FuelCell Energy. has filed a patent for a base plate assembly designed to reduce mechanical stress in an electrochemical cell stack. The assembly includes a bottom end plate with fuel and oxidant ports, a high strength sealing plate with aligned openings, and tubes that yield to minimize stress transfer. GlobalData’s report on FuelCell Energy gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on FuelCell Energy, Hydrogen fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. FuelCell Energy's grant share as of September 2023 was 51%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Base plate assembly for reducing mechanical stress in electrochemical cell stack
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230275240A1) describes a base plate assembly for an electrochemical cell stack. The assembly includes a bottom end plate with fuel inlet, fuel outlet, and oxidant ports, as well as a high strength sealing plate with openings that align with these ports. Between the two plates are a plurality of tubes that are designed to yield under mechanical stress, reducing the transfer of stress from the sealing plate to the bottom end plate. This design helps to prevent damage to the cell stack.
The bottom end plate of the assembly features threaded members that can receive fasteners for mounting the electrochemical cell stack to a housing base. The high strength sealing plate also has openings that allow the fasteners to extend through. Additionally, the threaded members are positioned on the periphery of the sealing plate, allowing it to move laterally relative to the bottom end plate. This movement further reduces the transfer of mechanical stress caused by thermal expansion. A ceramic layer is also included between the sealing plate and the bottom end plate for added protection.
The high strength sealing plate has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the bottom end plate and is made of Haynes 230 alloy, a material known for its strength and resistance to high temperatures. This combination of materials and design features ensures the base plate assembly can withstand the thermal stresses experienced in an electrochemical cell stack.
The patent also describes an electrochemical cell stack assembly that incorporates the base plate assembly. The stack includes multiple electrochemical cells arranged in a stack with a longitudinal channel. An outer gas manifold surrounds the stack, and the bottom end plate of the base plate assembly interfaces with the manifold to seal the lower end of the stack. The assembly includes attachment points, such as threaded members, for coupling the stack to a housing. The high strength sealing plate in this assembly also has yield points to reduce mechanical stress transfer to the bottom end plate.
Overall, this patent presents a base plate assembly and electrochemical cell stack assembly with innovative design features that improve the durability and performance of the cell stack. The use of a high strength sealing plate, threaded members, and a ceramic layer help to reduce mechanical stress and thermal expansion, ensuring the longevity and reliability of the assembly.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on FuelCell Energy, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
