Abstract:
A modular fuel cell cassette 100 for use in assembling a fuel cell stack 200 comprising a metal separator plate 104 and a metal cell-mounting plate 102 joined at their edges 111 to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly 128 is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening 106 in the mounting plate. The plates include openings 108,110,112,114 to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode 134 and air to the cathode 132. A conductive interconnect element 136a extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings 126 such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack 200 comprises a plurality of cassettes 100, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal 202 surrounding the interconnect.
Abstract:
A modular fuel cell cassette 100 for use in assembling a fuel cell stack 200 comprising a metal separator plate 104 and a metal cell-mounting plate 102 joined at their edges 111 to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly 128 is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening 106 in the mounting plate. The plates include openings 108,110,112,114 to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode 134 and air to the cathode 132. A conductive interconnect element 136a extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings 126 such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack 200 comprises a plurality of cassettes 100, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal 202 surrounding the interconnect.
Abstract:
An interconnect system for connecting adjacent fuel cells in a fuel cell stack (26). The system comprises five elements: a separator plate (28) to provide an anode gas flow space (20) when joined to a mating cell frame (22); a first metal interconnect (30) disposed between the separator plate (28) and the anode surface (16); a nickel oxide paste (38) applied in a pattern over the surface of the anode (16) and adjacent surface of the separator plate (28) which when sintered results in a conductive layer bonded to the anode and to the separator plate; a second metal interconnect (35) disposed between the cathode surface (12) of the cell and the separator plate (28) of the adjacent cell cassette; and a silver-containing paste (36,39) applied over the surface of the cathode (12) and the separator plate (28) which when sintered results in a conductive layer bonded to the cathode (12) and to the separator plate (28).
Abstract:
A glass ceramic composition for sealing adjacent metal cassettes in an SOFC stack. The seal composition comprises an alumina-silicate glass ceramic matrix or a matrix of Zr2 and a ceramic fiber aggregate and non-fibrous zirconia dispersed in the matrix. Preferably, the fiber is selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide fiber, alumina fiber, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the fiber is present at 1-60 weight percent with respect to the weight of glass ceramic, preferably about 30 weight percent. Preferably, the zirconia fiber is stabilized by up to about 10% yttria. Alumina fiber may substitute for a portion of the zirconia fiber. Preferably, the non-fibrous zirconia is present at about 5 weight percent and is also stabilized.
Abstract:
A modular fuel cell cassette 100 for use in assembling a fuel cell stack 200 comprising a metal separator plate 104 and a metal cell-mounting plate 102 joined at their edges 111 to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly 128 is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening 106 in the mounting plate. The plates include openings 108,110,112,114 to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode 134 and air to the cathode 132. A conductive interconnect element 136a extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings 126 such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack 200 comprises a plurality of cassettes 100, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal 202 surrounding the interconnect.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell stack (10) having an electrically conductive interconnect (28), including the steps of: (a) providing a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, (b) providing a substrate having an iron-chromium alloy, (c) depositing a layer of metallic cobalt over a portion of substrate surface, (d) subjecting the layer of metallic cobalt to reducing conditions, (e) then exposing the remaining portion of the layer of metallic cobalt to oxidizing conditions for a predetermined time and temperature, such that the surface portion of the layer of metallic cobalt is oxidized to cobalt oxide, thereby forming the electrically conductive interconnect (28) having a layer of metallic cobalt sandwiched between a surface layer of cobalt oxide and the layer of cobalt-iron-chromium alloy, and (f) sandwiching the substrate between the first and second fuel cells.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell stack (10) having an electrically conductive interconnect (28), including the steps of: (a) providing a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, (b) providing a substrate having an iron-chromium alloy, (c) depositing a layer of metallic cobalt over a portion of substrate surface, (d) subjecting the layer of metallic cobalt to reducing conditions, (e) then exposing the remaining portion of the layer of metallic cobalt to oxidizing conditions for a predetermined time and temperature, such that the surface portion of the layer of metallic cobalt is oxidized to cobalt oxide, thereby forming the electrically conductive interconnect (28) having a layer of metallic cobalt sandwiched between a surface layer of cobalt oxide and the layer of cobalt-iron-chromium alloy, and (f) sandwiching the substrate between the first and second fuel cells.