Unitized cell solid oxide fuel cells
AssigneeHybrid Power Generation Systems, LLC
InventorNguyen Q. Minh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitized solid oxide fuel cell comprises a first electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to an anode of the fuel cell, with the first interconnect having a first substantially planar portion and a first skirt portion. A second electrically conductive interconnect is operatively connected to a cathode of the fuel cell, with the second interconnect having a second substantially planar portion and a second skirt portion that is juxtaposed to the first skirt portion. A gas inlet is fixed to at least one of the first and second skirt portions while a gas outlet is fixed to at least one of the first and second skirt portions. The gas inlet and outlet can be releasably attached to a gas manifold.
Claims25
A unitized fuel cell, comprising:
- a first electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to an anode of said fuel cell, said first interconnect having a first substantially planar portion and a first skirt portion;
- a second electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to a cathode of said fuel cell, said second interconnect having a second substantially planar portion and a second skirt portion, said second skirt portion being electrically insulated from said first skirt portion;
- a gas inlet fixed to at least one of said first and second skirt portions;
- and
- a gas outlet fixed to at least one of said first and second skirt portions,
- whereby said gas inlet and said gas outlet are releasably attached to a gas manifold.
A unitized solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
- a first electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to an anode of said fuel cell;
- a second electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to a cathode of said fuel cell;
- a first salient formed by a portion of at least one of said first and second interconnects, said first salient being disposed at a first edge of said fuel cell;
- a second salient formed by a portion of at least one of said first and second interconnects, said second salient being disposed at a second edge of said fuel cell;
- whereby said first and second salients are releasably attached to a gas manifold.
A unitized solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
- a first electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to an anode of said fuel cell, said first interconnect having a first substantially planar portion and a first skirt portion;
- a second electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to a cathode of said fuel cell, said second interconnect having a second substantially planar portion and a second skirt portion;
- a first salient formed by a portion of at least one of said first and second skirt portions, said first salient being disposed at a first edge of said fuel cell;
- a second salient formed by a portion of at least one of said first and second skirt portions, said second salient being disposed at a second edge of said fuel cell;
- and
- an insulating gasket disposed between said first and second skirt portions,
- whereby said first and second salients are releasably attached to a gas manifold and said fuel cell includes means for electrically connecting said fuel cell with other fuel cells in series and parallel configurations.
A solid oxide fuel cell stack, comprising:
- a plurality of unitized solid oxide fuel cells, at least one unitized cell comprising:
- (a) a first electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to an anode of said one unitized cell, said first conductive interconnect having a first substantially planar portion and a first skirt portion;
- (b) a second electrically conductive interconnect operatively connected to a cathode of said one unitized cell, said second conductive interconnect having a second substantially planar portion and a second skirt portion;
- (c) a first salient formed by a portion of at least one of said first and second skirt portions, said first salient being disposed at a first edge of said one unitized cell;
- and
- (d) a second salient formed by a portion of at least one of said first and second skirt portions, said second salient being disposed at a second edge of said unitized cell;
- a plurality of gas interconnects that releasably connect said first and second salients to a plurality of gas manifolds,
- whereby said unitized cells are removably disposed in said fuel cell stack in the absence of being fixed to one another such that a single unitized cell is replaceable in said fuel cell stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.