International Fuel Cells, LLC

Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Myron Krasij

Paul R Watson

Michael J Rajpolt

Richard D Breault

Carl Anthony Reiser

Albert P Grasso

Ronald G Martin

Stanley P Bonk

Bryan F Dufner

Richard C Nickols, Jr

Thomas E Swarr

Edward A Moskey

Michael J Rajport, Jr

A unitized electrode assembly for a fuel cell stack assembly, includes a membrane electrode assembly having a first side, a second side, a peripheral edge area and a plurality of perforations along the peripheral edge area; a cathode substrate adjacent to the first side; an anode substrate adjacent to the second side; and a seal material bonding the cathode substrate to the anode substrate and extending through the plurality of perforations.

Interfacial and edge seals for unitized electrode assemblies of fuel cell stack assembly

A sealant system for a manifold of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes low temperature cured or heat cured silicone rubber bridges between the end plates to compensate for the uneven edges of various fuel cell component layers, and a layer of silicone rubber foam or sponge, or a molded silicone rubber gasket extending across the bridges and along the end plates, around the entire contact perimeter surfaces of the manifold, to seal the manifold to the fuel cell. The cured silicone rubber may extend along the end plates between the bridges. A rubber strip may be adhered to the silicone rubber bridges and end plates. The bridges may comprise a first layer of low shrinkage self-leveling RTV liquid rubber with viscosity in the range of 10,000-20,000 cps and a second layer of RTV liquid rubber.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell external manifold seal

A stack ( ) of fuel cells ( ) sealed together with a formed elastomer seal ( ) is disclosed. Each of the individual cell components are bonded to one another with thermoplastic film ( ). As a result, only one formed elastomer seal ( ) is required for each fuel cell ( ) within a stack ( ) to provide a modular fuel cell stack assembly ( ).

Fuel cell stack assembly with edge seal

A sub-stack assembly of a number of cells bonded together with thermoplastic film is disclosed. Each of the individual cell components are bonded to one another with thermoplastic film . A number of sub-stack assemblies are stacked and sealed relative to one another by a soft compliant gasket seal , such as a foam rubber or other suitable materials. As a result, only one soft foam rubber seal would be required for each sub-stack assembly rather than for every cell.

Bonded fuel cell stack assemblies

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, each of which includes a membrane electrode assembly and a water transport plate, or a fluid flow plate fabricated from graphite. This plate and optionally a separator plate are held in assembled relationship with one another and with the membrane electrode assemblies by a fluoroelastomeric adhesive/sealant that is also coated on the external edges of these components to provide a water-tight seal to better contain the coolant fluid in the form of water provided in the fuel cell stack.

Fuel cell with improved sealing between individual membrane assemblies

An improved membrane electrode assembly for PEM fuel cells is provided. Catalyst layers (40, 44) are disposed, respectively, on both sides of the proton exchange membrane (48). Gas diffusion layers (38, 50) are disposed, respectively, on sides of the catalyst layers (40, 44) not in contact with the proton exchange membrane (48). Porous substrates (32, 34) are disposed, respectively, on sides of the gas diffusion layers (38, 50) not in contact with the catalyst layers (40, 44). The porous substrates (32, 34) are impregnated at their periphery with a thermoplastic material. Thermoplastic film layers (42, 46, 68) are employed at the periphery of the assembly (10) between component parts to bond and seal water transport plates (12' and 16) to each other, as well as substrates (32, 32', 34) to the membrane electrode assembly (20). A foam tape 60, 62, 62' are employed to seal water transport plates (12, 12', 16) to respective substrates (32, 32', 34).

Use of thermoplastic films to create seals and bond PEM cell components

An improved membrane electrode assembly for PEM fuel cells is provided. Catalyst layers (40, 44) are disposed, respectively, on both sides of the full planform proton exchange membrane (48). Gas diffusion layers (38, 50) are disposed, respectively, on sides of the catalyst layers (40, 44) not in communication with the full planform proton exchange membrane (48). Porous substrates (32, 34) are disposed, respectively, on sides of the gas diffusion layers (38, 50) not in communication with the catalyst layers (40, 44). The porous substrates (32, 34) are impregnated at their periphery with a sealant. The gas diffusion layers (38, 50) are coated with a sealant (60, 62) on respective sides thereof in regions which are in communication with sealant impregnated regions (36, 52) of the porous substrates (32, 34). The gas diffusion layers (38, 50), the porous substrates (32, 34), and the catalyst layers (40, 44) are co-extensive with the proton exchange membrane (48). The membrane electrode assembly (10) is continuously manufactured to eliminate step discontinuities and the associated strict tolerance requirements and resultant high scrap rates.

Membrane electrode assembly for PEM fuel cell

A support plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes a porous support body that has a central portion and a peripheral portion integral with and circumferentially completely surrounding the central portion, and a sealing body of elastomeric sealing material that completely fills the pores of the peripheral portion to make it impermeable to fluids. The support plate may be assembled with another one and with a proton exchange membrane interposed between the two support plates to form an assembly, and the sealing body then peripherally joins and seals the assembly and fills any gaps that may be present between the peripheral portions due to the absence of the membrane from such regions and thus to peripherally encapsulate the membrane.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell support plate and an assembly

A butyl rubber/ethylene propylene latex sealant for use in fuel cells is disclosed. The sealant is comprised of between about 50 wt % and about 99 wt % butyl rubber and about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % ethylene propylene latex. Conventional fillers can be added to the sealant to attain or enhance various properties such as: desired viscosity, specific gravity, stability, strength, oxidation resistance, and accelerated cure.

Fuel cell component sealant

A method of forming thin porous sheets of ceramic material for use as electrodes or other components in a molten carbonate fuel cell is disclosed. The method involves spray drying a slurry of fine ceramic particles in liquid carrier to produce generally spherical agglomerates of high porosity and a rough surface texture. The ceramic particles may include the electrode catalyst and the agglomerates can be calcined to improve mechanical strength. After slurrying with suitable volatile material and binder tape casting is used to form sheets that are sufficiently strong for further processing and handling in the assembly of a high temperature fuel cell.

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Avon, CT, United States of America

Myron Krasij