Abstract:
A modular fuel cell cassette 100 for use in assembling a fuel cell stack 200 comprising a metal separator plate 104 and a metal cell-mounting plate 102 joined at their edges 111 to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly 128 is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening 106 in the mounting plate. The plates include openings 108,110,112,114 to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode 134 and air to the cathode 132. A conductive interconnect element 136a extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings 126 such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack 200 comprises a plurality of cassettes 100, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal 202 surrounding the interconnect.
Abstract:
A modular fuel cell cassette 100 for use in assembling a fuel cell stack 200 comprising a metal separator plate 104 and a metal cell-mounting plate 102 joined at their edges 111 to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly 128 is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening 106 in the mounting plate. The plates include openings 108,110,112,114 to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode 134 and air to the cathode 132. A conductive interconnect element 136a extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings 126 such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack 200 comprises a plurality of cassettes 100, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal 202 surrounding the interconnect.
Abstract:
A modular fuel cell cassette 100 for use in assembling a fuel cell stack 200 comprising a metal separator plate 104 and a metal cell-mounting plate 102 joined at their edges 111 to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly 128 is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening 106 in the mounting plate. The plates include openings 108,110,112,114 to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode 134 and air to the cathode 132. A conductive interconnect element 136a extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings 126 such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack 200 comprises a plurality of cassettes 100, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal 202 surrounding the interconnect.
Abstract:
An interconnect system for connecting adjacent fuel cells in a fuel cell stack (26). The system comprises five elements: a separator plate (28) to provide an anode gas flow space (20) when joined to a mating cell frame (22); a first metal interconnect (30) disposed between the separator plate (28) and the anode surface (16); a nickel oxide paste (38) applied in a pattern over the surface of the anode (16) and adjacent surface of the separator plate (28) which when sintered results in a conductive layer bonded to the anode and to the separator plate; a second metal interconnect (35) disposed between the cathode surface (12) of the cell and the separator plate (28) of the adjacent cell cassette; and a silver-containing paste (36,39) applied over the surface of the cathode (12) and the separator plate (28) which when sintered results in a conductive layer bonded to the cathode (12) and to the separator plate (28).