Module for a fuel cell stack

• US 20050074661A1
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd. (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Burrows, Christopher, Hart, Nigel T., Agnew, Gerard D., Wright, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/423
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8626 characterised by the form
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0263 having meandering or serpentine paths
• 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 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0637 Direct internal reforming at the anode of the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1286 Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/249 comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell stack (10) comprises a plurality of modules (12) and each module (12) comprises an elongate hollow member (14). Each module (12) has at least one passage (31) extending longitudinally through the hollow member (14) for the flow of a reactant. Each hollow member (14) has a first flat surface (16) and a second flat surface (18) arranged parallel to the first flat surface (16). At least one of the modules (12) includes a plurality of fuel cells (20). The fuel cells (20) are arranged on at least one of the first and second flat surfaces (16,18) of the at least one module (12). A first end (30) and a first side (32) of each module (12) has a first integral feature (34) to provide a spacer and a connection with an adjacent module (12) and a second end (38) and a second side (40) of each module (12) has a second integral feature (42) to provide a spacer and a connection with another adjacent module (12). The first feature (34) comprises a third flat surface (36) and the second feature (42) comprises a fourth flat surface (44). The fourth flat surface (44) is arranged parallel to the third flat surface (36). The third flat surface (36) is arranged at an intersecting angle to the first flat surface (16) and the fourth flat surface (44) is arranged at an intersecting angle to the second flat surface (18).

Claims

1. A module for a fuel cell stack, the module comprises an elongate hollow member, the module has at least one passage extending longitudinally through the hollow member for the flow of a reactant, the hollow member has a first flat surface and a second flat surface arranged substantially parallel to the first flat surface and at least one end of the module has a first integral feature to provide a spacer with an adjacent module, the first integral feature comprises a third flat surface arranged such that it is non coplanar with the first flat surface.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first integral feature provides a connection with the adjacent module.

3. A module as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second end of the module has a second integral feature to provide a spacer with another adjacent module, the second integral feature comprises a fourth flat surface arranged such that it is non coplanar with the second flat surface.

4. A module as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second integral feature provides a connection with the other adjacent module.

5. A module as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fourth flat surface is arranged parallel to the third flat surface.

6. A module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the third flat surface is arranged at an intersecting angle to the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface is arranged at an intersecting angle to the second flat surface.

7. A module as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first end decreases in thickness between the second flat surface and the third flat surface.

8. A module as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first end decreases in thickness between the second flat surface and the third flat surface and the second end decreases in thickness between the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface.

9. A module as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second end increases in thickness between the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface.

10. A module as claimed in claim 6 wherein the intersecting angle is between 5°

and 20°

.

11. A module as claimed in claim 6 wherein the intersecting angle is between 10°

and 15°

.

12. A module as claimed in claim 3 wherein the third flat surface is arranged parallel to the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface is arranged parallel to the second flat surface.

13. A module as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of fuel cells are arranged on the first and second flat surfaces.

14. A module as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fuel cells are solid oxide fuel cells.

15. A fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of modules, each module comprises an elongate hollow member, each module has at least one passage extending longitudinally through the hollow member for the flow of a reactant, each hollow member has a first flat surface and a second flat surface arranged substantially parallel to the first flat surface, at least one of the modules includes a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cells are arranged on at least one of the first and second flat surfaces of the at least one module and at least one end of at least one of the modules has a first integral feature to provide a spacer with an adjacent module, the first integral feature comprises a third flat surface arranged such that it is non coplanar with the first flat surface.

16. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least one end of each of the modules has a first integral feature to provide a spacer with an adjacent module, the first integral feature comprises a third flat surface arranged such that it is non coplanar with the first flat surface.

17. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first integral feature provides a connection with the adjacent module.

18. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein a second end of the at least one module has a second integral feature to provide a spacer with another adjacent module, the second integral feature comprises a fourth flat surface arranged such that it is non coplanar with the second flat surface.

19. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 18 wherein a second end of each module has a second integral feature to provide a spacer with another adjacent module, the second integral feature comprises a fourth flat surface arranged such that it is non coplanar with the second flat surface.

20. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 18 wherein the first integral feature provides a connection with the other adjacent module.

21. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 18 wherein the fourth flat surface is arranged parallel to the third flat surface.

22. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 18 wherein the third flat surface is arranged at an intersecting angle to the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface is arranged at an intersecting angle to the second flat surface.

23. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 22 wherein the first end decreases in thickness between the second flat surface and the third flat surface.

24. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first end decreases in thickness between the second flat surface and the third flat surface and the second end decreases in thickness between the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface.

25. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 23 wherein the second end increases in thickness between the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface.

26. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 22 wherein the intersecting angle is between 5°

and 20°

.

27. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 22 wherein the intersecting angle is between 10°

and 15°

.

28. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 16 wherein the third flat surface is arranged parallel to the first flat surface and the fourth flat surface is arranged parallel to the second flat surface.

29. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein adjacent modules are connected to allow reactant to flow sequentially through the modules.

30. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein adjacent modules are connected to allow reactant to flow in parallel through the modules.

31. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein the fuel cells are solid oxide fuel cells.

32. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least one of the modules has a reforming catalyst provided in the at least one passage or on the first and second flat surfaces.

33. A fuel cell stack as claimed in claim 15 wherein all of the modules have fuel cells.