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US 7,547,484 B2Granted
Solid oxide fuel cell tube with internal fuel processing
AssigneeAdaptive Materials, Inc.
InventorsAaron T. Crumm, Christopher J. Reilly, Tim LaBreche
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid oxide fuel cell comprises a tube forming an anode, electrolyte and cathode, and a catalytic substrate is positioned within the tube. Such solid oxide fuel cells are highly compact and lightweight, and can be used in portable applications.
Claims16
A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
- a first tube;
- a fuel reforming catalytic substrate positioned within the first tube, the fuel reforming catalytic substrate being configured to receive hydrocarbon fuel and to convert the hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen gas;
- and
- a second tube electrically insulated from the fuel reforming catalytic substrate and disposed around the first tube, the second tube comprising an active area disposed downstream the fuel reforming catalytic substrate, said active area having an anode positioned on an interior, an electrolyte positioned exteriorly from the anode, and a cathode positioned exteriorly from the electrolyte the second tube being configured to route hydrogen gas from the fuel reforming catalytic substrate to the active area, the active area being configured to transform the hydrogen gas into electrical energy.
1 more element
A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
- a fuel reforming catalytic substrate tube configured to receive hydrocarbon fuel and to convert the hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen gas;
- and
- a fuel cell tube electrically insulated from the fuel reforming catalytic substrate tube and disposed around the fuel reforming catalytic substrate tube, the fuel cell tube comprising an active area disposed downstream the fuel reforming catalytic substrate tube, said active area having an anode positioned on an interior, an electrolyte positioned exteriorly from the anode, and a cathode positioned exteriorly from the electrolyte the fuel cell tube being configured to route hydrogen gas from the fuel reforming catalytic substrate to the active area, the active area being configured to transform the hydrogen gas into electrical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.