Fuel cell system and stack used therein

• Main Author: LEE DONG-HUN,KWEON HO-JIN,KIM HYOUNG-JUHN,AN SEONG-JIN,SUH JUN-WON,KIM JONG-MAN,YOON HAE-KWON,CHO SUNG-YONG,EUN YEONGAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2007
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

A fuel cell system optimizing the ratio of width of a channel to a width of a rib forming a passage for supplying fuel and air, the ratio of width thereof to a height of a channel, and the number of passages, thereby improving the fuel diffusing performance and reducing a pressure drop therein is provided. The fuel cell system includes at least one stack for generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a fuel supply portion for supplying fuel to the stack, and an oxygen supply portion for supplying oxygen to the stack. The stack is formed into a stacked configuration having a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies separated by separators. The separators have ribs which closely contact the adjacent membrane electrode assemblies and form channels through which the oxygen and hydrogen flow. The ratio of the width of a channel to the height of the same is between about 0.6 and about 0.8.