US20040121200A1 - Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact - Google Patents

Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040121200A1
US20040121200A1 US10/329,305 US32930502A US2004121200A1 US 20040121200 A1 US20040121200 A1 US 20040121200A1 US 32930502 A US32930502 A US 32930502A US 2004121200 A1 US2004121200 A1 US 2004121200A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
cathode
anode
fuel cell
disposed
current collector
Prior art date
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Abandoned
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US10/329,305
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard Johnsen
Chao-Yi Yuh
Mohammad Farooque
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Fuelcell Energy Inc
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Fuelcell Energy Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fuelcell Energy Inc filed Critical Fuelcell Energy Inc
Priority to US10/329,305 priority Critical patent/US20040121200A1/en
Assigned to FUELCELL ENERGY, INC. reassignment FUELCELL ENERGY, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FAROOQUE, MOHAMMAD, JOHNSEN, RICHARD, YUH, CHAO-YI
Priority to US10/407,544 priority patent/US7201985B2/en
Priority to EP03814598A priority patent/EP1588444B1/en
Priority to JP2005508526A priority patent/JP4555225B2/ja
Priority to CNB038257238A priority patent/CN100561791C/zh
Priority to DE60330054T priority patent/DE60330054D1/de
Priority to PCT/US2003/030668 priority patent/WO2004062021A1/en
Publication of US20040121200A1 publication Critical patent/US20040121200A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/14—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes
    • H01M8/141—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes the anode and the cathode being gas-permeable electrodes or electrode layers
    • H01M8/142—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes the anode and the cathode being gas-permeable electrodes or electrode layers with matrix-supported or semi-solid matrix-reinforced electrolyte
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
    • H01M8/244—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes with matrix-supported molten electrolyte
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2457—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H01M8/0254—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form corrugated or undulated
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/14—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes
    • H01M8/144—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
    • H01M8/145—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material comprising carbonates
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a liquid electrolyte fuel cell such as a molten carbonate fuel cell and, in particular, to an end cell assembly for use at the positive and negative ends of a stack of such fuel cells.
  • a fuel cell generally comprises an anode and cathode separated by an electrolyte.
  • An anode current collector is provided adjacent to the anode, opposite the electrolyte, through which fuel is allowed to pass.
  • a cathode current collector allowing passage of oxygen is provided adjacent to the cathode and opposite the electrolyte.
  • the carbonate electrolyte comprises an alkali metal carbonate material, such as lithium or potassium carbonate, in a particulate matrix of inert ceramic material, such as lithium aluminate.
  • the carbonate electrolyte is an ionically conductive molten liquid.
  • the anode and cathode electrodes are each preferably made of a porous metal such as porous nickel powder or nickel oxide that is sufficiently active at cell operating temperatures to serve as catalysts for the anode and cathode reactions, respectively.
  • a single fuel cell as shown in FIG. 1 produces relatively low voltage.
  • individual cells are arranged in series as a fuel cell stack.
  • a separator plate preferably made of stainless steel, is provided to separate each fuel cell from adjacent cells in the stack.
  • end cell is defined as either of the fuel cells at the positive or cathode and negative or anode ends of the stack, each of which provides structural termination.
  • a significant problem associated with the fuel cell stack configuration is loss of electrolyte preferentially from the cells closest to the positive end of the stack and gain of electrolyte mostly by the cells closest to the negative end of the stack.
  • the first process is liquid electrolyte creepage onto the structurally terminating end plate, which is adjacent to the end cell.
  • the second process, migration of electrolyte causes electrolyte to flow in films along the surfaces of the stack toward the negative or anode end.
  • fuel cells at the positive end of the stack lose electrolyte and cells at the negative end gain electrolyte.
  • electrolyte migration is the most severe in the end cells, which are positioned closest to the positive and negative ends of the stack. Depletion of electrolyte from the positive end cell by creepage and migration leaves gas pockets in the electrolyte matrix. This results in an irreversible increase in internal electrical resistance of the end cells, significant voltage drop, and deterioration of long-term end cell performance. Also, electrolyte migration towards the negative end may cause flooding of the negative end cell and loss of performance and long-term stability.
