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.

A novel electrochemical cell is disclosed in multiple embodiments. The instant invention relates to an electrochemical cell design. In one embodiment, the cell design can electrolyze water into pressurized hydrogen using low-cost materials. In another embodiment, the cell design can convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. In another embodiment, the cell design can electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen for storage, then later convert the stored hydrogen and oxygen back into electricity and water.

A flow battery apparatus is provided with shunted currents repressed. The apparatus has a positive electrode device, a negative electrode device and a plurality of gas-gap devices. Gas-gap devices are separately set between branching channels and inlet and outlet manifolds of positive and negative electrodes. Each of the branching channels separately has an inserting tube to be inserted into one of the gas-gap devices. The diameter of the inserted vessel of gas-gap devices is bigger than the diameter of the inserting tube connected to a corresponding one of the branching channels. Thus, working liquids transferred to the positive and negative electrodes are segregated with coordination of the gas-gap devices. Only air spaces and discrete liquid drops are left between separated parts of the working liquids. Thus, shunted currents are repressed by preventing conductive paths from being formed between the positive and negative electrodes.

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.

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 first metal separator of a power generation cell includes boss pairs. Each of the boss pairs includes two first bosses provided adjacent to a hole and adjacent to each other between a passage bead and an oxygen-containing gas flow field. A gap facing the hole is formed between the two first bosses. The second metal separator includes one second boss facing the boss pair through a resin film. The second boss extends over the two first bosses as viewed in a separator thickness direction.

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 redox flow battery is illustrated and described, having at least one cell frame enclosing a cell interior and having at least one supply line provided outside the cell frame for supplying electrolyte to the cell interior and/or at least one disposal line provided outside the cell frames for removing electrolyte from the cell interior. In order to provide greater degrees of freedom in the design of the cell so as to make available redox flow batteries with improved properties, it is envisaged that the supply line for supplying electrolyte to the cell interior and/or the disposal line for removing electrolyte from the cell interior is in fluid contact with the cell interior via a plurality of separate flow channels in the cell frame.

An illustrative example fuel cell device includes a cell stack assembly of a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode. A pressure plate is situated near one end of the cell stack assembly. A spacer between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate has a length, a width, and a height. The height of the spacer defines a spacing between the pressure plate and the end of the cell stack assembly. The spacer has a plurality of ribs that define at least two fluid reservoirs. At least one of the ribs separates the fluid reservoirs so that fluid in one of the reservoirs is isolated from fluid in the other.

The present invention is an electrochemical reactor and a method of making it. The reactor includes an impermeable interconnect formed without a fluid dispersing element. The reactor also preferably includes an electrolyte and a fluid dispersing component disposed between the interconnect and the electrolyte. Preferably, the fluid dispersing component is formed with a plurality of shaped segments. Also, the fluid dispersing component is incorporated into either one or both of the anode or cathode.