Solid oxide fuel cell having a monolithic heat exchanger and method for managing thermal energy flow of the fuel cell

A method for managing the thermal energy flowing into and out of an SOFC system comprising:

• coupling a heat exchanger to an SOFC stack, said monolithic heat exchanger comprising an air inlet side for introducing a flow of air, a plurality of cells for passing a flow of air therethrough, and an air outlet side for discharging said flow of air;
• disposing a material between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger and configuring said material to control thermal coupling between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger;
• and
• passing said air having a selected temperature through said heat exchanger cells so as to manage thermal energy flowing into and out of said SOFC stack primarily by radiation coupling between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger.

A thermal energy management system for solid oxide fuel cells comprising:

• an extruded ceramic monolithic heat exchanger comprising an air inlet side, an air outlet side, and a plurality of cells for passing a flow of air therethrough;
• said heat exchanger being coupled to an SOFC stack;
• and
• a material disposed between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger to control thermal coupling between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger;
• wherein in operation, a flow of inlet air having a selected temperature is passed through said heat exchanger cells and thermal energy flowing into and out of said SOFC stack is managed primarily by radiation coupling between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger.

A method for managing the thermal energy flowing into and out of an SOFC system comprising:

• coupling an extruded ceramic monolithic heat exchanger to an SOFC stack, said heat exchanger comprising an air inlet side for introducing a flow of air, a plurality of cells for passing a flow of air therethrough, and an air outlet side for discharging said flow of air;
• disposing a material between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger and configuring said material to control thermal coupling between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger;
• and
• passing said air having a selected temperature through said heat exchanger cells so as to manage thermal energy flowing into and out of said SOFC stack primarily by radiation coupling between said SOFC stack and said heat exchanger.