  • the “half-cell” anode in this design stores additional electrolyte that replenishes the electrolyte lost from the cell closest to the positive end of the stack by migration and other mechanisms.
  • the “half-cell” cathode placed adjacent to the negative end regular cell anode absorbs the extra electrolyte that moves to the negative end of the stack. This arrangement prevents flooding of the cell closest to the negative end of the stack and delays depletion of electrolyte from the end cell at the cathode end, but electrolyte migration is not eliminated and the “half-cell” anode must be periodically replenished with electrolyte.
  • the “half-cell” anode placed at the positive end of the stack has limited electrolyte storage capacity.
  • the anode is made of Ni which is non-wetting to the electrolyte, or not conducive to the electrolyte flowing across it, and the anode porosity is also low, i.e., less than 55%, because of structural strength considerations.
  • a second problem associated with end cells in a fuel cell stack is the increase in end cell electrical resistance due to shrinkage or deformity of cell components at stack operating temperatures.
  • Common molten carbonate stack designs include rigid, thick end plates to which is directly applied an appropriate compressive loading force for adequate sealing and good electrical and thermal conductivity between adjacent cells and components within the stack.
  • temperature gradients form between the opposite surfaces of the end plates and may cause the end plates to deform. Additional mechanical mismatch may occur during operation of the stack, particularly in the cathode or positive side end cell, due to cathode shrinkage. Carbonate fuel cell cathode shrinkage is known to occur slowly with operation.
  • the cathode “half-cell” is usually constructed from a corrugated current collector with a cathode attached to it.
  • the corrugated current collector extends over the entire cell area.
  • the cathode extends over less than the entire area, since it does not extend to the wet seal edges. Therefore, the wet seal thickness must be matched to the cathode thickness to maintain the flatness of the cell structure.
  • a flat shim made of sheet metal is inserted under the flap of the wet seal to account for the difference in thickness of the active area and the wet seal. As the cathode shrinks, the cell compressive pressure shifts from the active part of the cell to the wet seal area.
  • an end cell for storing electrolyte in a molten carbonate fuel cell stack including an active electrode part, an electrode reservoir or sink, an inactive anode part, and an end plate.
  • Each of the active electrode parts comprises at least an electrode and a current collector.
  • Each of the inactive anode parts comprises at least a foam anode layer and an anode current collector.
  • the end cell for the positive or cathode side of the stack preferably includes an inactive anode part adjacent to both sides of the ribbed electrode reservoir.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the components of a conventional carbonate fuel cell assembly
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagrammatic representation of the end cell assembly at the positive and negative ends of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack in accordance with the principles of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the end cells on both the positive and negative ends of a fuel cell stack in accordance with the principles of the present invention
  • FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the end cell at the positive end of a fuel cell stack along line 4 A- 4 A of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the end cell at the positive end of a fuel cell stack along line 4 B- 4 B of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the end cell at the negative end of a fuel cell stack along line 5 A- 5 A of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the end cell at the negative end of a fuel cell stack along line 5 B- 5 B of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 2 generally illustrates the end cell assembly at both the positive and negative ends of a fuel cell stack in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • an inactive anode part 12 , 22 is disposed adjacent to the end plate 14 , 24 at both ends of the stack.
  • the end cell 10 On the positive, or cathode, side of the fuel cell stack, the end cell 10 further includes a ribbed electrode reservoir 16 separated from an active cathode part 18 by a second inactive anode part 12 .
  • the end cell assembly 20 on the negative, or anode, side of the stack includes a ribbed electrode sink 26 adjacent to an active anode part 28 .
  • the inactive anode parts 12 , 22 provide an electrically conductive separating interface between the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 or sink 26 and the end plates 14 , 24 and, in the positive end cell 10 , between the active cathode part 18 and the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 .
