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.

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.

Embodiments provide a bipolar plate for a battery, which can enhance battery efficiency by reducing a contact resistance in contact with an electrode, and a redox flow battery having the same are provided. According to at least one embodiment, there is provided a bipolar plate including a thermoplastic portion formed on at least a part thereof to be brought into contact with an electrode and having conductivity, wherein the thermoplastic portion having the conductivity is morphologically matched with the electrode.

A fuel cell system including: a first fuel cell performing power generation using a fuel gas; a separation membrane separating at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor from an anode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell; a second fuel cell disposed in the downstream of the separation membrane and performing power generation using the anode off gas, the anode off gas having at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor separated therefrom; and a distribution channel disposed on a permeation side of the separation membrane and distributing any of the following: a raw material gas serving as the fuel gas to be reformed and used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, a cathode gas including oxygen to be used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, an anode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, a cathode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell and to be supplied to the second fuel cell, or a cathode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, in which at least one of permeability coefficient ratio α1 of the separation membrane or permeability coefficient ratio α2 of the separation membrane is 30 or higher.

A fuel cell system including: a first fuel cell performing power generation using a fuel gas; a separation membrane separating at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor from an anode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell; a second fuel cell disposed in the downstream of the separation membrane and performing power generation using the anode off gas, the anode off gas having at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor separated therefrom; and a distribution channel disposed on a permeation side of the separation membrane and distributing any of the following: a raw material gas serving as the fuel gas to be reformed and used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, a cathode gas including oxygen to be used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, an anode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, a cathode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell and to be supplied to the second fuel cell, or a cathode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, in which at least one of permeability coefficient ratio α1 of the separation membrane or permeability coefficient ratio α2 of the separation membrane is 30 or higher.

A manufacturing method for a fuel cell includes the steps of: (a) preparing a stack and separators in a pair arranged in such a manner as to hold the stack therebetween; (b) forming a separator-bonded stack by bonding the separators in a pair and a sealing part to each other; and (c) warping a membrane electrode assembly with the bonded sealing part in a gap by reducing the temperature of the separator-bonded stack to cause thermal shrinkage of the separators in a pair, thereby moving the sealing part with the bonded separators in a pair inward.

A fuel cell single cell includes a pair of separators each having manifold holes, a frame disposed between the separators, a power generating unit disposed in an opening of the frame, and a plurality of gas flow channels configured to connect the power generating unit with the manifold holes. Each of the gas flow channels has a distal channel portion defined by a frame groove provided in the frame and configured to communicate with the manifold holes, and a proximal channel portion defined by a separator groove provided in the corresponding separator and configured to communicate with the power generating unit. Each of the gas flow channels is configured to be independent of adjacent other gas flow channels, at least over a range from a distal end of the distal channel portion, which communicates with the manifold holes, to a point in the proximal channel portion.

A fuel cell single cell includes a pair of separators each having manifold holes, a frame disposed between the separators, a power generating unit disposed in an opening of the frame, and a plurality of gas flow channels configured to connect the power generating unit with the manifold holes. Each of the gas flow channels has a distal channel portion defined by a frame groove provided in the frame and configured to communicate with the manifold holes, and a proximal channel portion defined by a separator groove provided in the corresponding separator and configured to communicate with the power generating unit. Each of the gas flow channels is configured to be independent of adjacent other gas flow channels, at least over a range from a distal end of the distal channel portion, which communicates with the manifold holes, to a point in the proximal channel portion.

A fuel cell device has a mounting plate on which a fuel cell unit having a predefined number of fuel cells is arranged, the mounting plate and the fuel cell unit comprising media connections for guiding media, in particular for guiding a coolant and for guiding reactants, and electrical contact points for electrically connecting the fuel cell unit to the mounting plate. Further media connections and further electrical contact points are designed or arranged on the fuel cell unit in such a way that the fuel cell unit can be connected or is connected to a second fuel cell unit with a mechanical fluid connection for further guidance of the media and electrical connection for power uptake.

A layer system for coating a metal substrate in order to form a flow field plate includes at least one cover layer made of metal oxide; at least one intermediate layer, which supports the cover layer; and a lower layer, which supports the intermediate layer(s). The cover layer is formed of indium tin oxide; wherein the indium tin oxide is optionally doped with at least one element from the group comprising carbon, nitrogen, boron, fluorine, hydrogen, silicon, titanium, tin and zirconium. At least one intermediate layer is formed of titanium nitride and/or titanium carbide and/or titanium carbonitride and/or titanium niobium nitride and/or titanium niobium carbide and/or titanium niobium carbonitride and/or chromium nitride and/or chromium carbide and/or chromium carbonitride. The lower layer is formed of titanium or a titanium-niobium alloy or chromium.