US Patent 7090942 Flow disruptor enhanced fuel cell

The present invention provides a fuel cell assembly comprising at least one fuel cell. The fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and a electrolyte interposed therebetween; at least one fluid flow channel disposed within the fuel cell for delivering a fluid to the fuel cell and at least one array of flow disruptors in contact with at least one of the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte. The flow disruptors protrude into the fluid flow channel so as to disrupt a fluid flow and enhance a heat transfer rate between the fluid and the fuel cell assembly when the fluid is introduced into the fluid flow channel.