Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080199738 | Solid oxide fuel cell interconnect - A fuel cell interconnect includes a first surface containing a first plurality of channels and a second surface containing a second plurality of channels. The first and second surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the interconnect. The first plurality of channels is offset from the second plurality of channels. The thickness of the interconnect measured between the first and second surfaces is substantially constant | 08-21-2008 |
20080206605 | Current collector for fuel cell systems - A current collector for a fuel cell stack includes a first member configured for coupling to a fuel cell stack, the first member comprising a generally planar portion and a tubular portion having an open end. The current collector also includes a flexible member coupled to the first member. At least a portion of the flexible member is received in the open end of the tubular portion and the first member and the flexible member provide a conductive path for current generated by the fuel cell stack. | 08-28-2008 |
20080248349 | Solid oxide fuel cell column temperature equalization by internal reforming and fuel cascading - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack includes a middle portion of fuel cells and at least one end portion of fuel cells. The fuel cells of the end portion is arranged in a cascade configuration with the fuel cells of the middle portion. The system is configured such that in operation, at least partial reformation of hydrocarbon fuel occurs internally within the fuel cells of the middle portion and the fuel cells of the end portion are configured to use fuel exhaust from the middle portion as fuel. | 10-09-2008 |
20080311445 | High temperature fuel cell system and method of operating same - A high temperature fuel cell stack system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, with an improved balance of plant efficiency includes a thermally integrated reformer, combustor and the fuel cell stack. | 12-18-2008 |
20080318092 | Co-production of hydrogen and electricity in a high temperature electrochemical system - A high temperature electrochemical system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, generates hydrogen and optionally electricity in a fuel cell mode. At least a part of the generated hydrogen is separated and stored or provided to a hydrogen using device. A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system stores carbon dioxide in a fuel cell mode. The system generates a methane fuel in an electrolysis mode from the stored carbon dioxide and water by using a Sabatier subsystem. Alternatively, the system generates a hydrogen fuel in an electrolysis mode from water alone. | 12-25-2008 |
20090075125 | Dot pattern contact layer - A fuel cell comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte, and an electrically conductive first dot pattern contact layer disposed on the first electrode. The first dot pattern contact layer includes a plurality of discrete protrusions. | 03-19-2009 |
20090136821 | Electrolyte supported cell designed for longer life and higher power - A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte. | 05-28-2009 |
20090233154 | Multi-material high temperature fuel cell seals - A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of interconnects and a multi-material seal comprising a first seal material and a second seal material, where the second seal material first forms an effective seal at a higher temperature than the first seal material. | 09-17-2009 |
20090269626 | Method of optimizing operating efficiency of fuel cells - A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel. | 10-29-2009 |
20100009221 | Recuperators with spiral flow for fuel cell systems - A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and one or more devices which in operation of the system provide an azimuthal direction to one or more anode or cathode feed or exhaust fluid flows in the system. | 01-14-2010 |
20100081018 | Increasing thermal dissipation of fuel cell stacks under partial electrical load - A method of operating a high temperature fuel cell system containing a plurality of fuel cell stacks includes operating one or more of the plurality of fuel cell stacks at a first output power while operating another one or more of the plurality of the fuel cell stacks at a second output power different from the first output power. | 04-01-2010 |
20100119909 | FUEL CELL INTERCONNECT - A fuel cell interconnect includes a first side containing a first plurality of channels and a second side containing a second plurality of channels. The first and second sides are disposed on opposite sides of the interconnect. The first plurality of channels are configured to provide a serpentine fuel flow field while the second plurality of channels are configured to provide an approximately straight air flow field. | 05-13-2010 |
20100159344 | Fuel cell seals - A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of interconnects, and a plurality of seal members, wherein the plurality of seal members comprises one or more first seal members and one or more additional seal members, where the one or more first seal members form a protective barrier between the reducing environment contained with the fuel cell stack and the remaining seal members. | 06-24-2010 |
20100203417 | HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A high temperature fuel cell stack system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, with an improved balance of plant efficiency includes a thermally integrated reformer, combustor and the fuel cell stack. | 08-12-2010 |
