Systems and methods for sintering and conditioning fuel cell stacks utilizing channel guides, baffles, and internal compression systems are provided. Sintering and conditioning may be performed utilizing a fuel cell column cartridge assembly and fuel cell stacks may be sintered and conditioned at the system level during the same annealing cycle on the same support.

A device intended to generate electricity includes a planar fuel cell having: cells each provided with an anode and a cathode associated with a membrane, and a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, the first face being arranged on the side with the anodes of the fuel cell and the second face being arranged on the side with the cathodes of the fuel cell. Furthermore, this device includes a system configured to generate a first air flow intended to cooperate thermally with the first face, and configured to generate a second air flow intended to cooperate with the second face to ensure the supply of oxidizer to the cathodes of the fuel cell.

A manifold includes first and second manifold main bodies. The first manifold main body includes a gas supply chamber that is connected to a first gas channel and the second manifold main body includes a gas collection chamber that is connected to a second gas channel. The first manifold main body includes a top plate, a first bottom plate, and a first side plate. The top plate includes a first through hole for connecting the first gas channel and the gas supply chamber. The second manifold main body includes the top plate, a second bottom plate, and a second side plate. The top plate also includes a second through hole for connecting the second gas channel and the gas collection chamber. The first bottom plate and the second bottom plate are constituted by members that are separate from each other.

The invention relates to a strip of fuel cell components comprising a plurality of fuel cell components spaced apart in a first direction and a support structure connected to the plurality of fuel cell components. The plurality of fuel cell components comprise a first surface. The support structure comprises two lateral fold regions between adjacent fuel cell components such that the support structure is foldable in order for the first surfaces of the plurality of fuel cell components to face in the same direction when folded.

The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

An electrochemical cell unit according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate type membrane electrode assembly having a structure in which an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode layer disposed on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode layer disposed on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane are laminated; a first current collector in contact with the first electrode layer of the membrane electrode assembly; an interconnector electrically connected to the first current collector, a second current collector in contact with the second electrode layer of the membrane electrode assembly; and an outer peripheral part made of a metal material that surrounds an outer periphery of the first electrode layer together with the interconnector and the electrolyte membrane to form a gas introduction space for guiding internal gas to the first electrode layer.

A self-sealing flow frame is provided having a first frame component and a second frame component. Each frame component is provided with a tongue-and-groove configuration that when assembled forms a tessellation engagement, which creates the seal. When each frame component is assembled into a flow frame, with the inner surfaces facing towards each other, the tongue-and-groove arrangements create a seal profile that circumscribe constituent parts of a device within which the self-sealing flow frame is being employed. As the frame components are compressively secured and fastened together, a tessellation engagement of the seal profile forms the fluid seal. Fluids of the device are prevented from exfiltrating the device, and are contained within the self-sealing flow frame by the fluid seal.

A portable computing device such as a laptop computer has a base unit (2) and a display screen unit (3) coupled together by a hinge assembly (7) configured to allow rotation of the base unit and the screen unit relative to one another. The display screen unit has a display panel on a first face of the display screen unit and a fuel cell array (12a, 12b) disposed adjacent to a second face of the display screen unit. Ventilation apertures through the second face of the display screen unit provide air flow to the fuel cell array. A fuel conduit extends between the base unit and the display screen unit across the hinge assembly for delivering fuel from the base unit to the display screen unit.

A fuel cell stack assembly comprises a plurality of fuel cells in a stack, the stack defining two opposing parallel end faces. An end plate is disposed at each opposing end face of the stack. Each end plate defines a compression surface adjacent to and in compressive relationship with a respective one of the two opposing parallel end faces. A coupling mechanism is attached to the end plates to thereby maintain the fuel cells in the stack under compression. At least one, preferably both, of the end plates comprise a preformed element defining the compression surface, the preformed element being configured with a predetermined curvature such that the compression surface is a convex surface when the preformed element is not under load whereas, under the application of the load to maintain the fuel cells under compression, flexure of the preformed element between elements of the coupling mechanism causes the compression surface to become a substantially planar surface. This provides uniform pressure distribution across the end faces of the fuel cell stack using fewer and lighter weight components.

A printed fuel cell having integrated gas channels, and having an anode layer, where a first gas diffusion electrode layer is periodically fixed to the anode layer, wherein the periodically fixed first gas diffusion electrode layer defines hydrogen flow field channels. A first catalyst material is coated or infused to the first gas diffusion electrode layer. An electrolyte membrane covers portions of the anode layer and first gas diffusion electrode layer with the first catalyst material. A second catalyst material is coated or infused to the electrolyte membrane. A second gas diffusion electrode layer is in operative association with the electrolyte membrane and second catalyst material, on a surface of the electrolyte membrane different from a surface of the electrolyte membrane which is in contact with the first gas diffusion electrode layer, and a perforated cathode is in contact with the second gas diffusion electrode layer.