U.S. patent application number 10/672172 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for fuel cell unit, composite block of fuel cells and method for manufacturing a composite block of fuel cells.
This patent application is currently assigned to ElringKilnger AG. Invention is credited to Diez, Armin.
Application Number | 20040086769 10/672172 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7655688 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040086769 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Diez, Armin |
May 6, 2004 |
Fuel cell unit, composite block of fuel cells and method for
manufacturing a composite block of fuel cells
Abstract
In order to create a fuel cell unit, comprising a
cathode-anode-electrolyt- e unit and a contact plate which is in
electrically conductive contact with the cathode-anode-electrolyte
unit, which requires only small production resources and is thus
suitable for large-scale production it is suggested that the fuel
cell unit comprise a fluid guiding element which is connected to
the contact plate in a fluid-tight manner, forms a boundary of a
fluid chamber having fluid flowing through it during operation of
the fuel cell unit and is designed as a shaped sheet metal
part.
Inventors: |
Diez, Armin; (Lenningen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Edward J. Timmer
Walnut Woods Centre
5955 W. Main Street
Kalamazoo
MI
49009
US
|
Assignee: |
ElringKilnger AG
|
Family ID: |
7655688 |
Appl. No.: |
10/672172 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10672172 |
Sep 26, 2003 |
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09658628 |
Sep 11, 2000 |
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6670068 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
429/456 ;
429/510; 429/513; 429/535 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/50 20130101;
H01M 2008/1293 20130101; H01M 8/2404 20160201; H01M 8/0273
20130101; H01M 8/0297 20130101; H01M 8/248 20130101; H01M 8/0247
20130101; H01M 8/0228 20130101; H01M 8/0276 20130101; H01M 8/2425
20130101; H01M 8/0267 20130101; H01M 8/0254 20130101; Y02P 70/50
20151101; H01M 8/0206 20130101; H01M 8/0282 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/038 ;
429/039; 429/035 |
International
Class: |
H01M 008/02; H01M
002/08; H01M 008/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 9, 2000 |
DE |
100 44 703.1 |
Claims
1. Fuel cell unit, comprising a cathode-anode-electrolyte unit and
a contact plate in electrically conductive contact with the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit, wherein the fuel cell unit
comprises a fluid guiding element connected to the contact plate in
a fluid-tight manner, forming a boundary of a fluid chamber having
fluid flowing through it during operation of the fuel cell unit and
being formed as a shaped sheet metal part.
2. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit is arranged on the fluid guiding
element, preferably held between the fluid guiding element and the
contact plate.
3. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the contact plate
is designed as a shaped sheet metal part.
4. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid guiding
element and the contact plate are connected to one another by way
of welding, preferably by laser welding or by electron beam
welding, or by way of soldering, preferably by hard soldering.
5. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid guiding
element has an opening for the passage of contact elements to the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
6. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid guiding
element abuts on the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit via an
electrically insulating seal.
7. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 6, wherein the seal comprises
mica.
8. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 6, wherein the seal comprises
a flat seal.
9. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 6, wherein the seal comprises
a coating on the fluid guiding element and/or on the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
10. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit and the fluid guiding element are
biased elastically against one another.
11. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid guiding
element is provided with at least one fluid port.
12. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 11, wherein the fluid
guiding element is provided with a fluid supply channel opening and
with a fluid discharge channel opening.
13. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell
unit comprises an electrically insulating fluid channel seal, the
contact plate of the fuel cell unit abutting on the fluid guiding
element of an adjacent fuel cell unit via said seal.
14. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell
unit comprises a fluid channel seal, the fluid guiding element of
the fuel cell unit abutting on the contact plate of an adjacent
fuel cell unit via said seal.
15. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 14, wherein the fluid
channel seal comprises a coating on the fluid guiding element
and/or on the contact plate.
16. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 14, wherein the fluid
channel seal comprises a flat seal.
17. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 14, wherein the fluid
channel seal comprises at least two separate sealing elements.
18. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 14, wherein the fluid
channel seal comprises a slide fit sealing.
19. Fuel cell unit as defined in claim 14, wherein the fluid
channel seal comprises a material, preferably a solder glass,
viscous at the operating temperature of the fuel cell unit.
20. Composite block of fuel cells, comprising a plurality of fuel
cell units as defined in claim 1, said units following one another
along a stacking direction.
21. Composite block of fuel cells as defined in claim 20, wherein
the composite block of fuel cells comprises at least one clamping
element for bracing the fuel cell units against one another.
22. Composite block of fuel cells as defined in claim 21, wherein
the composite block of fuel cells comprises two end plates adapted
to be braced against one another by means of the clamping
element.
23. Composite block of fuel cells as defined in claim 22, wherein
at least one of the end plates has at least one fluid port.
24. Composite block of fuel cells as defined in claim 20, wherein
the fluid guiding element of at least one of the fuel cell units is
connected to the contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit by way
of flanging.
25. Composite block of fuel cells as defined in claim 24, wherein a
flange fold area engaging around the contact plate of the adjacent
fuel cell unit is formed on the fluid guiding element of at least
one of the fuel cell units.
26. Composite block of fuel cells as defined in claim 25, wherein
an electrically insulating fluid channel seal is arranged between
the flange fold area and the contact plate of the adjacent fuel
cell unit.
27. Method for manufacturing a composite block of fuel cells having
a plurality of fuel cell units as defined in claim 1, comprising
the following method steps: Assembly of the individual fuel cell
units by arranging a cathode-anode-electrolyte unit between a
contact plate and a fluid guiding element and fluid-tight
connection of the contact plate to the fluid guiding element;
subsequent assembly of the composite block of fuel cells by
arranging a plurality of fuel cell units along a stacking direction
and fixing the fuel cell units in their position relative to one
another.
28. Method as defined in claim 27, wherein the fuel cell units of
the composite block of fuel cells are braced against one another by
at least one clamping element.
29. Method as defined in claim 28, wherein the fuel cell units of
the composite block of fuel cells are arranged between two end
plates and the two end plates are braced against one another.
30. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid guiding element
of at least one fuel cell unit abuts on the contact plate of an
adjacent fuel cell unit via a flat seal or a slide fit sealing.
31. Method for manufacturing a composite block of fuel cells having
a plurality of fuel cell units as defined in claim 1, comprising
the following method steps: Assembly of several fluid guiding
element-contact plate units by connecting a respective fluid
guiding element of one fuel cell unit to a contact plate of an
adjacent fuel cell unit by way of flanging; formation of a stack
consisting of fluid guiding element-contact plate units following
one another along a stacking direction, wherein one respective
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit is arranged between two such
respective units; fluid-tight connection of the contact plates of
the fuel cell units to the respective fluid guiding element of the
same fuel cell unit.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell unit which
comprises a cathode-anode-electrolyte unit and a contact plate
which is in electrically conductive contact with the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit (CAE unit).
[0002] Fuel cell units of this type are known from the state of the
art.
[0003] As a rule, several such fuel cell units are combined to form
a composite block of fuel cells, in which the fuel cell units
follow one another along a stacking direction.
[0004] In the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit, an electrochemical
reaction takes place during the operation of the fuel cell unit,
during the course of which electrons are supplied to the anode of
the CAE unit and electrons withdrawn from the cathode of the CAE
unit for the ionization of oxygen atoms. The contact plates
arranged between the CAE units of two consecutive fuel cell units
serve to balance the charge between the cathode of the one fuel
cell unit and the anode of the adjacent fuel cell unit in order to
supply the cathode with the electrons required for the ionization.
Electric charges may be tapped from the edge-side contact plates of
the composite block of fuel cells in order to supply them to an
external useful current circuit.
[0005] The contact plates used with the known fuel cell units are
metal plates which are milled or eroded from the entire plate and
between which the CAE units are inserted so that these contact
plates serve at the same time to hold the CAE units, as well.
Furthermore, these plates are provided with channels which serve
for the passage of fluids (combustible gas, oxidation agent and/or
refrigerant) through the fuel cell unit.
[0006] These known fuel cell units are very complicated to produce
and thus suitable only for small quantities.
[0007] The object underlying the present invention is therefore to
create a fuel cell unit of the type specified at the outset which
requires only small production resources and is thus suitable for
large-scale production.
[0008] This object is accomplished in accordance with the
invention, in a fuel cell unit with the features of the preamble to
claim 1, in that the fuel cell unit comprises a fluid guiding
element which is connected to the contact plate in a fluid-tight
manner, forms a boundary of a fluid chamber having fluid flowing
through it during operation of the fuel cell unit and is designed
as a shaped sheet metal part.
[0009] Such a shaped sheet metal part may be produced from an
essentially flat sheet metal blank by means of one or more shaping
processes, in particular, by means of embossing and/or deep
drawing. These production methods are considerably more suitable
and more inexpensive for a large-scale production than the
production of solid metal plates by way of milling or erosion.
[0010] In addition, it is possible to save on material and weight
due to the use of shaped sheet metal parts.
[0011] The fluid flowing through the fluid chamber can be a
combustible gas, an oxidation agent or a refrigerant.
[0012] In particular, it may be provided for the fluid chamber to
be surrounded, apart from by the fluid guiding element, by the
contact plate and by the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
[0013] In a preferred configuration of the invention it is provided
for the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit of the fuel cell unit to be
arranged on the fluid guiding element.
[0014] In particular, it may be provided for the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit to be arranged between the fluid
guiding element, on the one hand, and the contact plate of the same
fuel cell unit or an adjacent fuel cell unit, on the other
hand.
[0015] The inventive fuel cell unit is already particularly simple
to handle prior to the assembly of the composite block of fuel
cells when the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit is held between the
fluid guiding element and the contact plate of the same fuel cell
unit.
[0016] Alternatively hereto, it may also be provided for the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit to be designed as a coating on the
fluid guiding element or on the contact plate of the fuel cell
unit.
[0017] It is particularly favorable when not only the fluid guiding
element but also the contact plate is designed as a shaped sheet
metal part. In this case, the contact plate of the fuel cell unit
may also be produced in a simple manner by way of embossing and/or
deep drawing from an essentially flat sheet metal blank which is
more suitable and more inexpensive for a large-scale production
than the production of solid contact plates by way of milling or
erosion.
[0018] The contact plate and the fluid guiding element may, in this
case, form a two-part shell of the fuel cell unit which surrounds
the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
[0019] The inventive construction of a fuel cell unit is
particularly suitable for so-called high-temperature fuel cell
units which have an operating temperature of up to 950.degree. C.
and can be operated, without any external reformer, directly with a
hydrocarbonaceous combustible gas, such as, for example, methane or
natural gas or alternatively hereto, using an external reformer,
with a diesel or petroleum motor fuel.
[0020] For use in such a high-temperature fuel cell unit the shaped
sheet metal parts, from which the fluid guiding element and also,
where applicable, the contact plate of the fuel cell unit are
formed, are produced from a sheet metal material which is
chemically resistant at the resulting temperatures of up to
950.degree. C. in relation to the components of the combustible
gas, the combustion air supplied and a refrigerant supplied where
applicable (for example cooling air).
[0021] High-grade steel sheets resistant to high temperatures or
steel sheets coated with an inorganic or ceramic material are
particularly suitable for this purpose.
[0022] Furthermore, a sheet metal material is preferably selected
which has a thermal coefficient of expansion compatible with that
of the CAE unit.
[0023] The thickness of the sheet metal material used is preferably
at the most approximately 3 mm, in particular, at the most
approximately 1 mm.
[0024] In order to achieve a reliable connection between the
contact plate and the fluid guiding element of the same fuel cell
unit which is also resistant and gas-tight at high temperatures, it
is preferably provided for the fluid guiding element and the
contact plate to be connected to one another by way of welding,
preferably by laser welding or by electron beam welding.
[0025] Alternatively or in addition hereto it may be provided for
the fluid guiding element and the contact plate to be connected to
one another by way of soldering, preferably by hard soldering.
[0026] In order to make the required compensation of charges
between the CAE units of fuel cell units adjacent to one another
possible in a simple manner it is provided in a preferred
configuration of the inventive fuel cell unit for the fluid guiding
element to have an opening for the passage of contact elements
(e.g. of an adjacent fuel cell unit) to the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
[0027] In order to be able to hold the CAE unit between the fluid
guiding element and the contact element of the fuel cell unit
without shorting the anode and the cathode of the same fuel cell
unit with one another, it is advantageously provided for the fluid
guiding element to abut on the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit via
an electrically insulating seal.
[0028] In a preferred configuration of the invention, the fluid
guiding element is designed as a fluid guiding frame which abuts on
the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit along the entire edge thereof
via the electrically insulating seal.
[0029] It is particularly favorable when the seal between the fluid
guiding element and the CAE unit comprises mica.
[0030] Alternatively or in addition hereto, it may be provided for
the seal between the CAE unit and the fluid guiding element to
comprise a flat seal.
[0031] Alternatively or in addition hereto, it may be provided for
the seal between the CAE unit and the fluid guiding element to
comprise a coating on the fluid guiding element and/or on the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
[0032] Such a coating may be applied, for example, by the screen
printing method, by roller coating or by spray coating onto the
fluid guiding element or the cathode-anode-electrolyte unit.
[0033] Inorganic or ceramic sealing media, which are chemically
resistant, gas-tight and electrically insulating at an operating
temperature of up to 950.degree. C., can be considered, in
particular, for the sealing.
[0034] A solder glass can, for example, be used as sealing medium
and this can be composed, for example, like a solder glass known
from EP 0 907 215 A1, i.e. can contain 11 to 13% by weight of
aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), 10 to 14% by weight of boron
oxide (BO.sub.2), approximately 5% by weight of calcium oxide
(CaO), 23 to 26% by weight of barium oxide (BaO) and approximately
50% by weight of silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2).
[0035] Furthermore, it may be provided for the seal between the CAE
unit and the fluid guiding element to be designed as a movable seal
(slide fit sealing).
[0036] Furthermore, it may be provided for the fluid guiding
element to be connected to the CAE unit by way of flanging.
[0037] It may, in particular, be provided for a flange fold area
engaging around the CAE unit to be formed on the fluid guiding
element.
[0038] In order to obtain the required pressing force for the
sealing between the CAE unit and the fluid guiding element
irrespective of any external biasing of the fuel cell units against
one another, it is preferably provided for the
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit and the fluid guiding element to
already be biased elastically against one another on account of the
geometry of the fuel cell unit and the connection between the fluid
guiding element and the contact plate of the fuel cell unit.
[0039] In order to be able to use the fluid guiding element, apart
from for holding the CAE unit, also for the formation of fluid
channels, through which a fluid is supplied to the fuel cell unit
or discharged from the same, it is provided in a preferred
configuration of the invention for the fluid guiding element to be
provided with at least one fluid port.
[0040] The area of the fluid guiding element surrounding the fluid
port serves in this case as fluid guiding area of the fluid guiding
element. A fluid channel then results from the fluid guiding areas
of the fluid guiding elements of fuel cell units following one
another in the stacking direction.
[0041] The fluid supplied or discharged via the fluid channel can
be an oxidation agent or, preferably, a combustible gas.
