Threaded fuel cell assembly

• US 20040197634A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Co. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mardilovich, Peter, Lazaroff, Dennis, Champion, David, Herman, Gregory S., OʼNeil, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/465
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0282 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1226 characterised by the supporting layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention are directed toward a fuel cell assembly comprising a fuel cell casing and one or more fuel cell elements comprised of electrode and electrolyte material. The fuel cell casing is configured with threads and the fuel cell elements can be threadingly engaged in the fuel cell casing.

Claims

1. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:

a threaded casing; and

one or more fuel cell elements comprising electrode and electrolyte material;

wherein the fuel cell elements are threadingly engaged in the threaded casing.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein each fuel cell elements has an outer edge that engages the threads of the threaded casing.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the outer edge comprises an additional sealing material.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 wherein the sealing material is selected from the group consisting of Ni and Cu.

5. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the outer edge of the fuel cell elements have a square edge.

6. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the outer edge of the fuel cell elements have a rounded edge.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a spacer between adjacent fuel cell elements.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising gas ports in the fuel cell casing.

9. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the threads of the fuel cell casing comprise square grooves.

10. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the threads of the fuel cell casing comprise rounded grooves.

11. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell elements are electrolyte supported.

12. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell elements are electrode supported.

13. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell element is anode supported and the swelling of the anode during operation enhances sealing in the threads.

15. The assembly according to claim 13 wherein the electrode materials include both anode and cathode material separated by a solid electrolyte material.

16. The assembly according to claim 13 wherein the electrode materials include both anode and cathode material and either the anode or cathode material acts as the support for the other electrode material and an electrolyte material.

17. The assembly according to claim 13 wherein the means for supporting electrode materials comprises an anode supported fuel cell element and the anode material swells to enhance sealing during operation of the assembly.

14. An assembly, comprising:

a means for supporting electrode materials; and

a means for threadingly engaging the electrode materials to form a fuel cell stack.

18. An assembly, comprising:

a fuel cell element; and

a means for threadingly receiving the fuel cell element.

19. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein the means for threadingly receiving the fuel cell element comprises a cylindrical housing.

20. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein the fuel cell elements comprise an electrolyte based support system.

21. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein the fuel cell elements comprise an electrode based support system.

22. A method for making a fuel cell comprising the step of rotating a fuel cell element into a threaded fuel cell casing.

23. The method according to claim 22 further comprising placing one or more spacers between adjacent fuel cell elements.

24. The method according to claim 22 further comprising using a lubricant to prevent binding during rotation of the fuel cell elements.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the lubricant is placed into the threads of the threaded fuel cell casing.

26. The method according to claim 24 wherein the lubricant bakes into the threads during operation of the fuel cell to enhance sealing of the fuel cell element.

27. The method according to-claim 24 wherein the lubricant burns out during operation of the fuel cell.

28. A fuel cell casing threadingly adapted for receiving a fuel cell element comprising a body having a cylindrical borehole having an inner surface and a spiral groove along the inner surface for engaging said fuel cell element.

29. The casing according to claim 28 wherein the casing is adapted to receive a plurality of fuel cell elements.

30. A fuel cell element comprising a planar disc having at least one electrode layer and an electrolyte layer and wherein the outer edge of the disc is adapted to engage a threaded inner surface of a fuel cell casing.

31. The fuel cell element according to claim 30 wherein the fuel cell element comprises an anode layer on one side and a cathode layer on the other side of the planar electrolyte layer.

32. The fuel cell element according to claim 30 wherein the fuel cell element comprises an anode support layer having an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer deposited thereon.