Low cost fuel cell stack design

Abstract

The fuel cell stack includes sequential fuel cell membrane elements of polymer membrane with a cathode side and an anode side. The polymer membrane is held in place by an elastomeric gasket which includes flow channels leading to manifold passages which deliver hydrogen or other fuel gas to the anode side of the fuel cell membrane element and deliver air or oxygen to the cathode side of the fuel cell membrane assembly. The fuel cells are separated by fuel separator assemblies comprised of metallic foil with strips of porous graphite thereon. Cooling plates which receive cooling water are interspersed within the stack. The entire stack is held in place by a plastic resin shell. The various elements are compressed together by an upper platen with a limited range of travel which is urged toward the cell by air pressure, an air-filled bladder, an array of compression springs, or by similar methods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.