[0042] It is particularly favorable when the holding means is
provided with a fluid supply channel opening and with a fluid
discharge channel opening. In this case, the fluid guiding element
can be used not only for the formation of a fluid supply channel
but also for the formation of a fluid discharge channel.
[0043] In order, during the formation of such fluid channels, to
maintain the required electric insulation between the contact
plates and fluid guiding elements of adjacent fuel cell units, it
is advantageously provided for the fuel cell unit to comprise an
electrically insulating fluid channel seal, via which the contact
plate of the fuel cell unit abuts on the fluid guiding element of
an adjacent fuel cell unit.
[0044] Alternatively or in addition hereto it may also be provided
for the fuel cell unit to comprise a fluid channel seal, via which
the fluid guiding element of the fuel cell unit abuts on the
contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit.
[0045] Such a fluid channel seal may, for example, comprise a
coating on the fluid guiding element and/or on the contact
plate.
[0046] Such a coating may be applied, in particular, by the screen
printing method, by roller coating or spray coating onto the fluid
guiding element or the contact plate, respectively.
[0047] Inorganic and ceramic materials, which are chemically
resistant, gas-tight and electrically insulating at the resulting
operating temperatures of up to 950.degree. C., can be considered,
in particular, as sealing media.
[0048] A particularly simple construction of the fluid channel seal
results when this comprises a flat seal.
[0049] Particularly when the holding plate and the contact plate
are connected to one another by flanging, it is of advantage when
the fluid channel seal comprises at least two separate sealing
elements which can be arranged, in particular, in different
planes.
[0050] In order to compensate for different heat expansions, it is
particularly favorable when the fluid channel seal comprises a
slide fit sealing.
[0051] Particularly with a design as slide fit sealing it is of
advantage when the fluid channel seal comprises a material,
preferably a solder glass, viscous at the operating temperature of
the fuel cell unit.
[0052] Claim 20 is directed to a composite block of fuel cells
which comprises a plurality of inventive fuel cell units which
follow one another along a stacking direction.
[0053] In order to be able to fix the individual fuel cell units of
the composite block of fuel cells in their position relative to one
another and, where required, to be able to generate an adequate
contact pressure for the sealing between the CAE unit and the fluid
guiding element and/or for the sealing between the fluid guiding
element and the contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit, it is
favorable when the composite block of fuel cells comprises at least
one clamping element for bracing the fuel cell units against one
another.
[0054] The composite block of fuel cells can, in particular,
comprise two end plates which can be braced against one another by
means of the clamping element.
[0055] In order to be able to supply a fluid (combustible gas,
oxidation agent or refrigerant) to the composite block of fuel
cells in a simple manner or discharge the fluid out of the
composite block of fuel cells it is advantageously provided for at
least one of the end plates to have at least one fluid port.
[0056] Bracing of the fuel cell units of the composite block of
fuel cells against one another by means of a separate clamping
element is superfluous when it is advantageously provided for the
fluid guiding element of at least one of the fuel cell units to be
connected to the contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit by way
of flanging. This flanging is sufficient to secure the fuel cell
units in their position relative to one another.
[0057] Nevertheless, an additional clamping element can be used in
such a case to generate the contact pressure between the CAE units
and the contact plates of the composite block of fuel cells.
[0058] It may, in particular, be provided for a flange fold area
engaging around the contact plate of the adjacent fuel cell unit to
be formed on the fluid guiding element of at least one of the fuel
cell units.
[0059] Alternatively hereto, it may also be provided for a flange
fold area engaging around the fluid guiding element of the adjacent
fuel cell unit to be formed on the contact plate of at least one of
the fuel cell units.
[0060] In a preferred configuration of the composite block of fuel
cells it is provided for an electrically insulating fluid channel
seal to be arranged between the flange fold area and the contact
plate of the adjacent fuel cell unit. As a result of the flanging,
such a fluid channel seal is already subject to the contact
pressure required for an adequate sealing without any force of an
external clamping system being required for this purpose.
[0061] In order to produce a composite block of fuel cells which
comprises a plurality of inventive fuel cell units, a method is
suitable which comprises the following method steps:
[0062] Assembly of the individual fuel cell units by arranging a
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit between a contact plate and a fluid
guiding element and gas-tight connection of the contact plate to
the fluid guiding element;
[0063] subsequent assembly of the composite block of fuel cells by
arranging a plurality of fuel cell units along a stacking direction
and fixing the fuel cell units in their position relative to one
another.
[0064] With such a method, the individual parts contact plate, CAE
unit and fluid guiding element of a respective fuel cell unit are
first of all fitted together and the contact plate and the fluid
guiding element are connected to one another, for example, by
welding or soldering in order to assemble the individual fuel cell
unit.
[0065] Subsequently, the assembly of the entire composite block of
fuel cells takes place, with which the fuel cell units of the
composite block of fuel cells are preferably braced against one
another by means of at least one clamping element.
[0066] In a special configuration of the method it may be provided
for the fuel cell units of the composite block of fuel cells to be
arranged between two end plates and for the two end plates to be
braced against one another.
[0067] The method described above is suitable for the production of
the composite block of fuel cells, in particular, when the fluid
guiding element of at least one fuel cell unit abuts on the contact
plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit via a flat seal or a slide fit
sealing.
[0068] If, on the other hand, in the composite block of fuel cells
to be produced the fluid guiding element of one fuel cell unit is
connected to the contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit by way
of flanging, a method which comprises the following method steps is
particularly suitable for the production of such a composite block
of fuel cells:
[0069] Assembly of several fluid guiding element-contact plate
units by connecting a respective fluid guiding element of one fuel
cell unit to a contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit by way
of flanging;
[0070] formation of a stack consisting of fluid guiding
element-contact plate units following one another along a stacking
direction, wherein one respective cathode-anode-electrolyte unit is
arranged between two such respective units;
[0071] gas-tight connection of the contact plates of the fuel cell
units to the respective fluid guiding element of the same fuel cell
unit.
[0072] With this method for the production of the composite block
of fuel cells, the fluid guiding element of a first fuel cell unit
is first of all preassembled with the contact plate of a second
fuel cell unit by way of flanging, preferably at the combustible
gas channel and at the discharge gas channel, wherein electrically
insulating fluid channel seals are integrated into the respective
flangings. Subsequently, the final assembly of the composite block
of fuel cells is carried out in that the CAE units are arranged
each time between the consecutive fluid guiding element-contact
plate units and the contact plates and fluid guiding elements
belonging to the same fuel cell unit, which hold a respective CAE
unit between them, are connected to one another in a gas-tight
manner by way of welding or soldering.
