Fuel cell separator with compressible sealing flanges
- Glastonbury, CT
A separator for separating adjacent fuel cells in a stack of such cells includes a flat, rectangular, gas-impermeable plate disposed between adjacent cells and having two opposite side margins thereof folded back over one side of the plate to form two first seal flanges and having the other side margins thereof folded back over the opposite side of the plate to form two second seal flanges, each of the seal flanges cooperating with the plate to define a channel in which is disposed a resiliently compressible stack of thin metal sheets. The two first seal flanges cooperate with the electrolyte matrix of one of the cells to form a gas-impermeable seal between an electrode of the one cell and one of two reactant gas manifolds. The second seal flanges cooperate with the electrolyte matrix of the other cell for forming a gas-impermeable seal between an electrode of the other cell and the other of the two reactant gas manifolds. The seal flanges cooperate with the associated compressible stacks of sheets for maintaining a spacing between the plate and the electrolyte matrices while accommodating variation of that spacing.
- Research Organization:
- INTERNATIONAL FUEL CELLS CORP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC01-79ET15440
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4514475
- Application Number:
- 06/595,012
- OSTI ID:
- 865439
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
cell
separator
compressible
sealing
flanges
separating
adjacent
cells
stack
flat
rectangular
gas-impermeable
plate
disposed
opposite
margins
folded
form
seal
cooperating
define
channel
resiliently
metal
sheets
cooperate
electrolyte
matrix
electrode
reactant
gas
manifolds
forming
associated
stacks
maintaining
spacing
matrices
accommodating
variation
gas manifolds
fuel cell
adjacent cells
cell separator
metal sheets
adjacent fuel
fuel cells
metal sheet
reactant gas
adjacent cell
electrolyte matrix
sealing flanges
plate disposed
sealing flange
separating adjacent
gas manifold
electrolyte matrices
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