Fuel cell voltage measuring assembly
First Claim
1. An assembly for measuring cell voltages for a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series along a stack dimension to form a stack, wherein each electrochemical cell comprises and extends between an associated pair of flow field plates, the assembly comprising:
- (a) an array of electrical contacting points for receiving an associated voltage from each flow field plate for each electrochemical cell, wherein (i) the array of electrical contacting points is divided into a plurality of groups and extends along an array dimension, the array dimension being substantially alignable with the stack dimension such that the array of electrical contacting points is alignable with the plurality of electrochemical cells, (ii) each group comprises an associated plurality of electrical contacting points for aligning with the flow field plates and receiving the voltages therefrom, the associated plurality of electrical contacting points for the group being electrically interconnected, (iii) each group of electrical contacting points is electrically insulated from other groups of electrical contacting points, and (iv) the plurality of groups comprises an associated group for each flow field plate for receiving the associated voltage of only that flow field plate; and
, (v) for each group, the associated plurality of electrical contacting points are spaced from one another to accommodate variation in positioning of the flow field plates; and
(b) an electrical connection means for receiving the associated voltage from each flow field plate via the associated group, the electrical connection means comprising an associated connector for each group for separately receiving voltage signals from the group.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides for measuring the voltage across an associated pair of flow field plates of each electrochemical cell in a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series to form a stack. The invention involves (a) providing a plurality of groups of electrical contacting points for receiving an associated voltage from each of the associated pair of flow field plates for each electrochemical cell, wherein each group in the plurality of groups comprises an associated plurality of electrical contacting points; (b) electrically interconnecting the associated plurality of electrical contacting points for each group; (c) electrically insulating each group of electrical contacting points from other groups of electrical contacting points; (d) for each flow field plate, selecting an associated group from the plurality of groups of electrical contacting points, and aligning the associated group with the flow field plate, and selecting an electrical contacting point from the associated group and connecting electrically the selected electrical contacting point to the associated flow field plate, to receive the associated voltage therefrom; and (e) receiving the associated voltage from each flow field plate via the associated group.
16 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An assembly for measuring cell voltages for a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series along a stack dimension to form a stack, wherein each electrochemical cell comprises and extends between an associated pair of flow field plates, the assembly comprising:
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(a) an array of electrical contacting points for receiving an associated voltage from each flow field plate for each electrochemical cell, wherein (i) the array of electrical contacting points is divided into a plurality of groups and extends along an array dimension, the array dimension being substantially alignable with the stack dimension such that the array of electrical contacting points is alignable with the plurality of electrochemical cells, (ii) each group comprises an associated plurality of electrical contacting points for aligning with the flow field plates and receiving the voltages therefrom, the associated plurality of electrical contacting points for the group being electrically interconnected, (iii) each group of electrical contacting points is electrically insulated from other groups of electrical contacting points, and (iv) the plurality of groups comprises an associated group for each flow field plate for receiving the associated voltage of only that flow field plate; and
,(v) for each group, the associated plurality of electrical contacting points are spaced from one another to accommodate variation in positioning of the flow field plates; and
(b) an electrical connection means for receiving the associated voltage from each flow field plate via the associated group, the electrical connection means comprising an associated connector for each group for separately receiving voltage signals from the group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multi-cell electrochemical device assembly comprising
(a) a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series along a stack dimension to form a stack, wherein each electrochemical cell comprises and extends between an associated pair of flow field plates; -
(b) an array of electrical contacting points for receiving an associated voltage from each of the associated pair of flow field plates for each electrochemical cell, wherein (i) the array of electrical contacting points is divided into a plurality of groups and extends along an array dimension, the array dimension being substantially alignable with the stack dimension such that the array of electrical contacting points is alignable with the plurality of electrochemical cells, (ii) each group comprises an associated plurality of electrical contacting points for aligning with the flow field plates and receiving the voltages therefrom, the associated plurality of electrical contacting points for the group being electrically interconnected, (iii) each group of electrical contacting points is electrically insulated from other groups of electrical contacting points, (iv) the plurality of groups comprises an associated group for each flow field plate for receiving the associated voltage of only that flow field plate; and
,(v) for each group, the associated plurality of electrical contacting points are spaced from one another to accommodate variation in positioning of the flow field plates; and
(c) an electrical connection means for receiving the associated voltage from each flow field plate via the associated group, the electrical connection means comprising an associated connector for each group for separately receiving voltage signals from the group. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of measuring the voltage across an associated pair of flow field plates of each electrochemical cell in a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series to form a stack, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a plurality of groups of electrical contacting points for receiving an associated voltage from each of the associated pair of flow field plates for each electrochemical cell, wherein each group in the plurality of groups comprises an associated plurality of electrical contacting points;
(b) electrically interconnecting the associated plurality of electrical contacting points for each group;
(c) electrically insulating each group of electrical contacting points from other groups of electrical contacting points;
(d) for each flow field plate, selecting an associated group from the plurality of groups of electrical contacting points, and aligning the associated group with the flow field plate, and selecting an electrical contacting point from the associated group and connecting electrically the selected electrical contacting point to the associated flow field plate, to receive the associated voltage therefrom; and
(e) receiving the associated voltage from each flow field plate via the associated group. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification