Planar configuration air breathing polymer electrolyte electrical device including support plate and bearing plate

A planar configuration air breathing polymer electrolyte electrochemical device comprising:

• a support plate;
• and
• at least two air breathing polymer electrolyte fuel cells arranged in series connection on one surface of the support plate,
• wherein each of said air breathing polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprises:
• a. an anode current collector,
• b. a cathode current collector, and
• c. a membrane electrode assembly, which comprises a solid ion conducting polymer membrane electrolyte, an anode, an anode gas backing, a cathode and a cathode gas backing,
• wherein:
• the membrane electrode assembly is arranged between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector, such that the anode gas backing is directed towards and attached to the anode current collector and the cathode gas backing is directed towards and attached to the cathode current collector, and
• the membrane electrode assembly is attached to the anode current collector, and wherein:
• the support plate comprises at least three flexible layers in a sandwich structure,
• the at least three flexible layers comprise a first outer layer, a middle layer, and a second outer layer,
• the first outer layer forms a gas inlet,
• the second outer layer forms one or more gas openings,
• the middle layer forms one or more gas channels,
• the one or more gas openings formed by the second outer layer include:
• a first-cell outlet configured to conduct fuel out of a first fuel cell of the at least two fuel cells, and
• a second-cell inlet configured to conduct fuel into a second fuel cell of the at least two fuel cells, and
• one of the one or more gas channels is configured to conduct fuel from the first-cell outlet to the second-cell inlet.

A planar configuration air breathing polymer electrolyte electrochemical device comprising:

• a support plate;
• and
• at least two air breathing polymer electrolyte fuel cells arranged in series connection on one surface of the support plate,
• wherein each of said air breathing polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprises:
• a. an anode current collector,
• b. a cathode current collector, and
• c. a membrane electrode assembly, which comprises a solid ion conducting polymer membrane electrolyte, an anode, an anode gas backing, a cathode and a cathode gas backing,
• wherein:
• the membrane electrode assembly is arranged between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector, such that the anode gas backing is directed towards and attached to the anode current collector and the cathode gas backing is directed towards and attached to the cathode current collector, and
• the membrane electrode assembly is attached directly to the anode current collector by an adhesive, wherein the adhesive covers a first region, adjacent and corresponding to the anode gas backing, and a second region, which surrounds the first region, thereby creating a seal between the membrane electrode assembly and the anode current collector, and thus creating an anode gas chamber, said adhesive being electrically conductive in at least said first region,
• and wherein:
• the support plate comprises at least three layers in a sandwich structure, comprising a first outer layer, a middle layer, and a second outer layer,
• the at least three layers are made from polymer foil sheets, metal foil sheets, or polymer wax coated paper sheets,
• the at least three layers are laminated together by gluing, by hot sealing, or by using adhesive films,
• the first outer layer forms a gas inlet,
• the second outer layer forms one or more gas openings,
• the middle layer forms one or more gas channels,
• the one or more gas openings formed by the second outer layer include:
• a first-cell outlet configured to conduct fuel out of a first fuel cell of the at least two fuel cells, and
• a second-cell inlet configured to conduct fuel into a second fuel cell of the at least two fuel cells, and
• one of the one or more gas channels is configured to conduct fuel from the first-cell outlet to the second-cell inlet.