# US 8,785,012 B2 · Fuel cell bypass diode structures and attachment methods

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- Number: US 8,785,012 B2
- Document ID: US8785012B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/492,351
- Filed: 2012-06-08
- Published: 2012-12-13
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-09
- Assignees: Bloom Energy Corporation
- Applicants: Matthias Gottmann; Arne Ballantine; Chockkalingam Karuppaiah
- Inventors: Matthias Gottmann; Arne Ballantine; Chockkalingam Karuppaiah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785012B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04246: {Short circuiting means for defective fuel cells (detection of defective fuel cells H01M8/04664, methods for shunting fuel cells H01M8/04955)}
- H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258)
- H01M 8/0432: Temperature; Ambient temperature
- H01M 8/0438: Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
- H01M 8/04552: {of the individual fuel cell}
- H01M 8/04671: {of the individual fuel cell}
- H01M 8/2432: Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
- H01M 8/2465: Details of groupings of fuel cells
- H02J 1/06: Two-wire DC power distribution systems
- H01M 8/0202: Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M 8/04582: {of the individual fuel cell}
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- H02J 2101/30: Fuel cells
- H02J 2105/16: being internal to power sources or power generation plants
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which includes a plurality of fuel cells contacted in series by a plurality of interconnects. The various embodiments provide systems and methods for coupling a fuel cell stack with an electric bypass module within a hot zone. The bypass module may include elements for conducting a current between interconnects in a fuel cell stack and thereby bypass a failed fuel cell that has become a resistive parasitic load.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell system, comprising:
a fuel cell stack in a hot zone, the fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of interconnects; and
a module comprising a plurality of bypass elements, the module attached to the fuel cell stack and located in the hot zone,
wherein at least one of the plurality of bypass elements is electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of interconnects so as to bypass at least one of the plurality of fuel cells located between the interconnects,
wherein the plurality of bypass elements are mounted on or supported inside a support element, and
wherein:
the module comprises a freestanding module and the support element comprises a support plate which has a substantially similar coefficient of thermal expansion as the fuel cell stack;
the plurality of interconnects comprise a plurality of protrusions;
the support element has a comb shape comprising flexible teeth shaped to define a plurality of recesses between the flexible teeth;
the bypass module is attached to the fuel cell stack by placing the plurality of protrusions into alternating recesses; and
recesses without a protrusion are unfilled or filled with a flexible material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the support element is a ceramic circuit board.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the recesses without the protrusion are unfilled.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the recesses without the protrusion are filled with the flexible material.