Fuel cell system and stack
OwnerSang-Won Leeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stack for a fuel cell system generating electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen includes one or more electricity generating elements having a membrane-electrode assembly and an inner separator, the inner separator being disposed on either side of the membrane-electrode assembly. A pair of outermost separators positioned at opposite ends of the stack, respectively, to form current collecting units having opposite polarities. The pair of outermost separators are fastened to provide a coupling force (or pressure) to the electricity generating elements in an opposing direction and to closely connect the electricity generating elements with each other.
Claims26
A stack for a fuel cell system for generating electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, the stack comprising:
- one or more electricity generating elements having a membrane-electrode assembly and an inner separator, the inner separator being disposed on either side of the membrane-electrode assembly;
- and
- a pair of outermost separators positioned at opposite ends of the one or more electricity generating elements, respectively, the pair of outermost separators forming current collecting units having opposite polarities,
- wherein the pair of outermost separators are fastened to provide a coupling force to the electricity generating elements in an opposing direction and to closely connect the electricity generating elements with each other.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a stack for generating electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen;
- a fuel supplier for supplying a fuel containing hydrogen to the stack;
- and
- an oxygen supplier for supplying oxygen to the stack,
- wherein the stack comprises:
- one or more electricity generating elements having a membrane-electrode assembly and an inner separator, the inner separator being disposed on either side of the membrane-electrode assembly;
- and
- a pair of outermost separators positioned at opposite ends of the one or more electricity generating elements, respectively, the pair of outermost separators forming current collecting units having opposite polarities,
- wherein the pair of outermost separators are fastened to provide a coupling force to the electricity generating elements in an opposing direction and to closely connect the electricity generating elements with each other.
A stack for a fuel cell system for generating electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, the stack comprising:
- a plurality of electricity generating elements, each of the electricity generating elements having a membrane-electrode assembly and an inner separator, the inner separator being disposed on either side of the membrane-electrode assembly;
- and
- a pair of outermost separators positioned at opposite ends of the electricity generating elements, respectively,
- wherein the pair of outermost separators are fastened to provide a coupling force to the electricity generating elements in an opposing direction and to closely connect the electricity generating elements with each other, and
- wherein a terminal element is formed at each of the pair of outermost separators to form the pair of outermost separators into current collecting units.
A method of allowing a stack of a fuel cell system to collect current for a current receiving load, the stack having a plurality of electricity generating elements and a pair of outermost separators, each of the electricity generating elements having a membrane-electrode assembly and an inner separator, the inner separator being disposed on either side of the membrane-electrode assembly, the pair of outermost separators being positioned at opposite ends of the electricity generating elements, respectively, the method comprising:
- fastening the pair of outermost separators to provide a coupling force to the electricity generating elements in an opposing direction and to closely connect the electricity generating elements with each other;
- and
- forming a terminal element at each of the pair of outermost separators, the terminal element being electrically coupleable to the current receiving load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.