Fuel cell stack compression devices and methods
AssigneeBloom Energy Corporation
InventorsDavid Edmonston, Michael Petrucha, Martin Perry, Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, William David Lyle
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Abstract
A ceramic baffle is configured to place a load on a stack of electrochemical cells and direct a reactant feed flow stream to the stack.
Claims27
A baffle configured to be located substantially on one side of a stack of fuel cells and to place a load in a stacking direction on the stack of fuel cells and to direct a reactant feed flow stream to the stack, wherein the stacking direction is normal to a top surface of the stack of fuel cells, wherein the baffle comprises an interlocked baffle plate,
- wherein the baffle plate comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end comprises a first cutout and the second end comprise a second cutout;
- wherein the load is transmitted to the stack of fuel cells via the cutout;
- and
- a plurality of inserts, wherein the inserts are configured to fit in the first and second cutouts to interlock the baffle plate in the baffle.
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell stack located over a base;
- and a plurality of side baffles located adjacent to at least two sides of the fuel cell stack, the plurality of side baffles provide a compressive stress in a stacking direction on the fuel cell stack, wherein the stacking direction is normal to a top surface of the fuel cell stack, and wherein each of the plurality of side baffles comprise a plurality of interlocked baffle plates located substantially on one side of the fuel cell stack,
- wherein the baffle plate comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end comprises a first cutout and the second end comprise a second cutout;
- wherein the compressive stress is transmitted to the stack of fuel cells via the cutout;
- and
- a plurality of inserts, wherein the inserts are configured to fit in the first and second cutouts to interlock the baffle plate in the baffle.
The fuel cell system of 16, further comprising a lower ceramic block over the base, the lower block configured to attach to the plurality of side baffles located adjacent to the at least two sides of the fuel cell stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.