Ion exchange fuel cell assembly with improved water and thermal management

An ion exchange fuel cell comprising:

• a fuel electrode and a reactant electrode,
• an ion exchange electrolyte member between and in contact with said fuel electrode and said reactant electrode,
• a fuel distribution member in flow communication with said fuel electrode for supplying fuel thereto,
• a reactant distribution member in flow communication with said reactant electrode for supplying a reactant thereto,
• said fuel distribution member and said reactant distribution member being electrically-conductive and contained between gas impermeable electrically-conductive members, and
• a fluid-permeable electrically-conductive member between said impermeable members and positioned outward of said electrodes and spaced therefrom for storage and transport of liquid.

An ion exchange fuel cell comprising:

• a planar fuel electrode and a planar oxygen electrode,
• a planar ion exchange electrolyte member sandwiched between and in contact with said fuel electrode and said oxygen electrode,
• a permeable planar electrically-conductive fuel distribution member in contact with and over a surface of said fuel electrode for supplying hydrogen gas fuel thereto,
• a permeable planar electrically-conductive oxygen distribution member in contact with and over a surface of said oxygen electrode for supplying an oxygen containing gas thereto,
• said fuel distribution member and said oxygen distribution member contained between a pair of gas impermeable electrically-conductive separator plates,
• a fluid-permeable electrically-conductive planar member between said separator plates and positioned outward of said electrodes and spaced therefrom for storage and transport of water.

A fuel cell comprising:

• a catalytic fuel electrode to which a fuel is fed;
• a catalytic oxygen electrode to which an oxygen containing gas is fed;
• an ion exchange membrane as an electrolyte member between and in contact with said fuel electrode and said oxygen electrode;
• an electrically-conductive reactant distribution member in contact with said fuel electrode providing means for supplying fuel to said fuel electrode;
• an electrically-conductive reactant distribution member in contact with said oxygen electrode providing means for supplying oxygen containing gas to said oxygen electrode;
• a water-permeable electrically-conductive member in contact with at least one of said reactant distribution members and isolated from said electrodes and providing means for storing and transporting liquid water to and from said fuel cell;
• and
• gas impervious conductive outer face members for separating reactant gases.