Hybrid monolithic fuel cell
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsJoe K. Cochran, Kon Jiun Lee, William L. Rauch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to hybrid monolithic fuel cells. In one embodiment, the fuel cells comprise a monolithic substrate composed of a metal material and an electrolyte material, the substrate defining a fuel channel and an oxidant channel that are separated by the electrolyte material. The disclosure also relates to methods for manufacturing hybrid monolithic fuel cells. In one embodiment, the methods comprise preparing a metal material, preparing an electrolyte material, and forming a hybrid monolithic fuel cell substrate comprising the metal and electrolyte materials in a one-step fabrication process.
Claims40
A fuel cell, comprising:
- a monolithic substrate composed of a metal material and an electrolyte material, the substrate defining a fuel channel and an oxidant channel that are separated by the electrolyte material.
A fuel cell, comprising:
- a monolithic substrate comprising alternating metal interconnect and electrolyte layers, the metal interconnect and electrolyte layers together forming a plurality of channels provided in alternating rows adapted to receive fuel and oxidant, respectively;
- a layer of anode material provided within the channels of rows that are adapted to receive fuel;
- and
- a layer of cathode material provided within the channels of rows that are adapted to receive oxidant;
- wherein fuel provided to the rows adapted to receive fuel is diffused by the anode material and oxidant provided to the rows adapted to receive oxidant is diffused by the cathode material.
A fuel cell, comprising:
- a monolithic substrate comprising alternating metal interconnect and electrolyte layers and defining a plurality of fuel channels and oxidant channels arranged in an array;
- anode layers provided in selected fuel channels;
- and
- cathode layers provided in selected oxidant channels;
- wherein the fuel cell is configured so as to form repeating ordered units comprising a metal interconnect layer, a fuel passage, an anode layer, an electrolyte layer, a cathode layer, and an oxidant passage.
A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a metal material;
- preparing an electrolyte material;
- and
- forming a hybrid monolithic fuel cell substrate comprising the metal and electrolyte materials in a one-step fabrication process.
A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a metal material paste;
- preparing an electrolyte material paste;
- loading the pastes into an extrusion apparatus;
- and
- simultaneously extruding the pastes to form a fuel cell substrate comprising alternating layers of metal material and electrolyte material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.