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 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100159300 | CASSETTE LESS SOFC STACK AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A cassette less SOFC assembly and a method for creating such an assembly. The SOFC stack is characterized by an electrically isolated stack current path which allows welded interconnection between frame portions of the stack. In one embodiment electrically isolating a current path comprises the step of sealing a interconnect plate to a interconnect plate frame with an insulating seal. This enables the current path portion to be isolated from the structural frame an enables the cell frame to be welded together. | 06-24-2010 |
20110226017 | GLASS COMPOSITION AND PROCESS FOR SEALING VOID SPACES IN ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES - A glass foaming material and method are disclosed for filling void spaces in electrochemical devices. The glass material includes a reagent that foams at a temperature above the softening point of the glass. Expansion of the glass fills void spaces including by-pass and tolerance channels of electrochemical devices. In addition, cassette to cassette seals can also be formed while channels and other void spaces are filled, reducing the number of processing steps needed. | 09-22-2011 |
20120088133 | PLANAR HIGH DENSITY SODIUM BATTERY - A method of making a molten sodium battery is disclosed. A first metallic interconnect frame having a first interconnect vent hole is provided. A second metallic interconnect frame having a second interconnect vent hole is also provided. An electrolyte plate having a cathode vent hole and an anode vent hole is interposed between the metallic interconnect frames. The metallic interconnect frames and the electrolyte plate are sealed thereby forming gaseous communication between an anode chamber through the anode vent hole and gaseous communication between a cathode chamber through the cathode vent hole. | 04-12-2012 |
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 |
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 |