Patent ID: 8741463
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell assembly comprising: at least one cell cartridge comprised of two or more cell modules, each cell module comprising a hollow electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes disposed on a bore side and a shell side of the hollow electrolyte membrane and current collectors in contact with the electrodes in the pair respectively, each cell cartridge further having a fixing portion to fix the cell modules, the fixing portion defining a first face, a first side face and a second side face, which is on an opposite side of the first side face, of the cell cartridge and the first face having a large width compared to a narrow width of the first side face and the second side face, each cell cartridge further having module connecting portions to electrically connect the current collectors of the cell modules and a cathode output portion and an anode output portion to integrate cathodes and anodes of the connected cell modules respectively, the cathode output portion and the anode output portion located on the first side face and the second side face of the cell cartridge, the cathode output portion and anode output portion are planar and lie in the same region defined by at least one of the first side face or the second side face of the cell cartridge; and an outer case for storing one or more cell cartridges, the outer case having a front face, a rear face, and two side faces disposed there between, the front face and the rear face having a large width compared to a narrow width of the outer case side faces, the outer case further having a storing portion for storing two or more cell cartridges, the outer case further having a plurality of planar cartridge connecting portions for electrically connecting the cathode output portions and the anode output portions of the stored cell cartridges to a cathode output terminal and an anode output terminal for integrating the cathode output portions and the anode output portions of the connected cell cartridges respectively, the cartridge connecting portions located on one or both of the front face or the rear face of the outer case such that the electrical connection between the cathode output portion and the cartridge connecting portion and the electrical connection between the anode output portion and the cartridge connecting portion is made without exerting pressure on the first face of the cell cartridges; and the anode output portion and the cathode output portion of the cell cartridges, stored in the storing portion of the outer case, come into planar contact with respective cartridge connecting portions of the outer case to form planar physical contact and electric connections.