Sealing device configured to be mounted in a fluid flow channel of a fuel cell stack, and sealing method

A method of isolating a cell from a fuel cell, comprising:

• mounting an isolation device in a fluid flow channel of the fuel cell comprising a stack comprising a plurality of cells aligned along a stack axis and a plurality of fluid flow channels in the stack, the isolation device comprising a belt which is peripheral and configured to block fluid communication between the flow channel and at least one flow opening of a cell to be isolated from the stack, the belt having a cross-section defined as a surface delimited by the periphery of the belt, the belt being deformable between:
• a first configuration in which the cross-section of the belt is substantially analogous to a cross-section of the flow channel, wherein the isolation device is configured to be mounted, and a second configuration in which the cross-section of the belt is smaller than the cross-section of the belt in the first configuration;
• deforming the isolation device from the first configuration to the second configuration, so as to reduce its cross-section so that it is smaller than the cross-section of the flow channel,
• moving said isolation device according to the second configuration in the flow channel so as to align the isolation device with at least one flow opening of the cell to be isolated, and
• releasing the constraint to deform the isolation device from the second configuration to the first configuration so as to press the belt against an inner surface of the flow channel in order to block the fluid communication between the flow channel and the flow opening of a defective cell.