Oxidation facilitator

• US 7,745,064 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sofc Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CellTech Power LLC
• Inventors: Blake, Adam P., Bai, Wei, Rackey, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuan; Dah-Wei D
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROE, CLAIRE LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US11/294,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20070048555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 429 31- 33, 429 40- 41, 429/46, 429102-104, 204/413, 204/196.38, 204/219, 204/250
• US Class Current: 429/515
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/8684 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8626 characterised by the form
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9033 Complex oxides, optionally doped, of the type M1MeO3, M1 being an alkaline earth metal or a rare earth, Me being a metal, e.g. perovskites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/905 specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0217 Complex oxides, optionally doped, of the type AMO3, A being an alkaline earth metal or rare earth metal and M being a metal, e.g. perovskites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1213 characterised by the electrode/electrolyte combination or the supporting material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/124 characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1253 the electrolyte containing zirconium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Fuel oxidation facilitators for use in electrochemical devices are described, as well as devices incorporating facilitators and methods of their use. Exemplary facilitators separate a liquid anode of a fuel cell from fuel supplied to the fuel cell, and facilitate oxidation of the fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel cell, comprising:

an anode compartment constructed and arranged to contain an anode that is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell;

a fuel compartment attachable to a source of fuel for the fuel cell; and

a porous ceramic oxide layer, constructed and arranged to prevent fluid flow between the anode compartment and the fuel compartment, across which anodic oxidation of a fuel provided by the fuel compartment can occur during fuel cell operation.

2. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least a portion physically separating a fuel in the fuel compartment from the anode in the anode compartment during fuel cell operation, across which portion fuel oxidation can occur.

3. A fuel cell as in claim 2, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer physically completely separates the fuel from the anode during fuel cell operation.

4. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least one pore of dimension allowing physical contact between a fuel in the fuel compartment and the anode in the anode compartment under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

5. A fuel cell as in claim 4, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes a section separating the fuel and the anode, essentially the entire section comprising a porous article including pores of dimension allowing physical contact between the fuel and the anode under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

6. A fuel cell as in claim 4, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least a portion physically separating the fuel from the anode during fuel cell operation, across which portion fuel oxidation can occur.

7. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer defines a portion of the anode compartment.

8. A fuel cell as in claim 7, constructed and arranged such that the porous ceramic oxide layer, at least one portion thereof, is the sole fuel cell component separating the anode in the anode compartment from a fuel provided in the fuel compartment by the fuel manifold.

9. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer defines a portion of the fuel manifold.

10. A fuel cell as in claim 9, constructed and arranged such that the porous ceramic oxide layer, at least one portion thereof, is the sole fuel cell component separating the anode in the anode compartment from a fuel provided in the fuel compartment by the fuel manifold.

11. A fuel cell as in claim 1 wherein a substantial portion of the anode is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell.

12. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer comprises a mixed ion/electron conductor.

13. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least one ionically-conductive portion.

14. A fuel cell as in claim 1, further comprising a fuel, a substantial portion of which is a gas under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

15. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer is substantially cylindrical.

16. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the fuel manifold includes or is connected to an exhaust conduit and the cell further comprises a fuel delivery conduit having an exit for delivery of fuel at an end of the fuel manifold substantially opposite the exhaust end.

24. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the anode comprises tin.

25. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the anode consists essentially of tin.

17. A fuel cell, comprising:

an anode that is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell;

a fuel manifold attachable to a source of fuel for the cell; and

a porous ceramic oxide layer across which, at a location where the anode is physically separated from a fuel provided by the manifold, oxidation of the fuel via the anode can occur during fuel cell operation.

18. A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein a substantial portion of the fuel is a gas and a substantial portion of the anode is a liquid metal under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

19. A fuel cell as in claim 18, wherein a substantial portion of the anode is a liquid metal under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

20. A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein a substantial portion of the fuel is a gas under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

21. A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein a substantial portion of the fuel is a gas under operating conditions of the fuel cell.

22. A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer comprises a mixed ion/electron conductor.

26. A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein the anode comprises of tin.

27. A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein the anode consists essentially of tin.

23. A fuel cell, comprising:

an anode that is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell;

a fuel manifold attachable to a source of fuel for the cell; and

a porous ceramic oxide layer across which, at a location where the anode is physically separated from a fuel provided by the manifold, oxidation of the fuel by the anode can occur during fuel cell operation.

28. A fuel cell as in claim 23, wherein the anode comprises of tin.

29. A fuel cell as in claim 23, wherein the anode consists essentially of tin.