Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110269033 | System for Adding Sulfur to a Fuel Cell Stack System for Improved Fuel Cell Stability - A system for adding sulfur to a fuel cell stack, having a reformer adapted to reform a hydrocarbon fuel stream containing sulfur contaminants, thereby providing a reformate stream having sulfur; a sulfur trap fluidly coupled downstream of the reformer for removing sulfur from the reformate stream, thereby providing a desulfurized reformate stream; and a metering device in fluid communication with the reformate stream upstream of the sulfur trap and with the desulfurized reformate stream downstream of the sulfur trap. The metering device is adapted to bypass a portion of the reformate stream to mix with the desulfurized reformate stream, thereby producing a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack. | 11-03-2011 |
20110269053 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL HAVING A GLASS COMPOSITE SEAL - A solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of cassettes and a glass composite seal disposed between the sealing surfaces of adjacent cassettes, thereby joining the cassettes and providing a hermetic seal therebetween. The glass composite seal includes an alkaline earth aluminosilicate (AEAS) glass disposed about a viscous glass such that the AEAS glass retains the viscous glass in a predetermined position between the first and second sealing surfaces. The AEAS glass provides geometric stability to the glass composite seal to maintain the proper distance between the adjacent cassettes while the viscous glass provides for a compliant and self-healing seal. The glass composite seal may include fibers, powders, and/or beads of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), or mixtures thereof, to enhance the desirable properties of the glass composite seal. | 11-03-2011 |
20120094201 | FUEL CELL WITH INTERNAL FLOW CONTROL - A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of fuel cell cassettes where each fuel cell cassette has a fuel cell with an anode and cathode. The fuel cell stack includes an anode supply chimney for supplying fuel to the anode of each fuel cell cassette, an anode return chimney for removing anode exhaust from the anode of each fuel cell cassette, a cathode supply chimney for supplying oxidant to the cathode of each fuel cell cassette, and a cathode return chimney for removing cathode exhaust from the cathode of each fuel cell cassette. A first fuel cell cassette includes a flow control member disposed between the anode supply chimney and the anode return chimney or between the cathode supply chimney and the cathode return chimney such that the flow control member provides a flow restriction different from at least one other fuel cell cassettes. | 04-19-2012 |
20120251906 | System for Adding Sulfur to a Fuel Cell Stack System for Improved Fuel Cell Stability - A system for adding sulfur to a reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack, having a sulfur source for providing sulfur to the reformate stream and a metering device in fluid connection with the sulfur source and the reformate stream. The metering device injects sulfur from the sulfur source to the reformate stream at a predetermined rate, thereby providing a conditioned reformate stream to the fuel cell stack. The system provides a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack. | 10-04-2012 |
20130130148 | FUEL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY WITH PRESSURE BALANCED LOAD MECHANISM AND ASSEMBLY METHOD - A fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell stack wherein a plurality of fuel cell cassettes is coupled together by a joining material. A spring strap is coupled to the fuel cell stack in a manner effective to apply a first compressive force to the fuel cell stack. A first load distribution plate is located intermediate the fuel cell stack and the spring strap. The first load distribution plate is configured to distribute the first compressive force over the fuel cell stack in a manner effective to normalize the first compressive force on the joining material. A diaphragm is configured to define a cavity and is configured to apply a second compressive force to the fuel cell stack dependent on a cavity pressure of oxidant within the cavity. The cavity pressure is dependent upon an oxidant pressure of oxidant provided to the fuel cell stack. | 05-23-2013 |
20130196253 | FUEL CELL STACK HAVING INTERLOCKING FEATURES TO ENHANCE ADHESION OF GLASS SEAL TO SEALING SURFACES - A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack having a glass seal sandwiched between the sealing surfaces of adjacent cassettes, in which at least one cassette includes means for interlocking the glass seal onto the sealing surface of the cassette for improved adhesion and durability of the glass seal. The at least one cassette includes a plurality of perforations configured to receive and lock onto a portion of the glass seal. At least one of the perforations includes a through-hole having an exterior opening on the sealing surface and an interior opening on the interior surface of the cassette. A portion of the glass seal is received in the perforation forming a glass column in the through-hole and a flared glass end on the interior surface surrounding the interior opening. The flared glass end cooperates with the glass column to interlock the glass seal onto the cassette's sealing surface. | 08-01-2013 |
20130302709 | METHOD FOR ADDING SULFUR TO A FUEL CELL STACK SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED FUEL CELL STABILITY - A method is provided for adding sulfur to a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack having a Ni—YSZ anode to prolong the life of the SOFC stack. The method includes the steps of providing a reformate stream essentially free of sulfur compounds, feeding the reformate stream to the SOFC stack, and adding a predetermined amount of a sulfur compound into the reformate stream upstream of the SOFC stack. The predetermined amount of the sulfur compound is effective to prolong the life of the Ni—YSZ anode by retarding the formation of carbon onto the Ni—YSZ anode and the coarsening of the granular microstructure of the Ni—YSZ anode, while minimizing the degradation of power output of the SOFC stack within a predetermined limit. | 11-14-2013 |