FUEL ELEMENT AND FUEL-CELL BATTERY Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC H01M8/00 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention pertains to a fuel element and a fuel-cell battery with a polymer electrolytic membrane, using hydrogen as fuel and oxygen (in pure form or from the air) as an oxidising agent. According to the invention, in the fuel element there is an electrolytic membrane, electrodes, gas-diffusion collectors joined to a single construction - integrated membrane-electrode assembly with a frame made from polymer material. The membrane is sealed and the gas-diffusion collectors are strongly fixed to the frame. The membrane is protected from mechanical damages by the gas-diffusion collectors. Through putting an intermediate non-metallic netting in the current net collectors (between nets), allowing for formation of film flow, there is provision for conditions of removal of the water of reaction. A bipolar cooling fin, made in the form of a thin plate heat exchanger, provides for supplying reagents to the gas chambers of the fuel element and their outlet through several small channels in the frame of the bipolar cooling fin and openings in the side walls of the cooling fin, uniformly distributed on the width of the gas chambers. The channels at the input of the reagents are throttled. Sealing of component parts of the fuel element and the fuel elements in the battery is done using a glue bearing film, serving as an adhesive, without use of an elastomer lining and special glue.

EFFECT: simplification of the structure and better manufacturability of the fuel element; improved electrical characteristics and long-term performance of the battery; lowering of small-scale characteristics.

11 cl, 6 dwg