US4579788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High temperature fuel cell wet seal
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1983-10-18
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2003-10-18
Abstract
Abstract High temperature fuel cell wet seal strips around the periphery of a separator plate fabricated utilizing powder metallurgy technique. The material composition of said wet seal may be variably graded to afford ease of bonding of said wet seal with the separator plate on one side and provide corrosion inhibition on the other side in communication with an electrolyte. Similar wet seals may be formed from a single metal powder with surface treatment of the surface adjacent the electrolyte to provide resistance to corrosion by the electrolyte.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard G. Marianowski
- 👤 Terry D. Claar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0271; H01M8/14; H01M8/141; H01M8/142; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
In a high temperature fuel cell of the type comprising oxidant and fuel gas compartments at least partially bounded by a metal separator plate having peripheral upstanding wet seal strips, the face of said wet seal strips removed from said separator plate in contact with an electrolyte, the improvement of said wet seal strips comprising powdered metal particles formed into a substantially gas impervious and force resistant structure by forming under pressure and sintering at elevated temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a high temperature fuel cell of the type comprising oxidant and fuel gas compartments at least partially bounded by a metal separator plate having peripheral upstanding wet seal strips, the face of said wet seal strips removed from said separator plate in contact with an electrolyte, the improvement of said wet seal strips comprising powdered metal particles formed into a substantially gas impervious and force resistant structure by forming under pressure and sintering at elevated temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said powdered metal particles comprise mixtures of different metal particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The wet seal strips of claim 2 wherein said powdered metal particle composition adjacent said separator plate provides bonding of said powdered metal particles to said separator plate and the powdered metal particle composition is graded to said powdered metal particle composition adjacent said electrolyte providing corrosion resistance to said electrolyte under said high temperature fuel cell operating conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said separator plate is ribbed to its edge and said powdered metal particles fill the depressed regions to form said upstanding wet seal strips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wet seal strips of claim 4 wherein inlet and exhaust porting is formed in said wet seal strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said separator plate is corrugated to its edge and said powdered metal particles fill the depressed regions to form said upstanding wet seal strips.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wet seal strips of claim 6 wherein inlet and exhaust porting is formed in said wet seal strips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein inlet and exhaust porting is formed in said wet seal strips.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said powdered metal particles comprise a single metal powder bonded to said separator plate and rendered non-corrosive by said electrolyte by surface treatment of the surface adjacent said electrolyte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said separator plate is a ferrous metal alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said separator plate is a bimetallic separator plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wet seal strips of claim 11 wherein said bimetallic separator plate comprises stainless steel facing the cathode side and nickel facing the anode side.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wet seal strips of claim 11 wherein said bimetallic separator plate comprises stainless steel facing the cathode side and copper facing the anode side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The wet seal strips of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte comprises alkali carbonates and said wet seal strips in the region adjacent said alkali carbonated electrolyte comprises about 80 to 95 volume percent aluminum and about 5 to 20 volume percent of the same metal comprising the surface of said separator plate adjacent said wet seal strip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The wet seal strips of claim 14 wherein the region of said wet seal strips adjacent said separator plate comprises about 0 to 20 volume percent aluminum and about 80 to 100 volume percent of the same metal comprising the surface of said separator plate adjacent said wet seal strip.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of inhibiting corrosion by high temperature fuel cell electrolytes of wet seal surfaces of wet seal strips upstanding from the periphery of a metal separator plate, said method comprising forming said wet seal strips from powdered metal particles under pressure and sintering at elevated temperature into a substantially gas impervious and force resistant structure, the surface of said wet seal strips adjacent said electrolyte providing corrosion resistance to said electrolyte under said high temperature fuel cell operating conditions.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of inhibiting corrosion by high temperature fuel cell electrolytes of wet seal surfaces of wet seal strips upstanding from the periphery of a metal separator plate, said method comprising forming said wet seal strips from powdered metal particles under pressure and sintering at elevated temperature into a substantially gas impervious and force resistant structure, the surface of said wet seal strips adjacent said electrolyte providing corrosion resistance to said electrolyte under said high temperature fuel cell operating conditions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said powdered metal particles comprise mixtures of different metal particles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said powdered metal particle composition adjacent said separator plate provides bonding of said powdered metal particles to said separator plate and the powdered metal particle composition is graded to said powdered metal particle composition adjacent said electrolyte providing corrosion resistance to said electrolyte.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 wherein inlet and exhaust porting is formed in said wet seal strips.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said powdered metal particles comprise a single metal powder bonded to said separator plate and rendered non-corrosive by said electrolyte by surface treatment of the surface adjacent said electrolyte.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |