CA2396322A1 - A fuel cell stack and a method of operating the same - Google Patents

A fuel cell stack and a method of operating the same Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2396322A1
CA2396322A1 CA002396322A CA2396322A CA2396322A1 CA 2396322 A1 CA2396322 A1 CA 2396322A1 CA 002396322 A CA002396322 A CA 002396322A CA 2396322 A CA2396322 A CA 2396322A CA 2396322 A1 CA2396322 A1 CA 2396322A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
current collectors
operating
same
fuel cell
cell stack
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA002396322A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2396322C (en
Inventor
Katsumi Hayashi
Hideo Kato
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Honda Motor Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Honda Motor Co Ltd filed Critical Honda Motor Co Ltd
Publication of CA2396322A1 publication Critical patent/CA2396322A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2396322C publication Critical patent/CA2396322C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04701—Temperature
    • H01M8/04731—Temperature of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0223—Composites
    • H01M8/0228—Composites in the form of layered or coated products
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0267—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04067—Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
    • H01M8/04074—Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04223—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
    • H01M8/04268—Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H01M8/04365—Temperature; Ambient temperature of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04664—Failure or abnormal function
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04664—Failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04671—Failure or abnormal function of the individual fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2483—Details of groupings of fuel cells characterised by internal manifolds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04037—Electrical heating
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Abstract

A plurality of fuel cells are stacked together.
Current collectors are stacked on the fuel cells at opposite ends in a stacking direction of said fuel cells, and heating members are stacked on the outside of said current collectors. In a normal operating condition, electricity is delivered through the current collectors. When the temperature of end cells is lowered, a switching operation is performed to stop delivering electricity through the current collectors and start delivering electricity through the heating members.
CA002396322A 2001-07-30 2002-07-29 A fuel cell stack and a method of operating the same Expired - Fee Related CA2396322C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001-229848 2001-07-30
JP2001229848A JP4303899B2 (en) 2001-07-30 2001-07-30 Fuel cell stack and operation method thereof

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2396322A1 true CA2396322A1 (en) 2003-01-30
CA2396322C CA2396322C (en) 2006-10-03

Family

ID=19062144

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002396322A Expired - Fee Related CA2396322C (en) 2001-07-30 2002-07-29 A fuel cell stack and a method of operating the same

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US6953632B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1283558A3 (en)
JP (1) JP4303899B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2396322C (en)

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US6764786B2 (en) * 2002-05-08 2004-07-20 Utc Fuel Cells, Llc Fuel cell stack having an improved pressure plate and current collector
JP4421178B2 (en) * 2002-09-18 2010-02-24 本田技研工業株式会社 Fuel cell stack
US7160640B2 (en) * 2003-01-15 2007-01-09 Ballard Power Systems Inc. Fuel cell stack with passive end cell heater
US7056609B2 (en) * 2003-03-25 2006-06-06 Utc Fuel Cells, L.L.C. System and method for starting a fuel cell stack assembly at sub-freezing temperature
JP4727912B2 (en) * 2003-06-26 2011-07-20 本田技研工業株式会社 Fuel cell stack
JP4533604B2 (en) * 2003-07-23 2010-09-01 本田技研工業株式会社 Low temperature startup method for fuel cells
US7297428B2 (en) 2003-10-31 2007-11-20 3M Innovative Properties Company Registration arrangement for fuel cell assemblies
US20050095485A1 (en) * 2003-10-31 2005-05-05 3M Innovative Properties Company Fuel cell end plate assembly
KR100716011B1 (en) 2003-12-02 2007-05-08 닛산 지도우샤 가부시키가이샤 Manufacture of fuel cell
JP4792699B2 (en) * 2004-01-19 2011-10-12 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP2005327558A (en) * 2004-05-13 2005-11-24 Fuji Electric Holdings Co Ltd Solid polymer fuel cell
KR100599801B1 (en) * 2004-06-25 2006-07-12 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 Secondary battery and secondary battery module
US7078119B2 (en) * 2004-06-29 2006-07-18 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Fuel cell system and method for generating electricity from a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack divided into sub-tracks
JP4761107B2 (en) * 2004-12-01 2011-08-31 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell stack
CA2597461A1 (en) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-21 Ballard Power Systems Inc. Shutdown methods and designs for fuel cell stacks
JP5098133B2 (en) * 2005-04-11 2012-12-12 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell system
US8535842B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2013-09-17 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Combustion-thawed fuel cell
JP2006318669A (en) * 2005-05-10 2006-11-24 Toshiba Corp Fuel cell device
US8372555B2 (en) * 2006-06-27 2013-02-12 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Stack end cell heater control methodology
JP2008153040A (en) * 2006-12-18 2008-07-03 Sharp Corp Fuel cell, fuel cell system, and control method of fuel cell system
JP5358991B2 (en) * 2008-03-21 2013-12-04 トヨタ自動車株式会社 FUEL CELL STACK AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME
JP4535157B2 (en) * 2008-03-28 2010-09-01 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell system
KR101071769B1 (en) * 2008-10-21 2011-10-11 현대자동차주식회사 Endplate collector for fuel cell and method for controlling the same
US8206871B2 (en) * 2009-07-10 2012-06-26 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Insulating layer for a fuel cell assembly
US8530106B2 (en) * 2010-05-21 2013-09-10 GM Global Technology Operations LLC End cell thermal barrier having variable properties
JP5574894B2 (en) * 2010-09-02 2014-08-20 本田技研工業株式会社 Fuel cell stack
JP5524771B2 (en) * 2010-09-02 2014-06-18 本田技研工業株式会社 Fuel cell stack
US9029033B2 (en) * 2010-10-08 2015-05-12 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Composite end cell thermal barrier with an electrically conducting layer
GB201220825D0 (en) * 2012-11-20 2013-01-02 Univ Leeds Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
EP2962350B1 (en) * 2013-02-27 2019-07-17 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Fuel cell system
KR102249766B1 (en) * 2015-02-05 2021-05-10 현대자동차주식회사 End cell heater for fuel cell and fuel cell having the same
FR3047612B1 (en) * 2016-02-05 2018-03-16 Safran Aircraft Engines FUEL CELL AND ASSOCIATED HEATING SYSTEM
KR101827123B1 (en) * 2016-06-03 2018-02-07 한온시스템 주식회사 End cell heater assembly, and fuel cell stack having the same
KR102371046B1 (en) * 2016-07-15 2022-03-07 현대자동차주식회사 End cell heater for fuel cell
DE102016118511A1 (en) 2016-09-29 2018-03-29 Audi Ag Electrical contact device for a fuel cell stack
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1283558A3 (en) 2009-02-25
JP2003045462A (en) 2003-02-14
CA2396322C (en) 2006-10-03
EP1283558A2 (en) 2003-02-12
US6953632B2 (en) 2005-10-11
US20030022046A1 (en) 2003-01-30
JP4303899B2 (en) 2009-07-29

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Effective date: 20140729