Solid oxide electrochemical system having integrated heating means

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021391585-A1
Application number	US-201917287841-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Dec 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrochemical system includes an electrochemical device having a stack of n solid oxide electrochemical cells, n being an integer greater than or equal to 1. The electrochemical system also includes at least n−1 interconnection plates which are interposed between the electrochemical cells, and means for supplying gas to the electrochemical cells and means for collecting gas produced by the electrochemical cells. The electrochemical system further includes means for electrically connecting the system to the outside. The electrochemical device also includes heating means integrated into the stack, said heating means comprising electrical conductors housed in the clamping plates.

First claim

1 . An electrochemical system having at least one electrochemical device comprising:
a stack of n solid oxide electrochemical cells, n being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and at least n−1 interconnect plates interposed between the electrochemical cells, means for supplying gas to the electrochemical cells and means for collecting gases produced by the electrochemical cells means for electrically connecting the system to the exterior, heating means integrated into the stack, said heating means using Joule effect, the heating means being inserted into at least one heating plate, disposed in the stack or on the stack, two clamping plates each disposed at one end of the stack in the direction of the stack and means cooperating with the plates for applying a clamping force to the n cells and n−1 interconnects, wherein the heating means are disposed so that heating of the stack takes place through at least part of at least one clamping plate.

2 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating plate is formed by a clamping plate.

3 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating plate is in contact with an external face of at least one clamping plate.

4 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the n electrochemical cells include a transverse cross-sectional area S taken along a direction perpendicular to the direction of the stack and wherein the heating means define a heating surface area at least equal to the transverse cross-sectional area S of the electrochemical cells.

5 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the heating means comprise at least one electrical conductor housed in the at least one heating plate.

6 . The electrochemical system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one heating plate includes a recess formed in a larger surface area face in which the electrical conductor is housed, the conductor being kept stationary in the recess, or wherein the at least one heating plate includes a machined groove into which the electrical conductor is forced.

7 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the heating means comprises at least one electrical heating element mounted in a bore of said heating plate.

8 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating plate comprises temperature measuring means.

9 . The electrochemical system according to claim 8 , wherein the temperature measuring means comprise a sensor configured to measure temperatures of the electrical conductor or the electrical heating element, and a sensor configured to measure temperature of the heating plate.

10 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , comprising a thermally insulating enclosure defining an internal space receiving the electrochemical device and thermally insulating the electrochemical device from the exterior.

11 . The electrochemical system according to claim 10 , wherein the enclosure comprises a hearth, a side wall and an upper wall and wherein the electrical connection means, gas supply means, and gas collection means pass through the hearth.

12 . The electrochemical system according to claim 6 , the conductor is kept stationary in the recess by a solder.

13 . The electrochemical system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one electrical heating element is mounted in a bore in a side edge of said heating plate.

Assignees

• Commissariat Energie Atomique

Inventors

• Bernard Charlotte
• Chatroux André
• Roux Guilhem

Classifications

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/04365

  of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M8/248

  Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M8/0202

  Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors · CPC title

• C25B9/73

  of the filter-press type · CPC title