US 12,725,810 B2 · Fuel cell dry end with o-ring compression seal

Abstract

A fuel cell system, e.g., of a motor vehicle, includes a fuel cell stack having fuel cells and non-repeating hardware components, the latter including wet and dry end units. The cells are positioned between the end units. The dry end unit includes an end plate and a compression plate assembly that uniformly compresses the cells against the end plate, and a terminal plate surrounded by a seal plate. An insulator frame disposed adjacent to the compression plate assembly is engaged with the insulator frame via a frictional interface provided by o-ring compression seals having a respective post connected to the terminal plate and the seal plate, and a pocket connected to the insulator frame. The post and pocket of at least one of the compression seals together define a fluid passage. One or more shim plates may be disposed between the end plate and insulator frame.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells;
and
non-repeating hardware (NRHW) components, including a wet end unit and a dry end unit, wherein the fuel cells are positioned between the wet end unit and the dry end unit, the dry end unit comprising:
an end plate;
a compression plate assembly configured to uniformly compress the fuel cells against the end plate, and having a terminal plate surrounded by a seal plate;
an insulator frame disposed adjacent to the compression plate assembly;
and
a plurality of o-ring compression seals configured to provide a frictional interface between the compression plate assembly and the insulator frame, such that the compression plate assembly and the insulator frame are mutually engaged via the frictional interface.

5 more elements

A motor vehicle comprising:

a fuel cell stack;
a reactant supply tank in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack;
a direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter connected to the fuel cell stack;
a direct current-to-alternating current (DC-AC) inverter circuit connected to the DC-DC converter;
an AC traction motor connected to the DC-AC inverter circuit;
and
one or more road wheels connected to and powered by the AC traction motor, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises:
a dry end unit having an end plate;
a compression plate assembly configured to uniformly compress a plurality of fuel cells of the fuel cell stack against the end plate, the compression plate assembly having a terminal plate surrounded by a seal plate;
a conductive busbar connected to the terminal plate and protruding from the fuel cell stack;
an insulator frame disposed adjacent to the compression plate assembly;
and
a plurality of o-ring compression seals, wherein the compression plate assembly and the insulator frame are mutually engaged via a frictional interface provided by the o-ring compression seals.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel cell dry end with o-ring compression seal

Life of this patent

Fuel cell dry end with o-ring compression seal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20