Fuel cell ink trace interconnect
AssigneeLG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
InventorEdward Daum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cells system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The system may comprise a fuel cell tube. The fuel cell tube may comprise a substrate having a first and second ends and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends. The fuel cell may further comprise a plurality of fuel disposed on one of the major surfaces proximate the first end of the substrate. The fuel cell tube may further comprise a sheet conductor. The sheet conductor may be electrically coupled to the plurality of fuel cells and may provide an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other the major surfaces proximate a first end of the substrate.
Claims20
A segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell tube comprising:
- a substrate having a first and a second end and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between said ends;
- a plurality of fuel cells disposed on one of said major surfaces, said fuel cells being electrically coupled in series;
- and
- a first sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of said major surfaces to a location on the other of said major surfaces proximate the first end of said substrate, said first sheet conductor being electrically coupled to said plurality of fuel cells.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a plurality of fuel cell tubes, each of said tubes comprising:
- a first end and a second end;
- a first surface and a second surface, each of said first and second surfaces extending continuously between said first and second ends;
- a plurality of fuel cells disposed on the first and second surfaces, wherein said fuels cells disposed on said first surface are electrically coupled in series to each other by one or more primary interconnects, and said fuel cells disposed on said second surface are electrically coupled in series to each other by one or more primary interconnects;
- a first sheet conductor electrically coupling the fuel cells disposed on the first surface to the fuel cells disposed on the second surface proximate the first end;
- and
- a second sheet conductor electrically coupling the fuel cells disposed on the first surface to the fuel cells disposed on the second surface proximate the second end,
- wherein said first and second sheet conductors are arranged such that the fuel cells disposed on the first surface are electrically coupled in parallel with the fuel cells disposed on the second surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.