Patent ID: 7482086
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell stack comprising: at least one fuel cell cassette, each fuel cell cassette comprising at least two unit cells, each fuel cell cassette being individually encapsulated about its entire periphery by a resin and comprising internal components which have been selectively and simultaneously sealed by penetration of the resin therein to reduce or eliminate undesired reactant flow therein, each fuel cell cassette having at least one reactant manifold opening through the thickness thereof for reactant distribution and collection in the fuel cell cassette and further having at least one planar outer surface, wherein the fuel cell cassettes are assembled in a stack formation relative to each other such that the reactant manifold openings of the fuel cell cassettes are aligned to form at least one reactant manifold channel; a reactant manifold connected to the reactant manifold channel; a compression means connected to the planar outer surface of the fuel cell cassettes in the stack formation, wherein the compression means comprises a first housing end piece having at least one reactant manifold opening extending through the thickness thereof and a second housing end piece; and a joining means connecting the first housing end piece and the second housing end piece; wherein the stack formation is interposed between the first housing end piece and the second housing end piece such that the reactant manifold openings of the first housing end piece are aligned with the reactant manifold channels of the stack formation, wherein the first housing end piece has a base opening and a sidewall opening extending from the base opening to define a first storage compartment and the second housing end piece has a top opening and a sidewall opening extending from the top opening to define a second storage compartment, and wherein the stack formation is interposed between the base opening and the top opening such that the stack formation is encased with the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment and the joining means connects the first housing end piece and the second housing end piece at the interface of the sidewall opening of the first housing piece and the sidewall opening of the second housing piece.