Integrated fuel cell stack shunt current prevention arrangement

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868117

Roche, Robert P ^[1]; Nowak, Michael P ^[2]

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1. Cheshire, CT
2. Bolton, CT

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells juxtaposed with one another in the stack and each including a pair of plate-shaped anode and cathode electrodes that face one another, and a quantity of liquid electrolyte present at least between the electrodes. A separator plate is interposed between each two successive electrodes of adjacent ones of the fuel cells and is unified therewith into an integral separator plate. Each integral separator plate is provided with a circumferentially complete barrier that prevents flow of shunt currents onto and on an outer peripheral surface of the separator plate. This barrier consists of electrolyte-nonwettable barrier members that are accommodated, prior to the formation of the integral separator plate, in corresponding edge recesses situated at the interfaces between the electrodes and the separator plate proper. Each barrier member extends over the entire length of the associated marginal portion and is flush with the outer periphery of the integral separator plate. This barrier also prevents cell-to-cell migration of any electrolyte that may be present at the outer periphery of the integral separator plate while the latter is incorporated in the fuel cell stack.

• Research Organization: INTERNATIONAL FUEL CELLS CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-88MC24221
• Assignee: International Fuel Cells (South Windsor, CT)
• Patent Number(s): US 5079104
• OSTI ID: 868117
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

integrated
fuel
cell
stack
shunt
current
prevention
arrangement
plurality
cells
juxtaposed
including
pair
plate-shaped
anode
cathode
electrodes
quantity
liquid
electrolyte
separator
plate
interposed
successive
adjacent
ones
unified
therewith
integral
provided
circumferentially
complete
barrier
prevents
flow
currents
outer
peripheral
surface
consists
electrolyte-nonwettable
accommodated
prior
formation
corresponding
edge
recesses
situated
interfaces
proper
extends
entire
length
associated
marginal
portion
flush
periphery
cell-to-cell
migration
latter
incorporated
adjacent ones
fuel cell
entire length
outer periphery
cell stack
fuel cells
cathode electrode
separator plate
liquid electrolyte
outer peripheral
shunt current
cell migration
peripheral surface
integral separator
cathode electrodes
shaped anode
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