Stack terminating plate having a support element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023395826-A1
Application number	US-202318327804-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2023
Priority date	Jun 2, 2022
Publication date	Dec 7, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An assembly for an electrochemical system comprising a separator plate and a support element is disclosed. The separator plate is designed as a single layer and as a stack terminating plate. The electrochemical system may be a fuel cell system, an electrochemical compressor, an electrolyzer, a humidifier for an electrochemical system, or a redox flow battery.

First claim

1 . An assembly for an electrochemical system, comprising:
a first separator plate which is a single layered stack terminating plate, and a support element, wherein the first separator plate has a first sealing bead for sealing off an area of the first separator plate, wherein the first sealing bead projects out of a plate plane defined by the first separator plate and has a bead interior, which is open on a rear side of the first separator plate, and a bead top, which is cantilevered on a front side of the first separator plate, wherein the support element projects into the bead interior in order to support the bead top.

2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support element is a rigid spacer.

3 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first separator plate has at least one through-opening for the passage of a fluid, wherein the first sealing bead is arranged around the through-opening and seals off the through-opening.

4 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support element and/or the first sealing bead has at least one fluid passage for the passage of a fluid.

5 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support element extends along the entire course of the first sealing bead.

6 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support element has a round, oval, or rounded-rectangular cross-section.

7 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a height direction is defined perpendicular to the plate plane, wherein a maximum height of the support element is smaller than a height of the first sealing bead measured from the plate plane to the neutral axis of the bead top in the non-compressed state of the assembly.

8 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a plate body of the first separator plate and/or the support element are made of a metal material.

9 . The assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a contacting plate adjacent to the rear side of the first separator plate, wherein the first separator plate and the contacting plate are connected to each other electrically and/or in a media-tight manner.

10 . The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the support element and the contacting plate
are formed in one piece, or are formed as two individual parts, wherein the support element is arranged between the contacting plate and the first separator plate.

11 . The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the contacting plate has a fastening possibility for fastening the contacting plate to an end plate.

12 . The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the first sealing bead and/or the support element in each case have at least one fluid passage which routes a fluid into an intermediate space arranged between the first separator plate and the contacting plate.

13 . The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the first separator plate and the contacting plate are welded to each other in order to seal off an area arranged between the first separator plate and the contacting plate.

14 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a first end plate, wherein the first sealing bead of the first separator plate points with its bead top away from the first end plate and the support element is arranged between the first separator plate and the first end plate.

15 . The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein a contacting plate is adjacent to the first end plate and is arranged between the first end plate and the first separator plate.

16 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a second separator plate comprising a first layer and a second layer which are connected to each other,
wherein the second separator plate is identical to the first separator plate, and the second separator plate is arranged on the front side of the first separator plate.

17 . The assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the second layer of the second separator plate has a second sealing bead for sealing off an area of the second separator plate, wherein the first sealing bead of the first separator plate and the second sealing bead of the second layer face each other with their bead tops and extend with their bead tops parallel to each other.

18 . An electrochemical system, comprising the assembly according to claim 1 , the electrochemical system comprising a plurality of further separator plates, and a second end plate, wherein the first end plate has a plurality of media ports, wherein the media ports of the first end plate are fluidically connected to through-openings of the first separator plate, wherein the first separator plate and the further separator plates are arranged and compressed between the two end plates, as a result of which a stack is formed.

19 . The electrochemical system according to claim 18 , comprising a further assembly which is arranged between the plurality of further separator plates and the second end plate.

20 . The electrochemical system according to claim 19 , wherein the second end plate does not have a through-opening for the passage of a fluid.

Assignees

• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Speidel André
• Glueck Rainer

Classifications

• H01M8/188

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title

• C25B9/77

  having diaphragms · CPC title

• H01M8/0276 Primary

  Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/0258 Primary

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title