[0073] Additional features and advantages of the invention are the
subject matter of the following description and drawings
illustrating embodiments. In the drawings:
[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a fuel
cell device with supply lines and discharge lines for the oxidation
agent and the combustible gas;
[0075] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a
composite block of fuel cells arranged in the housing of the fuel
cell device from FIG. 1;
[0076] FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit with contact plates adjoining
thereto;
[0077] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective exploded illustration
of two fuel cell units of the composite block of fuel cells from
FIG. 2 following one another in a stacking direction;
[0078] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a contact plate of one
of the fuel cell units from FIG. 4;
[0079] FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a fluid guiding frame
of one of the fuel cell units from FIG. 4;
[0080] FIG. 7 shows the right-hand part of a schematic cross
section through three fuel cell units of the composite block of
fuel cells from FIG. 2 following one another in the stacking
direction;
[0081] FIG. 8 shows the right-hand part of a schematic longitudinal
section through three fuel cell units of the composite block of
fuel cells from FIG. 2 following one another along the stacking
direction in a first embodiment of the composite block of fuel
cells, with which a fluid guiding frame of a fuel cell unit abuts
via a flat seal on a cathode-anode-electrolyte unit (CAE unit) of
the same fuel cell unit and via an additional flat seal on the
contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit;
[0082] FIG. 9 shows a schematic longitudinal section corresponding
to FIG. 8 through three fuel cell units following one another along
the stacking direction in a second embodiment of the composite
block of fuel cells, with which the fluid guiding frame of one fuel
cell unit is connected to the contact plate of an adjacent fuel
cell unit by way of flanging;
[0083] FIG. 10 shows a schematic longitudinal section corresponding
to FIG. 8 through three fuel cell units following one another along
the stacking direction in a third embodiment of the composite block
of fuel cells, with which the fluid guiding frame of one fuel cell
unit is connected to the CAE unit of the same fuel cell unit by way
of flanging and to the contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit
likewise by flanging;
[0084] FIG. 11 shows a schematic longitudinal section corresponding
to FIG. 8 through three fuel cell units following one another along
the stacking direction in a fourth embodiment of the composite
block of fuel cells, with which the fluid guiding frame of one fuel
cell unit is connected to the contact plate of an adjacent fuel
cell unit via a slide fit sealing; and
[0085] FIG. 12 shows a schematic longitudinal section corresponding
to FIG. 8 through three fuel cell units following one another along
the stacking direction in a fifth embodiment of the composite block
of fuel cells, with which the fluid guiding frame of one fuel cell
unit is connected to the CAE unit of the same fuel cell unit and to
the contact plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit via a respective
slide fit sealing.
[0086] The same or functionally equivalent elements are designated
in all the Figures with the same reference numerals.
[0087] A fuel cell device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 and
designated as a whole as 100 comprises an essentially
parallelepiped housing 102 (cf. FIG. 1), into which a supply line
104 for oxidation agent opens, via which an oxidation agent, for
example, air or pure oxygen is supplied to the interior of the
housing 102 by a supply blower (not illustrated) at an overpressure
of, for example, approximately 50 millibars.
[0088] Furthermore, a discharge line 105 for oxidation agent,
through which superfluous oxidation agent can be discharged from
the interior of the housing 102, opens into the housing 102.
[0089] A composite block of fuel cells 106 illustrated as a whole
in FIG. 2 is arranged in the interior of the housing 102 and
comprises a lower end plate 108, an upper end plate 110 and a
plurality of fuel cell units 114 which are arranged between the
lower end plate 108 and the upper end plate 100 and follow one
another along a stacking direction 112.
[0090] As is best apparent from FIG. 4, which shows a perspective,
exploded illustration of two fuel cell units 114 following one
another along the stacking direction 112, each of the fuel cell
units 114 comprises an essentially plate-like
cathode-anode-electrolyte unit 116 (abbreviated in the following
to: CAE unit) which is held between a contact plate 118 and a fluid
guiding frame 120.
[0091] The CAE unit 116 comprises, as illustrated purely
schematically in FIG. 3, a gas-permeable, electrically conductive
support layer 121 which can be designed, for example, as a mesh or
net consisting of a metallic material, e.g. of nickel, through the
openings in which a combustible gas can pass from a chamber 124 for
combustible gas adjoining the support layer 121.
[0092] Furthermore, the CAE unit 116 comprises a plate-like anode
122 which is arranged on the support layer 121 and consists of an
electrically conductive, ceramic material, such as, for example,
Ni-ZrO.sub.2 ceramet (ceramic-metal mixture), which is porous in
order to enable the combustible gas from the chamber 124 for
combustible gas to pass through the anode 122 to the electrolyte
126 adjoining the anode 122.
[0093] A hydrocarbonaceous gas mixture or pure hydrogen can be
used, for example, as combustible gas.
[0094] The electrolyte 126 is preferably designed as a solid
electrolyte and formed, for example, from a yttrium-stabilized
circonium dioxide.
[0095] On the side of the electrolyte 126 located opposite the
anode 122 a plate-like cathode 128 borders thereon, which is formed
from an electrically conductive, ceramic material, for example,
from LaMnO.sub.3 and has a porosity in order to enable an oxidation
agent, for example, air or pure oxygen to pass to the electrolyte
126 from a chamber 130 for oxidation agent adjoining the cathode
128.
[0096] During operation of the fuel cell device 100 the CAE unit
116 of each fuel cell unit 114 has a temperature of, for example,
approximately 850.degree. C., at which the electrolyte 126 is
conductive for oxygen ions. The oxidation agent from the chamber
130 for oxidation agent absorbs electrons at the anode 122 and
releases bivalent oxygen ions to the electrolyte 126 which migrate
through the electrolyte 126 to the anode 122. At the anode 122, the
combustible gas from the chamber 124 for combustible gas is
oxidized by the oxygen ions from the electrolyte 126 and thereby
releases electrons to the anode 122.
[0097] The contact plates 118 serve to draw off from the anode 122
via the support layer 121 the electrons released during the
reaction at the anode 122 or rather feed to the cathode 128 the
electrons required for the reaction at the cathode 128.
[0098] For this purpose, each of the contact plates 118 consists of
a metal sheet which is a good electrical conductor and is provided
(as best seen from FIG. 5) with a plurality of contact elements 132
which have, for example, the shape of projections and recesses
which adjoin one another, have a respectively square design and are
formed by the superposition of a first wave pattern with wave
troughs and crests directed parallel to the narrow sides 133 of the
contact plate 118 and a second wave pattern with wave troughs and
crests directed parallel to the longitudinal sides 135 of the
contact plate 118.
[0099] The contact field 134 of the contact plate 118 formed from
the contact elements 132 thus has the structure of corrugated metal
corruigated in two directions at right angles to one another.
[0100] The contact elements 132 are arranged on the respective
contact plate 118 in a square grating, wherein contact elements
adjacent to one another project alternatingly to different sides of
the contact plate 118 from the central plane 139 of the contact
plate 118. The contact elements on the anode side projecting from
the contact plate 118 upwards and thus to the anode 122 of the CAE
unit 116 belonging to the same fuel cell unit 114 are designated
with the reference numeral 132a, the contact elements on the
cathode side projecting from the contact plate 118 downwards and
thus to the cathode 128 of the CAE unit 116 belonging to an
adjacent fuel cell unit 114 are designated with the reference
numeral 132b.
[0101] The dash-dot lines drawn in in FIG. 5 within the contact
field 134 reproduce the boundary lines of the contact elements 132,
along which the contact plate 118 intersects their central plane
139.
[0102] Each of the contact elements 132 has a central contact area
137, at which it is in electrically conductive contact with an
adjoining CAE unit 116.
[0103] The contact areas 137 of the anode-side contact elements
132a of a contact plate 118 are in electrical point contact with
the support layer 121 and thus with the anode 122 of the CAE unit
116 belonging to the same fuel cell unit 114 so that electrons can
pass from the respective anode 122 to the contact plate 118.
[0104] The cathode-side contact elements 132b of the contact plates
118 are in electrically conductive point contact with the cathode
128 of the CAE unit 116 belonging to an adjacent fuel cell unit 114
so that electrons can pass from the contact plate 118 to the
cathode 128. In this way the contact plates 118 make a charge
compensation possible between the anodes 122 and cathodes 128 along
the stacking direction 112 of consecutive CAE units 116.
[0105] The contact plates 118 arranged at the ends of the composite
block of fuel cells 106 are (in a manner not illustrated in the
drawings) connected to an external current circuit in order to tap
the electrical changes resulting at these edge-side contact plates
118.
