Dry compliant seal for phosphoric acid fuel cell
- 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
- 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
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accommodate
acid
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anode
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bipolar
bonded
cathode
cathode assembly
cell
compliant
compliant seal
cooperates
dry
dry compliant
electrolyte
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encircles
encircling
expanded
flanges
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frame
frames
fuel
fuel cell
gas
gas manifold
gas manifolds
gases
intermixing
l-shaped
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outer
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overlap
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pan
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phosphoric
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piece
plate
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portions
preformed
prevents
process
process gas
registers
seal
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tolerances
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wet
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