US 11,949,130 B2
Fuel cell inactive end cell design to improve electric and mechanical contact
Chao-Yi Yuh, New Milford, CT (US); Lawrence Novacco, Brookfield, CT (US); Ling Chen, Woodbury, CT (US); and Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Danbury, CT (US)
Assigned to FUELCELL ENERGY, INC., Danbury, CT (US)
Appl. No. 16/963,137
Filed by FUELCELL ENERGY, INC., Danbury, CT (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 18, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/050447
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 17, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/145836, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 1, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/620,835, filed on Jan. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0126265 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 8/0245 (2016.01); H01M 8/0206 (2016.01); H01M 8/0232 (2016.01); H01M 8/14 (2006.01); H01M 8/244 (2016.01); H01M 8/2475 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/0245 (2013.01) [H01M 8/0206 (2013.01); H01M 8/0232 (2013.01); H01M 8/244 (2013.01); H01M 8/2475 (2013.01); H01M 2008/147 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end cell assembly for a fuel cell stack, comprising:
a positive end plate;
a first inactive anode part located immediately adjacent to the positive end plate, the first inactive anode part comprising:
a first anode current collector,
a first nickel foam anode disposed directly above the first anode current collector,
a first bipolar plate, and
a first nickel foil layer disposed between the first anode current collector and the first bipolar plate;
a second inactive anode part located immediately adjacent to the first inactive anode part, the second inactive anode part comprising:
a second anode current collector,
a second nickel foam anode disposed directly above the second anode current collector,
a second bipolar plate, and
a second nickel foil layer disposed between the second anode current collector and the second bipolar plate;
a cathode reservoir disposed adjacent to the second inactive anode part;
a third inactive anode part disposed adjacent to the cathode reservoir on a side opposite the second inactive anode part, the third inactive anode part comprising:
a third anode current collector,
a third nickel foam anode disposed directly above the third anode current collector,
a third bipolar plate, and
a third nickel foil layer disposed between the third anode current collector and the third bipolar plate; and
an active cathode part disposed on a side of the third inactive anode part opposite the cathode reservoir.