thick support structure configured to allow reactant to pass through at least a portion thereof;
- and
- forming a relatively thin fuel cell on the relatively thick support structure.
A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
- a substrate including a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region;
- and
- a fuel cell carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is positioned over the reactant permeable region.
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies arranged in spaced relation to one another;
- each fuel cell assembly including a substrate, having a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region, and a fuel cell carried by the substrate such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is over the reactant permeable region;
- a fuel source operably connected to the stack;
- and
- an oxidant source operably connected to the stack.
A method of making a fuel cell assembly, comprising the steps of:
- providing a support structure configured to allow reactant to pass through at least a portion thereof;
- and
- forming a fuel cell on the support structure such that at least a portion of the fuel cell is in spaced relation to the support structure and a reactant gap is defined between the support structure and the fuel cell.
A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
- a substrate including a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region;
- and
- a fuel cell carried by the substrate such that a reactant gap is defined between at least a portion of the fuel cell and the reactant permeable region.
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies arranged in spaced relation to one another;
- each fuel cell assembly including a substrate, having a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region, and a fuel cell carried by the substrate such that a reactant gap is defined between at least a portion of the fuel cell and the reactant permeable region;
- a fuel source operably connected to the stack;
- and
- an oxidant source operably connected to the stack.
A fuel cell assembly produced by a process comprising the step of:
- providing a substrate having a reactant permeable region and a non-permeable support region;
- and
- forming a fuel cell on the substrate over the reactant permeable region.
A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
- a substrate defining first and second surfaces and including a plurality of apertures that extend from the first surface to the second surface;
- and
- a fuel cell carried by the substrate and including first and second electrodes, the first electrode covering at least a portion of the first surface, extending through the apertures, and covering at least a portion of the second surface.
A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
- a fuel cell;
- means for providing a reactant permeable region positioned adjacent to the fuel cell;
- and
- means, integral with the means for providing a reactant permeable region, for supporting the means for providing a reactant permeable region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.