Cell unit and cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12327899-B2
Application number	US-202017781351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2020
Priority date	Dec 3, 2019
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A stack of rectangular, planar electrochemical cell units ( 200 ), each cell unit ( 200 ) comprising at least one first fluid mid-port ( 230, 235 ) that is disposed midway along its length within or between one or more active cell chemistry regions ( 210 ) and is in fluid communication with a first fluid volume of the cell unit ( 200 ). The first fluid mid-ports ( 230, 235 ) of the respective cell units ( 200 ) align to form at least one first fluid mid-passageway extending in the stack direction. The stack is configured such that, in each first fluid volume, first fluid flow paths ( 405, 410 ) extend across the one or more active cell chemistry regions ( 210 ) between the at least one first fluid mid-port ( 230, 235 ) and each respective opposed cell end.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stack of rectangular, planar electrochemical cell units, each cell unit comprising:
a separator plate separating a first fluid volume from a second fluid volume;
a second fluid mid-port that is disposed midway along its length within or between one or more regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided and is in fluid communication with the second fluid volume of the cell unit,
wherein the second fluid mid-ports of the respective cell units align to form a fluid mid-passageway extending in the stack direction; and,
wherein the stack is configured such that, in each second fluid volume, second fluid flow paths extend across the one or more regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided between the second fluid mid-port and each respective opposed cell end; and
wherein the second fluid volumes are defined by the separator plate having an elongate shaped feature that extends at least partially around the periphery of one of the regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided to confine a fluid flow path within that region, wherein the elongate shaped feature comprises a feature in the separator plate that forms a protruding rib on one side of the separator plate and a channel on the other side of the separator plate.

2. The stack according to claim 1 , wherein there are at least two separate regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided in each cell unit, each region disposed between the second fluid mid-port and each opposed cell end.

3. The stack according to claim 1 , wherein a dimension of the regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided which is parallel to the fluid flow path and between the second fluid mid-port and one of the opposed ends of the cell unit is less than or equal to a dimension of the active cell chemistry region that is perpendicular to that fluid flow path.

4. The stack according to claim 1 , wherein each cell unit has only one second fluid mid-port which is in fluid communication with the second fluid volume.

5. The stack according to claim 1 , wherein each cell unit comprises at least first and second first fluid end ports respectively disposed at or near each opposed cell end, the respective first fluid end ports being aligned to define respective first and second internal, first fluid end passageways extending in the stack direction, whereby the mid and end first fluid passageways respectively form inlet and outlet passageways, or vice versa, within the stack for supply of a first fluid to the first fluid volume of each cell unit.

6. The stack according to claim 1 , in which each cell unit further comprises at least one first fluid mid-port that is disposed midway along its length within or between the regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided and is in fluid communication with the first fluid volume of the cell unit;
wherein the first fluid mid-ports of the respective cell units align to form at least one first fluid mid-passageway extending in the stack direction; and,
wherein the stack is configured such that, in each first fluid volume, respective first fluid flow paths extend across the regions in which one or more active cell chemistry layers are provided between the at least one first fluid mid-port and each respective opposed cell end.

7. The stack according to claim 6 , wherein each cell unit comprises two first fluid mid-ports each in fluid communication with the first fluid volume and one second fluid mid-port in fluid communication with the second fluid volume, and optionally wherein the second fluid mid-port is disposed between the two first fluid mid-ports.

8. The stack according to claim 6 , in which first fluid end passageways in fluid communication with the first fluid volume are provided that extend in the stack direction at or near each opposed stack end, these being internally manifolded passageways respectively defined by aligned first and second first fluid end ports within each cell unit, whilst second fluid end passageways in fluid communication with the second fluid volume are provided that extend in the stack direction at or near each opposed stack end, these being externally manifolded passageways beyond each cell unit.

9. The stack according to claim 1 , wherein the second fluid mid-port is an inlet port.

10. The stack according to claim 1 , in which the regions in which active cell chemistry layers are provided are wrapped around at least one of any mid-ports or end ports provided in the cell units.

11. The stack according to claim 1 , wherein the second fluid volume is defined by a separator plate of an adjacent cell unit having an elongate, shaped feature that extends at least partially around the periphery of the region in which the active cell chemistry layers are provided to confine a fluid flow path within that region.

12. The stack according to claim 1 , in which the cell unit comprises:
a metal support plate carrying, on a first side thereof, the active cell chemistry layer(s) provided over a porous region;
wherein the separator plate and the metal support plate overlie one another to form the cell unit;
wherein:
at least one of the separator plate and the metal support plate comprises flanged perimeter features formed by pressing the plate to a concave configuration;
the separator plate and the metal support plate are directly adjoined at the flanged perimeter features to form the first fluid volume therebetween, optionally by welding;
at least one fluid port is provided in each of the separator plate and the metal support plate, these being aligned to form the first fluid passageway within the flanged perimeter features, each port being either the first fluid mid-port and/or a first fluid end port and in communication with the first fluid volume; and,
at least one of the separator plate and the metal support plate is provided with shaped port features formed around the at least one fluid port by pressing, which shaped port features extend towards the other plate, and elements of the shaped port features are spaced from one another to define fluid pathways between the elements from the port to enable passage of fluid from the at least one first fluid port to the first fluid volume.

13. The stack according to claim 12 , wherein:
a further at least one fluid port is provided in each of the separator plate and the metal support plate, these being aligned to form a second fluid passageway within the flanged perimeter features, each port being either a second fluid mid-port and/or a second fluid end port and in communication with a second fluid volume on a second side of the metal support plate, wherein the second fluid passageway is sealed from the first fluid volume, optionally by the provision of a weld around the second fluid port, the port optionally being provided with an annular flange formed by pressing an annular region around the port in at least one of the separator plate and the metal support plate.

Assignees

• Ceres Ip Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nobbs Christopher James
• Mahgoub Ameir Alexander
• Harman Jonathan
• Domanski Tomasz

Classifications

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/1286

  Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports · CPC title

• H01M8/1226

  characterised by the supporting layer · CPC title

• H01M8/0258

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/0247

  characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) · CPC title