The present disclosure is directed towards the design of bipolar plates for use in conduction-cooled electrochemical cells. Heat generated during the operation of the cell is removed from the active area of the cell to the periphery of the cell via the one or more bipolar plates in the cell. The one or more bipolar plates are configured to function as heat sinks to collect heat from the active area of the cell and to conduct the heat to the periphery of the plate where the heat is removed by traditional heat transfer means. The boundary of the one or more bipolar plates can be provided with heat dissipation structures to facilitate removal of heat from the plates. To function as effective heat sinks, the thickness of the one or more bipolar plates can be determined based on the rate of heat generation in the cell during operation, the thermal conductivity (k) of the material selected to form the plate, and the desired temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to the plate (T).

The present disclosure is directed towards the design of bipolar plates for use in conduction-cooled electrochemical cells. Heat generated during the operation of the cell is removed from the active area of the cell to the periphery of the cell via the one or more bipolar plates in the cell. The one or more bipolar plates are configured to function as heat sinks to collect heat from the active area of the cell and to conduct the heat to the periphery of the plate where the heat is removed by traditional heat transfer means. The boundary of the one or more bipolar plates can be provided with heat dissipation structures to facilitate removal of heat from the plates. To function as effective heat sinks, the thickness of the one or more bipolar plates can be determined based on the rate of heat generation in the cell during operation, the thermal conductivity (k) of the material selected to form the plate, and the desired temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to the plate (T).

A connecting element for making electrical contact with at least one separator plate of a fuel cell stack includes a housing and a contact element which is arranged in the housing and has a contact end for making contact with the separator plate and has a connection end for connection to a continuing line. A positive z-direction is defined from the contact end in the direction of the connection end. A cutout is provided in the housing, wherein the contact element is positioned in the cutout. The contact end is arranged on a first side of the cutout. The connection end is arranged on the second side of the cutout. The contact element has an interlocking element which bears in an interlocking manner against the housing on the first side of the cutout.

A connecting element for making electrical contact with at least one separator plate of a fuel cell stack includes a housing and a contact element which is arranged in the housing and has a contact end for making contact with the separator plate and has a connection end for connection to a continuing line. A positive z-direction is defined from the contact end in the direction of the connection end. A cutout is provided in the housing, wherein the contact element is positioned in the cutout. The contact end is arranged on a first side of the cutout. The connection end is arranged on the second side of the cutout. The contact element has an interlocking element which bears in an interlocking manner against the housing on the first side of the cutout.

Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow for introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. It has been discovered that improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode. A second baffle can be used to create a pressure drop as the anode output flow or cathode output flow exits from the active area into a second extended edge seal region (in a second extended edge seal chamber) prior to leaving the fuel cell.

A separator and a fuel cell stack, the separator including a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions which are sequentially provided along a first direction, the convex portions having first openings on top surfaces at predetermined intervals along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the first openings of two adjacent convex portions are each provided so as not to be positioned coaxially based on a virtual first line parallel to the first direction.

A porous panel for a separator of a fuel cell includes a plate-shaped material and uneven lines repeatedly arranged on the porous panel in a direction crossing a gas flow direction. The porous panel is bent at the uneven lines such that upward and downward uneven portions are repeated, and through holes permitting passage of gas formed on opposite sides of each of the uneven lines have an uneven shape.

A porous panel for a separator of a fuel cell includes a plate-shaped material and uneven lines repeatedly arranged on the porous panel in a direction crossing a gas flow direction. The porous panel is bent at the uneven lines such that upward and downward uneven portions are repeated, and through holes permitting passage of gas formed on opposite sides of each of the uneven lines have an uneven shape.

The invention relates to a method for welding between two metallic materials (2, 3) or for sintering of powder(s) (P), comprising the following steps: a/ fitting a solid plate (10), transparent at the emission wavelength(s) of a laser beam (F), between said laser (L) and at least one contact zone (4) between the metallic materials to be welded or at least one sintering zone of the powder(s); b/ emission of the laser beam, through the transparent plate, to perform welding of the materials in the contact zone(s) or sintering of powder(s) in the sintering zone(s).

A fuel cell including: a diaphragm/electrodes assembly including a first electrode forming an anode, and a first reinforcement attached to a surface of the diaphragm and surrounding the first electrode; two bipolar plates, having the diaphragm/electrodes assembly placed therebetween and including at least one flow collector passing therethrough, a first surface of the diaphragm including an active area and a connection area and arranged between the flow collector and the active area; a conductor track rigidly connected to the first surface of the diaphragm and extending between the connection area and one edge of the diaphragm that projects beyond the first reinforcement; and a measurement electrode, positioned on the connection area of the first surface of the diaphragm and making electrical contact with the conductor track.