A stack of intermediate temperature, metal-supported, solid oxide fuel cell units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020280088-A1
Application number	US-201816645452-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2018
Priority date	Sep 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A stack (1) of intermediate temperature, metal-supported, solid oxide fuel cell units (10), each unit comprising a metal support substrate (12), a spacer (22) and an interconnect (30) that each have compression bolt holes (34), fuel inlet port (33), fuel outlet port (32) and air outlet (17) therein, wherein bolt voids (34) are formed by aligning the bolt holes and a further void (17) by aligning the air outlets, and the voids are vented, for example, to the environment or further void to prevent the build-up of fuel, moisture or ions.

First claim

1 . A stack of intermediate temperature metal supported, solid oxide fuel cell units arranged in a stack,
wherein each fuel cell unit comprises a metal support substrate with electrochemically active layers, a spacer and an interconnect, wherein the metal support substrate, the spacer and the interconnect have bolt holes for compression bolts of the stack, at least one fuel inlet port and at least one fuel outlet port for fuel entry and exit into and out of the cell unit, and at least one air outlet, wherein bolt voids are formed within the stack by the alignment of the respective bolt holes for the compression bolts in the stack and a further void by the alignment of the respective air outlets, and wherein the voids for the compression bolts each are vented.

2 . The stack of claim 1 , further comprising gaskets between neighbouring fuel cell units in the stack, the gaskets having:
a) at least one fuel port aligning with either a fuel outlet chimney or a fuel inlet chimney in the cell units located either side thereof, and b) at least one bolt hole aligning with bolt holes for the compression bolt in the cell units either side thereof.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The stack of claim 2 , wherein there are at least two bolt holes for compression bolts at each end of the cell unit.

5 . The stack of claim 4 , wherein the gaskets vent all the bolt voids for the compression bolts.

6 . The stack of claim 5 , wherein the gaskets each have two bolt holes.

7 . The stack of claim 5 , wherein the gaskets provide the venting by their bolt holes comprising a slot in a side thereof out to an outer edge of the gasket.

8 . The stack of claim 2 , having two or more fuel outlet ports for each cell unit, wherein the relevant gaskets therefor also have two or more fuel outlet ports.

9 . The stack of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the cell units have vents for their bolt holes.

10 . The stack of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the bolt voids are vented to the environment surrounding the stack.

11 . The stack of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the bolt voids are vented into an air outlet of the stack.

12 . A gasket comprising at least one fuel port for fuel passage and two bolt holes for bolts, wherein the fuel port for fuel passage has a full perimeter wall whereas the two bolt holes have slots within their perimeter wall, breaking their periphery, the slots extending from the perimeter wall to the outer wall of the gasket, the two bolt holes thus being vented.

13 . The gasket of claim 12 , wherein the at least one fuel port for fuel passage is a central fuel port for fuel passage with the two bolt holes on either side thereof.

14 . The gasket of claim 12 , wherein the at least one fuel port for fuel passage is a pair of fuel ports at either end of the gasket.

15 . The gasket of claim 14 , wherein the two ends of the gasket are spaced apart by an arm that is thinner than the ends of the gasket.

16 . The gasket of claim 14 , wherein the two bolt holes are located on respective ends of the gasket.

17 . The gasket of claim 14 , wherein the two bolt holes are located inward of the pair of fuel ports for fuel passage on the ends of the arm.

18 . The gasket of claim 12 , wherein the at least one fuel port for fuel passage is generally square or rectangular.

19 . The gasket of claim 12 , wherein the slots of the bolt holes extend parallel to one another.

20 . The gasket of claim 12 , wherein the slots of the bolt holes both extend along a straight line extending between the two bolt holes.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The gasket of claim 12 , wherein the bolt holes are generally circular and the slots of the bolt holes both extend along a straight line extending between the centres of the two generally circular bolt holes.

23 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ceres Ip Co Ltd

Inventors

• Selby Mark
• Hill Stephen
• Phillip Stephen
• Rees Lee

Classifications

• H01M8/04 Primary

  Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids · CPC title

• H01M8/2432

  Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration · CPC title

• H01M8/242

  comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/24

  Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/0276

  Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title