Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellscaft

Xiaofeng Yan

Thomas Hoefler

Franz-Josef Wetzel

Olav Finkenwirth

Andreas Oswald Stoermer

Bernd Kuhn

Maximilian Danzer

The invention relates to a fuel cell stack which is composed of several individual fuel cells that are stacked on top of each other. Each of said fuel cells comprises a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit () and a perforated film () which distributes a combustible gas across the first electrode surface thereof, supports the cathode-electrolyte-anode unit (), and is combined into a cassette () that is provided with a hollow space along with an additional structure (). The combustible gas reaches the first electrode (A) via said cassette (). The side of each cassette (), which is located opposite the cathode-electrolyte-anode unit (), is provide with a structure for distributing atmospheric oxygen across the surface of the second electrode of a neighboring cassette such that the stack is formed by several superimposed cassettes (), between the film () of which a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit () and the structure for distributing atmospheric oxygen across the surface of the second electrode are disposed along with the additional structure (). In order to brace the individual cassettes against each other in a housing or similar, the inventive stack comprises at least one bracing cassette, the walls of which are impermeable and which is filled with a material that expands to a relatively great extent when being heated.

Fuel cell stack

A fuel cell includes a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit, and a perforated foil structure distributes fuel gas over an electrode surface thereof. Longitudinal axes of at least some of the holes forming perforations in the foil are inclined differently relative to the foil surface such that, near a fuel gas feed, the outlet openings of the holes facing the electrode are oriented at least slightly toward the area of the fuel gas outlet from the fuel cell. Near a fuel gas outlet, the inlet openings of the holes facing the electrode are oriented at least slightly to the area of the fuel gas feed. However, holes whose inlet openings facing away from the electrode are oriented toward the fuel gas feed, and holes whose outlet openings facing away from the electrode are oriented toward the fuel gas outlet, may also be arranged alternately side-by-side.

Fuel cell having a perforated foil distributing the fuel gas over the electrode surface

Growing community of inventors

Leonberg-Warmbronn, Germany

Xiaofeng Yan