Fuel cell stack assembly with edge seal

• US 6,399,234 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC (Doosan Corporation)
• Inventors: Reiser, Carl A., Krasij, Myron, Bonk, Stanley P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US09/736,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 429/32, 429/35, 429/36, 429/38
• US Class Current: 429/465
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0263 having meandering or serpentine paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0271 Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0284 Organic resins; Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0286 Processes for forming seals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A stack (200) of fuel cells (202) sealed together with a formed elastomer seal (206) is disclosed. Each of the individual cell components are bonded to one another with thermoplastic film (204). As a result, only one formed elastomer seal (206) is required for each fuel cell (202) within a stack (200) to provide a modular fuel cell stack assembly (200).

Claims

1. A proton exchange membrane fuel stack cell assembly, comprising:

a plurality of fuel cells stacked upon one another with a peripheral seal disposed between each of said fuel cells;

each of said plurality of fuel cells including a separator plate;

a membrane electrode assembly with a first side and a second side;

a separator plate bonded to said membrane electrode assembly with bonding material on said first side;

a formed seal located on a peripheral portion of said separator plate on said second side.

2. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 1 wherein said bonding material is a thermoplastic polymer.

3. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyolefin material.

4. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyvinyl fluoride material.

5. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyvinylidine fluoride material.

6. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 1 wherein said bonding material is a thermoset polymer.

7. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 6 wherein the thermoset polymer is a phenolic polymer.

8. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 6 wherein the thermoset polymer is an epoxy polymer.

9. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 1 wherein said bonding material is an elastomer.

10. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 9 wherein the elastomer is a silicone polymer.

11. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein said formed seal is a formed elastomer.

12. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein said formed seal is silicone rubber.

13. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein said formed seal is a neoprene rubber.

14. A fuel cell stack assembly, comprising:

a plurality of fuel cells stacked upon one another with a peripheral seal disposed between each of said fuel cells;

each of said plurality of fuel cells each including a separator plate;

a membrane electrode assembly with a first side and a second side;

a membrane electrode bonded to said separator plate with bonding material on said first side;

a formed seal located on a peripheral portion of said membrane electrode assembly not bonded to said separator plate.

15. The fuel cell assembly of claim 14 wherein said bonding material is a thermoplastic polymer.

16. The fuel cell assembly of claim 15, wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyolefin material.

17. The fuel cell assembly of claim 15, wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyvinyl fluoride material.

18. The fuel cell assembly of claim 15, wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyvinylidine fluoride material.

19. The fuel cell assembly of claim 14 wherein said bonding material is a thermoset polymer.

20. The fuel cell assembly of claim 19 wherein the thermoset polymer is a phenolic polymer.

21. The fuel cell assembly of claim 19 wherein the thermoset polymer is an epoxy polymer.

22. The fuel cell assembly of claim 14 wherein said bonding material is an elastomer.

23. The fuel cell assembly of claim 22 wherein the elastomer is a silicone polymer.

24. The fuel cell assembly of claim 14, wherein said formed seal is a compliant gasket material is a formed elastomer.

25. The fuel cell assembly of claim 14, wherein said formed seal is silicone rubber.

26. The fuel cell assembly of claim 14, wherein said formed seal is a neoprene rubber.

27. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:

a membrane electrode assembly having a first side and a second side;

a separator plate bonded with bonding material to said first side of said membrane electrode assembly; and

a formed elastomeric seal positioned at the periphery of and on a side of said membrane electrode assembly plate not bonded to said separator plate.

28. The fuel cell assembly of claim 27, wherein said bonding material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymer, thermoset polymer and elastomeric polymer.

29. The fuel cell assembly of claim 27, wherein said formed seal is selected from the group consisting of neoprene rubber, formed elastomer and silicone rubber.

30. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:

a membrane electrode assembly having a first side and a second side;

a separator plate bonded to said first side of said membrane electrode assembly;

a formed elastomeric seal positioned at the periphery of and on a side of said separator plate not bonded to said membrane electrode assembly.

31. The fuel cell assembly of claim 30, wherein said bonding material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymer, thermoset polymer and elastomeric polymer.

32. The fuel cell assembly of claim 30, wherein said formed seal is selected from the group consisting of neoprene rubber, formed elastomer and silicone rubber.