US 9,437,885 B2 · Fuel cell stack

Abstract

A fuel cell stack is provided that includes unit cells that include a manifold, an open end plate that is disposed at one side of the unit cells and that has a reaction gas inlet and outlet that are connected to the manifold, and a closed end plate that is disposed at the other side of the unit cells and that closes the manifold. In particular, the open end plate includes a first slanted surface that adjusts a flow of a reaction gas at a reaction gas inlet and a manifold interface. A first alignment protrusion forms the first slanted surface and that aligns the unit cells, and the closed end plate includes a second slanted surface that adjusts flow of a reaction gas at the manifold interface. Additionally, a second alignment protrusion forms the second slanted surface and aligns the unit cells accordingly.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A fuel cell stack, comprising:

unit cells that are stacked together and form a manifold;
a first end plate that is disposed at an outermost end of the unit cells, the first end plate being an open end plate in which a reaction gas inlet and outlet that is connected to the manifold of the first end plate are formed;
a second end plate that is disposed at an opposing outermost end of the unit cells, the second end plate being a closed end plate that closes the manifold;
and
a reaction gas that flows into the reaction gas inlet through a first slanted surface of the first end plate, wherein the first slanted surface widens the manifold from the first end plate toward an interior of the stacked unit cells to adjust a flow of the reaction gas at a manifold interface of the first end plate and to minimize distribution deviation,
wherein the first and second end plate press against the unit cells.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel cell stack

Life of this patent

Fuel cell stack

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18