Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080299436 | COMPOSITE CERAMIC ELECTROLYTE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING; AND RELATED ARTICLES - A composite ceramic electrolyte is provided. The composite ceramic electrolyte has a microstructure, which comprises a first ceramic composition comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks, and a second ceramic composition substantially embedded within at least a portion of the plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks. The first and the second compositions are different. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a composite ceramic electrolyte having such a microstructure is provided. A method of making a composite ceramic electrolyte is also described. The method includes the steps of: providing a first ceramic composition comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks; and closing a number of the nano-dimensional microcracks with a second ceramic composition, wherein the first and the second compositions are different, so as to form a composite ceramic electrolyte having a microstructure which comprises a first ceramic composition comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks and a second ceramic composition substantially embedded within at least a portion of the plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks. | 12-04-2008 |
20090139874 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN - Disclosed herein are a system and a method for the production of hydrogen. The system advantageously combines an independent high temperature heat source with a solid oxide electrolyzer cell and a heat exchanger located between the cathode inlet and the cathode outlet. The heat exchanger is used to extract heat from the molecular components such as hydrogen derived from the electrolysis. A portion of the hydrogen generated in the solid oxide electrolyzer cell is recombined with steam and recycled to the solid oxide electrolyzer cell. The oxygen generated on the anode side is swept with compressed air and used to drive a gas turbine that is in operative communication with a generator. Electricity generated by the generator is used to drive the electrolysis in the solid oxide electrolyzer cell. | 06-04-2009 |
20090317705 | FUEL CELL INTERCONNECT STRUCTURES, AND RELATED DEVICES AND PROCESSES - A method for the formation of a diffusion barrier layer on a surface of at least one fuel cell interconnect structure is described. The interconnect structure is usually formed from ferritic stainless steel, and includes chromium. The method includes the step of coating an austenite phase-stabilizer on the interconnect surface, and then heating the coated surface. The heat treatment transforms the microstructure of the surface region of the interconnect, from a substantially ferritic body-centered cubic (BCC) phase to a substantially austenitic face-centered cubic (FCC) phase. The diffusion rate of chromium through the FCC phase is relatively low. Thus, the formation of a thick layer of chromium oxide can be minimized, leading to better fuel cell performance. Related fuel cells and fuel cell stacks are also disclosed. | 12-24-2009 |
20100134098 | COMPOSITE SYSTEMS, ARTICLES INCORPORATING THE SYSTEM, METHODS FOR IN-SITU, NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF THESE AND ARRAY PROBES USEFUL FOR THE METHODS - The invention provides composite systems, articles comprising the composite system, methods for the in-situ, non-destructive testing of the articles and/or composite systems, as well as array probes useful in the methods. The composite systems comprise a curable resin and at least one plurality of detectable particles. | 06-03-2010 |
20110217616 | BOND LAYER FOR A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL, AND RELATED PROCESSES AND DEVICES - An electrically-conductive layer of material having a composition comprising lanthanum and strontium is described. The material is characterized by a microstructure having bimodal porosity. Another concept in this disclosure relates to a solid oxide fuel cell attached to at least one cathode interconnect by a cathode bond layer. The bond layer includes a microstructure having bimodal porosity. A fuel cell stack which incorporates at least one of the cathode bond layers is also described herein, along with related processes for forming the cathode bond layer. | 09-08-2011 |