# US 9,437,885 B2 · Fuel cell stack

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- Number: US 9,437,885 B2
- Document ID: US9437885B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/102,008
- Filed: 2013-12-10
- Published: 2014-06-19
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-18
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company
- Inventors: Sang Mun Jin; Yoo Chang Yang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437885B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/248: Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks
- H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds
- H01M 8/2485: Arrangements for sealing external manifolds; Arrangements for mounting external manifolds around a stack
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first slanted surface is formed in at least one of an upper side and a lower side of the reaction gas inlet based on a height direction in the first end plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the second end plate includes a second slanted surface that narrows the manifold from the interior of the stacked unit cells toward the second end plate to adjust the flow of a reaction gas at the manifold interface of the second end plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell stack of claim 3, wherein the second slanted surface gradually rises to a height thereof at the manifold interface of the second end plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell stack of claim 4, wherein the second slanted surface is formed as a groove at the manifold interface of the second end plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first end plate includes a first alignment protrusion that protrudes into the manifold to align the unit cells, and the first slanted surface is formed at the first alignment protrusion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fuel cell stack of claim 6, wherein the second end plate includes a second alignment protrusion that protrudes into the manifold to align the unit cells, and the second slanted surface is formed at the second alignment protrusion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The fuel cell stack of claim 7, wherein the first and second alignment protrusions respectively include a support surface that supports the unit cells.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The fuel cell stack of claim 7, wherein the first slanted surface is formed at an opposite side of the support surface of the first alignment protrusion, and the second slanted surface is formed at an opposite side of the support surface of the second alignment protrusion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first slanted surface is slanted upward toward the manifold interface side of the first end plate at an inlet terminal side of the reaction gas inlet.

### Claim 11

A pair of end plates for a fuel cell stack that press together a plurality of unit cells, the pair of end plates comprising;
a first end plate, being disposed at an outermost end of the plurality of unit cells, is an open end plate in which a reaction gas inlet and outlet that is connected to the manifold are formed; and
a second end plate that is disposed at an opposing outermost end of the unit cells is provided as a closed end plate that closes the manifold,
wherein a reaction gas 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 as at a manifold interface of the first end plate and to minimize distribution deviation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The pair of end plates of claim 11, wherein the first slanted surface is formed in at least one of an upper side and a lower side of the reaction gas inlet based on a height direction in the first end plate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The pair of end plates of claim 11, wherein the second end plate includes a second slanted surface that narrows the manifold from the interior of the stacked unit cells toward the second end plate to adjust the flow of a reaction gas at a manifold interface of the second end plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The pair of end plates of claim 11, wherein the first end plate includes a first alignment protrusion that protrudes into the manifold to align the unit cells, and the first slated surface is formed at the first alignment protrusion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The pair of end plates of claim 14, wherein the second end plate includes a second alignment protrusion that protrudes into the manifold to align the unit cells, and the second slanted surface is formed at the second alignment protrusion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The pair of end plates of claim 15, wherein the first and second alignment protrusions respectively include a support surface that supports the unit cells.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The pair of end plates of claim 15, wherein the first slanted surface is formed at an opposite side of the support surface of the first alignment protrusion, and the second slanted surface is formed at an opposite side of the support surface of the second alignment protrusion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The pair of end plates of claim 11, wherein the first slanted surface is slanted upward toward the manifold interface side of the first end plate at an inlet terminal side of the reaction gas inlet.