Integrated fuel cell stack shunt current prevention arrangement

Patent · Tue Jan 07 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5532210

Roche, R P; Nowak, M P

This patent describes a fuel cell stack with shunt current barriers at a periphery thereof. It comprises fuel cells juxtaposed with one another in the stack and each including a pair of plate-shaped anode and cathode electrodes facing one another and each having a circumferentially complete outer peripheral region consisting of respective marginal portions, and a quantity of liquid electrolyte present at least between the electrodes; a multitude of separator plates each interposed between respective successive electrodes of adjacent ones of the fuel cells, delimiting respective interfaces therewith, and having marginal portions juxtaposed in respective associated sets with all of the marginal portions of the successive electrodes and collectively delimited by an outer peripheral surface; means for bounding in at least one of the marginal portions of each of the associated sets at least one recess that extends substantially over the entire length of the one marginal portion and is open into one of the interfaces and onto the periphery of the fuel cell stack; means for unifying the separator plate with the successive electrodes into respective integral separator plates.

• Assignee: International Fuel Cells, South Windsor, CT (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5079104; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-670845
• OSTI ID: 5532210
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300502* -- Fuel Cells-- Performance & Testing
300503 -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ANODES
CATHODES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FUEL CELLS
GASES
INHIBITION
LIQUIDS
PLATES
SHUNT REACTORS