Patent ID: 7947404
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An electrochemical conversion assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical conversion cells arranged in a fuel cell stack, wherein: said fuel cell stack includes at least one end unit assembly comprising an electrically conductive terminal plate and an electrically insulating plate interposed between said terminal plate and at least one end unit plate of said end unit assembly; said electrically conductive terminal plate defines an electrical termination of said plurality of stacked cells; said electrically insulating plate defining a plane and comprising a frontside face engaging said terminal plate and a backside face engaging said additional end unit plate; said electrically insulating plate electrically insulating said terminal plate from said additional end unit plate and comprising a frontside array of thermally insulating regions on said frontside face and a backside array of thermally insulating regions on said backside face; wherein said frontside array is defined by structurally rigid portions projecting from said plane on said frontside face and said backside array is defined by structurally rigid portions projecting from said plane on said backside face, said structurally rigid portions surrounding cavities defining regions of substantially lower thermal conductivity than remaining regions of said electrically conducting insulating plate, said structurally rigid portions on said frontside face offset from said structurally rigid portions on said backside face so that said thermally insulating regions of said frontside array are offset from thermally insulating regions of said backside face, said structurally rigid portions on said frontside face, and said structurally rigid portions on said backside face defining indirect thermal conductance paths extending from said frontside face to said backside face.