Systems and methods for recycling fuel cell stack components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12119519-B2
Application number	US-202016988497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2020
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

System and methods for refurbishing fuel cell stack components, the methods including singulating the stack using a splitting apparatus or a liquid nitrogen bath. Fuel cell debris may be removed from interconnects of the fuel cell stack using laser heating, flame heating, a die, sonication, a nubbed roller, grit blasting, and/or a high pressure fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of removing fuel cell debris from an interconnect, the method comprising:
rolling a nubbed roller across opposing sides of the interconnect to remove fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect by using nubs of the nubbed roller to force the fuel cell debris into channels of the interconnect and thereby crack the fuel cell debris; and
scanning a laser beam across the interconnect to remove any remaining fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell debris comprises at least one of a ceramic electrolyte or a seal material.

3. A method of removing fuel cell debris from an interconnect, the method comprising:
singulating a fuel cell stack to separate the interconnect from the fuel cell stack; and
simultaneously scanning laser beams across opposing fuel and air sides of the interconnect after the singulating to remove fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect.

4. A method of removing fuel cell debris from an interconnect, the method comprising:
singulating a fuel cell stack to separate the interconnect from the fuel cell stack;
disposing the interconnect in a vertical position such that opposing fuel and air side of the interconnect are oriented in a vertical direction; and
scanning one or more laser beams across the vertically aligned fuel and air sides of the interconnect to remove fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect while the interconnect is disposed in a vertical position.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the scanning comprises simultaneously scanning laser beams across the opposing fuel and air sides of the interconnect to melt a seal material adhered to the interconnect.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the scanning the one or more laser beams comprises melting a seal material adhered to the interconnect.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanning the one or more laser beams comprises simultaneously scanning laser beams across the opposing fuel and air sides of the interconnect.

Assignees

• Bloom Energy Corp

Inventors

• Seiki Elson

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02W30/84

  Recycling of batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/008 Primary

  Disposal or recycling of fuel cells · CPC title