US4609595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molten carbonate fuel cell separator
Assignee: United States, ENERGY THE, Secretary of, Department of
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Filing: 1984-10-17
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Granted: 1986-09-02
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Expires: 2004-10-17
Abstract
Abstract In a stacked array of molten carbonate fuel cells, a fuel cell separator is positioned between adjacent fuel cells to provide isolation as well as a conductive path therebetween. The center portion of the fuel cell separator includes a generally rectangular, flat, electrical conductor. Around the periphery of the flat portion of the separator are positioned a plurality of elongated resilient flanges which form a gas-tight seal around the edges of the fuel cell. With one elongated flange resiliently engaging a respective edge of the center portion of the separator, the sealing flanges, which are preferably comprised of a noncorrosive material such as an alloy of yttrium, iron, aluminum or chromium, form a tight-fitting wet seal for confining the corrosive elements of the fuel cell therein. This arrangement permits a good conductive material which may be highly subject to corrosion and dissolution to be used in combination with a corrosion-resistant material in the fuel cell separator of a molten carbonate fuel cell for improved fuel cell conductivity and a gas-tight wet seal.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Nickols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0247; H01M8/0204; H01M8/0206; H01M8/0208; H01M8/021; H01M8/0223; H01M8/0228; H01M8/0271; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/244; H01M8/14; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A gaseous fuel cell for use in a stacked array of such gaseous cells, said gaseous fuel cell comprising: a first electrode adapted to allow a first gas to flow therethrough and having a first catalyst in contact therewith: a second electrode adapted to allow a second gas to flow therethrough and having a second catalyst in contact therewith; an electrolyte positioned between said first and second electrodes and in contact with said first and second catalysts; a substantially flat, planar plate positioned in contact with a respective catalyst of one of said electrodes and having a plurality of edges around the periphery thereof, said plate comprised of a first material having high electrical conductivity; a plurality of resilient sealing flanges positioned on and adapted to engage a respective edge of and to extend outward from the plane of said plate, said sealing flanges comprised of a second material having high corrosion resistance, wherein each sealing flange defines a channel and includes first and second facing members defining a slot therebetween within which a respective edge of said plate is inserted; and biasing means positioned within the channels defined by each of said sealing flanges for urging a first facing member toward a second facing member in maintaining each of said sealing flanges in tight fitting engagement with a respective edge of said plate in establishing a gas-impermeable seal therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A gaseous fuel cell for use in a stacked array of such gaseous cells, said gaseous fuel cell comprising: a first electrode adapted to allow a first gas to flow therethrough and having a first catalyst in contact therewith: a second electrode adapted to allow a second gas to flow therethrough and having a second catalyst in contact therewith; an electrolyte positioned between said first and second electrodes and in contact with said first and second catalysts; a substantially flat, planar plate positioned in contact with a respective catalyst of one of said electrodes and having a plurality of edges around the periphery thereof, said plate comprised of a first material having high electrical conductivity; a plurality of resilient sealing flanges positioned on and adapted to engage a respective edge of and to extend outward from the plane of said plate, said sealing flanges comprised of a second material having high corrosion resistance, wherein each sealing flange defines a channel and includes first and second facing members defining a slot therebetween within which a respective edge of said plate is inserted; and biasing means positioned within the channels defined by each of said sealing flanges for urging a first facing member toward a second facing member in maintaining each of said sealing flanges in tight fitting engagement with a respective edge of said plate in establishing a gas-impermeable seal therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gaseous fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate is generally rectangular and said gaseous fuel cell includes four sealing flanges each positioned on a respective edge of said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 3 wherein a first pair of sealing flanges each respectively disposed along a first pair of opposite facing edges of said plate extend therefrom on a first side of the plane thereof and wherein a second pair of sealing flanges each respectively disposed along a second pair of opposite facing edges of said plate extend therefrom on a second side of the plane thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A gaeous fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said channel extends substantially the entire length of said sealing flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes a resiliently compressible stack of sheets disposed in and substantially filling the channel of a sealing flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stack of sheets is secured to said sealing flange and adjacent ones of said sheets are secured together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least one of said sheets includes additional resilient portions formed therein by mechanical working for increased stack resilience and enhanced engagement of a respective edge of said plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sheets are comprised of a thin sheet metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sealing flanges are comprised of a metal alloy from among the group of yttrium, chromium, aluminum and iron alloys.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 10 wherein said gaseous fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell and wherein an aluminum oxide forms on the surface of said metal alloy for increased sealing flange corrosion resistance and reduced sealing flange conductivity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A gaseous fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate is comprised of stainless steel and includes nickel cladding on a major surface thereof.
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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) | 1989-09-01 | 1990-03-03 | 1990-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-01 | 1994-03-03 | 1994-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-01 | 1998-03-03 | 1998-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |