Methods and apparatus for assembling solid oxide fuel cells

• US 7,329,471 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Enterprise, LLC (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wei, Chang, Hart, Richard Louis, Hardwicke, Canan Uslu, Gigliotti, Michael Francis Xavier Jr., Bourgeois, Richard Scott, Jackson, Melvin Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin; Angela J.
• Application Number:
  US10/315,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20040110054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 429/38, 429/32, 429/34, 429/30, 296/231
• US Class Current: 429/460
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1231 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1253 the electrolyte containing zirconium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2432 Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell comprises at least one hollow manifold, an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode. The at least one hollow manifold comprises a wall that defines a chamber therein. A plurality of openings extending through, such that the plurality of openings are in flow communication with the chamber. The anode is formed on an exterior surface of the wall. The electrolyte is deposited on the anode, and the cathode is deposited on the electrolyte.

Claims

1. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:

at least one hollow manifold comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of sidewalls, said plurality of sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly between said top wall and said bottom wall, said top wall, said bottom wall, and said sidewalls defining a chamber therein, said top wall, said bottom wall, or combinations thereof including fuel supply and return openings, said top wall comprising a manifold wall comprising a plurality of manifold openings extending therethrough in flow communication with said chamber, said bottom wall not including manifold openings extending therethrough along said bottom wall;

an anode on an exterior surface of said manifold wall;

an electrolyte on said anode; and

a cathode on said electrolyte.

2. A solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one hollow manifold further comprises an electrically conductive material.

3. A solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said anode is bonded directly to said at least one manifold.

4. A solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is at least coextensive with said anode, said electrolyte is bonded directly to said at least one manifold.

5. A solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is substantially impermeable to a gas, and is configured to conduct oxygen ions between said cathode and said anode.

6. A fuel cell stack comprising:

a first solid oxide fuel cell and a second solid oxide fuel cell, said first solid oxide fuel cell and said second solid oxide fuel cell electrically coupled together in series in a stack configuration such that at least one sealed passage extends between said first and said second solid oxide fuel cells, said first and second fuel cell each comprising;

at least one hollow manifold comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of sidewalls, said plurality of sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly between said top wall and said bottom wall, said top wall, said bottom wall, and said sidewalls defining a chamber therein, said top wall, said bottom wall, or combinations thereof including fuel supply and return openings, said top wall comprising a manifold wall comprising a plurality of manifold openings extending therethrough in flow communication with said chamber, said bottom wall not including manifold openings extending therethrough along said bottom wall;

an anode on an exterior surface of said manifold wall;

an electrolyte on said anode; and

a cathode on said electrolyte.

7. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a cathode flow channel coupled to at least one of said first solid oxide fuel cell manifold and said second solid oxide fuel cell manifold, said cathode flow channel for directing a gas between said first and said second solid oxide fuel cells.

8. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least one of said first solid oxide fuel cell manifold and said second solid oxide fuel cell manifold is substantially rectangular.

9. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least one of said first solid oxide fuel cell manifold and said second solid oxide fuel cell manifold further comprises an electrically conductive material.

10. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 wherein each said electrolyte is at least coextensive with each said anode such that each said electrolyte is bonded to said manifold.

11. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 wherein each said manifold comprises a pair of end plates coupled to a first end and a second end of said manifold.

12. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 wherein said electrolyte is substantially impermeable to a gas, and is configured to conduct oxygen ions between said cathode and said anode.

13. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one sealed passage comprises a pair of seal members positioned between said first and second solid oxide fuel cells, said plurality of seal members configured to electrically insulate said first solid oxide fuel cell from said second-solid oxide fuel cell.

14. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a substantially hollow cathode end plate and a substantially solid anode end plate.