Membrane electrode assembly

The integration of a voltage monitoring interface element on the sub-wafer or subgasket in the membrane electrode assembly addresses the challenge of uneven voltage distribution in fuel cell stacks, improving performance and longevity through real-time monitoring and management.

HK40135690APending Publication Date: 2026-07-31POWERCELL SWEDEN AB
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Patent Information

Application Number
HK62026123510
Authority / Receiving Office
HK · HK
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2026-05-15
Publication Date
2026-07-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing fuel cell stacks lack effective mechanisms for monitoring and managing voltage distribution across their components, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage due to uneven voltage distribution.

Method used

Incorporation of a voltage monitoring interface element on a sub-wafer or subgasket within the membrane electrode assembly, which is partially exposed to the external environment to facilitate direct connection and monitoring of voltage across the assembly.

Benefits of technology

Enhances voltage monitoring and management, preventing uneven distribution and potential damage by allowing for real-time adjustments and improvements in fuel cell performance and longevity.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Disclosed is a membrane electrode assembly (6) for a fuel cell stack (2) comprising at least an electricity generating subassembly (14) comprising an ion-conducting membrane (16), and two electro catalyst layers (18, 20) being arranged at either side of the mem¬ brane serving as anode (18) and cathode (20), wherein the membrane electrode assembly further comprises at least one subgasket (26) surrounding the eiectricity generating sub¬ assembly (14), wherein at least one subgasket (26, 28) has a first side (26-1; 28-1) facing to the electricity generating subassembly (14) and a second side (16-2; 28-2) being oppo¬ site of the first side and facing away from the electricity generating subassembly (14), wherein at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at the mem¬ brane electrode assembly (6), which is adapted to contact a voltage providing component of the membrane electrode assembly (6) or of the fuel cell stack, wherein the voltage mon¬ itoring interface element (10) is entirely arranged at and supported by at least one side of the subgasket (26; 28), wherein the respective side (26-1, 28-1; 26-2, 28-2) of the subgas¬ ket (26; 28) which supports the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is at least par¬ tially exposed towards an external environment for providing a connection area (11).
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Description

The membrane electrode assembly (6) disclosed herein is for use in a fuel cell stack (2), comprising at least one power generation assembly (14), the power generation assembly (14) comprising an ion-conducting membrane (16) and two electrocatalyst layers (18, 20) disposed on both sides of the membrane as an anode (18) and a cathode (20), wherein the membrane electrode assembly further comprises at least one sub-wafer (26) surrounding the power generation assembly (14), wherein at least one sub-wafer (26, 28) has a first side (26-1; 28-1) facing the power generation assembly (14) and a second side (16-2; 28-2) opposite to the first side and facing away from the power generation assembly (14), wherein at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is included. Arranged at the membrane electrode assembly (6), which is adapted to contact the voltage supply component of the membrane electrode assembly (6) or the fuel cell stack, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is fully arranged on and supported by at least one side of the sub-wafer (26; 28), wherein the corresponding side (26-1, 28-1; 26-2, 28-2) of the sub-wafer (26; 28) supporting the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is at least partially exposed to the external environment to provide a connection area (11). Abstract MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY Disclosed is a membrane electrode assembly (6) for a fuel cell stack (2) comprising at least an electricity generating subassembly (14) comprising an ion-conducting membrane (16), and two electrocatalyst layers (18, 20) being arranged at either side of the mem¬ brane serving as anode (18) and cathode (20), where the membrane electrode assembly further comprises at least one subgasket (26) surrounding the eectricity generating sub¬ assembly (14), where at least one subgasket (26, 28) has a first side (26-1;A first side (26-1; 28-1) faces the electricity generating subassembly (14) and a second side (16-2; 28-2) is opposite the first side and faces away from the electricity generating subassembly (14), wherein at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at the membrane electrode assembly (6), which is adapted to contact a voltage providing component of the membrane electrode assembly (6) or of the fuel cell stack, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is entirely arranged at and supported by at least one side of the subgasket (26; 28), wherein the respective side (26-1, 28-1; 26-2, 28-2) of the subgasket (26; 28) which supports the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is at least partially exposed towards an external environment for providing a connection area (11). Abstract;

Claims

Membrane electrode assemblyClaims:1 . Membrane electrode assembly (6) for a fuel cell stack (2) comprising at least an electricity generating subassembly (14) comprising an ion-conducting membrane (16), and two electro catalyst layers (18, 20) being arranged at either side of the membrane serving as anode (18) and cathode (20), wherein the membrane electrode assembly further comprises at least one subgasket (26) surrounding the electricity generating subassembly (14), wherein at least one subgasket (26, 28) has a first side (26-1 ; 28-1) facing to the electricity generating subassembly (14) and a second side (16-2; 28-2) being opposite of the first side and facing away from the electricity generating subassembly (14), characterized in that at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at the membrane electrode assembly (6), which is adapted to contact a voltage providing component of the membrane electrode assembly (6) or of the fuel cell stack, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is entirely arranged at and supported by at least one side of the subgasket (26; 28), wherein the respective side (26-1 , 28-1 ; 26-2, 28- 2) of the subgasket (26; 28) which supports the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is at least partially exposed towards an external environment for providing a connection area (11).

2. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at the second side (26-2; 28-2) of the subgasket (26; 28) and adapted to get in direct or indirect contact with a bipolar plate sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly (6) in the assembled state of a fuel cell stack.

3. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the membrane electrode assembly (6) further comprises an anode sided gas diffusion layer (26), preferably made of electrically conductive fibers, and a cathode sided gas diffusion layer (28), preferably made of electrically conductive fibers, wherein the gasdiffusion layers (22, 24) sandwich at least the electricity generating subassembly (14), and wherein at least one of the at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at the second side of the subgasket and is in contact with the anode sided (26) and / or cathode sided (28) gas diffusion layer.

4. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at the first side (26-1 ; 28-1) of the at least one subgasket (26; 28) and is in contact with at least one of the electro catalyst layers (18, 20) of the electricity generating subassembly (14), particularly in contact with the anode (18) and / or cathode (20).

5. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to claim 4, wherein the membrane electrode assembly (6) further comprises an anode sided subgasket (26) surrounding a periphery of the anode (18), and a cathode sided subgasket (28) surrounding a periphery of the cathode (20), and wherein the at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged between the anode sided subgasket (26) and the cathode sided subgasket (28), and wherein one of the subgaskets (26, 28) is recessed in relation to the other subgasket (26, 28) in at least one location for forming the connection area (11), in which the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is exposed to the environment.

6. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one subgasket (26, 28) has at least one tunnel-like opening (30) extending from the first (26-1 ; 28-1) to the second side (26-2; 28-2) of the subgasket (26; 28), and at least one of the at least one voltage monitoring interface element (10) has a first part (19a) which is arranged at the first side (16-1 ; 28-1) of the subgasket (26; 28) and is in contact with the electro catalyst layer (18, 20), a second part (10b) which extends through the tunnel-like opening (30) in the subgasket (26, 28), and a third part (10c) which is arranged at the second side (16-2; 28-2) of the subgasket and is exposed to the environment for providing the connection area (11).

7. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the subgaskets (26, 28) further comprises at least one strip (31) which protrudes from the periphery of the membrane electrode assembly (6),and wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) has at least one protruding connecting element which projects over the periphery of the membrane electrode assembly (6), wherein preferably a size and / or form of the at least one strip (31) of the subgasket is designed for supporting the at least one protruding connecting element.

8. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is designed as elongated element having a length, which is along its length in contact with at least one of the anode (18), the cathode (20), the membrane (6), the subgaskets (26, 28), and / or the gas diffusion layers (22, 24).

9. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of claim 1 to 8, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) has an elongated main body (86), which is attached to the at least one subgaskets (26, 28) and further comprises at least one discrete inner electric connecting element (13) which extends from the elongated main body (86) in direction of the anode (18), the cathode (20), the membrane (6), and / or the gas diffusion layers and is in contact with at least one of the anode (18), the cathode (20), the membrane (6), and / or the gas diffusion layers (22, 24).

10. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a first voltage monitoring interface element (10) and a second voltage monitoring interface element (10) are provided wherein the at least one first voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at a reactant or coolant inlet side (61) of the membrane electrode assembly (6) and the at least one second voltage monitoring interface element (10) is arranged at a reactant or coolant outlet side (63) of the membrane electrode assembly (6).11 . Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is designed as electrically conducting coating, particularly a silver or gold coating, of the at least one subgasket.

12. Membrane electrode assembly (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage monitoring interface element (10) is a foil made from anelectrically conducting material, particularly a silver foil or gold foil, which is attached to at least one of the anode (18), the cathode (20), the membrane (6), the subgaskets (26, 28), and / or the gas diffusion layers (22, 24).

13. Fuel cell stack (2) comprising a plurality of bipolar plates consisting of an anode plate (18) and a cathode plate (20), which are attached to each other, wherein the bipolar plates are alternatingly stacked with a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies so that the bipolar plates sandwich the membrane electrode assemblies (6), characterized in that the membrane electrode assembly (6) is a membrane electrode assembly according to any one of claim 1 to 12.

14. Fuel cell stack (2) according to claim 13, further comprising a voltage monitoring unit (8) comprising a plug-like element (82) having a plurality of contact pin elements (84) which are designed to connect to the voltage monitoring interface element (10) in the connection area, where the voltage monitoring interface element is exposed to the environment.

15. Fuel cell stack (2) according to claim 13, further comprising a voltage monitoring unit (8) comprising a plug-like element (82) having a plurality of contact clamp elements (84) which are designed to connect to the voltage monitoring interface element (10) by clamping the voltage monitoring interface element (10) in the connection area, where the voltage monitoring interface element is exposed to the environment.