[0106] As is best apparent from the plan view of FIG. 5, the
central, rectangular contact field 134 of each contact plate 118
provided with the contact elements 132 is surrounded by a flat
flange area 136 which forms the outer edge of the contact plate 118
and is aligned parallel to the central plane 139 of the contact
field 134 but in relation to this is displaced towards the CAE unit
116 so that in the area of the narrow longitudinal sides 138 of the
flange area 136 the underside of the CAE unit 116 rests on the
upper side of the flange area 136 (cf., in particular, FIG. 7).
[0107] The broad side areas 140 of the flange area 136 each have a
port 142 and 144, respectively, which enable the passage of
combustible gas to be supplied to the fuel cell units 114 or of
waste gas to be discharged from the fuel cell units 114, this waste
gas containing superfluous combustible gas and products of
combustion, in particular, water.
[0108] The flange area 136 is connected to the contact field 134
arranged so as to be offset hereto via an inclined surface 146
which surrounds the contact field 134 and adjoins the contact field
134 at a first bending line 148 and the flange area 136 at a second
bending line 150.
[0109] Each of the contact plates 118 is designed as a shaped sheet
metal part which is formed from an essentially flat, essentially
rectangular layer of sheet metal by way of embossing and/or deep
drawing as well as by punching or cutting out the ports 142,
144.
[0110] The fluid guiding frames 120 are also formed as shaped sheet
metal parts from an essentially flat, essentially rectangular sheet
metal layer.
[0111] As is best seen in FIG. 6, each fluid guiding frame 120 has
at its end areas 152 ports corresponding to the ports 142, 144 in
the contact plates 118, namely a combustible gas port 154 and a
waste gas port 156.
[0112] As is best seen from FIGS. 6 and 8, each of the ports 154,
156 in a fluid guiding frame 120 is surrounded by a collar 158
extending along the stacking direction 112, a seal contact area 162
adjoining the collar 158 along a bending line 160 and extending
away from the port at right angles to the stacking direction 112
and a channel wall area 166 adjoining the seal contact area 162 at
a bending line 164 and being aligned parallel to the stacking
direction 112. Where the channel wall area 166 adjoins an outer
edge of the frame 120 it merges at a bending line 167 into a flange
area 168 aligned at right angles to the stacking direction 112.
[0113] As is best seen from FIG. 6, each of the fluid guiding
frames 120 has between the ports 154, 156 in the end areas 152 of
the fluid guiding frame 120 an essentially rectangular, central
opening 170 for the passage of the contact elements 132 of the
contact plate 118 of an adjacent fuel cell unit 114.
[0114] As is apparent from FIGS. 6 and 8, the channel wall area
166, where it is adjacent to the opening 170, merges at a bending
line 172 into an inner edge area 178 of the fluid guiding frame 120
aligned at right angles to the stacking direction 112.
[0115] As is best seen from FIG. 6, the inner edge area 178 of the
fluid guiding frame 120 extends all around the opening 170.
[0116] In the narrow longitudinal areas 180 of the fluid guiding
frame 120, which are arranged between the openings 170 and the
outer edge of the fluid guiding frame 120 and connect the two end
areas 152 of the fluid guiding frame 120 with one another, the
inner edge area 178 merges at its edge facing away from the opening
170 along a bending line 182 into a vertical wall area 184 which is
aligned parallel to the stacking direction 112 and, for its part,
merges along a bending line 185 into the flange area 168 forming
the outer edge of the fluid guiding frame 120.
[0117] As is best seen from FIGS. 4 and 8, each CAE unit 116 is
provided at the edge of its upper side facing the fluid guiding
frame 120 of the same fuel cell unit 114 with a gas-tight,
electrically insulating combustible gas chamber seal 186 which
projects laterally beyond the CAE unit 116.
[0118] The combustible gas chamber seal may comprise, for example,
a flat seal consisting of mica.
[0119] Alternatively or in addition hereto it may also be provided
for the combustible gas chamber seal 186 to comprise a gas-tight,
electrically insulating coating on the underside of the fluid
guiding frame 120 which is applied to the underside of the inner
edge area 178 of the fluid guiding frame 120 by way of the screen
printing method or by means of roller coating.
[0120] As is best seen from FIG. 8, the two seal contact areas 162
surrounding the ports 154, 156 of the fluid guiding frame 120 are
provided with a respective gas channel seal 188 on their upper side
facing away from the CAE unit 116.
[0121] The gas channel seal 188 also preferably comprises a flat
seal consisting of mica or a gas-tight, electrically insulating
coating which can be applied to the seal contact area 162 of the
fluid guiding frame 120 as a paste by way of the screen printing
method or by means of roller coating.
[0122] In the assembled state of a fuel cell unit 114, the CAE unit
116 of the relevant fuel cell unit 114 abuts with its support layer
121 on the anode-side contact elements 132a of the contact plate
118 of the fuel cell unit 114.
[0123] The fluid guiding frame 120 of the fuel cell unit 114 abuts,
for its part, via the combustible gas chamber seal 186 on the outer
edge of the cathode 128 of the CAE unit 116 and with the flange
area 168 on the flange area 136 of the contact plate 118.
[0124] The flange area 168 and the flange area 136 are secured to
one another by way of welding (e.g. the laser welding method or the
electron beam method) or by soldering, in particular, a hard
soldering and sealed in a gas-tight manner.
[0125] The fuel cell units 114 of the composite block of fuel cells
106 are stacked on top of one another along the stacking direction
112 such that the cathode-side contact elements 132b of each
contact plate 118 extend through the openings 170 in the fluid
guiding frame 120 of the respective fuel cell unit 114 arranged
therebelow to the cathode of the CAE unit 116 of the fuel cell unit
114 arranged therebelow and abut thereon in electrically conductive
contact.
[0126] The flange area 136 of each contact plate 118 thereby abuts
on the gas channel seal 188 of the fluid guiding frame 120 of the
respective fuel cell unit 114 arranged therebelow, wherein the
collar 158, which surrounds the respective port 154 or 156 in the
fluid guiding frame 120, extends into the respectively
corresponding port 142 or 144 of the contact plate 118.
[0127] The end area 152 of each fluid guiding frame 120 surrounding
the combustible gas port 154 forms a combustible gas guiding area.
The end area 152 of each fluid guiding frame 120 surrounding the
waste gas port 156 forms a waste gas guiding area.
[0128] As is best seen from the sectional illustration of FIG. 2,
the combustible gas guiding areas of the fluid guiding frames 120
which follow one another along the stacking direction 112 together
form a combustible gas channel 190 which extends parallel to the
stacking direction 112 and at its upper end opens in a recess 192
on the underside of the upper end plate 110.
[0129] At the lower end of the combustible gas channel 190, a
combustible gas supply opening 194 opens into it which passes
through the lower end plate 108 of the composite block of fuel
cells 106 coaxially to the combustible gas channel 190.
[0130] A combustible gas supply line 196 is connected to the end of
the combustible gas supply opening 194 facing away from the
combustible gas channel 190, this supply line being guided through
the housing 102 of the fuel cell device 100 in a gas-tight manner
and being connected to a combustible gas supply (not illustrated)
which supplies to the combustible gas supply line 196 a combustible
gas, for example, a hydrocarbonaceous gas or pure hydrogen at an
overpressure of, for example, approximately 50 millibars.
[0131] As is likewise best seen from FIG. 2, the waste gas guiding
areas of the fluid guiding frames 120 following one another along
the stacking direction 112 together form a waste gas channel 198
which is aligned parallel to the stacking direction 112 and at its
lower end is closed by a projection 200 provided on the upper side
of the lower end plate 108 of the composite block of fuel cells
106.
