Fuel cell stack assembly - datum design for fuel cell stacking and collision protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016285124-A1
Application number	US-201514670508-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for aligning and reducing the relative movement between adjacent fuel cells within a fuel cell stack. The inter-cell cooperation between fuel cells along a stacking dimension is enhanced by one or more datum placed along the edge of a bipolar plate that makes up a part of a cell-containing assembly. The datum is shaped along a thickness that substantially coincides with the cell stacking dimension to avoid shifting between adjacently-stacked cells that may otherwise arise out of the occurrence of a significant acceleration along the dimension that defines the major surfaces of the plates, cells and their respective assemblies. By having the datum be integrally formed with numerous stacked cells, the need to affix individual tabs each plate is avoided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of assembling a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:
arranging a plurality of substantially planar fuel cells along a stacking dimension within a stacking fixture, each of said fuel cells comprising at least a membrane electrode assembly placed facingly-adjacent to a bipolar plate that defines at least one integrally-formed edge extension therein; pouring a potting material into a portion of said fixture that defines a shape that substantially corresponds to said extension such that upon curing, said potting material forms a datum that is secured to said arranged fuel cells along said stacking dimension to provide an increased resistance to inter-cell movement of said arranged fuel cells along a dimension that is substantially orthogonal to said stacking dimension; and securing said arranged fuel cells within a housing.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said housing defines a complementary-shaped extension formed within such that the cooperation between said datum and said housing increases resistance to said inter-cell movement.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said datum is placed adjacent a corner formed by said arranged fuel cells.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said datum comprises a plurality of datum, each placed adjacent a respective corner formed by said arranged fuel cells.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said datum is placed adjacent an edge formed by said arranged fuel cells.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said complementary-shaped extension defines a substantially columnar structure along said stacking dimension.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the material making up said datum is selected from the group consisting of epoxies and elastomerics.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a group of said arranged fuel cells cooperative with said datum comprises between about 8 and 32 of said arranged fuel cells.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said datum defines a projection that extends at least partially along said stacking dimension.

10 . A method of assembling a plurality of fuel cells each of which comprises at least a membrane electrode assembly placed facingly-adjacent to a bipolar plate that defines at least one integrally-formed edge extension therein, said method comprising:
defining within a stacking fixture at least one mold shape configured to receive a potting material therein; arranging said fuel cells along a stacking dimension within said stacking fixture; and pouring said potting material into said mold such that upon curing, said potting material forms a datum that is secured to said arranged fuel cells along said stacking dimension to provide an increased resistance to inter-cell movement of said arranged fuel cells along a dimension that is substantially orthogonal to said stacking dimension.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said datum bridges a group of said arranged fuel cells that comprises between about 8 and 32 of said arranged fuel cells.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising placing said arranged cells into a housing such that a complementary resistance fit between said datum and said housing is established.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said datum is placed along at least one of an edge and a corner of said arranged fuel cells.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said datum projects laterally beyond the periphery defined by said arranged fuel cells.

15 . A fuel cell stack comprising:
a plurality of fuel cells arranged in an adjacently facing relationship along a stacking dimension, each of said fuel cells comprising at least a membrane electrode assembly placed facingly-adjacent to a bipolar plate that defines at least one integrally-formed edge extension therein; and at least one potted datum secured to said arranged fuel cells along said stacking dimension to provide an increased resistance to inter-cell movement along a dimension that is substantially orthogonal to said stacking dimension.

16 . The stack of claim 15 , further comprising a housing that defines a shape therein that forms a complementary resistance fit with said datum.

17 . The stack of claim 16 , wherein said shape defined in said housing defines a substantially columnar structure along said stacking dimension.

18 . The stack of claim 15 , wherein said datum comprises a material selected from the group consisting epoxies and elastomerics.

19 . The stack of claim 15 , wherein said integrally-formed edge extension extends laterally outward along an edge formed by said arranged fuel cells.

20 . The stack of claim 15 , wherein said integrally-formed edge extension extends laterally outward along a corner formed by said arranged fuel cells.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Martinchek David A
• Thompson Robert C

Classifications

• H01M8/2475 Primary

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

• H01M8/2485 Primary

  Arrangements for sealing external manifolds; Arrangements for mounting external manifolds around a stack · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2404

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/24 Primary

  Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells · CPC title