Module for a fuel cell battery

• US 5,270,131 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sulzer Hexis AG
• Original Assignee: Sulzer Brothers, Ltd (Sulzer AG)
• Inventors: Brun, Joseph, Diethelm, Roland, Barp, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Willis, Jr., Prince
• Assistant Examiner(s): NUZZOLILLO, MARIA
• Application Number:
  US07/784,903
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/35, 429/36, 429/38, 429/39, 429/30, 429/32, 429/33
• US Class Current: 429/456
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0232 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/242 comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2465 Details of groupings of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The module for a fuel cell battery comprises an electrochemically active plate which, on the one hand, consists of an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte and, on the other hand, two electrode layers applied to both sides of the electrolyte layer. At least one of the electrode layers is electrically conductively and nondetachably connected to a supporting and electron conduction structure via a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements.

Claims

1. A fuel cell battery comprising a plurality of stacked modules electrically connected in series;

each module having an electrochemically active plate including a pair of electrode layers and an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer between said electrode layers, a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from said plate, a first plurality of contact elements secured to and between said supporting structure and one of said electrode layers in electrically conductive and fixed relation, and a second plurality of contact elements secured to and between the other of said electrode layers and said supporting structure of an adjacent module in electrically conductive and fixed relation.

2. A fuel cell battery as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a gas supply duct for supplying gas into each said module to flow over said supporting structure thereof and a two-part line between said supporting structures to form an electrical connection therebetween, said line extending through said gas supply duct.

3. A fuel cell battery as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said contact element is in point contact with said respective electrode layer.

4. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate; and

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements secured to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in electrically conductive and fixed relation wherein each contact element is soldered to said one electrode layer.

5. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate; and

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements secured to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in electrically conductive and fixed relation wherein said contact elements are secured to said one electrode layer over a total surface area of less than ten per cent of the total surface area of said one electrode layer.

6. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate; and

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements secured to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in electrically conductive and fixed relation wherein said contact elements are filamentary.

7. A module as set forth in claim 6 wherein said filamentary contact elements are disposed in bunches with each bunch being secured to said supporting structure.

8. A module as set forth in claim 7 wherein said structure has a plurality of bores, each bore receiving a respective one of said bunches therein in soldered relation.

9. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate;

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements secured to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in electrically conductive and fixed relation; and

a resilient metal web secured to at least one electrode layer of said plate and said contact elements are in the form of tongues extending from said web into electrically conductive fixed contact with said supporting structure.

10. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate; and

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements fixedly connected to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in an electrically conductive and fixed relation for reducing the risk of breakage of said plate during assembly of the module wherein each contact element is soldered to said one electrode layer.

11. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate; and

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements fixedly connected to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in an electrically conductive and fixed relation for reducing the risk of breakage of said plate during assembly of the module wherein said contact elements are secured to said one electrode layer over a total surface area of less than ten percent of the total surface area of said one electrode layer.

12. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate; and

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements fixedly connected to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in an electrically conductive and fixed relation for reducing the risk of breakage of said plate during assembly of the module wherein said contact elements are filamentary.

13. A module as set forth in claim 12 wherein said filamentary contact elements are disposed in bunches with each bunch being secured to said supporting structure.

14. A module as set forth in claim 13 wherein said structure has a plurality of bores, each bore receiving a respective one of said bunches therein in soldered relation.

15. A module for a fuel cell battery comprising

an electrochemically active plate including an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrode layers, each electrode layer being disposed on an opposite side of said solid electrolyte layer from the other electrode layer;

a supporting and electron conduction structure spaced from and in parallel with said plate;

a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements fixedly connected to and between said structure and one of said electrode layers of said plate in an electrically conductive and fixed relation for reducing the risk of breakage of said plate during assembly of the module; and

a resilient metal web secured to at least one electrode layer of said plate and said contact elements are in the form of tongues extending from said web into electrically conductive fixed contact with said supporting structure.