US4444851A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel cell stack
Assignee: Fuelcell Energy Inc
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Filing: 1982-06-28
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Granted: 1984-04-24
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Expires: 2002-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell stack comprised of a number of fuel cells each including first and second passage means for conveying first and second process gases, respectively, through the stack, the stack further including a first internal manifold common to the first passages means and a number of third passages means for conveying a cooling gas through the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Hansraj C. Maru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:24
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F3/00; F28F3/12; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0258; H01M8/0265; H01M8/0267; H01M8/24; H01M8/2457; H01M8/2465; H01M8/247; H01M8/2483; H01M8/2484; H01M8/2485; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack including: a number of fuel cells, each including a first passage means having first input and output ports for conveying a first process gas through the cell and a second passage means having second input and output ports for conveying a second process gas through the cell, said first and second passage means being disposed in opposition to support countercurrent flow of said first and second process gases; first manifolding means internal of said fuel cells and common to said first passages for conveying said first process gas. a number of third passage means for conveying a cooling gas through said stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack including: a number of fuel cells, each including a first passage means having first input and output ports for conveying a first process gas through the cell and a second passage means having second input and output ports for conveying a second process gas through the cell, said first and second passage means being disposed in opposition to support countercurrent flow of said first and second process gases; first manifolding means internal of said fuel cells and common to said first passages for conveying said first process gas. a number of third passage means for conveying a cooling gas through said stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said first passage means extend in a first direction and said second passage means extend in a second direction directly opposite to said first direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said third passage means is transverse of said first and second passage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said third passage means is orthogonal to said first and second passage means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: each of said third means has third input and output ports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: first second external means for coupling said second process gas and said cooling gas with said second and third passage means, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said first external means includes first and second external manifolds common to said second input and output parts, respectively; and said second external means includes third and fourth external manifolds common to said third input and output ports, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said first through fourth external manifolds are jointly defined by a containment vessel surrounding said stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising: sealing means in contact with said stack and the inner wall of said containment vessel to seal said manifolds one from the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 8 wherein: said second input and output ports open out of first and second external faces of said stack; and said third input and output ports open out of third and fourth external faces of said stack; and the ends of said first through fourth faces cooperate with said inner wall of said containment vessel to form said first through fourth manifolds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 10 wherein: said ends of said first through fourth faces engage said inner wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said ends of said faces are contoured to follow the surface of said inner wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising: first through fourth seals in contact with ends of said first through fourth faces and with said inner wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 10, 11, 12 or 13 wherein: said first through fourth faces are substantially flat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising: means for retaining said stack in said vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 15 wherein: said retaining means comprises a bellows.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising: first and second pipes extending through said vessel and into said stack for communicating with the input and output ends of said internal manifolding means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 8 wherein: said first process gas is fuel gas; and said second process gas is oxidant gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising: means for supplying fuel gas to said first external manifold; and means for supplying oxidant gas to said internal manifold means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said internal manifolding means comprises: a first conduit extending through said stack and common to said first input ports; a second conduit extending through said stack and common to said first output ports.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 20 wherein: said internal manifolding means further comprises for each cell: a first groove transverse to the first passage means of that cell and connecting said first conduit and the first input port of the first passage means of that cell; and a second groove transverse to said first passage means of that cell and connecting said second conduit and the first output port of the first passage means of that cell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 21 wherein: each fuel cell comprises: a cell assembly including anode and cathode electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte; and first and second separator plates disposed adjacent said anode and cathode electrodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
99 words
A fuel cell in accordance with claim 22 wherein: the first separator plate of each cell has first passages which face the corresponding anode electrode and run in a first direction and whose opposite first and second ends terminate short of the periphery of the plate, said first passages forming said first passage means of that cell; and the second separator plate of each cell has passages which face the corresponding cathode electrode and run in said first direction and whose opposite ends terminate at the plate periphery, said second passages forming said second passage means of that cell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
A fuel cell in accordance with claim 23 wherein: the first groove of each cell is in the first separator plate of that cell and crosses the first ends of the first passages of that separator plate; the second groove of each cell is in the first separator plate of that cell and crosses the second ends of the first passages of that separator plate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 24 wherein: each cell includes a first bore running through the cell and into the first groove and a second bore running through the cell and into the second groove; said first bores of said cells being in alignment to form said first conduit and said second bores of said cells being in alignment to form said second conduit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 25 further comprising: means for conveying said first process to said first bore of the top cell in said stack; and means for receiving exhausted first process gas from the second bore of the bottom cell in said stack.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 in which: each of said third passage means includes a cooling plate having third passages whose ends extend to the periphery of the cooling plate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 in which: the third passages of each cooling plate are of size and distribution to provide increased cooling in areas of said stack at a higher temperature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 28 wherein: the third passages of said plate are of smaller size and of larger number in preselected areas of said plate relative to other areas of said plate, said preselected areas of said plate being disposable adjacent areas of stack at a higher temperature relative to other areas of said stack.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 29 wherein: said preselected areas are toward one side of said plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-10-24 | 1988-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-24 | 1991-10-24 | 1992-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-24 | 1995-10-24 | 1996-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |