Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe Srl

De Nora S.p.a.

Massimo Brambilla

Gabriele Mazzucchelli

Gian Piero Fleba

Enrico Ramunni

Antonio Maggiore

Luca Merlo

Claudio Mantegazza

Giampiero Fleba

Giampaolo Brignoli

Paolo Monzani

The method for reusing current collectors/distributors is employed in an electrochemical generator () comprising a multiplicity of elementary cells () assembled in a filter-press configuration and comprising an array of conductive sheets () and of current collectors/distributors (). The method of the invention provides dissembling the electrochemical generator () once the presence of a damaged elementary cell () is detected. Subsequently, the method of the invention provides repairing/replacing the damaged cell for later reassembling the electrochemical generator () reusing the original current collectors/distributors (). to achieve this, while reassembling the electrochemical generator (), a mechanical means for adapting () is inserted between each conducting sheet () and the respective current collector/distributor (). Such mechanical means may consist in metallic meshes, metallic textiles, interwoven fibers, foraminous sheets or expanded sheets, thin sealing gaskets, sealing gaskets provided with sealing rings on a surface thereof, sealing gaskets made of an elastic material with low elasticity modulus.

Method for reusing current collectors/distributors of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks

An improved design of gas fed polymeric membrane fuel cell stack is herein described. The stack is provided with a humidifying device which takes advantage of the atomization of a water stream over a high specific surface metallic material, and with a cooling circuit withdrawing the heat generated therein by thermal exchange on a peripheral region, external to the single cell active area. The device is particularly suited for high temperature and high current density operation.

Polymeric membrane fuel cell stack

The invention relates to a stack of polymeric membrane fuel cells, wherein the removal of the heat generated by the production of electric energy and the humidification of the ion exchange membranes used as electrolytes are obtained by the direct injection of a water flow coming from a single hydraulic circuit. The stack thus produced is more compact, less expensive and easier to operate.

Fuel cell with cooling system based on direct injection of liquid water

A humidification device for polymeric membrane fuel cell stacks fed with gaseous reactants is disclosed. The gases supplied to the stack are previously fed in admixture with a stream of liquid water to a chamber filled with a reticulated material, whose highly subdivided geometry provides an extended exchange surface favouring the saturation of gas. The device is more efficient and compact than those known in the art.

Humidification device for polymeric membrane fuel cells

The present invention refers to an electrochemical cell or stack of cells comprising two end-plates (7), bipolar plates (1) made of metal or metal alloy, gas permeable metal distributors (2), metal current collectors(3), gasket frames (4) provided with channels for feeding the gaseous reactants and discharging the excess reactants and condensates, a couple of gas diffusion electrodes, (5), an ion-exchange membrane (6), wherein said current conductors provide for a highly distributed segmented contact area on the electrode surface without isolated peaks and have an extremely smooth surface without asperities and at the same time porous and permeable to the gas flow.

Membrane electrochemical cell provided with gas diffusion electrodes in

The invention concerns membrane electrolyzers suitable for processes such as water or hydrogen halides electrolysis, as well as electrochemical generators fed with gases containing hydrogen and oxygen for direct conversion into electric energy. These apparatuses generally consist of a filter-press assembly of conductive bipolar plates (2), electrodes (4), sealing gaskets (5) membranes (6) and internal longitudinal ducts for feeding the reactants and withdrawing the products and residual reactants. The invention is directed to the method for repairing said electrolyzers or generators when an elementary cell is malfunctioning. This method comprises making at least two perforations in the peripheral area of the bipolar plates (2) and/or gaskets (5) of the malfunctioning cell to reach distribution channels (9, 11) which connect the compartments containing the electrodes (4) with said longitudinal ducts. A sealing means (agent) is then injected through the perforations (12) in order to form suitable occlusions (14, 15) in the distributions channels (9, 11) and in the perforations (12) respectively. To facilitate the perforation procedure, the bipolar plate (2) and/or the gaskets (5) may be provided with blind aid-holes in the peripheral area. Upon sealing the distribution channels (9, 11) and the perforations (12), the bipolar plates (2) delimiting the malfunctioning cell are externally short-circuited and the electrolyzer or generator is ready for operation.

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Bussero, Italy

Massimo Brambilla