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US 7,740,966 B2Granted
Electrochemical cell stack assembly
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsCraig P. Jacobson, Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
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Abstract
Multiple stacks of tubular electrochemical cells having a dense electrolyte disposed between an anode and a cathode preferably deposited as thin films arranged in parallel on stamped conductive interconnect sheets or ferrules. The stack allows one or more electrochemical cell to malfunction without disabling the entire stack. Stack efficiency is enhanced through simplified gas manifolding, gas recycling, reduced operating temperature and improved heat distribution.
Claims19
An electrochemical cell stack assembly, comprising:
- an electrically conductive metal interconnect plate having a hole therethrough wherein the hole has a rim configured on a circumference thereof;
- a first tubular electrochemical cell having a porous anode, a porous cathode and a substantially gas impermeable ion conducting electrolyte;
- a second tubular electrochemical cell having a porous anode, a porous cathode and a substantially gas impermeable ion conducting electrolyte;
- wherein the electrolyte of said first tubular electrochemical cell and said second tubular electrochemical cell comprises a material selected from the group consisting essentially of doped zirconia, doped ceria and doped lanthanum gallate;
- each of said electrochemical cells further comprises a porous metal support;
- wherein said porous cathode, said electrolyte and said porous anode are disposed on said porous metal support, respectively;
- wherein said rim receives an end of each of said first tubular electrochemical cell and said second tubular electrochemical cell and orients said first and second tubular electrochemical cells such that interconnect plate electrically connects the porous anode of the first tubular cell to the porous cathode of the second tubular cell, and wherein the first tubular electrochemical cell and the second tubular electrochemical cell are each oriented on opposite sides of said hole to form a gas passageway therebetween.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.