Seal designs for multicomponent bipolar plates of an electrochemical cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10273588-B2
Application number	US-201514835969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Aug 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A method of sealing a multi-component bipolar plate is disclosed. The method may include inserting a first seal between a first component and a second component, wherein the first seal is aligned with a first plurality of protrusions formed on a surface of at least one of the first component and the second component. The method may also include compressing the first component and the second component to cause the penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal. The method may further include plastically deforming the first seal in order to create a first sealing surface between the first component and the second component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of sealing a multi-component bipolar plate, the method comprising:
inserting a first seal between a first component and a second component of the bipolar plate, wherein the first seal is aligned with a first plurality of protrusions formed on a surface of at least one of the first component or the second component, and wherein a portion of each protrusion is in direct contact with a surface of at least one of the first component or the second component;
compressing the first component and the second component to cause penetration by the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal; and
plastically deforming the first seal in order to create a first sealing surface between the first component and the second component.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting a second seal between the first component and the second component, wherein the second seal is aligned with a second plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the first component and the second component, wherein compressing the first component and the second component with sufficient force causes the penetration of the second plurality of protrusions into the second seal and the formation of a second sealing surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting an adhesive between the first component and the second component, wherein the adhesive is configured to control a depth of penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adhesive includes the same material as the first seal and is thicker than the first seal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions includes at least one protrusion that extends beyond the other protrusions and is configured to function as a hard stop.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one protrusion that extends beyond is configured to control a depth of penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a spacer between the first component and the second component, wherein the spacer is configured to control a depth of penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal and determine a gap height between the first component and the second component.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions include protrusions of different heights.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions is knife edge shaped protrusions.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adhesive functions as a second seal between the first component and the second component.

11. A bipolar plate system, comprising:
a first component and a second component of a bipolar plate; and
a first seal configured to be inserted between the first component and the second component, wherein the first seal is aligned with a first plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the first component or the second component, and wherein a portion of each protrusion is in direct contact with a surface of at least one of the first component or the second component;
wherein compressing the first component and the second component is configured to cause penetration by the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal, thereby causing plastic deformation of the first seal and creating a first sealing surface between the first component and the second component.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a second seal configured to be inserted between the first component and the second component, wherein the second seal is aligned with a second plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the first component and the second component, and wherein compressing the first component and the second component is configured to cause the penetration of the second plurality of protrusions into the second seal creating a second sealing surface between the first component and the second component.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive between the first component and the second component, wherein the adhesive is configured to control a depth of penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the adhesive includes the same material as the first seal and is thicker than the first seal.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions includes at least one protrusion that extends beyond the other protrusions and is configured to function as a hard stop.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion that extends beyond is configured to control a depth of penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal.

17. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a spacer inserted between the first component and the second component, wherein the spacer is configured to control a depth of penetration of the first plurality of protrusions into the first seal and determine a gap height between the first component and the second component.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions include protrusions of different heights.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions is knife edge shaped protrusions.

20. An electrochemical cell comprising:
a pair of bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly located between the pair of bipolar plates;
wherein each bipolar plate comprises:
at least two components; and
a seal configured to be inserted between the at least two components and aligned with a plurality of protrusions, wherein a portion of each protrusion is in direct contact with a surface of at least one of the components and wherein compressing the at least two components is configured to cause penetration by the plurality of protrusions into the first seal, thereby causing plastic deformation of the first seal and creating a first sealing surface between the first component and the second component.

Assignees

• Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc
• Nuvera Fuel Cells Llc

Inventors

• Domit Edward
• Blanchet Scott
• Van Boeyen Roger
• Beverage Kevin

Classifications

• H01M8/248

  Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M8/0271

  Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes · CPC title

• H01M8/0202

  Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors · CPC title

• H01M8/184

  Regeneration by electrochemical means · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title