Fuel cell end plate

Abstract

A fuel cell end plate configured to transmit substantially constant compressive forces along a surface of a fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell end plate is configured such that the compressive force is substantially constant along the surface of the fuel cell even when the surface of the fuel cell is non-parallel. The fuel cell end plate is also configured such that the surfaces of the end plate remain substantially parallel when the fuel cell end plate is in contact with a non-parallel surface of a fuel cell or fuel cell stack. The fuel cell end plate is also configured to act as a distribution manifold for the distribution of reactants and coolants to the fuel cell stack. Fuel cell assemblies including the fuel cell end plate and methods of assembling the fuel cell end plate are also disclosed.

1 . A fuel cell end plate comprising:
 a first structural member;   a second structural member; and   a plurality of vertical members connecting the first structural member and the second structural member, in which the fuel cell end plate is configured to conform to a surface of a fuel cell to transmit substantially constant compressive force along the surface of the fuel cell.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a first alignment member in contact with the first structural member, the first alignment member configured to receive a first end of the plurality of vertical members. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 2 , further comprising a second alignment member in contact with the second structural member, the second alignment member configured to receive a second end of the plurality of vertical members. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 3 , wherein each of the vertical members comprises a first tab lanced and folded from the first alignment member and a second tab lanced and folded from the second alignment member, each of the first tab and the second tab having a slot formed in an end thereof, the slot of the first tab engaging the second tab and the slot of the second tab engaging the first tab. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 4 , wherein the first tab is disposed at an angle of 90° with respect to the second tab. 
   
   
       6 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 3 , in which each of the alignment members is a semi-flexible or flexible sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , in which each of the first and second structural members is formed of stainless steel. 
   
   
       8 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , in which each of the vertical members is a hollow tube. 
   
   
       9 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , in which each of the first and second structural members is a semi-flexible or flexible sheet. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of orifices in the fuel cell end plate, each orifice configured to control a flow of reactant or coolant into a fuel cell in contact with the fuel cell end plate. 
   
   
       11 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst disposed between the first and second structural members. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst coated on the first and second structural members. 
   
   
       13 . The fuel cell end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one baffle positioned between the first and second structural members. 
   
   
       14 . A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a fuel cell stack comprising at least a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, the first fuel cell in electrical communication with the second fuel cell; and   a first fuel cell end plate comprising a first structural member and a second structural member connected to the first structural member through a plurality of vertical members, the first fuel cell end plate being in contact with a first surface of the first fuel cell of the fuel cell stack and configured to transmit substantially constant compressive force along the first surface of the first fuel cell of the fuel cell stack.   
   
   
       15 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a second fuel cell end plate comprising a first structural member and a second structural member connected to the first structural member through a plurality of vertical members, the second fuel cell end plate being in contact with a first surface of the second fuel cell of the fuel cell stack and configured to transmit substantially constant compressive force along the first surface of the second fuel cell of the fuel cell stack. 
   
   
       16 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 15 , in which the first fuel cell end plate and the second fuel cell end plate each include stainless steel. 
   
   
       17 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of additional fuel cells in electrical communication with the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell. 
   
   
       18 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 15 , in which each of the first fuel cell end plate and the second fuel cell end plate comprises a first alignment member in contact with a corresponding first structural member and a second alignment member in contact with a corresponding second structural member. 
   
   
       19 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 18 , in which each of the first and second alignment members is a semi-flexible or flexible sheet. 
   
   
       20 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each of the vertical members comprises a first tab lanced and folded from the first alignment member and a second tab lanced and folded from the second alignment member, each of the first tab and the second tab having a slot formed in an end thereof, the slot of the first tab engaging the second tab and the slot of the second tab engaging the first tab. 
   
   
       21 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first tab is disposed at an angle of 90° with respect to the second tab. 
   
   
       22 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 14 , in which the first fuel cell is a cathode end cell and the second fuel cell is an anode end cell. 
   
   
       23 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 14 , in which each of the first structural member and the second structural member is formed of stainless steel. 
   
   
       24 . A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of molten carbonate fuel cells stacked to provide an electrical series relationship between individual fuel cells, a cathode end cell and an anode end cell;   a first fuel cell end plate in contact with an outer surface of the cathode end cell, configured to transmit substantially constant compressive force along the outer surface of the cathode end cell and comprising:
 a first structural sheet; 
 a second structural sheet spaced from the first structural sheet; 
 a first alignment sheet in contact with the first structural sheet; 
 a second alignment sheet in contact with the second structural sheet; and 
 a plurality of vertical members connecting the second structural sheet to the first structural sheet; and 
   a second fuel cell end plate in contact with an outer surface of the anode end cell, configured to transmit substantially constant compressive force along the outer surface of the anode end cell, and comprising:
 a first structural sheet; 
 a second structural sheet spaced from the first structural sheet; 
 a first alignment sheet in contact with the first structural sheet; 
 a second alignment sheet in contact with the second structural sheet; and 
 a plurality of vertical members connecting the second structural sheet to the first structural sheet. 
   
   
   
       25 . The fuel cell assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each of the vertical members comprises a first tab lanced and folded from the first alignment member and a second tab lanced and folded from the second alignment member, each of the first tab and the second tab having a slot formed in an end thereof, the slot of the first tab engaging the second tab and the slot of the second tab engaging the first tab, the first tab being disposed at an angle of 90° with respect to the second tab.