Methods and apparatus for isolating solid oxide fuel cells

• US 7,358,005 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Enterprise, LLC (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bourgeois, Richard Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dove; Tracy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, OI K
• Application Number:
  US10/665,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20050064254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/12
• US Class Current: 429/458
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04246 Short circuiting means for defective fuel cells detection of defective fuel cells H01M8/04664, methods for shunting fuel cells H01M8/04955
• 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

Abstract

A fuel cell stack assembly includes at least a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell electrically coupled together such that at least one sealed passage extends between the first and second fuel cells. Each of the fuel cells includes at least one hollow manifold that includes a wall extending between a first end and a second end. Each wall defines a chamber therein, and includes at least one opening extending therethrough in flow communication with the chamber. The fuel cell stack assembly also includes at least one fuel cell isolation device coupled in flow communication with each fuel cell hollow manifold. The at least one fuel cell isolation device is variably positionable during fuel cell stack assembly operation for selectively stopping fluid flow through at least one of the fuel cells.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack assembly comprising:

at least a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell electrically coupled together such that at least one sealed passage extends between said first and second fuel cells, each said fuel cell comprising at least one hollow manifold comprising a wall extending between a first end and a second end, each said wall defining a chamber therein, said wall comprising at least one opening extending therethrough in flow communication with said chamber; and

at least one fuel cell isolation device including a jumper, said fuel cell isolation device coupled in flow communication with each of said fuel cell hollow manifold, said at least one fuel cell isolation device being variably positionable during fuel cell stack assembly operation for selectively stopping fluid flow through at least one of said fuel cells and for positioning said jumper to short circuit said at least one fuel cell.

2. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a third fuel cell wherein a fuel inlet configured to channel fuel to said first, second, and third fuel cells, and a fuel outlet configured to channel fuel from said first, second, and third fuel cells, said at least one fuel cell isolation device positioned within at least one of said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet.

3. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein adjacent fuel cells are separated by a distance, said at least one fuel cell isolation device has a length that is longer than said fuel cell separation distance.

4. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one interconnect extends between adjacent fuel cells, said at least one fuel cell isolation device is configured to electrically couple a pair of adjacent interconnects together.

5. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device comprises an external surface having features selected from at least one of a wire mesh, a metallic seal, and a brush, said features extending outwardly from said external surface.

6. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device is coupled to at least one actuator for controlling movement of said at least one fuel cell isolation device.

7. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said fuel cell further comprises at least one keyway positioned adjacent at least one of said manifold first end and said manifold second end, said keyway facilitates positioning said at least one fuel cell isolation device.

8. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said fuel cell further comprises at least one pre-positioned fuel cell isolation device that is movable by an actuator.

9. A fuel cell stack assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a third fuel cell, said fuel cell stack assembly further compring a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and at least one valve, said fuel inlet for channeling fuel to said first, second, and third fuel cells, said fuel outlet for channeling fuel from said first, second, and third fuel cells, said valve for selectively controlling movement of said at least one fuel cell isolation device through at least one of said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet.

10. A fuel cell stack coupled in flow communication to an air source and a fuel source, said fuel cell stack comprising:

at least two fuel cells coupled together in flow communication such that at least one sealed passage extends between said at least two fuel cells;

a plurality of interconnects electrically coupling said at least two fuel cells together such that at least one interconnect extends between each adjacent pair of said at least two fuel cells; and

at least one fuel cell isolation device including a jumper, coupled in flow communication with each of said at least two fuel cells, said at least one fuel cell isolation device selectively positionable during operation of said fuel cell stack to position said jumper to short circuit said at least one fuel cell from said remaining at least two fuel cells.

11. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device is further selectively positionable to stop at least one of air flow and fuel flow to at least one fuel cell during fuel cell stack operation.

12. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device is selectively positionable in sealing contact against a portion of a pair of adjacent interconnects.

13. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device is selectively rotatable within said at least one hollow passage.

14. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one sealed passage comprises at least one of a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, an air inlet, and an air outlet, said at least one fuel cell isolation device is coupled within said at least one sealed passage.

15. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device comprises an external surface having features selected from at least one of a wire mesh, a metallic seal, and a brush coupled to said external surface for contacting at least one of said at least two fuel cells.

16. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said at least two fuel cells comprises at least one keyway defined therein, said keyway facilitates positioning said at least one fuel cell isolation device relative to said at least two fuel cells.

17. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 further comprising an actuator coupled to said at least one fuel cell isolation device, said actuator controls movement of said at least one fuel cell isolation device.

18. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 further comprising at least one valve for selectively controlling movement of said at least one fuel cell isolator device through said valve and into at least one sealed passage.

19. A fuel cell stack in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one fuel cell isolation device is formed integrally with at least one of said at least two fuel cells.

20. A fuel cell isolation assembly for use with a fuel cell stack including at least two fuel cells, said fuel cell isolation assembly comprising:

a fuel cell isolation device including a jumper, configured to be positioned within a sealed passage extending between the two fuel cells; and

an actuator coupled to said fuel cell isolation device for controlling movement of said fuel cell isolation device such that said fuel cell isolation device is selectively positionable within the sealed passage during operation of the fuel cell stack to electrically isolate at least one of the fuel cells from the remaining fuel cells by short circuiting said at least one fuel cell via said jumper.

21. A fuel cell isolation assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein adjacent fuel cells are separated within the stack by a distance, said fuel cell isolation device has a length that is longer than the distance defined between adjacent fuel cells.

22. A fuel cell isolation assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein the adjacent fuel cells within the fuel stack are electrically coupled together such that at least one interconnect extends between the pair of fuel cells, said fuel cell isolation device is further configured to electrically couple a pair of adjacent interconnects together.

23. A fuel cell isolation assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein said fuel cell isolation device comprises external surface having features selected from at least one of a wire mesh, a metallic seal, and a brush, said features extending outwardly from said external surface.

24. A fuel cell isolation assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein said fuel cell isolation device comprises an external surface and a positioning projection extending outward from said external surface, said positioning position configured to facilitate positioning said fuel cell isolation device relative to the fuel stack.