Compression apparatus for electrochemical stacks
AssigneeElectric Hydrogen Co.
InventorsAsher Solnit, Leland Kirshen, Christian Fay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The following disclosure relates to a compression apparatus for an electrochemical stack having a first plate, a second plate, and a plurality of electrochemical cells positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The compression apparatus includes a spring compression bar, a plurality of first fasteners, a plurality of second fasteners, and a plurality of springs positioned around a circumference of each second fastener.
Claims20
A compression apparatus for an electrochemical stack having a first plate extending along a first plane, a second plate extending along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and plurality of electrochemical cells positioned between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the plurality of electrochemical cells comprises four sides, each side extending along a respective plane between the first plate and the second plate of the electrochemical stack orthogonal to the first plane of the first plate and the second plane of the second plate, and wherein the four sides of the plurality of electrochemical cells are respective faces forming a border of the plurality of electrochemical cells, the compression apparatus comprising:
- a spring compression bar positioned between the first plate and the second plate of the electrochemical stack;
- a plurality of first fasteners, wherein each first fastener is configured to be positioned through a respective opening of the first plate and a respective opening of the spring compression bar, and wherein each first fastener is secured at one end adjacent to the first plate and at a second end adjacent to the spring compression bar;
- and
- a plurality of second fasteners, wherein each second fastener is configured to be positioned through a respective opening of the spring compression bar and a respective opening of the second plate, wherein each second fastener is secured at one end adjacent to the first plate and at a second end adjacent to the second plate;
- and
- a plurality of springs positioned around a circumference of each second fastener between the first plate and the spring compression bar of the respective second fastener,
- wherein the compression apparatus is configured to be positioned along one face of the border of the plurality of electrochemical cells, and
- wherein the spring compression bar is configured to be positioned at an intermediate location between a top and a bottom of the plurality of electrochemical cells along the one face of the border of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
An electrochemical stack comprising:
- a first plate extending along a first plane;
- a second plate extending along a second plane parallel to the first plane;
- a plurality of electrochemical cells positioned between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the plurality of electrochemical cells comprises four sides, each side extending along a respective plane between the first plate and the second plate orthogonal to the first plane of the first plate and the second plane of the second plate, and wherein the four sides of the plurality of electrochemical cells are respective faces forming a border of the plurality of electrochemical cells;
- a first compression apparatus positioned along a first face of the border of the plurality of electrochemical cells;
- and
- a second compression apparatus positioned along a second face of the border of the plurality of electrochemical cells opposite from the first face,
- wherein each compression apparatus of the first compression apparatus and the second compression apparatus comprises:
- a spring compression bar positioned between the first plate and the second plate of the electrochemical stack at an intermediate location between a top and a bottom of the plurality of electrochemical cells along the respective face of the border of the plurality of electrochemical cells;
- a plurality of first fasteners, wherein each first fastener is configured to be positioned through a respective opening of the first plate and a respective opening of the spring compression bar, and wherein each first fastener is secured at one end adjacent to the first plate and at a second end adjacent to the spring compression bar;
- and
- a plurality of second fasteners, wherein each second fastener is configured to be positioned through a respective opening of the spring compression bar and a respective opening of the second plate, wherein each second fastener is secured at one end adjacent to the first plate and at a second end adjacent to the second plate;
- and
- a plurality of springs positioned around a circumference of each second fastener between the first plate and the spring compression bar of the respective second fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.