Ceramic composite electrolytic device and method for manufacture thereof
First Claim
1. A ceramic composite electrolytic device for generating electrical power comprising:
- a plurality of electrically connected solid state electrolytic electrical power generating cells, each of said cells including a ceramic composite body with first and second electrically conductive porous gas permeable electrode layers on opposite surfaces of said ceramic composite body, said first layer forming an anode and said second layer forming a cathode, and a bipolar metal member for engagement with said ceramic composite body of said cell on one side, and with said ceramic composite body of another adjacent cell on the other side,said ceramic composite body further comprising a metal member having a regular pattern of openings formed within a center portion of the metal member for supporting a ceramic material and such pattern and openings have no sharp corners,said bipolar metal member and said metal member of said ceramic composite body interconnected at a gas tight seal surrounding said ceramic material to form a fuel chamber, and together forming an output for removing exhaust generated in said fuel chamber of said cell,said device further including a heat unit for heating said plurality of cells to a desired reaction temperature, a power connection connecting the output of said cell, a fan for supplying air to said cathode of said cell, and a fuel supplied to said plurality of cells for reacting with said plurality of interconnected cells to generate electrical power within said fuel chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power generating device having a plurality of ceramic composite cells, each cell having a cathode and an anode. A thermal shell in which the ceramic composite cells are stacked or arranged in electrical series and gas parallel surrounded by shock absorbing and insulating materials, respectively, is preferably included. Also provided are an exhaust fan, thermocouple sensors, a fuel supply, a programmable computer controller with user interface, and a container supporting the assembly and having passageways for providing air ingress and egress to the device, and power output terminals for the electrical power from the device. Methods for manufacturing the ceramic composite cells are also provided, including a method for manufacturing stabilized zirconia for use in the ceramic materials used within the ceramic composite cell. The cell utilizes a ceramic composite body electrolyte which contains a metal member having a regular pattern of openings.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A ceramic composite electrolytic device for generating electrical power comprising:
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a plurality of electrically connected solid state electrolytic electrical power generating cells, each of said cells including a ceramic composite body with first and second electrically conductive porous gas permeable electrode layers on opposite surfaces of said ceramic composite body, said first layer forming an anode and said second layer forming a cathode, and a bipolar metal member for engagement with said ceramic composite body of said cell on one side, and with said ceramic composite body of another adjacent cell on the other side, said ceramic composite body further comprising a metal member having a regular pattern of openings formed within a center portion of the metal member for supporting a ceramic material and such pattern and openings have no sharp corners, said bipolar metal member and said metal member of said ceramic composite body interconnected at a gas tight seal surrounding said ceramic material to form a fuel chamber, and together forming an output for removing exhaust generated in said fuel chamber of said cell, said device further including a heat unit for heating said plurality of cells to a desired reaction temperature, a power connection connecting the output of said cell, a fan for supplying air to said cathode of said cell, and a fuel supplied to said plurality of cells for reacting with said plurality of interconnected cells to generate electrical power within said fuel chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for manufacturing a ceramic composite electrical power generating cell comprising the steps of:
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providing a layer of ceramic material to a metal member having a pattern of openings with no sharp corners within a center portion of the metal member for intersupporting the ceramic material, firing said metal member supporting the ceramic material to create a ceramic composite member; coating said center portion of said metal member forming said ceramic composite member with an electrically conductive material; firing said electrically conductive material with said metal member forming said ceramic composite member; welding said metal member surrounding said ceramic composite member with a bipolar metal member having contact portions extending outwardly in two directions from a plane of the bipolar metal member for engagement with said ceramic composite member; forming an air tight chamber between said ceramic composite member and said bipolar metal member for generating electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification