Claims
- 1. A combination electrical insulator and gas seal for use between a reactant gas plenum and a fuel cell stack comprising:
- a plurality of electrically insulative segments including segments with angular portions and segments with elongated portions arranged with adjacent ends in near abutment to form a closed frame between the plenum and fuel cell stack;
- spline means for slidably connecting the segments together to form the frame configuration;
- sealing means at opposite face surfaces of the frame engaging the reactant gas plenum and fuel cells stack for minimizing gas leakage from the plenum.
- 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spline means comprises keys which extend across the thickness of the electrically insulative segments and engage the sealing means at both the reactant gas plenum and the fuel cell stack to minimize reactant gas leakage from the plenum.
- 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spline means in combination with said sealing means in adjacent segment ends comprise a labyrinth path for minimizing gas leakage.
- 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the reactant gas plenum and frame have matching portions of rectangular shape.
- 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the closed frame defines a rectangular area wherein each peripheral side of the closed frame includes at least one spline means slidably interconnecting adjacent electrically insulative segments.
- 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said electrically insulative segments are of alumina and include a lengthwise recess surface and wherein said sealing means includes elongated strips of gasket material disposed on said recessed surface.
- 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the electrically insulative segments are of a material having a substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the reactant gas plenum.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC01-79ET15440 between the Department of Energy and United Technologies Corporation.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3994748 |
Kunz et al. |
Nov 1976 |
|
4079171 |
Marianowski et al. |
Mar 1978 |
|
4212929 |
Grevstad et al. |
Jul 1980 |
|
4276355 |
Kothmann et al. |
Jun 1981 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
DOE/ET 15440-2, Development of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Power Plant Technology, Quarterly Progress Report No. 2, Aug. 1980. |