Jung Kil Yi

US Patent:

7201992, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Dec 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/750609

Inventors:

Deliang Yang - Torrance CA, US
Jung S. Yi - Mansfield CT, US

Assignee:

UTC Fuel Cells, LLC - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

H01M 2/14

US Classification:

429 39, 429 38

Abstract:

A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly () having a first reactant flow field () secured adjacent a first or second surface () of the assembly () for directing flow of a first reactant adjacent the first or second surface of the assembly (). The first reactant flow field () defines a plurality of two-pass circuits (), and each two-pass circuit () is in fluid communication with both a first reactant inlet () for directing the first reactant into the fuel cell (), and with a first reactant outlet () for directing the first reactant out of the fuel cell (). The plurality of two-pass circuits () facilitate water movement () toward the reactant inlet () to aid in passive maintenance of fuel cell () water balance.