Fuel cell stack and assembly method of same

    公开(公告)号:US09997800B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-06-12

    申请号:US14326813

    申请日:2014-07-09

    摘要: A fuel cell stack and a method of assembling a fuel cell stack includes compressing fuel cells along their stacking axis. A compression retention device made up of an enclosure may be used with one or more optional insertable shims to correct for any stack height variations. Significantly, the enclosure is formed to allow the stack to be loaded in compression by a press such that the cells that make up the stack are placed into and maintained in a substantially compressed state while the compression force is not imparted to the enclosure. By resolving any stack height variances while the cells of the stack are maintained in their substantially compressed state, assembly operations are simplified in that repeated compression and decompression of the stack is avoided while trying to ensure that the stack and enclosure are joined into their final assembly form.

    Reinforcement structure for bead seal in a plate assembly

    公开(公告)号:US10522852B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-12-31

    申请号:US15425069

    申请日:2017-02-06

    IPC分类号: H01M8/02 H01M8/0276 C25B9/00

    摘要: A plate assembly includes a first plate having a planar portion and a first bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal includes a first end surface spaced away from the planar portion. The first bead seal includes first and second opposing sides extending away from the first end surface and contiguous with the planar portion. The first bead seal includes a first reinforcement structure having a first plurality of walls each intersecting the first opposing side of the first bead seal. The first plate includes a second bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal and the second bead seal may be joined via the first reinforcement structure such that the first plurality of walls of the first reinforcement structure each intersect a third opposing side of the second bead seal.

    HEADER DESIGN EMPLOYING GENERALLY REGULAR SHAPES

    公开(公告)号:US20180241055A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-08-23

    申请号:US15436207

    申请日:2017-02-17

    IPC分类号: H01M8/0276 H01M8/0258

    摘要: A plate includes a working face and a header portion. The working face defines a plurality of reactant channels thereon. The header portion is disposed in a peripheral area of the plate and includes a plurality of flanges and a plurality of beads. The flanges are disposed on the header portion and define a plurality of apertures through the plate. Each flange defines a respective one of the apertures. At least one of the apertures is fluidly connected to the reactant channels. The plurality of beads is disposed on the working face. Each bead is disposed about a respective one of the apertures and thereby defines a respective one of the flanges. Each bead defines a shape consisting of bead-corners and bead-sides. Each bead has a sealing surface thereon. The sealing surface is configured to deflect when exposed to a contact pressure to thereby provide a substantially fluid-tight seal.

    Fuel cell stack
    6.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11081706B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-08-03

    申请号:US15986126

    申请日:2018-05-22

    摘要: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body of power generation cells stacked in a horizontal direction. An oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed in the fuel cell stack, for allowing an oxygen-containing gas to flow along an electrode surface of a membrane electrode assembly. A plurality of oxygen-containing gas discharge passages for discharging the oxygen-containing gas as a reactant gas pass through the fuel cell stack in a stacking direction of the power generation cells. Each of the oxygen-containing gas discharge passages is connected to an outlet. The plurality of oxygen-containing gas discharge passages are connected together by a first connection channel at an end opposite to the outlet.

    Header design employing generally regular shapes

    公开(公告)号:US10529996B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-07

    申请号:US15436207

    申请日:2017-02-17

    IPC分类号: H01M8/0276 H01M8/0258

    摘要: A plate includes a working face and a header portion. The working face defines a plurality of reactant channels thereon. The header portion is disposed in a peripheral area of the plate and includes a plurality of flanges and a plurality of beads. The flanges are disposed on the header portion and define a plurality of apertures through the plate. Each flange defines a respective one of the apertures. At least one of the apertures is fluidly connected to the reactant channels. The plurality of beads is disposed on the working face. Each bead is disposed about a respective one of the apertures and thereby defines a respective one of the flanges. Each bead defines a shape consisting of bead-corners and bead-sides. Each bead has a sealing surface thereon. The sealing surface is configured to deflect when exposed to a contact pressure to thereby provide a substantially fluid-tight seal.

    FUEL CELL STACK
    8.
    发明申请
    FUEL CELL STACK 审中-公开

    公开(公告)号:US20180342741A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-11-29

    申请号:US15986126

    申请日:2018-05-22

    摘要: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body of power generation cells stacked in a horizontal direction. An oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed in the fuel cell stack, for allowing an oxygen-containing gas to flow along an electrode surface of a membrane electrode assembly. A plurality of oxygen-containing gas discharge passages for discharging the oxygen-containing gas as a reactant gas pass through the fuel cell stack in a stacking direction of the power generation cells. Each of the oxygen-containing gas discharge passages is connected to an outlet. The plurality of oxygen-containing gas discharge passages are connected together by a first connection channel at an end opposite to the outlet.

    REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR BEAD SEAL IN A PLATE ASSEMBLY

    公开(公告)号:US20180226662A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-08-09

    申请号:US15425069

    申请日:2017-02-06

    IPC分类号: H01M8/0276 F16J15/02 C25B9/00

    摘要: A plate assembly includes a first plate having a planar portion and a first bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal includes a first end surface spaced away from the planar portion. The first bead seal includes first and second opposing sides extending away from the first end surface and contiguous with the planar portion. The first bead seal includes a first reinforcement structure having a first plurality of walls each intersecting the first opposing side of the first bead seal. The first plate includes a second bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal and the second bead seal may be joined via the first reinforcement structure such that the first plurality of walls of the first reinforcement structure each intersect a third opposing side of the second bead seal.

    FUEL CELL STACK AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF CASE

    公开(公告)号:US20240332588A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-03

    申请号:US18588139

    申请日:2024-02-27

    IPC分类号: H01M8/2475 H01M8/2404

    CPC分类号: H01M8/2475 H01M8/2404

    摘要: A fuel cell stack including a cell stacked body and a case having four side walls facing four side surfaces of the cell stacked body extending in a predetermined direction to form an accommodation space accommodating the cell stacked body. The side walls are configured by a substantially plate shaped member having a substantially rectangular shape. The case includes joint portions joined by friction stir welding on connection surfaces between first and second side walls, between the second and third side walls, between the third and fourth side walls and between the fourth and first side walls, respectively, and a machined portion on a first surface of the side wall facing an accommodation space.