[0132] At its upper end the waste gas channel 198 opens into a
waste gas discharge opening 202 which is coaxial thereto, passes
through the upper end plate 110 of the composite block of fuel
cells 106 and at its end facing away from the waste gas channel 198
is connected to a waste gas discharge line 204.
[0133] The waste gas discharge line 204 is guided through the
housing 102 of the fuel cell device 100 in a gas-tight manner and
connected to a waste gas treatment unit (not illustrated).
[0134] During operation of the fuel cell device 100 the combustible
gas flows through the combustible gas supply line 196 and the
combustible gas supply opening 194 into the combustible gas channel
190 and is distributed from there through the intermediate spaces
between the contact plates 118 and the respective fluid guiding
frames 120 belonging to the same fuel cell unit 114 to the
combustible gas chambers 124 of the fuel cell units 114 which are
each surrounded by the contact plate 118, the fluid guiding frame
120 and the CAE unit 116 of the relevant fuel cell unit 114.
[0135] As already described, the combustible gas is oxidized at
least partially at the anode 122 of the respective CAE unit 116
limiting the respective combustible gas chamber 124.
[0136] The product of oxidation (for example, water) passes
together with superfluous combustible gas out of the combustible
gas chambers 124 of the fuel cell units 114 into the waste gas
channel 198, from which it is discharged through the waste gas
discharge opening 202 and the waste gas discharge line 204 to the
waste gas treatment unit (not illustrated).
[0137] In the waste gas treatment unit, the product of reaction
(for example, water) is, for example, removed from the stream of
waste gas and superfluous combustible gas is conducted to the
combustible gas supply in order to be supplied again to the fuel
cell device 100.
[0138] The oxidation agent required for the operation of the fuel
cell device 100 (for example, air or pure oxygen) is supplied to
the interior of the housing 102 through the oxidation agent supply
line 104.
[0139] In the interior of the housing 102, the oxidation agent is
distributed to the oxidation agent chambers 130 which are formed
between the combustible gas chambers 124 of the fuel cell units 114
and which are surrounded by a respective contact plate 118 of a
fuel cell unit 114 as well as by the fluid guiding frame 120 and
the cathode 128 of the CAE unit 116 of an adjacent fuel cell unit
114.
[0140] The oxidation agent passes into the oxidation agent chambers
and out of them again by way of the intermediate spaces between a
respective fluid guiding frame 120 of a fuel cell unit 114 and the
contact plate 118 of the fuel cell unit 114 following thereon in
the stacking direction 112.
[0141] As already described, oxygen ions are formed from the
oxidation agent at the cathodes 128 of the CAE units 116 of the
fuel cell units 114 and these migrate through the electrolytes 126
to the anodes 122 of the CAE units 116 of the fuel cell units
114.
[0142] Superfluous oxidation agent passes out of the oxidation
agent chambers 130 of the fuel cell units 114 on the exit side
located opposite the entry side of the oxidation agent and is
discharged from the interior of the housing 102 of the fuel cell
device 100 through the oxidation agent discharge line 105.
[0143] The direction of flow of the combustible gas and the waste
gas through the fuel cell device 100 is specified in the drawings
with single arrows 210, the direction of flow of the oxidation
agent through the fuel cell device 100 by means of double arrows
212.
[0144] The direction of flow of the oxidation agent through the
oxidation agent chambers 130 is essentially at right angles to the
direction of flow of the combustible gas through the combustible
gas chambers 124.
[0145] In order to secure the fuel cell units 114 following one
another along the stacking direction 112 against one another by way
of external clamping, several connecting screws 214 are provided
which pass through bores 216 in the end plates 108, 110 of the
composite block of fuel cells 106 and are provided at their end
facing away from the respective screw head 218 with an external
thread 220, into which a respective coupling nut 222 is turned so
that the end plates 108, 110 are clamped between the screw heads
218 and the connecting nuts 222 and a desired pressing force can be
transferred via the end plates 108, 110 onto the stack of fuel cell
units 114 (cf. FIG. 2).
[0146] The pressing force generated by the external clamping by
means of the connecting screws 214 and connecting nuts 222
determines the contact pressure, with which the flange areas 136 of
the contact plates 118 are pressed against the gas channel seals
188 on the fluid guiding frames 120.
[0147] The contact pressure, with which the fluid guiding frames
120 are pressed against the combustible gas chamber seals 186 on
the CAE units 116, is, on the other hand,--irrespective of the
external clamping by means of the connecting screws 214 and
connecting nuts 222--determined exclusively by the elastic biasing
force, with which the fluid guiding frame 120 of a fuel cell unit
114 is biased against the CAE unit 116 of the same fuel cell unit
114.
[0148] This elastic biasing is generated at the point of time, at
which the fluid guiding frame 120 and the contact plate 118 of the
same fuel cell unit 114 are secured against one another at the
flange areas 136 and 168, respectively. This elastic biasing force
is dependent on the geometry of the fuel cell units 114 and is
brought about due to the fact that the sum of the extensions of a
contact element 132a and the CAE unit 116 with the combustible gas
chamber seal 186 arranged thereon in the stacking direction 112 is
somewhat greater than the distance the underside of the inner edge
area 178 of the fluid guiding frame 120 would take up from the
central plane of the contact field 134 of the contact plate 118 in
the non-deformed state of the fluid guiding frame 120. As a result
of the CAE unit 116 clamped between the contact plate 118 and the
fluid guiding frame 120, the fluid guiding frame 120 is deformed
elastically which results in an elastic restoring force which
biases the fluid guiding frame 120 against the CAE unit 116.
[0149] The composite block of fuel cells 106 described above is
mounted as follows:
[0150] First of all, the individual fuel cell units 114 are mounted
in that a CAE unit 116 is arranged each time between a contact
plate 118 and a fluid guiding frame 120 and, subsequently, the
flange areas 136 of the contact plate 118 abutting against one
another as well as the flange area 168 of the fluid guiding frame
120 are connected to one another in a gas-tight manner, for
example, by welding or soldering, in particular, hard soldering.
Subsequently, the composite block of fuel cells 106 is assembled
from the individual fuel cell units 114 in that the desired number
of fuel cell units 114 is stacked along the stacking direction 112
and the fuel cell units 114 are fixed in their position relative to
one another by means of the end plates 108, 110 and the connecting
screws 214 and connecting nuts 222 bracing the end plates against
one another.
[0151] A second embodiment of a fuel cell device 100 illustrated in
FIG. 9 differs from the first embodiment described above in that
the contact plates 118 do not merely abut on the fluid guiding
frame 120' of an adjacent fuel cell unit 114 in the area of the gas
channel seals 188 but rather are connected to this fluid guiding
frame by way of flanging.
[0152] As is apparent from FIG. 9, the collar 158' of each fluid
guiding frame 120' passes through the waste gas port 144 (or the
combustible gas port 142) in the contact plate 118 of the adjacent
fuel cell unit 114 and merges at a bending line 224 into a flange
fold area 226 aligned at right angles to the stacking direction
112.
[0153] The gas channel seal 188' arranged on the side of the fluid
guiding frame 120' facing the contact plate 118 is designed, in
this second embodiment, not in one piece as in the first embodiment
described above but in two pieces and comprises a first flat seal
228, which is arranged between the upper side of the seal contact
area 126 of the fluid guiding frame 120' and the underside of the
flange area 136 of the contact plate 118, and a second flat seal
230 which is arranged between the underside of the flange fold area
226 of the fluid guiding frame 120' and the upper side of the
flange area 136 of the contact plate 118.
[0154] The flat seals 228, 230 may be designed as mica seals or as
gas-tight, electrically insulating coatings (on the contact plate
118 or on the fluid guiding frame 120').
