Sealing apparatus for a fuel cell stack
AssigneeIntelligent Energy Limited
InventorKevin Kupcho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell stack assembly comprises a stack of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an air flow conduit with an input/output ventilation aperture disposed on a ventilation face of the stack, the ventilation apertures forming an array over said ventilation face of the stack. A membrane is moveable between a first configuration in which the ventilation face is occluded and a second configuration in which the ventilation face is not occluded. The membrane is rollable between the first configuration and the second configuration. Ventilation of the fuel cell stack is thereby controlled by the position of the membrane, e.g. during fuel cell start up and/or shut down procedures or for hydration control of the fuel cells.
Claims13
A fuel cell stack assembly comprising:
- a stack of fuel cells occupying parallel planes, with each fuel cell having an air flow conduit with an input/output ventilation aperture on an edge of the fuel cell such that the input/output ventilation apertures of the fuel cells form an array over a ventilation face of the stack;
- and,
- a membrane moveable between a first configuration in which the ventilation face is occluded and a second configuration in which the ventilation face is not occluded;
- wherein the membrane is rollable between the first configuration and the second configuration;
- wherein the stack assembly further comprises a first receptacle for receiving a first portion of the membrane in a rolled-up condition when the membrane is in the first configuration.
A method of operating a fuel cell stack assembly comprising the steps of:
- mounting a moveable membrane onto a stack of fuel cells occupying parallel planes, with each fuel cell having an air flow conduit with an input/output ventilation aperture on an edge of the fuel cell such that the input/output ventilation apertures of the fuel cells form an array over a ventilation face of the stack;
- and,
- driving the membrane by rolling-up and unrolling the membrane between a first configuration in which the ventilation face is occluded and a second configuration in which the ventilation face is not occluded,
- the stack assembly including a first receptacle for receiving a first portion of the membrane in a rolled-up condition when the membrane is in the first configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.