SOFC hot box components

• US 9,991,526 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Perry, Martin, Edmonston, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Jelsma, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEKIA, OMAR M
• Application Number:
  US14/516,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20160233529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 429434
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0018 without any annular circulation of the heat exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0025 the conduits being formed by zig-zag bend plates
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/02 Header boxes; End plates
• 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 8/0297 Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other H01M8/0271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04052 Storage of heat in the fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04268 Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/12 operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/24 Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/243 Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2432 Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.

Claims

1. A method of insulating a fuel cell hot box feature comprising:

pouring a flowable insulating material into a gap between the fuel cell hot box feature and an adjacent feature; and

allowing the flowable insulating material to solidify,

wherein the hot box feature comprises a bridging tube containing a current collector and the adjacent feature comprises a fuel cell stack support base;

wherein the bridging tube extends from under the fuel cell stack support base through the flowable insulating material located below the fuel cell stack support base and out of the hot box through a side of a base pan below the fuel cell stack support base.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gap between the fuel cell hot box feature and the adjacent feature comprises an “

L”

shape.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising adding an insulating wool in end portions in the gap between the fuel cell hot box feature and the adjacent feature.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second hot box feature, wherein the second hot box feature comprises a cathode recuperator uni-shell comprising a monolithic assembly comprising a single plate;

a top enclosure; and

a bottom enclosure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks located on the fuel cell stack support base.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the bridging tube contains a vertical portion located below the fuel cell stack support base and a horizontal portion connected to the side of the base pan; and

the flowable material is located between the fuel cell stack support base and the horizontal portion of the bridging tube.