# US 12,119,526 B2 · Metal support for electrochemical element, electrochemical element, electrochemical module, electrochemical device, energy system, solid oxide fuel cell, solid oxide electrolytic cell, and method for manufacturing metal support

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- Number: US 12,119,526 B2
- Document ID: US12119526B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/044,073
- Filed: 2019-03-29
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-30
- Assignees: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo; Hisao Ohnishi; Kazuyuki Minami; Yuji Tsuda; Kyohei Manabe; Osamu Yamazaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119526B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/8807: {Gas diffusion layers}
- H01M 8/1226: characterised by the supporting layer
- C01B 3/34: by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
- H01M 8/04014: Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
- H01M 8/04022: {Heating by combustion}
- H01M 8/04029: Heat exchange using liquids
- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes}
- H01M 8/0612: from carbon-containing material
- H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming}
- H01M 8/1231: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- H01M 8/1246: the electrolyte consisting of oxides
- H01M 8/2432: Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
- H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- C01B 2203/0233: the reforming step being a steam reforming step
- C01B 2203/066: with fuel cells
- C01B 2203/0827: at least part of the fuel being a recycle stream
- C01B 2203/1258: Pre-treatment of the feed
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A metal support for an electrochemical element has a plate shape as a whole, and is provided with a plurality of penetration spaces 1c that pass through the metal support from a front face 1a to a back face. The front face 1a is a face to be provided with an electrode layer. A region of the front face 1a provided with the penetration spaces is a hole region, and openings of the penetration spaces formed in the front face are front-side openings. An aperture ratio that is a ratio of the front-side openings to the hole region is 0.1% or more and 7.0% or less.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
an electrochemical element, the electrochemical element comprising:
an electrode layer;
a solid electrolyte layer; and
a counter electrode layer provided on/over a front face of a metal support,
wherein the metal support has a plate shape,
the metal support is provided with a plurality of open penetration spaces that pass through the metal support from a front face to a back face, the front face being provided with the electrode layer, such that a gas may flow through the penetration spaces to the electrode layer,
a region of the front face is provided with the penetration spaces being a hole region,
openings of the penetration spaces formed in the front face being front-side openings,
an aperture ratio that is a ratio of the front-side openings to the hole region is 0.2% or more and 5.3% or less,
each back-side opening that is an opening of the penetration spaces formed in the back face has an area or a diameter larger than those of the front-side openings, and
intervals between the front-side openings are 0.115 mm or more and 0.200 mm or less,
wherein a power generation reaction is caused in the electrochemical element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the metal support has a thickness of 0.15 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein each of the front-side openings has a circular shape or a substantially circular shape having a diameter of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the metal support is formed by stacking a plurality of metal plates.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the metal support is formed by stacking a plurality of metal plates having the same thickness or substantially the same thickness.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the metal support is formed by stacking a plurality of metal plates including a first metal plate that is a plate made of metal, and a second metal plate that is a plate made of metal and is thicker than the first metal plate, the first metal plate being arranged closer to the front face than the second metal plate is.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the metal support is made of a Fe—Cr based alloy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the front face is covered by a metal oxide film.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of penetration spaces passing through the metal support from the front face to the back face are formed through laser processing, punching processing, etching processing, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 10

A solid oxide electrolytic cell comprising:
an electrochemical element, the electrochemical element comprising:
an electrode layer;
a solid electrolyte layer; and
a counter electrode layer provided on/over a front face of a metal support,
wherein the metal support has a plate shape,
the metal support is provided with a plurality of open penetration spaces that pass through the metal support from a front face to a back face, the front face being provided with the electrode layer, such that a gas may flow through the penetration spaces to the electrode layer,
a region of the front face is provided with the penetration spaces being a hole region,
openings of the penetration spaces formed in the front face being front-side openings,
an aperture ratio that is a ratio of the front-side openings to the hole region is 0.2% or more and 5.3% or less,
each back-side opening that is an opening of the penetration spaces formed in the back face has an area or a diameter larger than those of the front-side openings, and
intervals between the front-side openings are 0.115 mm or more and 0.200 mm or less,
wherein an electrolytic reaction is caused in the electrochemical element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein the metal support has a thickness of 0.15 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein each of the front-side openings has a circular shape or a substantially circular shape having a diameter of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein the metal support is formed by stacking a plurality of metal plates.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein the metal support is formed by stacking a plurality of metal plates having the same thickness or substantially the same thickness.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein the metal support is formed by stacking a plurality of metal plates including a first metal plate that is a plate made of metal, and a second metal plate that is a plate made of metal and is thicker than the first metal plate, the first metal plate being arranged closer to the front face than the second metal plate is.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein the metal support is made of a Fe—Cr based alloy.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the front face is covered by a metal oxide film.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The solid oxide electrolytic cell according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of penetration spaces passing through the metal support from the front face to the back face are formed through laser processing, punching processing, etching processing, or a combination thereof.