Stack and fuel cell system using the same

{
  "publication_number": "US2006204820A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Stack and fuel cell system using the same",
  "abstract": "A stack for a fuel cell includes a first collecting plate having a first electric polarity, a second collecting plate having a second electric polarity different from the first electric polarity, and at least one electricity generator located between the collecting plates. The at least one electricity generator is for generating electric energy due to electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to be collected by the collecting plates. Coupling members press the at least one electricity generator in an airtight connection between the collecting plates. A terminal member protrudes from the second collecting plate and is electrically connected to the first collecting plate and insulated from the second collecting plate, such that the terminal member is used as a first terminal having the first polarity. The second collecting plate or a second terminal member may also be used as a second terminal having the second polarity.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A stack for a fuel cell, comprising: a first collecting plate having a first electric polarity; a second collecting plate having a second electric polarity different from the first electric polarity; at least one electricity generator located between the first collecting plate and the second collecting plate, the at least one electricity generator for generating electric energy due to electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to be collected by the first collecting plate and the second collecting plate; coupling members pressing the at least one electricity generator in an airtight connection between the first collecting plate and the second collecting plate; a terminal member protruding from the second collecting plate, the terminal member electrically connected to the first collecting plate and insulated from the second collecting plate, such that the terminal member is used as a first terminal having the first polarity; and a second terminal located on a same side of the stack as the first terminal and having the second electric polarity.",
    "2. The stack according to claim 1, wherein the second collecting plate is used as the second terminal.",
    "3. The stack according to claim 1, wherein the terminal member comprises one of the coupling members.",
    "4. The stack according to claim 1, wherein the terminal member is integrally formed on the first collecting plate, and is coupled to edges of a coupling hole formed in the second collecting plate with an insulating film coating interposed therebetween.",
    "5. The stack according to claim 3, wherein the terminal member is coupled to an edge of a coupling hole in the first collecting plate and an edge of a coupling hole in the second collecting plate, and wherein an insulating film coating is interposed between the terminal member and the edge of the coupling hole in the second collecting plate.",
    "6. The stack according to claim 4, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the terminal member and the second collecting plate.",
    "7. The stack according to claim 5, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the terminal member and the second collecting plate.",
    "8. The stack according to claim 1, wherein the coupling members are provided on an outside of the at least one electricity generator to directly couple the first collecting plate with the second collecting plate.",
    "9. The stack according to claim 8, wherein the terminal member comprises one of the coupling members.",
    "10. The stack according to claim 4, wherein the terminal member penetrates the at least one electricity generator and is coated with an insulating film in a portion thereof penetrating the at least one electricity generator.",
    "11. The stack according to claim 5, wherein the terminal member penetrates the at least one electricity generator and is coated with an insulating film in a portion thereof penetrating the at least one electricity generator.",
    "12. The stack according to claim 1, wherein the coupling members comprise a bolt and a nut.",
    "13. The stack according to claim 12, wherein the coupling members penetrate the first collecting plate, the second collecting plate, and the at least one electricity generator, and is coated with an insulating film.",
    "14. The stack according to claim 13, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the coupling members and the first collecting plate.",
    "15. The stack according to claim 1, wherein the first collecting plate, the second collecting plate, or both includes an aluminum material coated with one material selected from the group consisting of gold, silver and copper.",
    "16. The stack according to claim 1, further comprising a screw fastened to the second collecting plate and a wiring line connected to the screw, such that the second collecting plate functions as an external terminal.",
    "17. The stack according to claim 1, further comprising a second terminal member electrically connected to the second collecting plate and insulated from the first collecting plate, wherein the second terminal member protrudes from the second collecting plate and is used as the second terminal.",
    "18. The stack according to claim 17, wherein the second terminal member comprises one of the coupling members.",
    "19. The stack according to claim 18, wherein the coupling members comprise a bolt and a nut.",
    "20. A fuel cell system comprising: a stack to generate electric energy due to electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, the stack comprising: a first collecting plate having a first electric polarity; a second collecting plate having a second electric polarity different from the first electric polarity; at least one electricity generator located between the first collecting plate and the second collecting plate, the at least one electricity generator for generating electric energy due to electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to be collected by the first collecting plate and the second collecting plate; coupling members pressing the at least one electricity generator in an airtight connection between the first collecting plate and the second collecting plate; a terminal member electrically connected to the first collecting plate and insulated from the second collecting plate, the terminal member protruding from the second collecting plate and used as a first terminal having the first electric polarity; and a second terminal located on a same side of the stack as the first terminal and having the second electric polarity; a fuel feeder to supply fuel containing hydrogen to the stack; fuel supplying and discharging pipes adapted to supply the fuel to the at least one electricity generator through the fuel feeder, and to discharge the fuel incompletely reacted in the stack; an oxygen feeder adapted to supply an oxidizing agent containing oxygen to the stack; and oxidizing agent supplying and discharging pipes adapted to supply and discharge an oxidizing agent to the at least one electricity generator through the oxygen feeder, wherein the fuel supplying and discharging pipes and the oxidizing agent supplying and discharging pipes are provided on the first collecting plate.",
