FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES

A hydrogen fuel cell unit is made from identical bipolar plates, each stamped from a single sheet of steel and coated with ta-C, the unit comprising, in order(i) a first bipolar plate having a front face and a rear face, the rear face being an anode in the unit,(ii) a first membrane electrode assembly,(iii) a second bipolar plate having a front face and a rear face, the front face being a cathode in the unit and the rear face being an anode in the unit,wherein the first membrane electrode assembly is between the first and second bipolar plates, and a flow path is provided between the rear face of the first bipolar plate and the first membrane electrode assembly for flow of hydrogen, and a flow path is provided between the front face of the second bipolar plate and the first membrane electrode assembly for flow of oxygen,(iv) a second membrane electrode assembly, and(v) a third bipolar plate having a front face and a rear face, the front face being a cathode in the unit,wherein the second membrane electrode assembly is between the second and third bipolar plates, and a flow path is provided between the rear face of the second bipolar plate and the second membrane electrode assembly for flow of hydrogen, and a flow path is provided between the front face of the third bipolar plate and the second membrane electrode assembly for flow of oxygen.