FUEL CELL STACK HAVING GROOVED END PLATES AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM

• US 20100255401A1
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Suh, Jun-Won, LEE, Jin-Hwa
• Application Number:
  US12/753,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/467
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/248 Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell stack including an electricity generator and end plates disposed at respective ends of the electricity generator, each of the end plates including first and second grooves extending at perpendicular directions and reinforcing members placed on the first and second grooves.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack comprising:

a plurality of electricity generators, each generator generating electricity by a reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing agent; and

end plates disposed at outermost parts of the plurality of electricity generators,

wherein in each end plate there is a first groove extended in one direction and a first reinforcing member that supports the end plate is placed on the first groove.

2. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein each of the electricity generators includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and separators disposed at respective sides of the MEA.

3. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the end plate are installed in the outermost parts of the electricity generators, the first reinforcing member is placed over each of the end plates, and a fastening member that presses the first reinforcing member is installed in the first reinforcing member.

4. The fuel cell stack of claim 3, wherein the fastening member comprises a bolt that traverses the first reinforcing member and a nut which is inserted at an end of the bolt.

5. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, further comprising a fastening member comprising a bolt that traverses the first reinforcing member and a nut which is inserted at an end of the bolt and which extends between and fastens the end plates to press together the electricity generators.

6. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first reinforcing member supports a center of the end plate.

7. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first groove is extended from one end of the end plate to the other end of the end plate.

8. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first reinforcing member is made of a material of greater strength than the end plate.

9. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the end plate is made of a material of greater corrosion resistance than the first reinforcing member.

10. The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein each of the end plates further includes a second groove that crosses the first groove, and a second reinforcing member that presses the end plate is formed in the second groove.

11. The fuel cell stack of claim 10, wherein the second groove perpendicularly crosses the first groove.

12. The fuel cell of claim 10, wherein the first or second groove includes a plurality of grooves.

13. The fuel cell stack of claim 10, wherein the first reinforcing member is placed below the second reinforcing member so that the second reinforcing member supports the first reinforcing member.

14. The fuel cell stack of claim 10, wherein the second reinforcing member is placed below the first reinforcing member so that the first reinforcing member presses the second reinforcing member into the second groove.

15. The fuel cell stack of claim 10, wherein the second reinforcing member further includes a pressure protrusion.

16. The fuel cell stack of claim 10, further comprises a pressing protrusion on at least one of the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member in an area where the first and second reinforcing members are in contact with each other.

17. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell stack to generate electricity by a reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing agent;

a fuel supply source to supply a fuel to the fuel cell stack; and

an oxidizing agent supply source to supply an oxidizing agent to the fuel cell stack,

wherein the fuel cell stack comprises;

an electricity generator including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and separators disposed at respective sides of the MEA and end plates disposed at outermost parts of the electricity generator, and

wherein in each end plate there is a first groove extended in one direction and a first reinforcing member that supports the end plate and is placed on the first groove.

18. The fuel cell system of claim 17, wherein each of the end plates further includes a second groove that crosses the first groove, and a second reinforcing member that presses the end plate into the second groove.

19. The fuel cell system of claim 18, wherein the second reinforcing member further includes a pressure protrusion.

20. The fuel cell system of claim 18, further comprises a pressing protrusion on at least one of the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member in an area where the first and second reinforcing members are in contact with each other.