    "21. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, wherein the second collecting plate is used as the second terminal.",
    "22. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, wherein the terminal member comprises one of the coupling members.",
    "23. The fuel cell system according to claim 22, wherein the terminal member is integrally formed on the first collecting plate, and is coupled to edges of a coupling hole formed in the second collecting plate with an insulating film coating interposed therebetween.",
    "24. The fuel cell system according to claim 22, wherein the terminal member is coupled to an edge of a coupling hole in the first collecting plate and an edge of a coupling hole in the second collecting plate, and wherein an insulating film coating is interposed between the terminal member and the edge of the coupling hole in the second collecting plate.",
    "25. The fuel cell system according to claim 23, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the terminal member and the second collecting plate.",
    "26. The fuel cell system according to claim 24, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the terminal member and the second collecting plate.",
    "27. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, wherein the coupling members are provided on an outside of the at least one electricity generator to directly couple the first collecting plate with the second collecting plate.",
    "28. The fuel cell system according to claim 27, wherein the terminal member comprises one of the coupling members.",
    "29. The fuel cell system according to claim 23, wherein the terminal member penetrates the at least one electricity generator and is coated with an insulating film in a portion thereof penetrating the electricity generator.",
    "30. The fuel cell system according to claim 24, wherein the terminal member penetrates the at least one electricity generator and is coated with an insulating film in the portion thereof penetrating the electricity generator.",
    "31. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, wherein the coupling members comprise a bolt and a nut.",
    "32. The fuel cell system according to claim 31, wherein the coupling members penetrate the first collecting plate, the second collecting plate, and the at least one electricity generator, and are coated with an insulating film.",
    "33. The fuel cell system according to claim 32, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the coupling members and the first collecting plate.",
    "34. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, wherein the collecting plate includes an aluminum material coated with one material selected from the group consisting of gold, silver and copper.",
    "35. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, further comprising a screw fastened to the second collecting plate and a wiring line connected to the screw, such that the second collecting plate functions as an external terminal.",
    "36. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, further comprising a second terminal member electrically connected to the second collecting plate and insulated from the first collecting plate, wherein the second terminal member protrudes from the second collecting plate and is used as the second terminal.",
    "37. The fuel cell system according to claim 36, wherein the second terminal member comprises one of the coupling members.",
    "38. The fuel cell system according to claim 37, wherein the coupling members comprise a bolt and a nut.",
    "39. The fuel cell system according to claim 20, wherein the fuel feeder comprises a reformer to supply the hydrogen gas to the at least one electricity generator."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to a fuel cell system, and more particularly, to a fuel cell system having an improved stack structure.\n\n2. Discussion of Related Art\n\nA fuel cell directly transforms chemical reaction energy obtained by reacting oxygen with hydrogen contained in a hydro-carbonaceous material such as methanol, ethanol, natural gas, etc., into electric energy. Fuel cells can be classified as a high temperature fuel cell or a low temperature fuel cell.\n\nHere, the low temperature fuel cell may include a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a direct liquid feed fuel cell (DLFC), etc. A DLFC employing methanol as fuel is called a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).\n\nAmong these fuel cells, the PEMFC has advantages as compared with other fuel cells in that its output performance is excellent; operation temperature is low; and start and response are quickly performed. Therefore, the PEMFC can be widely used as a portable power source for an automobile, a distributed power source for a house and public places, a micro power source for electronic devices, etc.\n\nThe PEMFC includes a stack, a reformer, a fuel tank, a fuel pump, an air pump, etc. The stack is formed by an electricity generating assembly including a plurality of unit cells, and the fuel pump supplies fuel from the fuel tank to the reformer. The reformer reforms the fuel to generate hydrogen gas, and supplies the hydrogen gas to the stack. Then, the stack causes the hydrogen gas to electrochemically react with the oxygen gas of air, thereby generating electrical energy.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01M 8/0247",
    "H01M 2008/1095",
    "H01M 8/02",
    "H01M 8/1011",
    "H01M 8/24",
    "H01M 8/248",
    "Y02E 60/50"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H01M 8/02",
    "H01M 8/24",
    "H01M 2/14"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Eun Cho",
    "Jun Suh",
    "Jong Lee",
    "Ri Ju",
    "Won Jang",
    "Dong Lee",
    "Sang Choi",
    "Jin An"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2006-03-08",
  "publication_date": "2006-09-14",
  "priority_date": "2005-03-10",
  "application_number": "US-37168306-A",
  "family_id": "36971348",
  "cited_by_count": 14,
  "citations": [
    "US4719157A",
    "US4585708A",
    "US6764786B2"
  ]
}