Patent EP0629015A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0629015A1
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EP
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Electrochemical cell provided with ion exchange membranes and bipolar plates
Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe SRL
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Filing: 1994-04-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A membrane electrochemical cell, in particular a fuel cell, of an improved type comprising a multiplicity of cell elements, each element made up of bipolar plates (1), current collectors (14), electrodes (7) and membranes (6), wherein the function of electric current transmission through the cell elements, the release of heat towards the outside environment, the distribution of electric current to the electrodes and membranes, the removal of heat from the electrodes and membranes and the distribution of the reactants and products are performed by distinct components, in particular bipolar plates (1) for the first two and porous electroconductive collectors (14) for the others. The bipolar plates may have flat surfaces without grooves and are preferably manufactured with aluminum, titanium or alloys thereof, through cheap mass productions techniques; the bipolar plates are used together with collectors provided with deformability, residual resiliency and high porosity. Said collectors advantageously act also as distributors of the gaseous reactants and of the products.
Inventors
- 👤 Giuseppe Faita
- 👤 Claudio Mantegazza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0204; H01M8/0223; H01M8/0228; C; C25; C25B; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/23; C25B9/70; C25B9/73; C25B9/75; C25B9/77; H01M8/0206; H01M8/0208; H01M8/0226; H01M8/023; H01M8/0232; H01M8/0234; H01M8/0241; H01M8/0245; H01M8/0247; H01M8/0258; H01M8/0267; H01M8/10; H01M8/1007; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/242; H01M8/2457; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2483; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0082; H01M8/021; H01M8/0213; H01M8/04; H01M8/04007; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A cell element for electrochemical cell comprising a pair of bipolar or end plates (1, 18) provided with holes (2) for feeding the gaseous reactants and removing the products and the residual reactants, a pair of current collectors (14) permeable to gas flow, a pair of electrocatalytic porous electrodes (7), an ion exchange membrane (6) and a pair of gasket-frames (8), characterized in that at least one of said collectors (14) consists in a porous material having residual deformability and resiliency under compression and provided with a multiplicity of points for the electrical contact between said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) and said electrodes (7).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
The element of claim 1 wherein said collector (14) provided with residual deformability and resiliency is a tridimensional network of metal wires, the surface of said network containing the terminal sections (15) of at least part of said wires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The element of claim 2 wherein said tridimensional network has a porosity at least equal to 50% and a diameter of the metal wires comprised between 0.01 and 1 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein said collector (14) provided with residual deformability and resiliency consists in at least two superimposed meshes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The element of claim 4 wherein said meshes have a different mesh size with a finer mesh for the mesh in contact with the electrodes (7) and a coarser mesh for the mesh in contact with the bipolar or end plates (1, 18).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The element of anyone of claims 4 and 5 wherein the meshes are selected in the group comprising woven metal wires or expanded metal sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The element of claim 6 wherein said metal wires have a polygonal cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein said collector (14) provided with residual deformability and resiliency consists in a mattress made of interwoven metal helicoidal coils or a multilayer cloth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 8 wherein both collectors (14) are provided with residual deformability and resiliency or wherein one collector (14) has residual deformability and resiliency and the other collector (14) is a rigid porous sheet, preferably a sinterized metal layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 9 wherein said collectors (14) have voids with dimensions comprised between 0.1 and 3 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein said collectors (14) have a thickness comprised between 0.5 and 5 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 3 or 8 to 11 wherein said collectors (14) further comprise a fine metal mesh facing said electrodes (7).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 12 wherein said collectors (14) are made of a corrosion-resistant material selected from the group comprising stainless steels, high-alloy steels, nickel-chromium alloys.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 13 wherein said collectors (14) and said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) are hydrophobic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 14 wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) have a planar surface, wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) preferably are obtained by molding or cutting of commerical sheets without further finish of the surface, or have a grooved surface, wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) preferably are further provided with channels (3) for the distribution and for the removal of the reactants and products, wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) preferably are further provided with internal ducts (5) for cooling with a gaseous or liquid means, wherein the external dimension of said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) preferably is increased to permit cooling with a gaseous or liquid means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 15 wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) are made of metals or alloys passivatable by protective, electrically insulating oxides, selected from the group comprising aluminum, titanium, zirconium, niobium , tantalum and alloys thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The element of claim 16 wherein the contact resistance between said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) and said collectors (14) is comprised between 100 and 5 milliohm/cm2 with a pressure exerted on said plates (1, 18) comprised between 0.1 and 80 kg/cm2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 15 wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) are made of corrosion-resistant materials selected from the group comprising graphite, stainless steels, high-alloy steels, nickel-chromium alloys.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The element of claim 16 wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) are provided with a coating of an electroconductive material selected from the group of chromium, platinum groups metals or oxides thereof and conductive polymers, preferably said conductive polymers are selected from the group of polymeric matrices containing conductive particles and intrinsically conductive polymers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 19 wherein said gasket-frames (8) are made of castable elastomeric material and comprise holes (9) for the distribution and the removal of the reactants and products and a step (13) for the housing of said electrodes (7) and ribs (12) for sealing and separation of the reactants and products.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 20 wherein said electrodes (7) are made of a porous, conductive layer provided with a surface containing a catalyst and a surface containing hydrophobic material, wherein said layer preferably is a flexible carbon cloth, a carbon paper or a flexible cloth of corrosion resistant metal selected from the group comprising stainless steels, high-alloy steels, nickel-chromium alloys.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The element of claim 21 wherein said electrodes (7) are further provided with a coating of a polymer having ion exchange characteristics applied onto the surface containing the catalyst.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 22 wherein said electrodes (7) are not bonded to the membrane before assembling of the electrochemical cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 22 wherein said electrodes (7) are bonded to the membrane before assembling of the electrochemical cell and form a unitary structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 24 wherein said bipolar or end plates (1, 18) are provided with external connections or recesses (16) suitable for short-circuiting.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The element of anyone of claims 1 to 25 wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell fed with gaseous reactants containing hydrogen and oxygen, or wherein said electrochemical cell is a cell for the concentration of hydrogen or oxygen or wherein said electrochemical cell is a cell for electrolysis of salt solutions depolarized with said electrodes (7).
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