Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090004545 | Solid bonded interconnect system in a lightweight solid oxide fuel cell stack - An interconnect system for connecting adjacent fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The system comprises five elements: a separator plate to provide an anode gas flow space when joined to a mating cell frame; a first metal interconnect disposed between the separator plate and the anode surface; a nickel oxide paste applied in a pattern over the surface of the anode and adjacent surface of the separator plate which when sintered results in a conductive layer bonded to the anode and to the separator plate; a second metal interconnect disposed between the cathode surface of the cell and the separator plate of the adjacent cell cassette; and a silver-containing paste applied over the surface of the cathode and the separator plate which when sintered results in a conductive layer bonded to the cathode and to the separator plate. | 01-01-2009 |
20090130458 | HIGH STRENGTH INSULATING METAL-TO-CERAMIC JOINTS FOR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS AND OTHER HIGH TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS AND METHOD OF MAKING - A seal formed between a metal part and a second part that will remain gas tight in high temperature operating environments which experience frequent thermal cycling, which is particularly useful as an insulating joint in solid oxide fuel cells. A first metal part is attached to a reinforcing material. A glass forming material in the positioned in between the first metal part and the second part, and a seal is formed between the first metal part and the second part by heating the glass to a temperature suitable to melt the glass forming materials. The glass encapsulates and bonds at least a portion of the reinforcing material, thereby adding tremendous strength to the overall seal. A ceramic material may be added to the glass forming materials, to assist in forming an insulating barrier between the first metal part and the second part and to regulating the viscosity of the glass during the heating step. | 05-21-2009 |
20090264284 | SULFUR-TOLERANT CATALYST SYSTEMS - Methods for improving the sulfur-tolerance of nickel-based catalyst systems, as well as the improved catalyst systems, are disclosed. The methods can include adding praseodymium alone, or in combination with ruthenium and/or cerium, to a nickel-based catalyst system, thereby inhibiting sulfur poisoning of the catalyst system. Improved catalyst systems can have an added amount of praseodymium alone, or in combination with ruthenium and/or cerium, sufficient to inhibit poisoning of the system by sulfur. | 10-22-2009 |
20090280369 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STEAM REFORMING POWER SYSTEM - The present invention is a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Reforming Power System that utilizes adiabatic reforming of reformate within this system. By utilizing adiabatic reforming of reformate within the system the system operates at a significantly higher efficiency than other Solid Oxide Reforming Power Systems that exist in the prior art. This is because energy is not lost while materials are cooled and reheated, instead the device operates at a higher temperature. This allows efficiencies higher than 65%. | 11-12-2009 |
20100081026 | CASSETTES FOR SOLID-OXIDE FUEL CELL STACKS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - Solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack assembly designs are consistently investigated to develop an assembly that provides optimal performance, and durability, within desired cost parameters. A new design includes a repeat unit having a SOFC cassette and being characterized by a three-component construct. The three components include an oxidation-resistant, metal window frame hermetically joined to an electrolyte layer of a multi-layer, anode-supported ceramic cell and a pre-cassette including a separator plate having a plurality of vias that provide electrical contact between an anode-side collector within the pre-cassette and a cathode-side current collector of an adjacent cell. The third component is a cathode-side seal, which includes a standoff that supports a cathode channel spacing between each of the cassettes in a stack. Cassettes are formed by joining the pre-cassette and the window frame. | 04-01-2010 |
20100081035 | OPTIMIZED CELL CONFIGURATIONS FOR STABLE LSCF-BASED SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS - Lanthanum strontium cobalt iron oxides (La(1-x)SrxCoyFe1-yO3-f; (LSCF) have excellent power density (>500 mW/cm2 at 750° C.). When covered with a metallization layer, LSCF cathodes have demonstrated increased durability and stability. Other modifications, such as the thickening of the cathode, the preparation of the device by utilizing a firing temperature in a designated range, and the use of a pore former paste having designated characteristics and combinations of these features provide a device with enhanced capabilities. | 04-01-2010 |
20110092361 | Sulfur-Tolerant Catalyst Systems - Methods for improving the sulfur-tolerance of nickel-based catalyst systems, as well as the improved catalyst systems, are disclosed. The methods can include adding praseodymium alone, or in combination with ruthenium and/or cerium, to a nickel-based catalyst system, thereby inhibiting sulfur poisoning of the catalyst system. Improved catalyst systems can have an added amount of praseodymium alone, or in combination with ruthenium and/or cerium, sufficient to inhibit poisoning of the system by sulfur. | 04-21-2011 |
20120240391 | Methods and Apparatuses for Making Cathodes for High-temperature, Rechargeable Batteries - The approaches and apparatuses for fabricating cathodes can be adapted to improve control over cathode composition and to better accommodate batteries of any shape and their assembly. For example, a first solid having an alkali metal halide, a second solid having a transition metal, and a third solid having an alkali metal aluminum halide are combined into a mixture. The mixture can be heated in a vacuum to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the melting point of the third solid. When the third solid is substantially molten liquid, the mixture is compressed into a desired cathode shape and then cooled to solidify the mixture in the desired cathode shape. | 09-27-2012 |
20130130134 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STEAM REFORMING POWER SYSTEM - The present invention is a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Reforming Power System that utilizes adiabatic reforming of reformate within this system. By utilizing adiabatic reforming of reformate within the system the system operates at a significantly higher efficiency than other Solid Oxide Reforming Power Systems that exist in the prior art. This is because energy is not lost while materials are cooled and reheated; instead the device operates at a higher temperature. This allows efficiencies higher than 65%. | 05-23-2013 |
20130196224 | Intermediate Temperature Sodium Metal-Halide Energy Storage Devices - Sodium metal-halide energy storage devices utilizing a substituting salt in its secondary electrolyte can operate at temperatures lower than conventional ZEBRA batteries while maintaining desirable performance and lifetime characteristics. According to one example, a sodium metal-halide energy storage device operates at a temperature less than or equal to 200° C. and has a liquid secondary electrolyte having M | 08-01-2013 |
20130273459 | Ionic Conductive Chromophores and Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries - Ionic conductive chromophores can be used as the positive electrolytes for high-energy density, nonaqueous redox flow battery (NRFB) systems. The nonaqueous nature of the NRFB systems allow for high operation voltage (compared to aqueous systems). Furthermore, the structure modifications to chromophores described herein improve the solubility of the resultant ionic conductive chromophores, thereby allowing them to be used in flow cell configurations. | 10-17-2013 |
20140023903 | Hybrid Energy Storage Devices Having Sodium - Sodium energy storage devices employing aspects of both ZEBRA batteries and traditional Na—S batteries can perform better than either battery alone. The hybrid energy storage devices described herein can include a sodium anode, a molten sodium salt catholyte, and a positive electrode that has active species containing sulfur. Additional active species can include a transition metal source and NaCl. As a product of the energy discharge process, Na | 01-23-2014 |
20140080013 | METAL-AIR BATTERY - A metal-air battery is disclosed. The battery includes a sodium anode and an air cathode. The battery further includes a solid electrolyte. The sodium anode may be a molten sodium anode, and the solid electrolyte may be a beta alumina solid electrolyte. The battery has an operating temperature between 100° C. and 200° C. | 03-20-2014 |
20140127337 | Apparatuses for Making Cathodes for High-temperature, Rechargeable Batteries - The approaches and apparatuses for fabricating cathodes can be adapted to improve control over cathode composition and to better accommodate batteries of any shape and their assembly. For example, a first solid having an alkali metal halide, a second solid having a transition metal, and a third solid having an alkali metal aluminum halide are combined into a mixture. The mixture can be heated in a vacuum to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the melting point of the third solid. When the third solid is substantially molten liquid, the mixture is compressed into a desired cathode shape and then cooled to solidify the mixture in the desired cathode shape. | 05-08-2014 |
20140127542 | Composite Separators and Redox Flow Batteries Based on Porous Separators - Composite separators having a porous structure and including acid-stable, hydrophilic, inorganic particles enmeshed in a substantially fully fluorinated polyolefin matrix can be utilized in a number of applications. The inorganic particles can provide hydrophilic characteristics. The pores of the separator result in good selectivity and electrical conductivity. The fluorinated polymeric backbone can result in high chemical stability. Accordingly, one application of the composite separators is in redox flow batteries as low cost membranes. In such applications, the composite separator can also enable additional property-enhancing features compared to ion-exchange membranes. For example, simple capacity control can be achieved through hydraulic pressure by balancing the volumes of electrolyte on each side of the separator. While a porous separator can also allow for volume and pressure regulation, in RFBs that utilize corrosive and/or oxidizing compounds, the composite separators described herein are preferable for their robustness in the presence of such compounds. | 05-08-2014 |
20140141291 | Hybrid Anodes for Redox Flow Batteries - RFBs having solid hybrid electrodes can address at least the problems of active material consumption, electrode passivation, and metal electrode dendrite growth that can be characteristic of traditional batteries, especially those operating at high current densities. The RFBs each have a first half cell containing a first redox couple dissolved in a solution or contained in a suspension. The solution or suspension can flow from a reservoir to the first half cell. A second half cell contains the solid hybrid electrode, which has a first electrode connected to a second electrode, thereby resulting in an equipotential between the first and second electrodes. The first and second half cells are separated by a separator or membrane. | 05-22-2014 |
20140242471 | METALLIZATION PATTERN ON SOLID ELECTROLYTE OR POROUS SUPPORT OF SODIUM BATTERY PROCESS - A new battery configuration and process are detailed. The battery cell includes a solid electrolyte configured with an engineered metallization layer that distributes sodium across the surface of the electrolyte extending the active area of the cathode in contact with the anode during operation. The metallization layer enhances performance, efficiency, and capacity of sodium batteries at intermediate temperatures at or below about 200° C. | 08-28-2014 |