Monolithic solid electrolyte oxygen pump
First Claim
1. An oxygen pump for removing oxygen from an oxygen-bearing gas comprising:
- an anode comprised of a non-oxidizing material and formed of a first corrugated portion and a second planar portion in contact with said first corrugated portion so as to form a first plurality of elongated, generally linear corrugations therein;
a cathode formed of a third corrugated portion and a fourth planar portion in contact with said third corrugated portion so as to form a second plurality of elongated, generally linear corrugations therein;
a thin, porous, flat, electrically conductive solid electrolyte having first and second opposed electrode surfaces disposed between and in respective electrical contact with the second planar portion of said anode and with the fourth planar portion of said anode, wherein a first plurality of closed channels is formed between the third corrugated portion and the fourth planar portion of said cathode and a second plurality of closed channels is formed between the first corrugated portion and the second planar portion of said anode; and
a DC potential source coupled to said anode and said cathode for applying a DC voltage thereacross for transferring oxygen form an oxygen-bearing gas introduced into said first plurality of closed channels through said solid electrolyte and into said second plurality of closed channels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-layer oxygen pump having a one-piece, monolithic ceramic structure affords high oxygen production per unit weight and volume and is thus particularly adapted for use as a portable oxygen supply. The oxygen pump is comprised of a large number of small cells on the order of 1-2 millimeters in diameter which form the walls of the pump and which are comprised of thin, i.e., 25-50 micrometers, ceramic layers of cell components. The cell components include an air electrode, an oxygen electrode, an electrolyte and interconnection materials. The cell walls form the passages for input air and for exhausting the oxygen which is transferred from a relatively dilute gaseous mixture to a higher concentration by applying a DC voltage across the electrodes so as to ionize the oxygen at the air electrode, whereupon the ionized oxygen travels through the electrolyte and is converted to oxygen gas at the oxygen electrode.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An oxygen pump for removing oxygen from an oxygen-bearing gas comprising:
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an anode comprised of a non-oxidizing material and formed of a first corrugated portion and a second planar portion in contact with said first corrugated portion so as to form a first plurality of elongated, generally linear corrugations therein; a cathode formed of a third corrugated portion and a fourth planar portion in contact with said third corrugated portion so as to form a second plurality of elongated, generally linear corrugations therein; a thin, porous, flat, electrically conductive solid electrolyte having first and second opposed electrode surfaces disposed between and in respective electrical contact with the second planar portion of said anode and with the fourth planar portion of said anode, wherein a first plurality of closed channels is formed between the third corrugated portion and the fourth planar portion of said cathode and a second plurality of closed channels is formed between the first corrugated portion and the second planar portion of said anode; and a DC potential source coupled to said anode and said cathode for applying a DC voltage thereacross for transferring oxygen form an oxygen-bearing gas introduced into said first plurality of closed channels through said solid electrolyte and into said second plurality of closed channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification