Fuel cell spacer and electrolyte reservoir

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020161668-A1
Application number	US-201816198178-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Nov 21, 2018
Publication date	May 21, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An illustrative example fuel cell device includes a cell stack assembly of a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode. A pressure plate is situated near one end of the cell stack assembly. A spacer between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate has a length, a width, and a height. The height of the spacer defines a spacing between the pressure plate and the end of the cell stack assembly. The spacer has a plurality of ribs that define at least two fluid reservoirs. At least one of the ribs separates the fluid reservoirs so that fluid in one of the reservoirs is isolated from fluid in the other.

First claim

I claim:

1 . A fuel cell device, comprising:
a cell stack assembly including a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode; a pressure plate near one end of the cell stack assembly; and a spacer between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate, the spacer having a length, a width and a height, the height defining a spacing between the pressure plate and the end of the cell stack assembly, the length being greater than the height, the width being greater than the height, the spacer having a plurality of ribs that define at least two fluid reservoirs, at least one of the ribs separating the at least two fluid reservoirs so that fluid in one of the at least two fluid reservoirs is isolated from fluid in the other of the at least two fluid reservoirs.

2 . The fuel cell device of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of ribs includes a set of strengthening ribs that define cavities within the at least two reservoirs; a plurality of channels are respectively associated with at least some of the strengthening ribs; and the channels allow fluid to pass between cavities within a respective one of the at least two reservoirs.

3 . The fuel cell device of claim 2 , wherein the strengthening ribs have a rib height that corresponds to a depth of the respective one of the at least two reservoirs.

4 . The fuel cell device of claim 1 , wherein
the at least two reservoirs are open toward the pressure plate; and a body of the spacer isolates the at least two reservoirs from the end of the cell stack assembly.

5 . The fuel cell device of claim 1 , wherein
the fuel cells are liquid electrolyte fuel cells; and the at least two reservoirs contain some of the liquid electrolyte.

6 . The fuel cell device of claim 5 , wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises phosphoric acid.

7 . The fuel cell device of claim 1 , comprising a manifold configured to deliver a reactant to the fuel cells and wherein
the manifold includes a portion adjacent the spacer; and wherein the at least two reservoirs are respectively in fluid communication with the portion of the manifold.

8 . The fuel cell device of claim 7 , wherein
a first one of the at least two reservoirs is in fluid communication with a first section of the manifold through which a first turn of fuel cell fuel passes; and a second one of the at least two reservoirs is in fluid communication with a second section of the manifold through which a second turn of fuel cell fuel passes.

9 . The fuel cell device of claim 8 , wherein
the plurality of ribs includes an outer edge rib for each of the at least two reservoirs; the outer edge rib for the first one of the at least two reservoirs includes at least one channel through which fluid may pass between the first section of the manifold and the first one of the at least two reservoirs; the outer edge rib for the second one of the at least two reservoirs includes at least one channel through which fluid may pass between the second section of the manifold and the second one of the at least two reservoirs.

10 . The fuel cell device of claim 1 , wherein the height is less than 40 mm.

11 . The fuel cell device of claim 10 , wherein the height is between 35 mm and 20 mm.

12 . The fuel cell device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises an electrically conductive material that is configured to carry electrical current from the cell stack assembly to the pressure plate.

13 . The fuel cell device of claim 12 , wherein the spacer comprises graphite.

Assignees

• Doosan Fuel Cell America Inc

Inventors

• Roy Donald J L

Classifications

• H01M8/2484

  characterised by external manifolds · CPC title

• H01M8/086 Primary

  Phosphoric acid fuel cells [PAFC] · CPC title

• H01M8/026 Primary

  characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth · CPC title

• H01M8/0213

  Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials · CPC title

• H01M2300/0008

  Phosphoric acid-based · CPC title