Plug Power Inc.

James D'Aleo

Charles R Elder

Charles Michael Carlstrom, Jr

Michael M Walsh

Michael Anthony Cacioppo

Russel Hugh Marvin

Norman Peschke

Gary D Antonelli

A fuel cell stack includes an endplate assembly having a structural endplate. An insulator plate has a second exterior surface contacting a first interior surface of the structural endplate and a second interior surface on an opposite side of the insulator plate. A third plate has a third exterior surface contacting the second interior surface and a third interior surface on an opposite side of the third plate relative to the insulator plate. The third interior surface and third exterior surface are substantially flat. The second interior surface and the third exterior surface contact each other substantially continuously in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and are flat and substantially parallel to each other. The second exterior surface is contoured such that the second exterior surface is not flat and is substantially non-parallel relative to the third interior surface.

Fuel cell stack

A fuel cell stack includes a structural endplate having an exterior surface. An insulator plate contacts an interior surface of the structural endplate located on an opposite surface of the endplate relative to the exterior surface. A collector plate contacts the insulator plate on an opposite side of the insulator plate relative to the structural endplate. A pocket plate is located on an interior side of the collector plate located on an opposite side of the insulator plate relative to the structural endplate. The collective plate is received in a pocket of an exterior side of the pocket plate. The exterior side is adjacent the collector plate and closer to the structural endplate than an opposite side of the pocket plate.

A fuel cell stack includes a fluid flow plate at an outer end, a sealing member contacting the fluid flow plate and a gas diffusion layer, and a catalyst layer inside the gas diffusion layer. A membrane is located at a central location between the catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer. The fluid flow plate includes a channel for receiving a portion of a perimeter of the gas diffusion layer.

In a fuel-cell system, the task of replacing a fuel-cell stack mounted on a base is made easier by a hinge coupling the fuel-cell stack and the base. The hinge enables the stack to be pivoted onto the base so that an aperture on the stack aligns with a corresponding aperture on the base.

Fuel-cell system with a pivotable stack installation assembly

A fuel cell stack assembly includes a stack of fuel cell flow plates that include fluid passageways; pipes to communicate fluids with the fluid passageways; an end plate; and a dielectric manifold. The end plate supports a compressive load to compress the stack, and the end plate includes openings. The manifold is located between the end plate and the stack to communicate the fluids between the pipes and the fluid passageways. The manifold at least partially extends through the openings in the end plate to form a sealed connection between the manifold and the pipes.

Growing community of inventors

Clifton Park, NY, United States of America

James D'Aleo