Serially connected solid oxide fuel cells having monolithic cores
First Claim
1. A fuel cell for electrochemically combining gaseous fuel and oxidant for generation of galvanic output, comprising an array of longitudinally arranged fuel cell segments in series connection, each fuel cell segment consisting essentially of thin layers of cathode material and anode material respectively sandwiching a thin layer of electrolyte material constructed to define a plurality of parallel fuel and oxidant passageways of substantially uniform transverse cross section wherein the inside faces thereof are only the anode material or only the cathode material establishing serial flow connections between the respective anodes of adjacent fuel cell segments and the respective cathodes of adjacent fuel cell segments, interconnect material different than either electrode material establishing electrical series connection between the respective cathodes and anodes of longitudinally adjacent fuel cell segments, means to direct the fuel and the oxidant gases through the respective parallel passageways to provide serial parallel flow in substantially one direction therealong, and means to direct the galvanic output from the anode and cathode materials to an exterior circuit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A solid oxide fuel cell for electrochemically combining fuel and oxidant for generating galvanic output, wherein the cell core has an array of cell segments electrically serially connected in the flow direction, each segment consisting of electrolyte walls and interconnect that are substantially devoid of any composite inert materials for support. Instead, the core is monolithic, where each electrolyte wall consists of thin layers of cathode and anode materials sandwiching a thin layer of electrolyte material therebetween. Means direct the fuel to the anode-exposed core passageways and means direct the oxidant to the cathode-exposed core passageways; and means also direct the galvanic output to an exterior circuit. Each layer of the electrolyte composite materials is of the order of 0.002-0.01 cm thick; and each layer of the cathode and anode materials is of the order of 0.002-0.05 cm thick. Between 2 and 50 cell segments may be connected in series.
44 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A fuel cell for electrochemically combining gaseous fuel and oxidant for generation of galvanic output, comprising an array of longitudinally arranged fuel cell segments in series connection, each fuel cell segment consisting essentially of thin layers of cathode material and anode material respectively sandwiching a thin layer of electrolyte material constructed to define a plurality of parallel fuel and oxidant passageways of substantially uniform transverse cross section wherein the inside faces thereof are only the anode material or only the cathode material establishing serial flow connections between the respective anodes of adjacent fuel cell segments and the respective cathodes of adjacent fuel cell segments, interconnect material different than either electrode material establishing electrical series connection between the respective cathodes and anodes of longitudinally adjacent fuel cell segments, means to direct the fuel and the oxidant gases through the respective parallel passageways to provide serial parallel flow in substantially one direction therealong, and means to direct the galvanic output from the anode and cathode materials to an exterior circuit.
- 14. A fuel cell segment for electrochemically combining gaseous fuel and oxidant for generation of galvanic output, comprising a honeycomb consisting essentially of thin layers of cathode material and anode material respectively sandwiching a thin layer of electrolyte material constructed to define a plurality of parallel fuel and oxidant passageways of substantially uniform transverse cross-section wherein the inside faces thereof are only the anode material or only the cathode material establishing serial flow connections between the respective anodes of adjacent fuel cell segments and the respective cathodes of adjacent fuel cell segments, each passageway having the cathode material extending beyond the anode material at one end thereof and having the anode material extending beyond the cathode material at the other end thereof separated by interconnect material which is different than either electrode material to accommodate gas flow in said passageways in substantially one direction only.
Specification