20100209802 | FUEL CELL STACK COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS - A plurality of fuel cell stack components, such as interconnects, seals and bypass conductors are provided. The components may be used in solid oxide fuel cell stacks or other types of fuel cell stacks. | 08-19-2010 |
20100216043 | Fuel cell monitoring and control system - A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic. | 08-26-2010 |
20100233565 | STACK SEAL INTERFACE ADAPTER - A fuel cell system comprises a first fuel cell stack having a first end plate, wherein the first end plate has a first opening, and a fuel cell component having a second opening. An adapter connects the first opening in the first end plate and the second opening in the fuel cell component. The adapter comprises a hollow tube. At least one of the first and second openings is located in a first groove. At least a first portion of the adapter is located in the first groove such that there is a passage from the first opening to the second opening through an interior of the hollow tube. | 09-16-2010 |
20100248049 | Fuel cell system with interruption control - A method for operating a fuel cell system during an interruption includes identifying a load interruption in which an external load is partially or fully unable to draw electrical power from the fuel cell system. At least a first fuel cell column of the fuel cell system is operated in an electrolysis mode such that the first fuel cell column generates fuel during the load interruption. Power is provided to the first fuel cell column in the electrolysis mode from at least a second fuel cell column of the fuel cell system. The second fuel cell column is operating in a normal power generation operating mode. | 09-30-2010 |
20100248067 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH INTERNAL FUEL MANIFOLD CONFIGURATION - A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, and a plurality of fuel delivery ports. Each of the plurality of fuel delivery ports is positioned on or in the fuel cell stack to provide fuel to a portion of the plurality fuel cells in each stack. | 09-30-2010 |
20100266923 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL HYDROGEN PUMP AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of interconnects, and a hydrogen separation device, wherein the hydrogen separation device separates hydrogen from the fuel cell stack anode exhaust. The separated hydrogen is then reintroduced into the fuel cell stack to optimize overall system efficiency. Monitoring of the performance of the hydrogen separation device gives an indication as to the fuel cell system performance. | 10-21-2010 |
20110076585 | Fuel Cell Stack Compression Devices and Methods - A ceramic baffle is configured to place a load on a stack of electrochemical cells and direct a reactant feed flow stream to the stack. | 03-31-2011 |
20110189567 | High Temperature Fuel Cell System and Method of Operating the Same - A high temperature fuel cell stack system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, with an improved balance of plant efficiency includes a thermally integrated reformer, combustor and the fuel cell stack. | 08-04-2011 |
20120024461 | ELECTROLYTE SUPPORTED CELL DESIGNED FOR LONGER LIFE AND HIGHER POWER - A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte. | 02-02-2012 |
20120028162 | Electrolyte Supported Cell Designed for Longer Life and Higher Power - A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte. | 02-02-2012 |
20120115062 | FUEL CELL STACK COMPONENTS - An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set | 05-10-2012 |
20120196194 | SOFC Hot Box Components - Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components. | 08-02-2012 |
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 |
20120315555 | High Temperature Fuel Cell System for Operation with Low Purity Ethanol - A fuel purification system includes a fuel cell stack and a fuel purification unit, such as a distillation unit. The fuel cell stack is adapted to provide heat to the fuel purification unit, and the fuel purification unit is adapted to provide a purified fuel to the fuel cell stack. | 12-13-2012 |
20120315565 | Fuel Cell Stack Components - An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set | 12-13-2012 |
20120321975 | Method of Optimizing Operating Efficiency of Fuel Cells - A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel. | 12-20-2012 |
20130069663 | Crack Detection in Ceramics Using Electrical Conductors - Various embodiments provide methods and systems for detecting cracks in ceramic electrolytes using electrical conductors. A method for testing an electrolyte material, such as a ceramic electrolyte material for use in a solid oxide fuel cell device, includes providing a conductive path on the electrolyte material, electrically connecting a probe across the conductive path, and measuring a value associated with the conductive path to determine the presence or absence of a crack in the material. | 03-21-2013 |
20130108936 | SOFC SYSTEM WITH SELECTIVE CO2 REMOVAL | 05-02-2013 |
20130216927 | Methods and Systems for Fuel Cell Stack Sintering and Conditioning - Systems and methods for sintering and conditioning fuel cell stacks utilizing channel guides, baffles, and internal compression systems are provided. Sintering and conditioning may be performed utilizing a fuel cell column cartridge assembly and fuel cell stacks may be sintered and conditioned at the system level during the same annealing cycle on the same support. | 08-22-2013 |
20130252119 | Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack Heat Treatment Methods and Apparatus - Systems and methods are provided for fuel cell stack heat treatment. An eductor may be used to recycle air into the air inlet stream or to recycle fuel into the fuel inlet stream. An eductor may also be used to exhaust air away from the furnace. The stack heat treatment may include stack sintering or conditioning. The conditioning may be conducted without using externally supplied hydrogen. | 09-26-2013 |