[0155] The flange fold area 226 on the fluid guiding frame 120'
forms an undercut, as a result of which the contact plate 118 of
the respectively adjacent fuel cell unit 114 is secured on the
fluid guiding frame 120'.
[0156] In order to reduce the clearance between the contact plate
118 and the fluid guiding frame 120' at right angles to the
stacking direction 112, a spacer ring consisting of an elastically
insulating, preferably ceramic material can be arranged in the
intermediate space between the edge of the flange area 136 of the
contact plate and the collar 158' of the fluid guiding frame
120'.
[0157] In this second embodiment, the contact pressure at the gas
channel seal 188' required for sealing the waste gas channel 198
and the combustible gas channel 190, respectively, is not first
generated by the external clamping of the fuel cell units 114
against one another by means of the end plates 108, 110 and the
connecting screws 214 and connecting nuts 222 arranged thereon but
is already determined during the assembly of the stack consisting
of fuel cell units 114 due to the flanging of the flange area 136
of each contact plate 118 to the fluid guiding frame 120' of the
adjacent fuel cell unit 114.
[0158] As is apparent from FIG. 9, the inclined surface 146 between
the contact field 134 and the flange area 136 of the contact plate
118 is dispensed with in this second embodiment and so the flange
area 136 of the contact plate 118 is located approximately at the
same level as the central plane 139 of the contact plate 118.
Furthermore, the channel wall area 166' of the fluid guiding frame
120' is not, as in the first embodiment, aligned parallel to the
stacking direction 112 but rather is inclined in relation to the
stacking direction 112 through an angle of approximately
45.degree.. Moreover, the extension of the channel wall area 166'
along the stacking direction 112 is smaller than in the first
embodiment.
[0159] The composite block of fuel cells 106 of the second
embodiment of a fuel cell device 100 is preferably produced in
accordance with the method described in the following:
[0160] First of all, several fluid guiding element-contact plate
units are preassembled in that a fluid guiding frame 120' of a fuel
cell unit 114 is connected each time to the contact plate 118 of an
adjacent fuel cell unit by way of flanging in the area of the
combustible gas channel 190 and the waste gas channel 198.
[0161] Subsequently, a stack consisting of fluid guiding
element-contact plate units following one another along the
stacking direction 112 is formed, wherein one respective CAE unit
is arranged between two such units each time such that the cathode
128 of the relevant CAE unit 116 abuts on a fluid guiding frame
120' via the combustible gas chamber seal 186.
[0162] Furthermore, the stack consisting of the fluid guiding
frame-contact plate units is formed such that each contact plate
118 abuts with its flange area 136 on the flange area 168 of the
fluid guiding frame 120' of an adjacent fluid guiding frame-contact
plate unit.
[0163] Subsequently, the flange areas 136 of the contact plates 118
are connected to the flange areas 168 of the respective fluid
guiding frames 120' belonging to the same fuel cell unit 114 in a
gas-tight manner, for example, by welding or by soldering, in
particular, by hard soldering.
[0164] As for the rest, the second embodiment of a fuel cell device
corresponds with respect to construction and operation to the first
embodiment and in this respect reference is made to the preceding
description thereof.
[0165] A third embodiment of a fuel cell device illustrated in FIG.
10 differs from the second embodiment described above in that the
holding plates do not merely abut on the CAE units 116 in the area
of the combustible gas chamber seal 186 but rather are connected to
these CAE units 116 by way of flanging.
[0166] As is apparent from FIG. 10, in this embodiment a contact
area 236 aligned at right angles to the stacking direction 112
adjoins the seal contact area 126 of the fluid guiding frame 120'
along a bending line 234, this contact area abutting with its upper
side areally on the underside of the seal contact area 126 and, for
its part, merging at a bending line 238 into a channel wall area
166 aligned parallel to the stacking direction 112.
[0167] A flange fold area 240 adjoins the lower edge of the channel
wall area 166 along a bending line 238, is aligned at right angles
to the stacking direction 112 and abuts with its upper side on the
underside of the support layer 121 of the CAE unit 116.
[0168] The flange fold area 240 on the fluid guiding frame 120'
forms an undercut, as a result of which the CAE unit 116 is secured
on the fluid guiding frame 120' of the same fuel cell unit 114.
[0169] In this third embodiment, the contact pressure at the
combustible gas chamber seal 186 required for sealing the
combustible gas chamber 124 is not--as in the first two
embodiments--determined by the relative extensions of the contact
elements 132 and the fluid guiding frame along the stacking
direction 112 but is generated directly as a result of the flanging
about the CAE unit 118 by the fluid guiding frame 120'.
[0170] As for the rest, the third embodiment of a fuel cell device
corresponds with respect to construction and operation to the
second embodiment and in this respect reference is made to its
description above.
[0171] A fourth embodiment of a fuel cell device illustrated in
FIG. 11 differs from the first embodiment described above in that
the gas channel seal is not designed in the fourth embodiment--as
in the first embodiment--as a flat seal acted upon with an external
clamping force but rather as a slide fit sealing.
[0172] As is apparent from the sectional illustration of FIG. 11,
the channel wall area 166 of the fluid guiding frame of the first
embodiment which is aligned parallel to the stacking direction 112
is omitted in the case of the fluid guiding frame 120" of the
fourth embodiment and so in the fourth embodiment the inner edge
area 178 of the fluid guiding frame 120" merges directly into the
seal contact area 162 of the fluid guiding frame 120" without any
bending line. The seal contact area 162 merges at its edge facing
away from the inner edge area 178 along a bending line 242 into a
channel wall area 244 which is aligned parallel to the stacking
direction 112 and, on the other hand, merges at its upper edge
facing away from the seal contact area 162 along a bending line 246
into a shoulder area 248 which is aligned essentially at right
angles to the stacking direction 112 and is directed into the
respective port 154 or 156.
[0173] The contact plate 118' has in this fourth embodiment, in
contrast to the contact plate of the first embodiment, at each of
the ports 142 and 144 a collar 250 which surrounds the relevant
port in a ring shape, is aligned essentially parallel to the
stacking direction 112 and borders along a bending line. 252 on the
respectively adjacent inclined surface 146 and the flange area 136
of the contact plate 118', respectively.
[0174] As is apparent from FIG. 11, a respective spacer element 252
surrounding the channel wall area 244 in a ring shape is arranged
on the upper side of the seal contact area 162 and on the outer
side of the channel wall area 244 of each fluid guiding frame 120",
this spacer element having an essentially L-shaped cross section
with a first arm 254, which rests on the seal contact area 162 and
is aligned essentially at right angles to the stacking direction
112, and with a second arm 256 which rests on the outer side of the
channel wall area 244 and is aligned essentially parallel to the
stacking direction 112.
[0175] The first arm 254 of the spacer element 252 serves as a
distance piece between the collar 250 of the contact plate 118' and
the seal contact area 162 of the holding plate 120".
[0176] The second arm 256 of the spacer element 252 serves as a
distance piece between the collar 250 of the contact plate 118' and
the channel wall area 244 of the fluid guiding frame 120".
[0177] The spacer element 252 consists of an electrically
insulating material which is rigid and resistant at the operating
temperature of the fuel cell device 100 of, for example,
approximately 850.degree. C.
[0178] The spacer element 252 can, for example, be formed from
Al.sub.2O.sub.3.
[0179] The second arm 256 of the spacer element 252 supports a
sealing bead 256 which surrounds the channel wall area 244 of the
fluid guiding frame 120" in a ring shape and closes the gap between
the channel wall area 244 and the collar 250 of the contact plate
118'.
