Compression Devices and Electrochemical Cell Stack Design

1 . A compression device, comprising:

a base plate having a surface;

a spring support plate;

a resilient member disposed between the spring support plate and the base plate in compressible mechanical communication with the base plate to impart a force to the base plate in a direction normal to the surface;

a manifold disposed on a side of the base plate opposite the spring support plate; and

a side plate disposed from the spring support plate to the manifold, wherein the side plate physically engages a periphery of the manifold and a periphery of the spring support plate;

wherein the device is capable of compressing a cell stack between the base plate and the manifold.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the side plate has openings, and the manifold and spring support plate have tabs disposed in the openings.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is an urethane spring.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is a Belleville washer.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spring support plate and the manifold are disposed in a parallel planar relationship.

6 . An electrochemical cell device, comprising:

a cell stack comprising cells, wherein each cell comprises a first electrode and a second electrode with a membrane disposed therebetween;

a compression device comprising

a base plate having a surface;

a spring support plate;

a resilient member disposed between the spring support plate and the base plate in compressible mechanical communication with the base plate to impart a force to the base plate in a direction normal to the surface;

a manifold disposed on a side of the base plate opposite the spring support plate; and

a side plate disposed from the spring support plate to the manifold, wherein the side plate physically engages a periphery of the manifold and a periphery of the spring support plate;

wherein cell stack is compressed between the base plate and the manifold.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the side plate has openings, and the manifold and spring support plate have tabs disposed in the openings.

8 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the resilient member is an urethane spring.

9 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the resilient member is a Belleville washer.

10 . An electrochemical cell device, comprising:

a cell stack comprising cells, wherein each cell comprises a first electrode and a second electrode with a membrane disposed therebetween;

a base plate disposed at the cell stack;

a spring support plate disposed on a side of the base plate opposite the cell stack;

a resilient member disposed between the spring support plate and the base plate in compressible mechanical communication with the base plate;

a manifold disposed on a side of the cell stack opposite the base plate, and disposed in a parallel planar relationship with the spring support plate, wherein the manifold has manifold tabs disposed at a periphery of the manifold; and

side plates disposed from the spring support plate to the manifold, wherein the side plates engage the manifold tabs and the support tabs;

wherein cell stack is compressed between the base plate and the manifold by compressive force applied by the resilient member in a direction normal to a plane defined by a length and a width of the base plate.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the side plate has openings, and the manifold and spring support plate have tabs disposed in the openings.

12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the resilient member is an urethane spring.

13 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the resilient member is a Belleville washer.