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US 12,119,519 B2Granted
Systems and methods for recycling fuel cell stack components
AssigneeBloom Energy Corporation
InventorElson Seiki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and methods for refurbishing fuel cell stack components, the methods including singulating the stack using a splitting apparatus or a liquid nitrogen bath. Fuel cell debris may be removed from interconnects of the fuel cell stack using laser heating, flame heating, a die, sonication, a nubbed roller, grit blasting, and/or a high pressure fluid.
Claims7
A method of removing fuel cell debris from an interconnect, the method comprising:
- rolling a nubbed roller across opposing sides of the interconnect to remove fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect by using nubs of the nubbed roller to force the fuel cell debris into channels of the interconnect and thereby crack the fuel cell debris;
- and
- scanning a laser beam across the interconnect to remove any remaining fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect.
A method of removing fuel cell debris from an interconnect, the method comprising:
- singulating a fuel cell stack to separate the interconnect from the fuel cell stack;
- and
- simultaneously scanning laser beams across opposing fuel and air sides of the interconnect after the singulating to remove fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect.
A method of removing fuel cell debris from an interconnect, the method comprising:
- singulating a fuel cell stack to separate the interconnect from the fuel cell stack;
- disposing the interconnect in a vertical position such that opposing fuel and air side of the interconnect are oriented in a vertical direction;
- and
- scanning one or more laser beams across the vertically aligned fuel and air sides of the interconnect to remove fuel cell debris adhered to the interconnect while the interconnect is disposed in a vertical position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.