A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.

A fuel cell system column includes a first terminal plate connected to a first electrical output of the column, a second terminal plate connected to a second electrical output of the column, at least one first fuel cell stack located in a middle portion of the column between the first terminal plate and the second terminal plate, and at least one electrical connection which is electrically connected to the middle portion of the column and which is configured to provide a more uniform fuel utilization across the first column.

A fuel cell system column includes a first terminal plate connected to a first electrical output of the column, a second terminal plate connected to a second electrical output of the column, at least one first fuel cell stack located in a middle portion of the column between the first terminal plate and the second terminal plate, and at least one electrical connection which is electrically connected to the middle portion of the column and which is configured to provide a more uniform fuel utilization across the first column.

The invention relates to a fuel cell unit as a fuel cell stack for the electrochemical generation of electrical energy, comprising stacked fuel cells, the fuel cells each comprising a proton exchange membrane, an anode, a cathode, a gas diffusion layer, a bipolar plate (10) with three separate channel structures (29) with channels for the separate passage of oxidising agents, fuel and cooling fluid. The channel structures (29) have an inlet region (37) and an outlet region (38) for the oxidising agents, the fuel and the cooling fluid, at least one feed channel (43) for feeding the oxidising agents as process fluid into the gas spaces for oxidising the fuel cells, at least one feed channel (48) for feeding fuel as process fluid into the gas spaces for fuel of the fuel cells, at least one supply channel (50) for the coolant as process fluid for supplying the coolant into a channel for coolant, a distribution structure (45) for directing and distributing the process fluids from the supply channels (43, 48, 50) into the channel structures (29) of the bipolar plates (10), at least two supply channels (43, 48, 50) being formed side by side in the longitudinal direction (57) when the inlet region (37) is formed with an extent predominantly in the transverse direction (58) between a transverse side (56) of the fuel cell (2) and the channel structure (29), or at least two feed channels (43, 48, 50) being formed side by side in the transverse direction (58) when the inlet region (37) is formed with an extent predominantly in the longitudinal direction (57) between a longitudinal side (55) of the fuel cell (2) and the channel structure (29).

The invention relates to a fuel cell unit as a fuel cell stack for the electrochemical generation of electrical energy, comprising stacked fuel cells, the fuel cells each comprising a proton exchange membrane, an anode, a cathode, a gas diffusion layer, a bipolar plate (10) with three separate channel structures (29) with channels for the separate passage of oxidising agents, fuel and cooling fluid. The channel structures (29) have an inlet region (37) and an outlet region (38) for the oxidising agents, the fuel and the cooling fluid, at least one feed channel (43) for feeding the oxidising agents as process fluid into the gas spaces for oxidising the fuel cells, at least one feed channel (48) for feeding fuel as process fluid into the gas spaces for fuel of the fuel cells, at least one supply channel (50) for the coolant as process fluid for supplying the coolant into a channel for coolant, a distribution structure (45) for directing and distributing the process fluids from the supply channels (43, 48, 50) into the channel structures (29) of the bipolar plates (10), at least two supply channels (43, 48, 50) being formed side by side in the longitudinal direction (57) when the inlet region (37) is formed with an extent predominantly in the transverse direction (58) between a transverse side (56) of the fuel cell (2) and the channel structure (29), or at least two feed channels (43, 48, 50) being formed side by side in the transverse direction (58) when the inlet region (37) is formed with an extent predominantly in the longitudinal direction (57) between a longitudinal side (55) of the fuel cell (2) and the channel structure (29).

The invention relates to a bipolar plate assembly (1) for forming an electrolysis or fuel cell stack and to the use of a bipolar plate assembly and an electrolysis or fuel cell stack with a plurality of bipolar plate assemblies.

A manufacturing method includes a cleaning step of irradiating by laser light a joining site of a first separator to which a second separator is to be joined, without joining the first separator and the second separator. In the cleaning step, at least a part of a joining site is irradiated by the laser light such that a plurality of irradiation marks created by the laser light make up a separated irradiation mark pattern in which the irradiation marks are disposed separated from each other.

A contacting arrangement of solid oxide cells is disclosed, each solid oxide cell having at least two flow field plates to arrange gas flows in the cell, and an active electrode structure, which has an anode side, a cathode side, and an electrolyte element between the anode side and the cathode side. The contacting arrangement includes a gasket structure to perform sealing functions in the solid oxide cell and a contact structure located between the flow field plates and the active electrode structure, the contact structure being at least partly a gas permeable structure configured and adapted according to structures of the flow field plates and according to the active electrode structure.

The present inventions are directed to fluid flow assemblies, and systems incorporating such assemblies, each assembly comprising a conductive element disposed within a non-conductive element; the non-conductive element being characterized as framing the conductive central element and the elements together defining a substantially planar surface when engaged with one another; each of the conductive and non-conductive elements comprising channels which, when taken together, form a flow pattern on the substantially planar surface; and wherein the channels are restricted, terminated, or both restricted and terminated in the non-conductive element.

A fuel cell stack includes a first metal separator and a second metal separator sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. Bead seals are provided on the first and second metal separators. The bead seals protrude toward the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member is provided on a top part of each of the bead seals. In the process of producing the fuel cell stack, pressure medium is supplied to a coolant flow field formed between the first metal separator and the second metal separator. The supply pressure of the pressure medium is set to not less than the supply pressure of a coolant supplied to the coolant flow field during normal operation of the fuel cell stack.