Modular polymer electrolyte membrane unit fuel cell assembly and fuel cell stack

• US 6,500,577 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald B. Foster
• Original Assignee: Ronald B. Foster
• Inventors: Foster, Ronald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaney, Carol
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin, Angela J
• Application Number:
  US09/745,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20020081474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 429/32, 429/30, 429/26, 429/34, 429/96
• US Class Current: 429/434
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0271 Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2418 Grouping by arranging unit cells in a plane H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly apparatus for receiving an inserted membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The apparatus includes modular features for connecting a plurality of fuel cells into a planar fuel cell “stack” capable of using ambient air to supply oxidant gas and dissipate heat and water vapor. The invention also facilitates convenient removal and replacement of individual cells or MEAs in a stack without disassembly of the entire stack.

Claims

1. A Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly comprising:

a body having a cavity for receiving a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), wherein the cavity is hermetically divisible into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by the insertion of an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and an MEA;

an integral connector projecting from the anode chamber to the exterior of the body; and

an external connector projecting from the cathode chamber to the exterior of the body.

2. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 further comprising:

an anode conductor in hermetically-sealing contact with the cavity walls and electrically coupled to the integral connector; and

a cathode conductor in contact with the cavity walls and electrically coupled to the external connector.

3. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an MEA inserted into the cavity, the MEA having an anode surface in electrically-coupling and hermetically-sealing contact with the anode conductor, a central membrane, and an opposing cathode surface in electrically-coupling contact with the cathode conductor.

4. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 further comprising at least one locking tab on the inner surface(s) of the chamber for grasping the anode conductor, cathode conductor, and MEA.

5. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 wherein the external connector comprises at least one heat-dissipation surface.

6. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 wherein the integral connector comprises at least one heat-dissipation surface.

7. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 wherein the anode conductor and the cathode conductor comprise an elastomeric material.

8. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 further comprising connectors on the body for mechanically and electrically coupling a plurality of the fuel cell assemblies.

9. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an integrated fuel port portion of the body for conducting fuel into the anode chamber through a fuel aperture.

10. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 9 wherein the fuel aperture is opposite the anode surface of the MEA.

11. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a lid for covering the cathode chamber, the lid removably securable to the body and having an aperture opposite the cathode surface of the MEA.

12. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 11 wherein the external connector is incorporated into the lid.

13. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 12 further comprising a snap-lock coupling for removably securing the lid to the body.

14. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly comprising:

a plurality of bodies, each body having one or more connector for joining to an identical body, each body also having a cavity for receiving a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), wherein each cavity is hermetically divisible into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by the insertion of an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and an MEA;

an integral connector projecting from each anode chamber to the exterior of each body;

an external connector projecting from each cathode chamber to the exterior of each body;

an anode conductor in each cavity and in hermetically-sealing contact with the cavity walls and electrically coupled to an integral connector;

a cathode conductor in each cavity in contact with the cavity walls and electrically coupled to an external connector; and

an MEA inserted into each cavity, each MEA having an anode surface in electrically-coupling and hermetically-sealing contact with an anode conductor, a central membrane, and an opposing cathode surface in electrically-coupling and hermetically-sealing contact with a cathode conductor;

wherein the integral connectors and external connectors are electrically coupled in series for providing a continuous electrical path between the anode conductor of a body and the cathode conductor of an adjacent body.

15. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 14 further comprising at least one locking tab on the inner surface(s) of at least one chamber for grasping the anode conductor, cathode conductor, and MEA therein.

16. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 14 wherein at least one external connector comprises at least one heat-dissipation surface.

17. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 14 wherein at least one integral connector comprises at least one heat-dissipation surface.

18. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 14 wherein the cathode conductors and anode conductors comprise an elastomeric material.

19. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 15 further comprising an integrated fuel port portion of each body for conducting fuel into each anode chamber through a corresponding fuel aperture.

20. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 19 wherein each fuel aperture is opposite the anode surface of its respective MEA.

21. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 15 further comprising one or more lids for covering the cathode chambers, the lids removably securable to the bodies and having apertures opposite each cathode surface of each respective MEA.

22. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 21 wherein the external connectors are incorporated into each lid.

23. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 21 further comprising one or more snap-lock couplings for removably securing the lids to the bodies.

24. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly comprising:

a unitized body having a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity is hermetically divisible into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by the insertion of an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and an MEA;

an integral connector projecting from each anode chamber;

an external connector projecting from each cathode chamber;

an anode conductor in each cavity and in hermetically-sealing contact with the cavity walls and electrically coupled to an integral connector;

a cathode conductor in each cavity in contact with the cavity walls and electrically coupled to an external connector at each cavity;

an end connector electrically coupled to the terminal external connector; and

an MEA inserted into each cavity, each MEA having an anode surface in electrically-coupling and hermetically-sealing contact with an anode conductor, a central membrane, and an opposing cathode surface in electrically-coupling contact with a cathode conductor;

wherein the integral connectors and external connectors are electrically coupled in series for providing a continuous electrical path between an anode conductor and a corresponding cathode conductor.

25. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 24 further comprising at least one locking tab on the inner surface(s) of at least one chamber for grasping the anode conductor, cathode conductor, and MEA therein.

26. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 24 wherein at least one external connector comprises at least one heat-dissipation surface.

27. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 24 wherein at least one integral connector comprises at least one heat-dissipation surface.

28. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 24 wherein each external connector comprises a conductive spring electrically coupled with the cathode conductor for providing electrical connection to an adjacent integral connector.

29. A PEM fuel cell assembly according to claim 24 wherein the cathode conductors and anode conductors comprise an elastomeric material.

30. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 24 further comprising an integrated fuel port portion of each body for conducting fuel into each anode chamber through a corresponding fuel aperture.

31. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 30 wherein each fuel aperture is opposite the anode surface of its respective MEA.

32. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 24 further comprising of one or more lids for covering the cathode chambers, the lids removably securable to the bodies and having apertures opposite each cathode surface of each respective MEA.

33. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 32 wherein the external connectors are incorporated into each lid.

34. A PEM fuel cell stack assembly according to claim 32 further comprising one or more snap-lock couplings for removably securing the lids to the bodies.