Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120315509 | Fuel Cell Bypass Diode Structures and Attachment Methods - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which includes a plurality of fuel cells contacted in series by a plurality of interconnects. The various embodiments provide systems and methods for coupling a fuel cell stack with an electric bypass module within a hot zone. The bypass module may include elements for conducting a current between interconnects in a fuel cell stack and thereby bypass a failed fuel cell that has become a resistive parasitic load. | 12-13-2012 |
20130108936 | SOFC SYSTEM WITH SELECTIVE CO2 REMOVAL | 05-02-2013 |
20130129557 | Method of Making Fuel Cell Interconnect Using Powder Metallurgy - Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack that include the steps of providing a metal powder, and rapidly compressing the metal powder, such as with a combustion-driven compaction apparatus, in a lubricant-free and/or sub-atmospheric environment to form the interconnect. The interconnect may have sufficient strength and density such that the interconnect may be incorporated into a fuel cell stack without performing a separate sintering and/or an oxidation step following the compressing. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130152 | Fuel Cell Interconnects and Methods of Fabrication - An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first plurality of ribs extending from a first major surface of the interconnect and defining a first plurality of gas flow channels between the ribs, the ribs extending between a first rib end and a second rib end and having a tapered profile in a vertical dimension, perpendicular to the first major surface of the interconnect, proximate at least one of the first rib end and the second rib end, wherein the ribs comprise a flat upper surface and rounded edges between the flat upper surface and the adjacent gas flow channels, the rounded edges having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the gas flow channels comprise a rounded surface having a second radius of curvature, different from the first radius of curvature. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130154 | Fuel Cell Interconnect Heat Treatment Method - Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack include placing a compressed metal powder interconnect on a porous support, and sintering the interconnect in the presence of a non-oxidizing gas. The method may further include placing the sintered interconnect on a porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of flowing air, or placing the sintered interconnect on a dense, non-porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of a gas comprising pure oxygen or an oxygen/inert gas mixture that is substantially nitrogen-free. | 05-23-2013 |
20140162158 | FUEL CELL BYPASS DIODE STRUCTURES AND ATTACHMENT METHODS - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which includes a plurality of fuel cells contacted in series by a plurality of interconnects. The various embodiments provide systems and methods for coupling a fuel cell stack with an electric bypass module within a hot zone. The bypass module may include elements for conducting a current between interconnects in a fuel cell stack and thereby bypass a failed fuel cell that has become a resistive parasitic load. | 06-12-2014 |
20150221957 | METHOD OF MAKING FUEL CELL INTERCONNECT USING POWDER METALLURGY - Methods of fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack include providing a powder in a die cavity of a powder press apparatus, where the powder includes at least one of a pre-alloyed powder and a pre-sintered powder, compressing the powder in the die cavity of the powder press apparatus using high velocity compaction to form a pressed powder interconnect, and incorporating the pressed powder interconnect into a fuel cell stack, wherein the pressed powder interconnect is incorporated into the fuel cell stack without first sintering the pressed powder interconnect. | 08-06-2015 |
20150244004 | COMPOSITION AND PROCESSING OF METALLIC INTERCONNECTS FOR SOFC STACKS - A chromium-iron interconnect includes at least one of Fe rich regions in the interconnect and carbon in the interconnect. | 08-27-2015 |