A fuel cell comprising a series of cascaded cell stacks comprising at least one humidifier-degasser coupled to the cell stacks proximate a stack inlet; the at least one humidifier-degasser comprising at least one degasification section fluidly coupled upstream of at least one humidifier section; and at least one inert concentrator cell coupled downstream from the cell stacks proximate a stack vent.

A cell plate assembly of a redox flow battery has a frame body and a cell plate in fluidic communication. Cell plates, electrolyte pathways and other components of the frame plate assembly may be overmolded inside a frame. Plates, frames and tubes may all be robustly sealed. One piece bonded plug and frames enable reduced use of O-rings and other wear items.

A preferred aspect of the present invention is a fuel cell stack provided with a plurality of fuel cells each including a solid electrolyte layer and first and second electrode layers formed across the solid electrolyte layer. The fuel cells are stacked with the first or second electrode layers of adjacent cells facing each other. A common flow path for supplying a first gas to both of the first electrode layers facing each other is formed in an area where the first electrode layers face each other. A common flow path for supplying a second gas to both of the second electrode layers facing each other is formed in an area where the second electrode layers face each other. A connection electrode is formed at the end of the fuel cell. At least some of the stacked cells are connected in series via the connection electrode.

An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

A cell plate assembly of a redox flow battery has a frame body and a cell plate in fluidic communication. Cell plates, electrolyte pathways and other components of the frame plate assembly may be overmolded inside a frame. Plates, frames and tubes may all be robustly sealed. One piece bonded plug and frames enable reduced use of O-rings and other wear items.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged in a stack including a first end fuel cell near a first end of the stack and a second end fuel cell near a second end of the stack. Each of the fuel cells includes a matrix containing an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode on opposite sides of the matrix, and respective flow fields adjacent the anode and the cathode. An electrolyte supply associated with the anode flow field of the first end fuel cell includes a porous material containing electrolyte. An electrolyte collector associated with the cathode flow field of the second end fuel cell includes a porous material configured to collect electrolyte from at least the cathode of the second end fuel cell.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.

A fuel cell stack includes a power generation cell having a first gas diffusion layer and a dummy cell disposed at an end of the power generation cell and having a second gas diffusion layer with higher thermal conductivity than the first gas diffusion layer. An end plate is fastened at an end of the dummy cell and a heater is interposed between the dummy cell and the end plate.