Fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016013501-A1
Application number	US-201414771193-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2014
Priority date	Mar 25, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell includes a cell stack, a reformed gas introduction path introducing a reformed gas into the cell stack, an oxidizing agent gas introduction path introducing an oxidizing agent gas into the cell stack, and a cooling gas introduction path introducing a cooling gas into the oxidizing agent gas introduction path. A heat-absorption part absorbing heat is provided in a periphery of the cell stack, and the cooling gas introduction path is connected with the oxidizing agent gas introduction path through the heat-absorption part.

First claim

1 . A solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
a cell stack including an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and comprised of a solid electrolyte; a reformed gas introduction path introducing a reformed gas primarily composed of hydrogen into the cell stack; an oxidizing agent gas introduction path introducing an oxidizing agent gas into the cell stack; and a cooling gas introduction path introducing a cooling gas for reducing a temperature of the oxidizing agent gas into the oxidizing agent gas introduction path, wherein a heat-absorption part absorbing heat is provided on a periphery of the cell stack, and the cooling gas introduction path is connected with the oxidizing agent gas introduction path through the heat-absorption part.

2 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein:
the periphery of the cell stack is covered by a tubular cover extending along the cell stack.

3 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein:
the cell stack includes a lower end supported by a support base and extends upward in a vertical direction, introduction portions introducing the reformed gas and the oxidizing agent gas are provided in a lower end portion of the cell stack, and the heat-absorption part is provided in a periphery of an upper portion of the cell stack.

4 . The fuel cell of claim 3 , wherein:
the upper portion of the cell stack includes an uppermost layer of the upper portion and a middle layer of the upper portion located under the uppermost layer of the upper portion, and the heat-absorption part is provided on the middle layer of the upper portion, not on the uppermost layer of the upper portion.

5 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein:
the heat-absorption part is comprised of a metal tube installed in a space in the periphery of the cell stack.

6 . The fuel cell of claim 5 , wherein;
the metal tube is spirally provided in the periphery the cell stack.

7 . The fuel cell of claim 2 , wherein:
the cell stack includes a lower end supported by a support base and extends upward in a vertical direction, introduction portions introducing the reformed gas and the oxidizing agent gas are provided in a lower end portion of the cell stack, and the heat-absorption part is provided in a periphery of an upper portion of the cell stack.

8 . The fuel cell of claim 8 , wherein:
the heat-absorption part is comprised of a metal tube installed in a space in the periphery of the cell stack.

9 . The fuel cell of claim 2 , wherein:
the heat-absorption part is comprised of a metal tube installed in a space in the periphery of the cell stack.

10 . The fuel cell of claim 3 , wherein:
the heat-absorption part is comprised of a metal tube installed in a space in the periphery of the cell stack.

11 . The fuel cell of claim 4 , wherein:
the heat-absorption part is comprised of a metal tube installed in a space in the periphery of the cell stack.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Precision Prod Co

Inventors

• Hirakawa Makoto
• Mizukawa Shigeru

Classifications

• H01M8/2484

  characterised by external manifolds · CPC title

• H01M2300/0074

  Ion conductive at high temperature · CPC title

• H01M8/0618 Primary

  Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/2475

  Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks · CPC title