20130327470 | DOT PATTERN CONTACT LAYER - A fuel cell comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte, and an electrically conductive first dot pattern contact layer disposed on the first electrode. The first dot pattern contact layer includes a plurality of discrete protrusions. | 12-12-2013 |
20140004448 | Methods of Refurbishing Components of a Fuel Cell Stack | 01-02-2014 |
20140057184 | Systems and Methods for Suppressing Chromium Poisoning in Fuel Cells - A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells, an incoming oxidizing gas flow path configured to deliver an oxidizing gas to the plurality of fuel cells, and a chromium-getter material located in the incoming oxidizing flow path. A fuel cell includes an electrolyte, a cathode electrode on a first side of the electrolyte, an anode electrode on a second side of the electrolyte, and a chromium-getter material on the cathode electrode. | 02-27-2014 |
20140072889 | Ammonia Fueled SOFC System - Systems and methods are provided in which ammonia is used as a fuel source for solid oxide fuel cell systems. In the various aspects a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled through one or more separation or conversion devices to create a purified recycled fuel exhaust stream that is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In various aspects a nitrogen separator may remove nitrogen from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, a water separator may remove water from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, and/or an ammonia reactor and hydrogen separator may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In a further aspect a molten carbonate fuel cell and/or Sabatier reactor may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. | 03-13-2014 |
20140093802 | FUEL CELL MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic. | 04-03-2014 |
20140127602 | INTERCONNECT AND END PLATE DESIGN FOR FUEL CELL STACK - Various embodiments include interconnects and/or end plates having features for reducing stress in a fuel cell stack. In embodiments, an interconnect/end plate may have a window seal area that is recessed relative to the flow field to indirectly reduce stress induced by an interface seal. Other features may include a thicker protective coating and/or larger uncoated area of an end plate, providing a recessed portion on an end plate for an interface seal, and/or recessing the fuel hole region of an interconnect relative to the flow field to reduce stress on the fuel cell. Further embodiments include providing intermittent seal support to minimize asymmetric seal loading and/or a non-circular seal configuration to reduce stress around the fuel hole of a fuel cell. | 05-08-2014 |
20140127604 | INTERCONNECT AND END PLATE DESIGN FOR FUEL CELL STACK - Various embodiments include interconnects and/or end plates having features for reducing stress in a fuel cell stack. In embodiments, an interconnect/end plate may have a window seal area that is recessed relative to the flow field to indirectly reduce stress induced by an interface seal. Other features may include a thicker protective coating and/or larger uncoated area of an end plate, providing a recessed portion on an end plate for an interface seal, and/or recessing the fuel hole region of an interconnect relative to the flow field to reduce stress on the fuel cell. Further embodiments include providing intermittent seal support to minimize asymmetric seal loading and/or a non-circular seal configuration to reduce stress around the fuel hole of a fuel cell. | 05-08-2014 |
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 |
20140170516 | INCREASING THERMAL DISSIPATION OF FUEL CELL STACKS UNDER PARTIAL ELECTRICAL LOAD - A method of operating a high temperature fuel cell system containing a plurality of fuel cell stacks includes operating one or more of the plurality of fuel cell stacks at a first output power while operating another one or more of the plurality of the fuel cell stacks at a second output power different from the first output power. | 06-19-2014 |
20140178786 | SOFC HOT BOX COMPONENTS - Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components. | 06-26-2014 |
20140195031 | Serialization of Fuel Cell Components - Systems and methods for fuel cell stack part serialization and tracking. In an embodiment, a barcode may be applied to a fuel cell stack part which may identify the fuel cell stack part. In an embodiment, the barcode may be applied as ink on a green fuel cell stack part prior to sintering. In an embodiment, a portion of a fuel cell stack part may be imaged and pattern recognition techniques may be utilized to identify the fuel cell stack part based on the unique features of fuel cell stack part. In an embodiment, portion of a fuel cell stack part may be measured to generate one or more series of unique volume/area values and one or more series of unique volume/area values may be utilized to identify the fuel cell stack part. | 07-10-2014 |
20140242492 | Fuel Cell Stack Compression Devices and Methods - A spring compression assembly is configured to apply a load to a stack of electrochemical cells. The assembly includes a ceramic leaf spring, a tensioner configured to apply pressure to a first side of the spring and a bottom plate located on a second side of the spring opposite the first side of the spring. The bottom plate is configured to transfer a load from the spring to the stack of electrochemical cells. | 08-28-2014 |
20140332145 | Methods and Devices for Printing Seals for Fuel Cell Stacks - Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing. | 11-13-2014 |