Multi-cell electric signal processing bipolar plate features

摘要

A system and method for processing the electric signals from a plurality of fuel cells in a fuel cell system is disclosed. Groups of the plurality of fuel cells, such as five bipolar plates, are electrically coupled to a conductive compressible connector or a circuit board, where some of the bipolar plates have a plate contactor for providing the electrical contact to either the conductive compressible connector or the circuit board. The system allows for the processing of the electric signals of every cell using fewer electrical components, thereby reducing the amount of space required and the costs associated therewith.

主权项

1. An electric signal processing system for a fuel cell stack, said system comprising:
a plurality of fuel cells; a plurality of bipolar plates each having a plate contactor that is part of the bipolar plate and at least two of the bipolar plates having a connector depression that is part of the bipolar plates; at least one conductive compressible connector electrically coupled to the plurality of bipolar plates at either the plate contactor or the connector depression, said plate contactor being shaped such that electrical contact is made at a specific location on the conductive compressible connector; and at least one circuit board electrically coupled to the at least one conductive compressible connector, wherein the at least one circuit board processes the electric signals from the plurality of bipolar plates which are in electrical communication with the conductive compressible connector.