Solid electrolyte cell

• US 4,331,742 A
• Filed: 12/24/1980
• Issued: 05/25/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lovelace Alan M Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration With Respect To An Invention of, Robert Richter
• Original Assignee: Lovelace Alan M Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration With Respect To An Invention of, Robert Richter
• Inventors: Richter, Robert, Lovelace, Alan M. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US06/220,214
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 204/290 F, 204/290 R, 204/195 S, 429/40, 429/41, 429/44, 429/30, 429/191, 429/31, 429/33, 429/46, 429/193
• US Class Current: 429/487
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1231 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A solid electrolyte cell including a body of solid ionized gas-conductive electrolyte 20 having mutually spaced surfaces 30 and 32 on which is deposited a multiplicity of mutually spaced electrodes 34 and 36, having strips 30 and 32 of bare substances interposed between electrodes, so that currents of ionic gas may be established between the electrodes via the bare strips 30 and 32, whereby electrical resistance for the cells is lowered and the gas conductivity thereof is enhanced.

Claims

1. A solid electrolyte cell characterized by a reduced electrical resistance and an enhanced ionic gas conductivity comprising:

A. a tubular body, having a closed end and an open end and formed of an ionized gas conductive material comprising eight percent (8%) yttria stabilized zirconia, said body being characterized by a pair of mutually spaced inner and outer surfaces, whereby a current of migrating ions in a gaseous state may be established therebetween;

B. a first plurality of mutually spaced, bar-shaped electrodes formed from a noble metal deposited on and extended along the outer surface of said body in parallelism with the axis thereof and having defined therebetween strips of the outer surface of said body, and a second plurality of mutually spaced bar-shaped electrodes deposited on and extended along the inner surface of said body in registry with said first plurality, whereby the strips of the inner and outer surfaces of said tubular body are caused to be exposed in registry between the electrodes deposited on said surfaces;

C. means supporting said tubular body in received concentric relation with a conduit for CO₂, whereby the strips of the outer surface of the body are contacted by CO₂ as CO₂ is caused to fill said conduit;

D. a fluid extraction conduit comprising an electrical conductor inserted into said body, at the open end thereof, electrically contacting each of the bar-shaped electrodes of said second plurality of electrodes;

E. a tubular conductor circumscribing said body near the open end thereof and electrically contacting each of the bar-shaped electrodes of said first plurality forming a common electrical connector therefor; and

F. electrical circuit means connected with said fluid extraction conduit and said tubular conductor for establishing an electrical potential between the first and second pluralities of electrodes.