# US 12,015,182 B2 · Assembly method and arrangement for a cell system

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- Number: US 12,015,182 B2
- Document ID: US12015182B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/228,581
- Filed: 2016-08-04
- Published: 2016-11-24
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-05
- Assignees: Elcogen Oy
- Applicants: Elcogen Oy
- Inventors: Matti Noponen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015182B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/247: Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
- C25B 9/01: Electrolytic cells characterised by shape or form
- C25B 9/70: Assemblies comprising two or more cells
- C25B 15/08: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
- H01M 8/002: {Shape, form of a fuel cell}
- H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes}
- H01M 8/1231: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- H01M 8/2425: High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M 8/2432: Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
- H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- H01M 8/248: Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks
- H01M 8/2484: characterised by external manifolds
- H01M 8/2485: Arrangements for sealing external manifolds; Arrangements for mounting external manifolds around a stack
- H01M 8/249: comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An assembly arrangement of solid oxide cells in a fuel cell system or in an electrolyzer cell system is disclosed which includes cells arranged at least to four angles and at least one cell stack formation. At least one substantially plain attachment side of each at least four angled stack formation includes at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure in the otherwise substantially plain side between at least two corners of the at least four angled stack formation. At least one flow restriction structure restricts air flows in the cell system to be mounted against the geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of each stack formation to attach at least one cell stack formation in the assembly arrangement. An electrical insulation is arranged to the attachment of the flow restriction structure and the stack formation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly arrangement of solid oxide cells for a fuel cell system or for an electrolyzer cell system, the assembly arrangement comprising:
a plurality of cell stack formations, each cell stack formation having four sides;
a plain attachment side formed as at least one of the four sides of each cell stack formation, said plain attachment side is defined by a horizontal plane, wherein the plain attachment side includes at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure, the at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure having a length that fully extends across the plain attachment side in one direction of the horizontal plane;
at least one flow restriction structure configured for restricting air flows in a cell system, wherein the at least one flow restriction structure includes a first flow restriction structure that connects adjacent first and second cell stack formations of the plurality of cell stack formations, wherein the first flow restriction structure is mounted to a first geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the first cell stack formation and is mounted to a first geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the second cell stack formation, wherein the at least one flow restriction structure includes a second flow restriction structure that connects at least one of the first and second cell stack formations to an adjacent third cell stack formation of the plurality of cell stack formations, wherein the second flow restriction structure includes a first member mounted to a second geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the at least one first and second cell stack formation and a second member that is attached to a third flow restriction structure of the third cell stack formation; and
an electrical insulation to insulate each flow restriction structure and the cell stack formation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the assembly arrangement is arranged to assemble at least the first, second, and third cell stack formations in a circular assembly arrangement,
wherein the first flow restriction structure includes first and second members for connecting the first cell stack formation to the second cell stack formation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the second member of the at least one flow restriction structure includes a plate between the first members attached to the geometrically deviating attachment surface structures, wherein the circular assembly arrangement of the plurality of cell stack formations is formed based on a curvature of the plate between a pair of first members.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow restriction structure is configured to allow the stack formation to freely expand and shrink with temperature, by being mounted loosely against the at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of each stack formation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a length of each of the at least one first and second members is substantially equal to a height of each of the plurality of cell stack formations.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first member of the second flow restriction structure is mounted to the second geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the at least one first and second cell stack formation and the second member is attached to a pair of first members and joins the at least one first and second cell stack formations to the second flow restriction structure of the third cell stack formation.

### Claim 7

A method for assembling solid oxide cells for a fuel cell system or for an electrolyzer cell system, the method comprising:
arranging a plurality of cell stack formations, each cell stack formation having four sides and is formed of a plurality of cells;
providing at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure on at least one plain attachment side to compensate mechanical stresses due to thermal expansions of materials, the at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure fully extending across the plain attachment side in a second direction of a horizontal plane;
mounting at least one flow restriction structure for restricting air flows in the cell system, the at least one flow restriction structure includes a first flow restriction structure that connects adjacent first and second cell stack formations of the plurality of cell stack formations, wherein the first flow restriction structure is mounted to a first geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the first cell stack formation and is mounted to a first geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the second cell stack formation, wherein the at least one flow restriction structure includes a second flow restriction structure that connects at least one of the first and second cell stack formations to an adjacent third cell stack formation of the plurality of cell stack formations;
mounting a first member of the second restriction structure to a second geometrically deviating attachment surface structure of the at least one first and second cell stack formations;
attaching a second member of the second flow restriction structure to a third flow restriction structure of the third cell stack formation; and
electrically insulating the attachment of the flow restriction structure and the stack formation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the first flow restriction structure includes first and second members for connecting the first cell stack formation to the second cell stack formation, the method comprising:
assembling the first, second, and third cell stack formations in a circular assembly arrangement.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein connecting the second member of the at least one flow restriction structure comprises:
connecting a plate between the first members attached to the geometrically deviating attachment surface structures, wherein the circular assembly is formed based on a curvature of the plate between the pair of first members.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the flow restriction structure is configured to allow the stack formation to freely expand and shrink with temperature, by being mounted loosely against the at least one geometrically deviating attachment surface structure in the plain attachment side of each stack formation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one flow restriction structure is arranged such that a length of each of the at least one first and second members is substantially equal to a height of each of the plurality of cell stack formations.