Improved interconnect and end plate design for fuel cell stack

• Main Authors: SRIVATSAN VIJAY, GROESCH MICHAEL, DARGA DANIEL, SUNDARARAJAN ANANDA, PARHAR SACHIN, GUNTANUR RAMESHA, RAMANAN RAM, GOTTMANN MATTHIAS, PRASAD PATURI BALAJI NARASIMHA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.07.2015
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Various embodiments include interconnects and/or end plates having features for reducing stress in a fuel cell stack. In embodiments, an interconnect/end plate may have a window seal area that is recessed relative to the flow field to indirectly reduce stress induced by an interface seal. Other features may include a thicker protective coating and/or larger uncoated area of an end plate, providing a recessed portion on an end plate for an interface seal, and/or recessing the fuel hole region of an interconnect relative to the flow field to reduce stress on the fuel cell. Further embodiments include providing intermittent seal support to minimize asymmetric seal loading and/or a non-circular seal configuration to reduce stress around the fuel hole of a fuel cell.