[0180] The sealing bead 258 consists of an electrically
non-conductive material which is viscous but chemically resistant
at the operating temperature of the fuel cell device 100 of, for
example, approximately 850.degree. C.
[0181] A solder glass or an amorphous material similar to glass can
be; considered, in particular, as material for the sealing bead
256.
[0182] If the sealing bead 258 is formed from a solder glass, it
can be produced by applying a paste containing powdered glass.
[0183] When the operating temperature of the fuel cell device 100
is reached, the melted sealing bead 258 fills the gap between the
collar 250 of the contact plate 118' and the channel wall area 244
of the fluid guiding frame 120" in a gas-tight manner.
[0184] Possible differences in pressure between the combustible gas
chamber 124 and the oxidation agent chamber 130 or different heat
expansions are compensated by a displacement of the collar 250 of
the contact plate 118' relative to the fluid guiding frame
120".
[0185] This is possible without more ado since the contact plate
118' and the fluid guiding frame 120" are, in this embodiment, not
rigidly connected to one another but rather the collar 250 of the
contact plate 118' and the holding plate 120" are displaceable
relative to one another along the stacking direction 112, namely by
the distance, by which the second arm 256 of the spacer element 252
projects beyond its first arm 254 along the stacking direction 112.
If the collar 250 is displaced relative to the fluid guiding frame
120" proceeding from the initial position illustrated in FIG. 11
along the stacking direction 112 upwards, the melted sealing bead
258 continues to provide for a gas-tight sealing between the
contact plate 118' and the fluid guiding frame 120" while the
spacer element 252 prevents the viscous mass of the sealing bead
258 from running out into the oxidation agent chamber 130.
[0186] The contact plate 118' and the fluid guiding frame 120" are
also displaceable relative to one another at right angles to the
stacking direction 112, namely by the distance, by which the first
arm 254 of the spacer element 252 projects beyond its second arm
256 at right angles to the stacking direction 112. If the collar
250 is displaced relative to the fluid guiding frame 120"
proceeding from the initial position illustrated in FIG. 11 at
right angles to the stacking direction 112, the melted sealing bead
258 continues to provide for a gas-tight sealing between the
contact plate 118' and the fluid guiding frame 120".
[0187] Such a slide fit sealing at the combustible gas channel 190
and the waste gas channel 198 is particularly suitable for
compensating for differences between the individual components of
the fuel cell units 114 (CAE unit 116, contact plate 118' and fluid
guiding frame 120") with respect to their thermal coefficients of
expansion.
[0188] Since no predetermined contact pressure is required for the
slide fit sealing, it is also not-necessary with this fourth
embodiment--in the same way as with the second and the third
embodiments--to brace the fuel cell units 114 of the composite
block of fuel cells 106 against one another. It is merely necessary
for the fuel cell units to be fixed in their position relative to
one another and for an adequate contact pressure to be generated
between the CAE units and the contact plates.
[0189] To produce the composite block of fuel cells 106 of the
fourth embodiment the procedure is preferably--as with the first
embodiment--such that first of all the individual fuel cell units
114 are connected to one another by way of a gas-tight connection
of the contact plate 118' and the fluid guiding frame 120" of the
same fuel cell unit 114 and, subsequently, the assembled fuel cell
units 114 are stacked on top of one another along the stacking
direction 112.
[0190] As for the rest, the fourth embodiment of a fuel cell device
corresponds with respect to construction and operation to the first
embodiment and in this respect reference is made to its description
above.
[0191] A fifth embodiment of a fuel cell device illustrated in FIG.
12 differs from the fourth embodiment described above in that apart
from the gas channel seal 188" in the fourth embodiment the
combustible gas chamber seal 186' is also designed as a slide fit
sealing.
[0192] As is apparent from the sectional illustration of FIG. 12, a
sloping wall area 262, which is inclined at an angle of
approximately 45.degree. in relation to the stacking direction 112
and merges into a wall area 266 curved in an S shape along a
bending line 264 at its lower edge facing away from the seal
contact area 162, borders on the seal contact area 162 along a
bending line 260 in the case of the fluid guiding frame 120" of the
fifth embodiment. The wall area 266 curved in an S shape borders,
for its part, at its upper edge facing away from the sloping wall
area 262 on the inner edge area 178 of the fluid guiding frame
120".
[0193] As is apparent from FIG. 12, a respective spacer element 270
surrounding the CAE unit 116 in a ring shape is arranged on the
underside of the inner edge area 178 and on the side wall 268 of
the CAE unit 116, this spacer element having an essentially
L-shaped cross section with a first arm 272, which abuts on the
side wall 268 of the CAE unit 116 and is aligned essentially
parallel to the stacking direction 112, and with a second arm 274
which abuts on the upper side of the CAE unit 116 and on the
underside of the inner edge area 178 of the fluid guiding frame
120" and is aligned essentially at right angles to the stacking
direction 112.
[0194] The first arm 272 of the spacer element 270 serves as a
distance piece between the CAE unit 116 and the curved wall area
266 of the fluid guiding frame 120". The second arm 274 of the
spacer element 270 serves as a distance piece between the CAE
element 116 and the inner edge area 178 of the fluid guiding frame
120".
[0195] The distance element 270 also consists of an electrically
insulating material which is rigid and resistant at the operating
temperature of the fuel cell device 100 of, for example,
approximately 850.degree. C., for example, of Al.sub.2O.sub.3.
[0196] A sealing element 276 closed in a ring shape is arranged
along the inner edge of the second arm 274 of the spacer element
270 and consists of an electrically non-conductive material which
is viscous but chemically resistant at the operating temperature of
the fuel cell device 100 of, for example, approximately 850.degree.
C.
[0197] A solder glass or an amorphous material similar to glass can
be considered, in particular, as material for the sealing element
276.
[0198] If the sealing element 276 is formed from a solder glass, it
may be produced by applying a paste containing powdered glass to
the upper side of the CAE element 116, for example, with the screen
printing method.
[0199] Once the operating temperature of the fuel cell device 100
is reached, the melted sealing element 276 fills the entire
intermediate space between the inner edge area 178 of the fluid
guiding frame 120" and the CAE element 116 in a gas-tight
manner.
[0200] Possible differences in pressure between the combustible gas
chamber 124 and the oxidation agent chamber 130 or differences with
respect to the heat expansion of the individual components of the
fuel cell units 114 are compensated by a relative displacement
between the CAE unit 116 and the fluid guiding frame 120".
[0201] This is possible without further ado since the CAE unit 116
and the fluid guiding frame 120" are not rigidly connected to one
another but are displaceable relative to one another at right
angles to the stacking direction 112, namely by the distance, by
which the second arm 274 of the spacer element 270 projects beyond
its first arm 272 at right angles to the stacking direction
112.
[0202] If the CAE unit 116 is displaced relative to the fluid
guiding frame 120" proceeding from the initial position illustrated
in FIG. 12 at right angles to the stacking direction 112 to the
left, the melted sealing element 276 continues to provide for a
gas-tight sealing between the CAE unit 116 and the fluid guiding
frame 120" while the spacer element 270 prevents the viscous mass
of the sealing element 276 from running out into the combustible
gas chamber 124.
[0203] Such a slide fit sealing between the combustible gas chamber
124 and the oxidation agent chamber 130 is particularly suitable
for compensating for any difference between the individual
components of the fuel cell units 114 (CAE unit 116, contact plate
118' and fluid guiding frame 120") with respect to their thermal
coefficients of expansion.
[0204] As for the rest, the fifth embodiment of a fuel cell device
corresponds with respect to construction and operation to the
fourth embodiment and in this respect reference is made to its
description above.
* * * * *