Dry compliant seal for phosphoric acid fuel cell

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867650

Woodle, Boyd M ^[1]

---

1. N. Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, PA

A dry compliant overlapping seal for a phosphoric acid fuel cell preformed f non-compliant Teflon to make an anode seal frame that encircles an anode assembly, a cathode seal frame that encircles a cathode assembly and a compliant seal frame made of expanded Teflon, generally encircling a matrix assembly. Each frame has a thickness selected to accommodate various tolerances of the fuel cell elements and are either bonded to one of the other frames or to a bipolar or end plate. One of the non-compliant frames is wider than the other frames forming an overlap of the matrix over the wider seal frame, which cooperates with electrolyte permeating the matrix to form a wet seal within the fuel cell that prevents process gases from intermixing at the periphery of the fuel cell and a dry seal surrounding the cell to keep electrolyte from the periphery thereof. The frames may be made in one piece, in L-shaped portions or in strips and have an outer perimeter which registers with the outer perimeter of bipolar or end plates to form surfaces upon which flanges of pan shaped, gas manifolds can be sealed.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
• DOE Contract Number: NASA-DEN3-290
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4978590
• OSTI ID: 867650
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

dry
compliant
seal
phosphoric
acid
fuel
cell
overlapping
preformed
non-compliant
teflon
anode
frame
encircles
assembly
cathode
expanded
encircling
matrix
thickness
selected
accommodate
various
tolerances
elements
bonded
frames
bipolar
plate
wider
forming
overlap
cooperates
electrolyte
permeating
form
wet
prevents
process
gases
intermixing
periphery
surrounding
piece
l-shaped
portions
strips
outer
perimeter
registers
plates
surfaces
flanges
pan
shaped
gas
manifolds
sealed
gas manifolds
matrix assembly
fuel cell
anode assembly
seal frame
process gas
phosphoric acid
outer perimeter
acid fuel
wet seal
cathode assembly
compliant seal
gas manifold
shaped portion
dry compliant
/429/