Compliant electrical contacts for fuel cell use

Abstract

This invention provides arrays of independently acting compliant electrical contacts within a fuel cell. These contacts maintain electrical contact between a plate and the adjacent membrane electrode assembly, and provide substantially uniform internal pressure distribution and substantially uniform electrical contact. In one embodiment, the electrical contacts are springs, which can take a variety of forms.

1 . A fuel cell component comprising: 
 a monopolar separator plate; and    independently-acting compliant electrical contacts attached to said monopolar separator plate, for pressing against but not permanently attaching to a membrane electrode assembly.    
   
   
       2 . A fuel cell configuration, comprised of a plurality of fuel cell components according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of fuel cell components are incorporated into a fuel cell, and wherein said at least two of said fuel cells are adjacent to each other  
   
   
       3 . A fuel cell component according to a  claim 1 , wherein said fuel cell component is adjacent to a fuel cell containing a bipolar separator plate.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1  wherein said independently-acting compliant electrical contacts comprise springs.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1 , wherein said springs are inverted-V shaped.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1 , wherein said springs are S-shaped.  
   
   
       9 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1 , wherein said springs are Z-shaped.  
   
   
       10 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1 , wherein said springs are omega-shaped, wherein said omega-shaped springs have a height and a tapered middle section, said tapered middle section having a width, and wherein said width is at least 50% as great as said height.  
   
   
       10 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a membrane electrode assembly, wherein said independently-acting compliant electrical contacts are formed into an array having a length, wherein said membrane electrode assembly has a length, and wherein said length of said array is approximately equal to said length of said membrane electrode assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a membrane electrode assembly, wherein said independently-acting compliant electrical contacts are formed into an array having a width, wherein said membrane electrode assembly has a width, and wherein said width of said array is approximately equal to said width of said membrane electrode assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 10 , wherein said independently-acting compliant electrical contacts are formed into an array having a width, wherein said membrane electrode assembly has a width, and wherein said width of said array is approximately equal to said width of said membrane electrode assembly.  
   
   
       13 . A fuel cell component comprising: 
 a monopolar separator plate; and    flexible contact means for pressing against but not permanently attaching to a membrane electrode assembly.    
   
   
       14 . The fuel cell component according to  claim 13 , wherein said flexible contact means comprises a plurality of springs.  
   
   
       15 . A fuel cell assembly comprising: 
 a membrane electrode assembly;    a monopolar separator plate;    independently flexible means for maintaining electrical contact attached to said monopolar separator plate; and    means for sealing said membrane electrode assembly with said monopolar separator plate, wherein said means for sealing functions independently from said flexible means.