Fuel cell stack comprising a counterflowing cooling system and a plurality of coolant-collecting ducts located parallel to the axis of the stack

摘要

A fuel cell stack comprising several superimposed polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. A bipolar plate that is provided with longitudinal ducts supplying hydrogen and transverse ducts which supply oxygen and are used for cooling is arranged between adjacent membrane-electrode units. A current flowing in opposite directions through adjacent ducts of the same fuel cell can be created within the air ducts via collecting ducts that are provided at the outflow end for every other cooling duct if the flow is fed to the stack from both sides, resulting in a very homogeneous temperature distribution with the cell or stack.