Dual leaf spring pressure plate for a flow battery stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11764388-B2
Application number	US-202217580933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2022
Priority date	Jan 21, 2022
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Provided are assemblies, comprising: a first leaf spring; a second leaf spring; and at least one component; the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring being superposed over a first end of the at least one component so as to exert first and second forces, respectively, through first and second regions of the component. These assemblies are useful to apply different forces to a stacked assembly where a cross section of a component of the assembly comprises materials of different Young's moduli within that cross section, thereby compressing different regions of the component with different forces.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An assembly, comprising:
a first leaf spring;
a second leaf spring; and
at least one component in an electrochemical cell stack, wherein the at least one component comprises one or more electrodes, monopolar plates, bipolar plates, or any combination thereof;
the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring being superposed over a first end of the at least one component,
the first leaf spring being secured to a first spring retainer by one or more first leaf spring tie rods such that the first leaf spring exerts a first force in an axial direction through a first region of the at least one component, the first region extending in the axial direction,
the second leaf spring being secured to a second spring retainer by one or more second leaf spring tie rods such that the second leaf spring exerts a second force in the axial direction through a second region of the at least one component, the second region extending in the axial direction,
the first force differing from the second force in magnitude, and
the first force and the second force acting to compress the at least one component.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more first isolators disposed between the first leaf spring and the at least one component such that the first force is directed into the one or more first isolators, and the one or more first isolators optionally being electrically nonconducting.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more second isolators disposed between the second leaf spring and the at least one component such that the second force is directed into the one or more second isolators, and the one or more second isolators optionally being electrically nonconducting.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein in a cross-section of the at least one component, the first region of the at least one component defines a first Young's modulus as measured in the axial direction and the second region of the at least one component defines a second Young's modulus as measured in the axial direction, and wherein the first Young's modulus differs from the second Young's modulus.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second region at least partially surrounds the first region.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first region is electrically conductive and wherein the second region is electrically insulating.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component comprises at least one fluid entrained therein.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one fluid comprises an electrolyte.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first force is in the range of from about 69 to about 345 kPa, as measured across the first region.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second force is in the range of from about 550 to about 2425 kPa, as measured across the second region.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a current collector, the current collector being in electrical communication with the first region.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the current collector extends through a first isolator, the current collector optionally extending through the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first spring retainer and the second spring retainer is a plate.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first spring retainer and the second spring retainer is a leaf spring.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more manifolds or channels configured to communicate a fluid from exterior to the assembly to the at least one component.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring are free of or essentially free of mechanical engagement with one another.

17. A method, comprising operating an assembly according to claim 1 so as to evolve an electrical current from one or more electrically active fluids introduced to the assembly or to store electrical energy in one or more electrically active fluids introduced to the assembly.

Assignees

• Lockheed Martin Energy Llc

Inventors

• Melough Andrew Joseph
• Loretz Jeremy S

Classifications

• H01M8/248 Primary

  Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• F16F3/023

  composed only of leaf springs · CPC title

• F16F1/187

  shaped into an open profile, i.e. C- or U-shaped · CPC title

• H01M8/2404

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/188

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title