Fuel cell and method for conducting gas-phase oxidation
First Claim
1. A fuel cell comprising a plurality of stacked essentially planar parallel sheets of a fluid-impermeable solid electrolyte capable of transporting oxygen ions, each sheet possessing a plurality of parallel elongated channels separated by ribs, said sheets divided into first and second groups wherein the sheets of said groups are interposed in an alternate manner, the channels of said first group forming an angle with the channels of said second group, the channels of said first group having a catalytic, oxygen-dissociating material disposed therein and the channels of the second group having a catalyst for promoting oxidation reactions disposed therein, said electrolyte sheets having exterior surfaces coated with an electrically conductive material contacting the catalyst disposed in the channels of at least one adjacent sheet, each of said exterior surface coatings in electrically conductive communication with lead means adapted to communicate with an exterior electrical circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are ribbed catalyst-coated solid-state electrolyte sheets as well as a method for producing such sheets. Also disclosed is a fuel cell reactor comprising a plurality of said sheets stacked one upon another and cemented together to form a monolithic structure. Novel reactions utilizing the reactor to produce useful chemical oxidation products and/or electricity are set forth. Also disclosed is a novel wiring system to collect electrical power generated by the reactor.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A fuel cell comprising a plurality of stacked essentially planar parallel sheets of a fluid-impermeable solid electrolyte capable of transporting oxygen ions, each sheet possessing a plurality of parallel elongated channels separated by ribs, said sheets divided into first and second groups wherein the sheets of said groups are interposed in an alternate manner, the channels of said first group forming an angle with the channels of said second group, the channels of said first group having a catalytic, oxygen-dissociating material disposed therein and the channels of the second group having a catalyst for promoting oxidation reactions disposed therein, said electrolyte sheets having exterior surfaces coated with an electrically conductive material contacting the catalyst disposed in the channels of at least one adjacent sheet, each of said exterior surface coatings in electrically conductive communication with lead means adapted to communicate with an exterior electrical circuit.
- 16. A fuel cell comprising a plurality of stacked essentially planar-parallel sheets of a fluid-impermeable solid electrolyte capable of transporting oxygen ions, each sheet possessing a plurality of parallel elongated channels separated by ribs, said sheets divided into first and second groups wherein the sheets of said groups are interposed in an alternate manner, the channels of said first group forming an angle with the channels of said second group, the channels of said first group having a catalytic, oxygen-dissociating material disposed therein and the channels of the second group having a catalyst for promoting oxidation reactions disposed therein, said reactor fitted with conductive means to transport electricity.
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28. A method for conducting gas-phase oxidation reactions comprising:
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(a) passing an oxygen-containing gas and a reactant gas into a fuel cell comprising a plurality of stacked essentially planar parallel sheets of a fluid-impermeable solid electrolyte capable of transporting oxygen ions, each sheet possessing a plurality of parallel elongated channels separated by ribs, said sheets divided into first and second groups wherein the sheets of said groups are interposed in an alternate manner, the channels of said first group forming an angle with the channels of said second group, the channels of said first group having a catalytic, oxygen-dissociating material disposed therein and the channels of the second group having a catalyst for promoting oxidation reactions disposed therein, said reactor fitted with conductive means to transport electricity; (b) passing the oxygen-containing gas through the channels of said first group of sheets to produce oxygen ions which are transported through the electrolyte to the surfaces of the catalyst-coated channels of the group two sheets; (c) passing the oxygen-reactive feed gas through the group two channels to react with the oxygen ions; (d) collecting the oxygen-containing gas following passage through the group one channels; and (e) collecting the product-containing reactant gas following passage through the group two channels. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification