ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY

• US 20100255398A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Craig P. Jacobson, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Steven J. Visco
• Original Assignee: Craig P. Jacobson, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Steven J. Visco
• Inventors: JACOBSON, Craig P., Jonghe, Lutgard C. De, Visco, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US12/819,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255398A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/452
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8621 containing only metallic or ceramic material, e.g. made by sintering or sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8885 Sintering or firing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0206 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0232 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/025 semicylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0271 Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/243 Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2484 characterised by external manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Multiple stacks of tubular electrochemical cells having a dense electrolyte disposed between an anode and a cathode preferably deposited as thin films arranged in parallel on stamped conductive interconnect sheets or ferrules. The stack allows one or more electrochemical cell to malfunction without disabling the entire stack. Stack efficiency is enhanced through simplified gas manifolding, gas recycling, reduced operating temperature and improved heat distribution.

Claims

1-85. -85. (canceled)

86. An electrochemical cell stack assembly, comprising:

a plurality of conductive interconnect plates;

each said interconnect plate having a plurality of apertures; and

a plurality of tubular electrochemical cells disposed and sealed between said interconnect plates;

wherein a said tubular electrochemical cell is oriented over a corresponding said aperture to form a gas passageway.

87. A module for a modular assembly of electrochemical cells, comprising:

a first set of tubular electrochemical cells, each said cell having an anode contact end and a cathode contact end;

a second set of tubular electrochemical cells, each said cell having an anode contact end and a cathode contact end; and

an electrically conductive interconnect sheet with a plurality of apertures and top and bottom sides, said top side of said interconnect sheet configured to electrically couple with said anode contact ends of said first set of electrochemical cells, said bottom side of said interconnect sheet configured to electrically couple with said cathode contact ends of said second set of electrochemical cells;

wherein said first and second set of electrochemical cells are aligned over the apertures of the interconnect sheet forming gas passageways through said electrochemical cells and said interconnect sheet.