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of each layer of the end cell on both ends of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack in accordance with the present invention.
  • the structure of the positive, or cathode end cell in the fuel cell stack will be described with reference to the upper portion of FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A and 4B.
  • the fuel cell stack terminates at both ends with a thick, rigid end plate 14 , 24 preferably made of stainless steel.
  • the inactive anode part 12 in positive end cell assembly 10 that separates the positive end plate 14 from ribbed electrode reservoir 16 comprises a foam anode layer 44 (shown in FIG. 4B) and an anode current collector 50 .
  • foam anode layer 44 is disposed adjacent to the end plate 14 on the positive end of the stack.
  • the foam anode layer 44 comprises a nickel foam anode 46 disposed between two matrix strips 48 .
  • the nickel foam anode 46 serves as an electrically conductive separating interface between the end plate 14 and the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 .
  • Matrix strips 48 are preferably formed from porous ceramics and are disposed along either side of the nickel foam anode 46 relative to the flow of reducing gas (e.g., hydrogen) and the liquid electrolyte may fill the strips 48 . By filling with electrolyte, and blocking the fuel gas from flowing elsewhere, matrix strips 48 help maintain a gas seal between the hydrogen and oxygen gases flowing through the cell stack at the same time.
  • reducing gas e.g., hydrogen
  • anode current collector (ACC) 50 Disposed immediately beneath the foam anode layer 44 in the inactive anode part 12 is an anode current collector (ACC) 50 , preferably made of austenitic stainless steel.
  • the ACC is contained within the top pocket of a bipolar plate 52 having a three-dimensional “S”-shaped configuration.
  • the bipolar plate 52 preferably made of Ni coated austenitic stainless steel, defines top and bottom pockets 54 , 56 (shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) disposed along the flow of reducing gas and along the flow of oxidizing gas, respectively.
  • the top and bottom pockets 54 , 56 of the “S”-shaped bipolar plate each form a lip folding over a portion of the top and bottom pockets, along both edges thereof.
  • the top lip of the bipolar plate 52 folds over the ACC 50 along its edges parallel to the direction of the flow of reducing gas and matches up with the edges of the nickel foam anode 46 such that the foam anode is disposed directly above the ACC 50 , between the top edges of the bipolar plate 52 , as shown.
  • the ACC 50 is in direct contact with, and collects current from, the nickel foam anode 46 .
  • Both matrix strips 48 in the foam anode layer 44 are sandwiched between the top lip of the bipolar plate 52 and the positive end plate 14 .
  • a center portion of the bipolar plate 52 separates the ACC 50 from the structure contained within the bottom pocket 56 of the bipolar plate.
  • the foam anode layer 44 and the anode current collector 50 together make up the inactive anode part 12 , which separates the positive end plate 14 from the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 , described in further detail below.
  • the lower lip of the bipolar plate 52 folds under the bottom pocket along its edge, parallel to the direction of the flow of oxidizing gas.
  • the bottom pocket 56 of the bipolar plate 52 contains both a soft, compliant cathode current collector (CCC) 60 and a ribbed cathode 64 .
  • the soft, compliant CCC 60 is preferably made of austenitic stainless steel or superalloy and is disposed between the lower lip and the center portion of the bipolar plate 52 along the length of the lower lip, parallel to the flow of oxidizing gas.
  • the soft CCC is compliant, resilient and capable of returning to its original shape or form after accommodating mechanical changes in the end cell at operating temperatures of the fuel cell stack.
  • a metal shim 62 may be disposed between the soft CCC 60 and lower lip along its length.
  • the soft, compliant CCC 60 has a lower yield stress and lower spring constant (approximately 50% less) relative to the active area of the end cell.
  • the compliant and resilient CCC used in the end cell design of the present invention greatly reduces or eliminates contact loss in the end cell by yielding to compressive forces and accommodating mechanical changes in the end cell, particularly with respect to the cathode, due to deep thermal cycling during operation of the fuel cell stack, and by returning to its original shape after having been compressed.
  • a ribbed cathode 64 is also disposed in the bottom pocket 56 of the bipolar plate.
  • the ribbed cathode 64 is preferably made of Ni and, as shown in FIG. 3, it has structural peaks and valleys.
  • the ribbed structure of the cathode provides channels for oxidizing gas to flow through and uniformly oxidize the nickel material from which the ribbed cathode 64 is primarily made.
  • the lower lip of the bipolar plate 52 which folds under the soft, compliant CCC strips 60 parallel to the direction of the flow of oxidizing gas, matches up with the edges of ribbed cathode 64 such that the ribbed cathode is disposed between the strips of soft CCC 60 and the lower lip portions of the bipolar plate 52 , and directly above a flat cathode layer 68 .
  • the peaks of the ribbed cathode 64 are in direct contact with a flat cathode 70 , which is preferably made of Ni.
  • Matrix strips 72 are disposed on each side of the flat cathode 70 , below the lower lip portions of the bipolar plate 52 , and have a structure similar to that of the matrix strips 48 in the foam anode layer 44 , described above. As in the foam anode layer, the matrix strips 72 fill with liquid electrolyte. In the flat cathode layer 68 presently described, however, the matrix strips 72 are disposed parallel to the direction of oxidizing gas flow.
  • the combination of the ribbed cathode 64 and flat cathode 70 functions as an electrode reservoir 16 at the upper end of the fuel cell stack.
  • the ribbed cathode 64 is preferably made of Ni material having approximately 65% porosity.
  • the flat cathode 70 is preferably made of Ni material of up to 70% porosity.
  • a second inactive anode part 82 (represented generally by 12 in FIG. 2) disposed beneath the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 separates the electrode reservoir 16 from the active cathode part 18 .
  • the second inactive anode part 82 in the positive end cell 10 has the same structure as the inactive anode part 12 , namely, a foam anode layer 84 including a foam anode 86 sandwiched between matrix strips 88 , and an anode current collector (ACC) 90 in the top pocket 94 of a second three dimensional “S”-shaped bipolar plate 92 .
  • ACC anode current collector
  • a 310 stainless steel sheet 76 is disposed between the electrode reservoir 16 and the second inactive anode part 82 .
  • the steel sheet 76 may be aluminized at its edges for corrosion protection.
  • CCC cathode current collector
  • a flat standard cathode 100 is disposed immediately below the CCC 98 , sandwiched between the lower lip portions of the second bipolar plate 92 .
  • the flat standard cathode 100 is preferably made of Ni and provides the interface between the positive end cell 10 and the first regular fuel cell in the molten carbonate fuel cell stack.
  • the structure of the anode, or negative, end cell 20 is similar to that of the positive end cell 10 described above, but includes only one inactive electrode part 22 , as will be described in further detail below with respect to the lower portion of FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5A and 5B.
  • an inactive anode part 22 borders the negative end plate 24 , separating the end plate from a ribbed electrode sink 26 .
  • the inactive anode part 22 also comprises a foam anode layer 144 and an anode current collector 150 , and in most other respects it is identical to the inactive anode part 12 in the positive end cell assembly 10 .
  • the foam anode layer 144 including a nickel foam anode 146 and matrix strips 148 is located immediately adjacent to the negative end plate 24 and is therefore disposed below the ACC 150 , not above it as in the positive end cell assembly 10 .
  • the ACC 150 is contained in the pocket 156 of a single-layer bipolar plate 152 having only a lower lip that folds under the ACC 150 along its edges parallel to the direction of the flow of reducing gas.
  • the lower lip meets the edges of the nickel foam anode 146 in the foam anode layer 144 such that the foam anode 146 is disposed directly below the ACC 150 , between the lower lip portions of the single-layer bipolar plate 152 , as shown.
  • the ACC 150 is in direct contact with, and collects current from, the nickel foam anode 146 .
  • Matrix strips 148 in the foam anode layer 144 are sandwiched between the lower lip portions of the bipolar plate 152 and the negative end plate 24 .
  • the inactive anode part 22 in the negative end cell assembly 20 thereby provides an electrically conductive separating interface between the negative end plate 24 and a ribbed electrode sink 26 , described further below.
  • the top portion of the single-layer bipolar plate 152 separates the ACC 150 of the inactive anode part 22 from a flat cathode layer 168 in the ribbed electrode sink 26 directly above it.
  • the electrode sink 26 comprises a flat cathode 170 and a ribbed cathode 164 .
  • the flat cathode layer 168 comprises a flat cathode 170 (preferably made of Ni) and two matrix strips 172 disposed on each side of the flat cathode 170 , sandwiched between the top portion of the single-layer bipolar plate 152 in the inactive anode part 22 , described above, and the lower lip portions of an “S”-shaped bipolar plate 192 .
  • the matrix strips 172 in the flat cathode layer 168 are disposed parallel to the direction of oxidizing gas flow such that the matrix strips can seal oxygen gas from the reducing gas.
  • the “S”-shaped bipolar plate 192 in the negative end cell assembly 20 has the same structure as bipolar plates 52 , 92 in the positive end cell assembly 10 , in that it defines top and bottom pockets 194 , 196 disposed along the flow of reducing gas and along the flow of oxidizing gas, respectively.
  • the top and bottom portions of the “S”-shaped bipolar plate 192 each form a lip folding over a portion of the top and bottom pockets 194 , 196 , respectively, along both edges thereof.
  • the lower lip of the “S”-shaped bipolar plate 192 folds under the bottom pocket 196 along its edge, parallel to the direction of the flow of oxidizing gas.
  • the bottom pocket 196 of the bipolar plate 192 in the electrode sink 26 contains both a compliant, soft cathode current collector 160 (soft CCC) and a ribbed cathode 164 .
  • the soft CCC 160 is disposed in the bottom pocket 196 between the lower lip and the center portion of the bipolar plate 192 along the length of the lower lip, parallel to the flow of oxidizing gas.
  • a ribbed cathode 164 is also disposed in the bottom pocket 196 of the bipolar plate 192 .
  • the ribbed structure of the cathode 164 provides channels for oxidizing gas to flow through and uniformly oxidize the nickel material from which the ribbed cathode 164 is primarily made.
  • the lower lip of the bipolar plate 192 which folds under the soft, compliant CCC strips 160 parallel to the direction of the flow of oxidizing gas, matches up with the edges of the ribbed cathode 164 such that the ribbed cathode is disposed between the strips of soft CCC 160 and the lower lip portions of the bipolar plate 192 .
  • the structure of the ribbed electrode sink 26 in the negative end cell assembly 20 is identical to that of the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 in the positive end cell assembly 10 .
  • the combination of soft, compliant and resilient CCC 160 in the bottom pocket 196 of the bipolar plate 192 and the electrically conductive separating interface provided by the inactive anode part 22 imparts the same advantages in the negative end cell 20 as it does in the positive end cell 10 , namely, it avoids contact loss and the corresponding irreversible increase in electrical resistance within the negative end cell assembly.
  • more than one inactive anode part 22 may be provided in the negative end cell assembly 20
  • one inactive anode part 22 as described above is generally sufficient to achieve these advantages, because thermal and mechanical mismatch in the negative or anode end cell usually do not occur to the same degree as in the positive end cell 10 during operation of the fuel cell stack.
  • the combination of the ribbed and flat cathodes 164 , 170 provides an electrolyte sink 26 at the lower end of the fuel cell stack.
  • molten electrolyte material tends to migrate toward the negative, or anode, end of the stack during operation.
  • the ribbed and flat cathodes 164 , 170 are made of the same material as the electrolyte reservoir 16 in the positive end cell assembly 10 , having up to 70% porosity.
  • the ribbed and flat cathodes 164 , 170 function as a sink or sponge for electrolyte material.
  • the sink 26 collects molten electrolyte and distributes it to hardware that needs it, thereby preventing the anode end of the stack from flooding or corroding. In combination with the ribbed electrode reservoir 16 in the positive end cell assembly 10 , the ribbed electrode sink 26 significantly mitigates electrolyte migration and loss during operation of the molten electrolyte fuel cell stack.
  • An additional advantage of the present end cell design, in both the positive and negative end cells 10 , 20 is that the combination of soft, compliant and resilient CCC with ribbed and flat cathodes provides a softer, more compliant and resilient wet seal in the ribbed electrode reservoir or sink for maintaining electrical contact in the active area of the end cell.
  • an anode current collector (ACC) 190 disposed above the electrode sink 26 in the negative end cell 20 , within the top pocket 194 of the three-dimensional “S”-shaped bipolar plate 192 .
  • the top lip of the bipolar plate 192 folds over the ACC 190 along its edges parallel to the direction of the flow of reducing gas and matches up with the edges of a standard anode 200 such that the standard anode 200 is disposed directly above the ACC 190 , between the top edges of the bipolar plate 192 , as shown.
  • the ACC 190 is in direct contact with, and collects current from, the standard anode 200 .
  • the standard anode 200 is preferably made of Ni alloys and provides the interface between the negative end cell 20 and the last regular fuel cell in the molten carbonate fuel cell stack.

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US10/329,305 2002-12-24 2002-12-24 Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact Abandoned US20040121200A1 (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/329,305 US20040121200A1 (en) 2002-12-24 2002-12-24 Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact
US10/407,544 US7201985B2 (en) 2002-12-24 2003-04-03 Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact
EP03814598A EP1588444B1 (en) 2002-12-24 2003-09-29 Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact
JP2005508526A JP4555225B2 (ja) 2002-12-24 2003-09-29 燃料電池用の改良された電解質管理と電気接触のための不活性な端部セルアセンブリ
CNB038257238A CN100561791C (zh) 2002-12-24 2003-09-29 改进了电解质管理和电接触的燃料电池用非活性端电池组件
DE60330054T DE60330054D1 (de) 2002-12-24 2003-09-29 Inaktive endzellenbaugruppe für brennstoffzellen für verbessertes elektrolytmanagement und verbesserten elektrischen kontakt
PCT/US2003/030668 WO2004062021A1 (en) 2002-12-24 2003-09-29 Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact

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US10/329,305 US20040121200A1 (en) 2002-12-24 2002-12-24 Inactive end cell assembly for fuel cells for improved electrolyte management and electrical contact

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US20060275641A1 (en) * 2003-09-23 2006-12-07 Biagio Passalacqua Electrolyte migration control for large area mcfs stacks
US20080152957A1 (en) * 2006-12-21 2008-06-26 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Non-functional fuel cell for fuel cell stack
CN101459252B (zh) * 2009-01-07 2010-06-02 西安热工研究院有限公司 一种大面积熔融碳酸盐补盐燃料电池
WO2010123478A1 (en) * 2009-04-20 2010-10-28 Utc Power Corporation Manufacture of a fuel cell with liquid electrolyte migration prevention
WO2014104584A1 (ko) * 2012-12-28 2014-07-03 주식회사 미코 연료 전지용 스택 구조물
US9985301B2 (en) 2011-09-21 2018-05-29 Intelligent Energy Limited Fuel cell assembly
CN109346758A (zh) * 2018-11-30 2019-02-15 新源动力股份有限公司 一种燃料电池电堆及其封装方法
WO2019145836A1 (en) * 2018-01-23 2019-08-01 Fuelcell Energy, Inc. Fuel cell inactive end cell design to improve electric and mechanical contact

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US20040121213A1 (en) 2004-06-24

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