Compression casing for a fuel cell stack and a method for manufacturing a compression casing for a fuel cell stack

摘要

A fuel cell or electrolysis cell stack has force distribution members with one planar and one convex shape applied to at least its top and bottom face and in one embodiment further to two of its side faces. A compressed mat and further a rigid fixing collar surrounds the stack and force distribution members, whereby the stack is submitted to a compression force on at least the top and bottom face and potentially also to two side faces. The assembly is substantially gas tight in an axial direction of the primarily oval or circular shape and can be fitted with gas tight end plates to form robust gas inlet and outlet manifolds.

主权项

1. Compression casing assembly for at least one cell stack made of a plurality of fuel cells or electrolysis cells, the at least one cell stack comprising:
a top face; a bottom face; a plurality of side faces; fuel gas inlet and outlet suited for communication to fuel gas inlet and outlet manifolds; and oxidant gas inlet and outlet suited for communication to oxidant gas inlet and outlet manifolds,said compression casing assembly comprising at least one rigid force distribution member, at least one flexible compression force mat and a single rigid fixing collar comprising an inside surface, an outside surface and a first and a second side edge, the at least one rigid force distribution member comprising:
a top part having a first planar surface facing the top face of the cell stack and a primarily convex shaped second surface opposite said first planar surface facing in a direction towards the inside surface of the fixing collar; and a bottom part having a first planar surface facing the bottom face of the cell stack and a primarily convex shaped second surface opposite said first planar surface facing in a direction towards the inside surface of the fixing collar;wherein said single rigid fixing collar completely surrounds the at least one cell stack, the at least one force distribution member and the at least one flexible compression force mat on at least said top face, said bottom face and two of said plurality of side faces, and wherein the rigid fixing collar is pre tightened, whereby compression forces perpendicular to the surrounding rigid fixing collar is transmitted by means of the at least one flexible compression force mat and the at least one force distribution member to the at least one cell stack in directions primarily perpendicular to said top face, said bottom face and said two of said plurality of side faces and whereby the primarily convex shaped second surface of said top and bottom parts of the at least one force distribution member provides an evenly distributed surface pressure on at least the top face and the bottom face of the at least one cell stack.