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10
Fuel Cell Stack, Bipolar Plate,
and Gas Flow Channel
In the previous chapters, we have discussed the basic operating principles of
a tri-layer fuel cell or membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is composed
of anode, electrolyte, and cathode, forming the basic building block of a fuel
cell stack. In this chapter, we will consider the formation and design of a fuel
cell stack using MEAs and interconnect ow-eld plates or bipolar plates,
and the design and construction of bipolar plates that have integrated ow
channels for reactant gases.
The efciency of a fuel cell depends on the overall kinetics of the electro-
chemical process and the ...