Audi Ag

Volkswagen Ag

Sanjiv Kumar

Adel Jilani

Sebastian Voigt

Radu P Bradean

A fuel cell stack is provided comprising membrane electrode assemblies and bipolar plates for supplying the membrane electrode assemblies with operating media and coolant, wherein a first bipolar plate comprises flow pathways having path depths that are different from path depths of corresponding flow pathways of a second bipolar plate. Moreover, a vehicle with a fuel cell system having such a fuel cell stack is provided.

Fuel cell stack comprising variable bipolar plates

In order to provide a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, providing an anode plate with an anode side and a coolant side, wherein a first structuring for forming an anode flow field is formed on the anode side, and a cathode plate with a cathode side and a coolant side, wherein a second structuring for forming a cathode flow field is formed on the cathode side; wherein structural elements, which are contacted by the coolant sides of the anode plate and the cathode plate, for forming a coolant flow field, are arranged between the anode plate and the cathode plate, which bipolar plate has an optimized pressure distribution in a fuel cell stack and increased stability in comparison with the prior art, it is proposed that the structural elements may be made of an elastic material and that the structural elements have a different height in different regions of the coolant flow field. A fuel cell stack and a vehicle are also disclosed.

Bipolar plate for fuel cells, fuel cell stack with such bipolar plates, and vehicle with such a fuel cell stack

Embodiments of the invention relate to a membrane-electrode assembly comprising a membrane structure with an anode layer, a cathode layer, and a membrane layer, wherein the membrane layer is positioned between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The membrane-electrode assembly furthermore comprises an anode-side gas-diffusion layer arranged on the anode layer and a cathode-side gas-diffusion layer arranged on the cathode layer. Furthermore, at least one of the anode-side gas-diffusion and the cathode-side gas-diffusion layers has a structure on the side facing away from the membrane structure. According to some embodiments, the structure comprises a plurality of columns for forming a laterally-open flow field, wherein the columns have support surfaces for supporting a bipolar plate.

Membrane electrode assembly, fuel cell stack, and vehicle comprising such a fuel cell stack

The invention relates to a polar plate for a fuel cell, comprising at least one single plate with two opposing main sides, wherein the single plate has, on at least one of its main sides: elevations and free spaces arranged therebetween, which form a flow structure for an operating medium of the fuel cell; and spring projections which are arranged on the elevations and are designed to yield in case of a force effect taking place orthogonally to the main sides. Furthermore, the invention relates to a fuel cell stack with a polar plate according to the invention.

Polar plate for a fuel cell and fuel cell stack

The invention relates to a polar plate assembly for a fuel cell, comprising: a polar plate which comprises, on at least one of its flat sides, elevations and free spaces arranged between them, which form a flow structure for a reactant; and a supporting structure designed to prevent or at least reduce an intrusion by a gas diffusion layer adjacent to the supporting structure and/or a membrane electrode assembly into the free spaces of the flow structure. It is provided that the polar plate assembly is designed such that the polar plate protrudes into the supporting structure. The invention furthermore relates to an individual cell with a polar plate assembly according to the invention.

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Burnaby, Canada

Sanjiv Kumar