Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Devices With Serpentine Seal Geometry

• US 20110027683A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Ortiz, Marcos German
• Application Number:
  US12/671,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20110027683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/479
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0276 Sealing means characterised by their form H01M8/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1246 the electrolyte consisting of oxides
• 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

A fuel cell device assembly comprises: (i) a frame having a support surface; (ii) an electrolyte sheet comprising an electrochemically active area and an electrochemically inactive area, wherein the inactive area comprises a seal area; and (iii) a seal material interposed between and contacting at least a portion of the frame support surface and at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet seal area. The seal material has serpentine geometry.

Claims

1. A fuel cell device assembly, comprising:

a frame having a support surface;

an electrolyte sheet comprising an electrochemically active area and an electrochemically inactive area, wherein the inactive area comprises a seal area; and

a seal material interposed between and contacting at least a portion of the frame support surface and at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet seal area;

wherein said seal material has serpentine geometry.

2. The fuel cell device assembly of claim 1, wherein said serpentine geometry is characterized by pattern that (i) is less than 0.003 m thick, (ii) has an amplitude of less than 0.01 m, and (iii) has an average wavelength λ

, where 0.005 m<

λ

<

0.2 m.

3. The fuel cell device assembly of claim 1, wherein said serpentine geometry is characterized by a sinusoidal pattern.

4. The fuel cell device assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is rectangular.

5. The fuel cell device assembly of claim 1, wherein the active region of the electrolyte sheet is substantially planar.

6. The fuel cell device assembly of claim 1, wherein the active region of the electrolyte sheet is substantially non-planar.

7. A method for manufacturing an electrochemical device assembly;

comprising;

providing a frame having a top support surface and a planar bottom surface;

providing a device comprising an electrolyte sheet; and

connecting at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet to at least a portion of the frame top support surface with a seal material, wherein said seal material has serpentine geometry.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of connecting at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet to at least a portion of the frame top support surface comprises first applying the seal material to the ceramic electrolyte sheet;

and then contacting the applied seal material with the frame top support surface.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of sintering said seal material.

10. A fuel cell device assembly, comprising:

a frame having a support surface;

an electrolyte sheet comprising an electrochemically active area and an electrochemically inactive area, wherein the inactive area comprises a seal area; and

a seal interposed between and contacting at least a portion of the frame support surface and at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet seal area;

wherein said seal is situated in serpentine pattern with a pattern;

(i) thickness between 0.0005 m and 0.002 m;

(ii) amplitude of less than 0.02 m; and

(iii) average wavelength of less than 0.2 m.