US 7,320,838 B2
Electrolyte creepage barrier for liquid electrolyte fuel cells
Jian Li, Alberta (Canada); Mohammad Farooque, Danbury, Conn. (US); and Chao-Yi Yuh, New Milford, Conn. (US)
Assigned to FuelCell Energy, Inc., Danbury, Conn. (US); and The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Apr. 02, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/405,569.
Application 10/405569 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/736558, filed on Dec. 13, 2000, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2003/0215691 A1, Nov. 20, 2003
Int. Cl. H01M 2/08 (2006.01); H01M 2/16 (2006.01); H01M 2/18 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 429—34  [429/35] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system comprising:
a liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack;
a manifold member facing a surface of said liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack;
a dielectric assembly situated between said manifold member and said surface of said liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack, said dielectric assembly including a substantially impermeable dielectric member over which electrolyte is able to flow and a barrier adjacent the dielectric member and having a porosity of less than 50% and greater than 10% so that the barrier is able to measurably absorb and chemically react with the liquid electrolyte flowing on the dielectric member to form solid products which are stable in the liquid electrolyte,
said dielectric member including: opposing surfaces adapted to face, respectively, the manifold and the fuel-cell stack; and opposing sides connecting the opposing surfaces; and
said barrier including at least one of a first barrier segment embedded in one of the opposing sides of said dielectric member and a second barrier segment embedded in the other of the opposing sides of said dielectric member.