Fuel cell stack assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020161690-A1
Application number	US-201816626607-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Jun 26, 2017
Publication date	May 21, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with an improved fuel cell stack assembly (10) comprising a metal base plate (20) on which is mounted at least one fuel cell stack (30) and a metal end plate (40), each stack comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer (50) that comprises at least one fuel cell (101, 102) and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket (110), wherein a skirt (130) is attached to the base and end plates enclosing the stack and is under tension therebetween so as to maintain a compressive force through the stack, thereby obviating the need for tie-bars.

First claim

1 . A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly comprising:
(i) a metal base plate; (ii) an at least one fuel cell stack mounted on the base plate; and (iii) a metal end plate; each at least one fuel cell stack arranged mounted between said base plate and said end plate, and comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer, each at least one fuel cell stack layer comprising at least one fuel cell and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket, characterised in that a skirt is attached to and between the base plate and the end plate to enclose the at least one fuel cell stack and is under tension to and between the base plate and the end plate to maintain a compressive force through the at least one fuel cell stack.

2 . A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the skirt has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least one fuel cell stack, the solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly additionally comprising at least one expansion plate located between the base plate and the end plate, the at least one expansion plate having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the skirt.

3 . A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrically insulating gasket located between an outer surface of said at least one fuel cell stack and an adjacent inner surface of said skirt.

4 . A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 1 , additionally comprising first and second end poles in electrical contact with said at least one fuel cell stack, and wherein said base plate and said end plate are electrically isolated from said at least one fuel cell stack.

5 . A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the skirt is a metal skirt.

6 . A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the skirt is attached to and between the base plate and the end plate by welding.

7 . A method of forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly comprising the steps of:
(a) assembling:
(i) a metal base plate;
(ii) an at least one fuel cell stack mounted on the base plate; and
(iii) a metal end plate;
each at least one fuel cell stack arranged mounted between said base plate and said end plate, and comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer, each at least one fuel cell stack layer comprising at least one fuel cell and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket,
(b) applying a compressive force through the at least one fuel cell stack using a compression means; (c) attaching a skirt to and between the base plate and the end plate to enclose the at least one fuel cell stack; and (d) removing the compression means so that the compressive load on the at least one fuel cell stack is maintained through tensile forces in the skirt.

8 . A method according to claim 7 wherein the skirt has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least one fuel cell stack, the solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly additionally comprising at least one expansion plate located between the base plate and the end plate, the at least one expansion plate having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the skirt.

9 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein step (a) further comprises inserting at least one electrically insulating gasket located between an outer surface of said at least one fuel cell stack and an adjacent inner surface of said skirt.

10 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein said skirt comprises a plurality of skirt sections.

11 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein said skirt comprises first and second skirt sections.

12 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the skirt is a metal skirt.

13 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the skirt is attached to and between the base plate and the end plate by welding.

14 . A method of forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly comprising the steps of:
(a) assembling:
(i) a metal base plate;
(ii) an at least one fuel cell stack mounted on the base plate; and
(iii) a metal end plate;
each at least one fuel cell stack arranged mounted between said base plate and said end plate, and comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer, each at least one fuel cell stack layer comprising at least one fuel cell and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket,
(b) applying a first compressive force through the at least one fuel cell stack; (c) attaching a skirt to and between the base plate and the end plate to enclose the at least one fuel cell stack; and (d) removing the first compressive force, whereby a compressive load on the at least one fuel cell stack is maintained through tensile forces in the skirt.

Assignees

• Ceres Ip Co Ltd

Inventors

• Rees Lee
• Phillip Stephen
• Freeman Euan
• Ballard Andrew
• Domanski Tomasz
• Erturk Eren
• Robertson Alan

Classifications

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/2475 Primary

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

• H01M8/248 Primary

  Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M8/247 Primary

  Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks · CPC title

• H01M8/12 Primary

  operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte · CPC title