Single chamber solid oxide fuel cell architecture for high temperature operation
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsDaniel A. Kearl, Richard B. Peterson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell and at least one gas flow channel to deliver a reactant mixture. The fuel cell comprises at least one chamber to house at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrolyte, and the fuel cell is adapted to receive a reactant mixture comprising reactants mixed prior to delivery to the fuel cell. The one or more gas flow channels for delivering the reactant mixture have characteristic dimensions that are less than a quench distance of the reactant mixture at an operating temperature within the solid oxide fuel cell system.
Claims25
A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
- at least one fuel cell, wherein said at least one fuel cell comprises at least one chamber to house at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrolyte, and wherein said at least one fuel cell is adapted to receive a reactant mixture comprising reactants mixed prior to delivery to said at least one fuel cell;
- and
- at least one gas flow channel to deliver said reactant mixture, wherein a characteristic dimension of said at least one gas flow channel is less than a quench distance of said reactant mixture at an operating temperature within the solid oxide fuel cell system.
A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
- delivering a reactant mixture to said at least one fuel cell through at least one gas flow channel, wherein said at least one gas flow channel has a characteristic dimension less than a quench distance of said reactant mixture at an operating temperature of the fuel cell.
A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
- manufacturing all gas flow channels and chambers exposed to a reactant mixture within the solid oxide fuel cell system to have characteristic dimensions less than a quench distance of said reactant mixture at a temperature found within the solid oxide fuel cell system.
A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
- delivery means for delivering a reactant mixture so as to reduce uncontrolled reactions in said solid oxide fuel cell system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.