Methods and apparatus for assembling solid oxide fuel cells
First Claim
1. A fuel cell stack assembly comprising:
- at least a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell electrically coupled together such that at least one sealed passage extends between said first and second fuel cells, each said fuel cell comprising at least one hollow manifold comprising a wall extending between a first end and a second end, each said wall defining a chamber therein, said wall comprising at least one opening extending therethrough in flow communication with said chamber; and
at least one fuel cell isolation device coupled in flow communication with each said fuel cell hollow manifold, said at least one fuel cell isolation device variably positionable during fuel cell stack assembly operation for selectively stopping fluid flow through at least one of said fuel cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell stack assembly includes at least a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell electrically coupled together such that at least one sealed passage extends between the first and second fuel cells. Each of the fuel cells includes at least one hollow manifold that includes a wall extending between a first end and a second end. Each wall defines a chamber therein, and includes at least one opening extending therethrough in flow communication with the chamber. The fuel cell stack assembly also includes at least one fuel cell isolation device coupled in flow communication with each fuel cell hollow manifold. The at least one fuel cell isolation device is variably positionable during fuel cell stack assembly operation for selectively stopping fluid flow through at least one of the fuel cells.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A fuel cell stack assembly comprising:
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at least a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell electrically coupled together such that at least one sealed passage extends between said first and second fuel cells, each said fuel cell comprising at least one hollow manifold comprising a wall extending between a first end and a second end, each said wall defining a chamber therein, said wall comprising at least one opening extending therethrough in flow communication with said chamber; and
at least one fuel cell isolation device coupled in flow communication with each said fuel cell hollow manifold, said at least one fuel cell isolation device variably positionable during fuel cell stack assembly operation for selectively stopping fluid flow through at least one of said fuel cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fuel cell stack coupled in flow communication to an air source and a fuel source, said fuel cell stack comprising:
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at least two fuel cells coupled together in flow communication such that at least one sealed passage extends between said at least two fuel cells;
a plurality of interconnects electrically coupling said at least two fuel cells together such that at least one interconnect extends between each adjacent pair of said at least two fuel cells; and
at least one fuel cell isolation device coupled in flow communication with each of said at least two fuel cells, said at least one fuel cell isolation device selectively positionable during operation of said fuel cell stack to electrically isolate at least one of said fuel cells from said remaining at least two fuel cells. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for assembling a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:
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electrically coupling a first fuel cell to a second fuel cell such that at least one sealed passage extends between the first and second fuel cells; and
coupling at least one fuel cell isolation device within the at least one seal passage such that the at least one fuel cell isolation device is variably positionable to electrically isolate at least one of the first and second fuel cells during operation of the fuel cell stack. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 37)
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29. A method for operating a fuel cell stack assembly including at least two fuel cells electrically coupled in series together, said method comprising:
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determining a fault exists within an operating fuel cell stack assembly;
electrically isolating at least one of the fuel cells during operation of the fuel cell stack assembly; and
continuing operation of the fuel cell stack assembly with at least one fuel cell electrically isolated from the remaining fuel cells within the fuel cell stack assembly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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38. A fuel cell isolation assembly for use with a fuel cell stack including at least two fuel cells, said fuel cell isolation assembly comprising:
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a fuel cell isolation device configured to be positioned within a sealed passage extending between the two fuel cells; and
an actuator coupled to said fuel cell isolation device for controlling movement of said fuel cell isolation device such that said fuel cell isolation device is selectively positionable within the sealed passage during operation of the fuel cell stack to electrically isolate at least one of the fuel cells from the remaining fuel cells. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification