Fuel cell components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9806368-B2
Application number	US-201314439181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2013
Priority date	Nov 7, 2012
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a strip of fuel cell components comprising a plurality of fuel cell components spaced apart in a first direction and a support structure connected to the plurality of fuel cell components. The plurality of fuel cell components comprise a first surface. The support structure comprises two lateral fold regions between adjacent fuel cell components such that the support structure is foldable in order for the first surfaces of the plurality of fuel cell components to face in the same direction when folded.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strip of fuel cell components comprising:
a plurality of fuel cell components spaced apart in a first direction, the plurality of fuel cell components comprising a first surface;
a support structure connected to the plurality of fuel cell components, the support structure comprising two lateral fold regions between adjacent fuel cell components such that the support structure is foldable in order for the first surfaces of the plurality of fuel cell components to face in the same direction when folded, wherein the support structure is releasably or severably connected to the plurality of fuel cell components; wherein the support structure comprises an electrical connection to a fuel cell component to which it is connected.

2. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell components are substantially planar.

3. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuel cell components comprises a plurality of fuel cell assemblies and a plurality of spacing components or voids, and wherein a spacing component or void is provided between adjacent fuel cell components.

4. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fuel cell components comprises a plurality of fuel cell assemblies and the support structure comprising two lateral fold regions between adjacent fuel cell assemblies.

5. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuel cell components each comprise a second surface, which opposes the first surface, and wherein the support structure is foldable such that the first surface of a fuel cell component faces the second surface of an adjacent fuel cell component when the strip is folded.

6. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is connected to both sides of the plurality of fuel cell components.

7. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is connected to only one side of the plurality of fuel cell components.

8. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises an indexing structure.

9. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuel cell components comprises: a first end plate, a plurality of fuel cell assemblies and a second end plate, in that order extending in the first direction.

10. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 9 , wherein the first surface of the first end plate is an external face of a fuel cell stack and the first surface of the second end plate is an internal face of a fuel cell stack.

11. The strip of fuel cell components of claim 9 , wherein the support structure comprises only one fold region between the first end plate and the plurality of fuel cell assemblies; and/or
the support structure comprises only one fold region between the second end plate and the plurality of fuel cell assemblies.

12. A method of assembling a fuel cell stack, the method comprising:
folding a strip of fuel cell components according to any preceding claim in order to locate a plurality of fuel cell components at a build position in order to form a fuel cell stack.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
removing at least a portion of a support structure from the plurality of fuel cell components at the build position.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein removing at least a portion of the support structure from the plurality of fuel cell components at the build position comprises leaving a portion of the support structure comprising an electrical connection connected to the plurality of fuel cell components.

Assignees

• Intelligent Energy Ltd

Inventors

• Wilson Antony Richard

Classifications

• H01M8/0284

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title

• H01M8/2465 Primary

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/241

  with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/1097 Primary

  Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports · CPC title

• H01M8/0273

  with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame · CPC title