Proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack and fuel cell stack module

• US 8,597,846 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emergent Power Inc. (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Relion Incorporated (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Spink, Scott A., Lott, David R., Wright, Matthew M., Ryan, Eric J., Yemul, Dinesh S., Fisher, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff, Mark F
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US13/457,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 429/439, 429/434
• US Class Current: 429/439
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0236 Glass; Ceramics; Cermets
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0245 in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0297 Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other H01M8/0271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/242 comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/248 Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2484 characterised by external manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack and novel proton exchange membrane fuel cell module are disclosed and wherein the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack includes a plurality of repeating, serially electrically coupled fuel cell stack modules, and which are sealably mounted together by a compressive force of less than about 60 pounds per square inch.

Claims

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

multiple serially arranged proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules;

an individual proton exchange membrane fuel cell module including;

a frame having generally opposing first and second major surfaces and an outer perimeter defining surface and an inner cavity defining surface each of which extend between the first and second major surfaces to define a width of the frame;

a current collecting separator plate mounted on the first major surface of the frame;

a proton exchange membrane having an anode side and a cathode side;

a first electrically conductive porous layer juxtaposed relative to the anode side;

a second electrically conductive porous layer juxtaposed relative to the cathode side; and

,

an electrically conductive heat sink juxtaposed relative to the second electrically conductive porous layer,

wherein the frame width is sufficient to nestably receive the proton exchange membrane, the first and second electrically conductive porous layers, and the electrically conductive heat sink between the first and second major surfaces effective that both the second major surface of the frame and the electrically conductive heat sink contact a current collecting separator plate associated with a frame of an individual adjacent proton exchange membrane fuel cell module; and

wherein the multiple serially arranged proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules are associated against one another with an anode side of the individual proton exchange membrane fuel cell module positioned adjacent to a cathode side of the individual adjacent proton exchange membrane fuel cell module to form the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack.

2. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the inner cavity defining surface is configured to automatically align the proton exchange membrane, the first and second electrically conductive porous layers, and the electrically conductive heat sink, and wherein the frame further includes self-alignment features configured to automatically align the frame to the frame of the individual adjacent proton exchange membrane fuel cell module.

3. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, comprising:

adjacent first and second serially arranged proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules;

each of the first and second proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules including;

a frame having an inside and an outside peripheral edge, and first and second sides, and wherein the inside peripheral edge defines an internal cavity relative to the second side and wherein the frame is generally open at opposing ends to create an air passageway which extends between the inside and outside peripheral edges and which communicates with the internal cavity thereof;

a current collecting separator plate mounted on the first side of the frame;

wherein the first proton exchange membrane fuel cell module includes an electrically conductive heat sink that is positioned within the internal cavity effective that both the second side of the frame and the electrically conductive heat sink contact a current collecting separator plate of the second proton exchange membrane fuel cell module; and

wherein the adjacent first and second serially arranged proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules are arranged with an anode side of the first proton exchange membrane fuel cell module positioned against a cathode side of the second proton exchange membrane fuel cell module the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack.