Fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11031610-B2
Application number	US-201916360062-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2019
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. A first seal line of a first metal separator and a second seal line of a second metal separator protrude in a stacking direction of the stack body in a manner to contact a resin film. An insulator is provided with a first elastic seal member which contacts a second end seal line. The width of the first elastic seal member is larger than the maximum width of the second end seal line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cells stack comprising a stack body including a plurality of power generation cells stacked in a stacking direction, the power generation cells each including a membrane electrode assembly and metal separators provided on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and electrodes on both sides of the electrolyte membrane,
wherein a seal bead protruding in the stacking direction of the stack body is formed in the metal separator in a manner that the seal bead contacts an outer portion of the membrane electrode assembly or a frame provided on the outer portion of the membrane electrode assembly; and
insulators and end plates sandwiching the stack body in the stacking direction are provided at both ends of the stack body in the stacking direction in a manner that the seal bead is deformed elastically, and
wherein the stack body includes end metal separators positioned at both ends in the stacking direction;
an end seal bead protruding outward in the stacking direction is formed in each of the end metal separators;
each of the seal beads and the end seal beads extends in a wavy pattern in a plan view viewed in the stacking direction;
a seal member configured to contact the end seal bead is provided in an outer portion of the insulator or the end plate;
a width of the seal member is larger than a maximum width of the end seal bead;
the seal member extends straight in the plan view viewed in the stacking direction;
the end seal bead extending in the wavy pattern in the plan view viewed in the stacking direction includes a first protrusion protruding in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the end seal bead extends, and a second protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first protrusion protrudes; and
the width of the seal member is larger than a distance between a protruding end of the first protrusion and a protruding end of the second protrusion.

2. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed in a surface of the insulator or the end plate facing the stack body, and the seal member is provided in the recess.

3. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein each of the metal separator and the end metal separator comprises:
a gas flow field configured to supply a reactant gas to the electrode; and
a plurality of fluid passages for the reactant gas and a coolant; and
the seal bead and the end seal bead are provided around the gas flow field, and around the fluid passages.

4. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the end metal separator positioned at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction has same structure as the metal separator which contacts a surface of the outer portion or the frame of the membrane electrode assembly oriented toward another end in the stacking direction; and
the end metal separator positioned at the other end of the stack body in the stacking direction has same structure as the metal separator which contacts a surface of the outer portion or the frame of the membrane electrode assembly oriented toward the one end in the stacking direction.

5. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the entire seal member is made of elastic material.

6. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed in the insulator or the end plate, and the seal member is provided in the recess; and
the seal member includes a seal body configured to contact the end seal bead and a fixed portion provided in the seal body, and
wherein the seal body is spaced from side surfaces forming the recess; and
the fixed portion is held between the side surfaces forming the recess.

7. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 ,
wherein the seal member comprises a metal plate and an elastic seal member that are overlapped with each other at a position facing the end seal bead; and
the metal plate is supported by the insulator, and positioned between the end seal bead and the elastic seal member.

8. The fuel cell stack according to claim 7 , wherein a groove configured to accommodate the elastic seal member is formed in the insulator or the end plate;
the metal plate is bridged over the groove; and
the elastic seal member is held between the metal plate and a bottom of the groove in an elastically compressed state.

9. The fuel cells stack according to claim 8 , wherein a recess configured to accommodate the metal plate is formed in the insulator or the end plate; and
a gap is formed between a side wall surface of the recess and the metal plate.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ikeda Yuta
• Inoue Naoki
• Yoshizawa Yosuke
• Wada Masashi

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2459

  Comprising electrode layers with interposed electrolyte compartment with possible electrolyte supply or circulation · CPC title

• H01M8/2457

  with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised · CPC title

• H01M8/0276

  Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/0297

  Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other (H01M8/0271 takes precedence) · CPC title