Fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020220181-A1
Application number	US-201716636755-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 10, 2017
Priority date	Aug 10, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell stack in which cell units are stacked one on top of another, each of the cell units including: a power generation cell; and a separator defining and forming a flow passage portion, being a flow path of the gas, between the separator and the power generation cell, includes a frame body having an insulating property and arranged between at least one set of the cell units adjacent to each other. The frame body includes: as viewed in a stacking direction, outer peripheral beam portions provided to surround an outer peripheral side of a region in which the power generation cell is arranged; a connection beam portion connecting the outer peripheral beam portions to each other; and sealing beam portions formed along sealing portions at least partially sealing a manifold portion through which the gas is allowed to flow to the separator.

First claim

1 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . A fuel cell stack in which cell units are stacked one on top of another, each of the cell units including: a power generation cell including an electrolyte held between a pair of electrodes from opposite sides and configured to generate power by using supplied gas; and a separator defining and forming a flow passage portion, being a flow path of the gas, between the separator and the power generation cell, the fuel cell stack comprising:
a frame body having an insulating property and arranged between at least one set of the cell units adjacent to each other, wherein the frame body includes,
as viewed in a stacking direction, outer peripheral beam portions provided to surround an outer peripheral side of a region in which the power generation cell is arranged,
a connection beam portion connecting the outer peripheral beam portions to each other, and
sealing beam portions formed along sealing portions at least partially sealing a manifold portion through which the gas is allowed to flow to the separator.

14 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein the outer peripheral beam portions are arranged to connect at least one set of the sealing beam portions.

15 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein the outer peripheral beam portions, the connection beam portion, and the sealing beam portions are arranged to be connected to one another.

16 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein the sealing beam portions at least partially have recess portions recessed in a thickness direction.

17 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 16 , wherein
the sealing beam portions include metallized portions in which metal films are formed on surfaces of the recess portions, and the sealing portions are formed by arranging a brazing filler material in the recess portions of the sealing beam portions.

18 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein the recess portions of the sealing beam portions include:
housing portions capable of housing the brazing filler material; and tilted portions extending from the housing portions in a width direction of the sealing beam portions and tilted in a thickness direction of the sealing beam portions.

19 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein
each of the cell units further includes a holding member configured to hold the power generation cell, a plurality of the power generation cells are arranged side by side in the holding member, and the frame body is arranged to surround peripheries of the power generation cells.

20 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein the frame body includes a groove portion forming a communication hole between the frame body and the cell unit, the communication hole allowing the gas to flow therethrough.

21 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein each of the cell units further includes:
a current collection assisting layer configured to assist electrical connection between the power generation cell and the separator; and a spring member provided between the current collection assisting layer and the separator and configured to press the separator against the power generation cell.

22 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 21 , wherein a thickness of the frame body is smaller than a total thickness of a thickness of the current collection assisting layer and a thickness of the spring member uncompressed.

23 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 13 , wherein the frame body includes an alignment portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the cell units as viewed in a stacking direction and configured to align the frame bodies adjacent to each other.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor

Inventors

• Usuda Masahiro

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/023

  Porous and characterised by the material · CPC title

• H01M8/2485

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

• H01M8/2483 Primary

  characterised by internal manifolds · CPC title