Fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022416271-A1
Application number	US-202217845258-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2022
Priority date	Jun 25, 2021
Publication date	Dec 29, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell stack includes power generation cells, which are stacked in a vertical direction. Each power generation cell is configured to generated power by using gas. Each power generation cell includes a first hole and a second hole. The first holes of the power generation cells form a gas manifold. The gas manifold extends in the vertical direction, and the gas flows through the gas manifold. The second holes of the power generation cells form a passage. The passage is adjacent to the gas manifold and extends in the vertical direction. The gas manifold and the passage are connected to each other at upper ends of the gas manifold and the passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel cell stack, comprising power generation cells that are stacked in a vertical direction, the power generation cells each being configured to generate power by using a gas, wherein
each power generation cell includes:
a membrane electrode assembly;
a support frame that supports the membrane electrode assembly; and
two separators that hold the membrane electrode assembly and the support frame between the separators,
each power generation cell includes a first hole and a second hole, the first holes of the power generation cells form a gas manifold, the gas manifold extending in the vertical direction, and the gas flowing through the gas manifold, the second holes of the power generation cells form a passage, the passage being adjacent to the gas manifold and extending in the vertical direction, and the gas manifold and the passage are connected to each other at upper ends of the gas manifold and the passage.

2 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , comprising
a wall surface that is located above a section where the gas manifold and the passage are connected to each other, and the wall surface includes an inclined surface, a height of the inclined surface decreasing from a side corresponding to the gas manifold toward a side corresponding to the passage.

3 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 2 , wherein the inclined surface in the wall surface has a higher hydrophilicity than sections in the wall surface other than the inclined surface.

Assignees

• Toyota Boshoku Kk

Inventors

• Aono Haruyuki
• Koyanagi Takenori

Classifications

• H01M8/2457 Primary

  with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised · CPC title

• H01M8/04201 Primary

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04171

  using adsorbents, wicks or hydrophilic material · CPC title

• H01M8/242

  comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence) · CPC title