A membrane fuel cell delimited by bipolar plates comprising a cathodic compartment and an anodic compartment, said cathodic compartment comprising means for feeding air from the bottom to the top, said anodic compartment comprising means for feeding a hydrogen-containing fuel from the top to the bottom, at least one of said cathodic and anodic compartment comprising a flow distributor consisting of a porous material and a method of operating cell said.

A cooling system is provided for use with a fuel cell. The cooling system comprises a first heat exchanger fluidly connected to an outlet passage of the fuel cell. The first heat exchanger can be configured to condense at least a portion of a fluid passing through the outlet passage of the fuel cell into liquid water. The cooling system can also comprise a second heat exchanger fluidly connected to an outlet passage of the first heat exchanger and an inlet passage of the fuel cell. The second heat exchanger can be configured to cool a fluid passing into the inlet passage of the fuel cell. In addition, the outlet passage of the fuel cell and the inlet passage of the fuel cell can be fluidly connected to a cathode of the fuel cell, and the inlet passage of the fuel cell can be configured to supply water to the cathode.

A fluid detection system and method for a fuel cell power plant is disclosed having a pressure sensor (61, 161) positioned in a fuel cell stack assembly (10) to measure pressure of fluid/liquid in a fluid/liquid flow path (40, 42, 44) therein and to provide a pressure-based signal (90, 63). The pressure-based signal (90, 63) is used to control a liquid management arrangement (53) at least during start-up and shut-down of the cell stack assembly (10) to regulate water level. The liquid management arrangement (53) may include means (50, 51) for controllably applying and releasing a vacuum to a water manifold (44, 54; 100) of the cell stack assembly (10) to regulate water flow and level therein. The pressure-based control of water level may extend across the entire operating range of the cell stack assembly (10), or may be complemented during steady state operation by voltage-based sensors (66, 166).

An evaporative cooling type fuel cell system and a cooling control method for the same are provided. The fuel cell system includes a stack that generates electric power by reacting hydrogen as fuel with air as an oxidant. The method includes adjusting an operation pressure of the stack based on a current operation temperature of the stack and adjusting the amount of water supplied to the stack from a water reservoir based on the current operation temperature. The water is supplied to a cathode of the stack. Thus, a compact-simplified fuel cell system is provided, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and weight.

A humidifier for a fuel cell device has a plurality of flow field frames, between each of which there is arranged a humidifier membrane. A plurality of cooling flow field frames formed identical to the flow field frames, between each of which there is arranged a separating plate, form an integrated intercooler. A motor vehicle having a humidifier with integrated intercooler is also provided.

A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell, an air compressor configured to draw in and discharge air, a cooler configured to cool air discharged from the air compressor, a humidifier configured to humidify air cooled by the cooler and to supply the humidified air to the fuel cell, and a system frame on which the fuel cell is disposed. The system frame accommodates at least a portion of each of the cooler and the humidifier therein.

Disclosed is a cooling module for use in a fuel cell system, the module includes a tank configured to receive a coolant therein, a coolant, a pump in fluid communication with the coolant in the tank and the fuel cell system, the pump being configured to transport the coolant to the fuel cell system, a heating element within the coolant in the tank, the heating element configured to heat the coolant, and at least one sensor in signal communication with a controller and in fluid communication with the tank. The sensor is configured to detect a change corresponding to the presence or absence of sufficient liquid coolant to initiate said pump, and the controller processes sensor data and is configured to actuate the pump.

An ECU of a fuel cell system determines whether or not temperature information exceeds a temperature threshold for determination when receiving a signal related to power generation stop of a fuel cell stack during operation of a moving body. When the temperature information exceeds the determination temperature threshold, the ECU performs a stop control for stopping power generation of the fuel cell stack. On the other hand, when the temperature information is equal to or lower than the determination temperature threshold, the ECU performs an idle control for generating electric power smaller than electric power consumed by the air pump.

A method of operating a fuel cell system (100) comprising a fuel cell stack (110) and a closed loop water cooling circuit for direct injection of cooling water into the stack (110), the method comprising: measuring an operational parameter of the fuel cell system (100) over a time period; adding an amount of water to the closed loop cooling circuit from the total amount of water generated during operation of the fuel cell stack (110) over the time period; and removing the amount of water from the closed loop cooling circuit generated during operation of the fuel cell stack (110) over the time period is automatically determined by the fuel cell system (100) as a function of the operational parameter.

A bipolar plate for a four-fluid fuel cell includes a nonporous sub-plate and a porous sub-plate. The nonporous sub-plate includes a water management side, an opposing reactant side, and an internal coolant passage therebetween. The porous sub-plate includes a reactant side and an opposing water management side. The reactant side includes a first reactant flow field, and the water management side is fluidly connected to the water management side of the nonporous sub-plate. Embodiments of the invention include a method to operate the four-fluid fuel cell in thermal boost mode, and a method to accumulate and retain product water.