Electricity generating electrochemical device of the solid-oxide fuel-cell stack type
AssigneeCommissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
InventorJulien VULLIET
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Abstract
The invention relates to an electricity generating electrochemical device of the solid-oxide fuel-cell stack type. The device includes a planar assembly having at least one electrochemical cell comprised between first and second gas diffusing plates made of ceramic of expansion coefficient between 8×10−6 K−1 and 14×10−6K−1 and drilled with equidistant holes. First and second current conductive metal grids each are connected to a conductive wire allowing current to flow out of the device. The grilles are placed on either side of the at least one electrochemical cell between this cell and each of the first and second gas diffusing plates. A clamping device mechanically holds the planar assembly together.
Claims10
1:
- An electricity generating electrochemical device of the solid-oxide fuel-cell type, comprising a planar assembly, which includes:
- first and second gas diffusion plates made of a ceramic material with a coefficient of expansion between 8×10−6 K−1 and 14×10−6 K−1 and in which equidistant holes are formed;
- at least one electrochemical cell in between the first and second gas diffusion plate;
- first and second current collection metal grids each connected to a conducting wire allowing current to flow outside the device, said first and second current collection metal grids being located on each side of said at least one electrochemical cell between this cell and each of the first and second gas diffusion plates;
- and
- clamping means mechanically holding this planar assembly.
2:
- The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gas diffusion plates are curved at their ends so as to embed the at least one electrochemical cell.
3:
- The device according to claim 2, further comprising a first and a second heat conducting element arranged on each side of the first and second gas diffusion pates to surround them.
4:
- The device according to claim 3, in which the first and second heat conducting plates are metal plates in which holes are formed.
5:
- The device according to claim 1, wherein the holes formed in the first and second gas diffusion plates with a diameter of between 4 and 6 mm, the centres of two adjacent holes being located at a distance of 8 to 12 mm from each other.
6:
- The device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of each one of the first and second gas diffusion plate is between 3 and 10 mm.
7:
- The device according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first and second gas diffusion plates is made from one of the following materials:
- alumina, zirconia or a material known as “macor” (registered trademark).
8:
- The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductivity of the first and second current collection metal grids is higher than 100 S/m at 60° C.
9:
- The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second current collection metal grids are made from one of the following materials:
- nickel, platinum or gold.
10:
- The device according to claim 1, in which the clamping means clamp such that the clamping pressure on the at least one electrochemical cell is between 200 g/cm2 and 1000 g/cm2.