Cell structure for electrolyzer units and fuel cells

A cell for electrolyzer and fuel cell units having a plurality of cells which are electrically and geometrically arranged in series, said cell comprising:

• a gas separator comprising a diaphragm in the form of a flat plate which divides the cell into an anode space and a cathode space, said diaphragm being permeable to an electrolyte;
• two metallic layer electrode elements sandwiched against said diaphragm, on opposite sides thereof, said two electrode elements being permeable to said electrolyte;
• two gastight, electrically conductive bipolar cell partitions arranged parallel to one another and to said two electrode elements at opposite ends of said cell, said two bipolar cell partitions separating said cell from adjacent cells, said two bipolar cell partitions being made of sheet metal;
• a first of said two cell partitions and of said two electrode elements defining said cathode space therebetween, and a second of said two cell partitions and of said two electrode elements defining said anode space therebetween;
• each of said cathode space and said anode space being at least partially filled by respective electrically conductive, elastically deformable spacer arrangements which are mechanically and electrically connected between said electrode elements and said cell partitions whereby said spacer arrangements provide electric current conducting paths between said electrode elements and said cell partitions, and enclose said cell on lateral sides thereof;
• said spacer arrangements comprising lamellar structural elements which are gas permeable and electrolyte permeable, at least in an axial direction perpendicular to said diaphragm and in a vertical direction parallel to a plane of said diaphragm;
• and
• said lamellar structured elements comprising a plurality of identical layers of approximately axially and vertically aligned wall elements which are maintained in parallel spaced relationship and in close proximity to each other, by a plurality of spacers therebetween.