A fuel cell may include a first fuel cell bipolar plate defining an air layer, a second fuel cell bipolar plate defining a hydrogen layer, and a coolant layer defined by the air layer and the hydrogen layer. A permeable support infill structure, composed of sintered thermally conductive powder particles, is arranged at the cooling layer to prevent flow blockage at the coolant layer, define a thermally conductive path between the air layer and the hydrogen layer, and facilitate coolant flow through the permeable support infill structure.

A solid oxide fuel cell including a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst and a method for forming the solid oxide fuel cell are provided. An exemplary solid oxide fuel cell includes a cell. The cell includes a filled metal substrate including holes substantially filled with a permeable material that includes a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst, wherein the filled metal substrate has a front facing a fuel flow and a back facing an electrochemical stack. A permeable layer is formed on the back of the filled metal substrate that is in contact with the permeable material of the filled holes. The cell includes an anode layer proximate to the permeable layer, an electrolyte layer proximate to the anode layer, a diffusion barrier proximate to the anode layer, and a cathode proximate to the diffusion barrier.

A fuel cell according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate-shaped metal porous body having a framework of a three-dimensional network structure as a gas diffusion layer. The framework is made of metal or alloy. In the metal porous body, a ratio of an average pore diameter in a direction parallel to a gas flow direction to an average pore diameter in a direction perpendicular to the gas flow direction is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than or equal to 2.5.

A fuel cell according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate-shaped metal porous body having a framework of a three-dimensional network structure as a gas diffusion layer. The framework is made of metal or alloy. In the metal porous body, a ratio of an average pore diameter in a direction parallel to a gas flow direction to an average pore diameter in a direction perpendicular to the gas flow direction is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than or equal to 2.5.

A power generation cell of a fuel cell stack includes a resin frame equipped MEA and a first metal separator and a second metal separator. In the power generation cell, the relationship of P1>P2>P3 is satisfied, where P1 indicates a first surface pressure applied from a first seal part and a second seal part to a resin frame member, P2 indicates a second surface pressure applied from a first support part and a second support part to the overlap part, and P3 indicates a third surface pressure applied from first flow field forming protrusions and second flow field forming protrusions to the power generation area.

A power generation cell of a fuel cell stack includes a resin frame equipped MEA and a first metal separator and a second metal separator. In the power generation cell, the relationship of P1>P2>P3 is satisfied, where P1 indicates a first surface pressure applied from a first seal part and a second seal part to a resin frame member, P2 indicates a second surface pressure applied from a first support part and a second support part to the overlap part, and P3 indicates a third surface pressure applied from first flow field forming protrusions and second flow field forming protrusions to the power generation area.

Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of molten carbonate fuel cells that include cathode current collector structures that have reduced contact area with the cathode in order to create increased cathode open surface area. Molten carbonate fuel cells that have cathode collectors with reduced contact area with the cathode can have an increased tendency to suffer structural difficulties during operation, such as formation of gaps between electrolyte and one or both electrodes. Use of a sintered anode in such a fuel cell can reduce or minimize the impact of such structural difficulties. The sintered anode can provide higher pore volume and/or a more stable pore structure and/or increased structural stability in a fuel cell that includes a cathode collector that has a reduced contact area with the cathode. This can maintain a more stable interface between the cathode and electrolyte and/or between the anode and the electrolyte.

Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of molten carbonate fuel cells that include cathode current collector structures that have reduced contact area with the cathode in order to create increased cathode open surface area. Molten carbonate fuel cells that have cathode collectors with reduced contact area with the cathode can have an increased tendency to suffer structural difficulties during operation, such as formation of gaps between electrolyte and one or both electrodes. Use of a sintered anode in such a fuel cell can reduce or minimize the impact of such structural difficulties. The sintered anode can provide higher pore volume and/or a more stable pore structure and/or increased structural stability in a fuel cell that includes a cathode collector that has a reduced contact area with the cathode. This can maintain a more stable interface between the cathode and electrolyte and/or between the anode and the electrolyte.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (40) for a fuel cell, comprising a first distributing region (50) for distributing a fuel to a first electrode (21) and a second distributing region (60) for distributing an oxidant to a second electrode (22). At least one woven fabric (80) is provided in at least one of the distributing regions (50, 60). The invention further relates to a fuel cell, comprising at least one membrane electrode assembly (10) having a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22), which are separated from each other by a membrane (18), and comprising at least one bipolar plate (40) according to the invention.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (40) for a fuel cell, comprising a first distributing region (50) for distributing a fuel to a first electrode (21) and a second distributing region (60) for distributing an oxidant to a second electrode (22). At least one woven fabric (80) is provided in at least one of the distributing regions (50, 60). The invention further relates to a fuel cell, comprising at least one membrane electrode assembly (10) having a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22), which are separated from each other by a membrane (18), and comprising at least one bipolar plate (40) according to the invention.