Electrical connector apparatus for planar solid oxide fuel cell stacks
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsAshok C. Khandkar, Singaravelu Elangovan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for collecting electrical current from individual fuel cell stacks in a solid oxide fuel cell is provided, in which the current collectors are protected from oxidation through advantageous placement in non-oxidizing surroundings. Fuel cell module configurations employing and taking advantage of the current collecting apparatus are also provided.
Claims17
A fuel cell apparatus, comprising:
- at least one electrolyte member having at least two sides, including two opposed sides;
- means for directing a flow of fluid across at least one of the two opposed sides of the at least one electrolyte member;
- means, operably associated with the at least one electrolyte member, for conducting electrical current to positions physically removed from the at least one electrolyte member, in isolation from the fluid flow passing over at least one of the two opposed sides of the at least one electrolyte member;
- means for collecting electrical current from the means for conducting electrical current, operably associated with the means for conducting electrical current;
- means, operably associated with the means for collecting electrical current, for protecting the means for collecting electrical current.
A current collector apparatus for collecting the electrical current generated by the one or more electrolytes in a fuel cell, which is powered by supplies of fuel fluid and oxidizing fluid directed to opposed sides of the one or more electrolytes, the current collector apparatus comprising:
- at least one current collector member, operably disposed in electrically conductive relation to at least one side of at least one of the one or more electrolytes in the fuel cell;
- and
- means, operably associated with the at least one current collector member, for shielding the at least one current collector member from contact with oxidizing fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.