Fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11380930-B2
Application number	US-202016777133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell includes a cell stack including a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction, an enclosure surrounding side portions of the cell stack and including at least one opening to expose at least one of opposite end portions of the cell stack therethrough, first and second end plates respectively disposed at the opposite end portions of the cell stack, and a gasket disposed between a target end plate disposed in the at least one opening in the enclosure, among the first and second end plates, and the enclosure in order to seal the cell stack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell, comprising:
a cell stack comprising a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction;
an enclosure surrounding side portions of the cell stack, the enclosure comprising at least one opening to expose at least one of opposite end portions of the cell stack therethrough;
first and second end plates respectively disposed at the opposite end portions of the cell stack;
a gasket disposed between a target end plate disposed in the at least one opening in the enclosure, among the first and second end plates, and the enclosure, the gasket being configured to seal the cell stack, wherein the target end plate comprises a body that comprises an inner surface that faces the cell stack and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface, wherein the gasket is disposed between the body and the enclosure; and
a partition wall disposed so as to face at least a portion of the outer surface of the body in the first direction, the body and the partition wall sealing the cell stack together with the enclosure using the gasket, wherein the gasket is disposed between the partition wall and the enclosure;
wherein the outer surface of the body comprises a non-manifold region in which no manifold is disposed and a manifold region in which a manifold is disposed, the non-manifold region being coupled to the partition wall and the manifold region being not coupled to the partition wall;
wherein a portion of the gasket is disposed between the body and the enclosure in the manifold region; and
wherein the other portion of the gasket is disposed between the partition wall and the enclosure in the non-manifold region.

2. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , further comprising a connecting portion connecting the body and the partition wall to each other.

3. The fuel cell according to claim 2 , wherein the body and the partition wall are integrally formed with each other.

4. The fuel cell according to claim 3 , wherein the body, the partition wall, and the connecting portion are integrally formed with each other.

5. The fuel cell according to claim 2 , wherein the body and the partition wall are formed separately from each other.

6. The fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the connecting portion is integrally formed with the body and is formed separately from the partition wall.

7. The fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the connecting portion is integrally formed with the partition wall and is formed separately from the body.

8. A fuel cell, comprising:
a cell stack comprising a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction;
an enclosure surrounding side portions of the cell stack, the enclosure comprising at least one opening to expose at least one of opposite end portions of the cell stack therethrough;
first and second end plates respectively disposed at the opposite end portions of the cell stack;
a clamping member clamping the cell stack together with the first and second end plates;
a gasket disposed between a target end plate disposed in the at least one opening in the enclosure, among the first and second end plates, and the enclosure, the gasket being configured to seal the cell stack, wherein the target end plate comprises a body that comprises an inner surface that faces the cell stack and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface, wherein the gasket is disposed between the body and the enclosure; and
a partition wall disposed so as to face at least a portion of the outer surface of the body in the first direction, the body and the partition wall sealing the cell stack together with the enclosure using the gasket, wherein the gasket is disposed between the partition wall and the enclosure;
wherein the outer surface of the body comprises a non-manifold region in which no manifold is disposed and a manifold region in which a manifold is disposed, the non-manifold region being coupled to the partition wall and the manifold region being not coupled to the partition wall;
wherein a portion of the gasket is disposed between the body and the enclosure in the manifold region; and
wherein the other portion of the gasket is disposed between the partition wall and the enclosure in the non-manifold region.

9. The fuel cell according to claim 8 , further comprising a coupling screw penetrating the partition wall and the clamping member and to be inserted into an interior of the body.

10. The fuel cell according to claim 8 , further comprising a cap covering the coupling screw.

11. The fuel cell according to claim 10 , wherein the partition wall comprises:
an end portion coupled to the enclosure; and
a first through-hole through which the coupling screw passes.

12. The fuel cell according to claim 11 , wherein the cap comprises:
a cover portion configured to cover the coupling screw; and
a support portion extending from the cover portion in the first direction to be inserted into the first through-hole.

13. The fuel cell according to claim 11 , wherein the clamping member comprises:
a first portion disposed on an upper portion of the cell stack and on an upper portion of the target end plate; and
a second portion bent and extending from the first portion to the outer surface of the body, wherein the second portion comprises a second through-hole through which the coupling screw passes, and the second through-hole is opposite a portion of the first through-hole.

14. The fuel cell according to claim 9 , wherein the body of the target end plate comprises an insert portion having first rigidity and a shell portion having second rigidity lower than the first rigidity, the shell portion surrounding the insert portion;
wherein the body comprises a blind hole into which the coupling screw is fastened; and
wherein the blind hole penetrates the shell portion and extends to the insert portion.

15. A fuel cell, comprising:
a cell stack comprising a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction;
an enclosure surrounding side portions of the cell stack, the enclosure comprising at least one opening to expose at least one of opposite end portions of the cell stack therethrough;
first and second end plates respectively disposed at the opposite end portions of the cell stack:
a gasket disposed between a target end plate disposed in the at least one opening in the enclosure, among the first and second end plates, and the enclosure, the gasket being configured to seal the cell stack, wherein the target end plate comprises a body that comprises an inner surface that faces the cell stack and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface, wherein the gasket is disposed between the body and the enclosure;
a partition wall disposed so as to face at least a portion of the outer surface of the body in the first direction, the body and the partition wall sealing the cell stack together with the enclosure using the gasket, wherein the gasket is disposed between the partition wall and the enclosure; and
a gasket groove disposed in the enclosure or the partition wall to accommodate the gasket;
wherein the outer surface of the body comprises a non-manifold region in which no manifold is disposed and a manifold region in which a manifold is disposed, the non-manifold region being coupled to the partition wall and the manifold region being not coupled to the partition wall;
wherein a portion of the gasket is disposed between the body and the enclosure in the manifold region; and
wherein the other portion of the gasket is disposed between the partition wall and the enclosure in the non-manifold region.

16. The fuel cell according to claim

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Heo Yong Suk
• Baeck Suk Min

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2475 Primary

  Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0276

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