Fuel cell and fuel cell system for an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022037685-A1
Application number	US-202117388177-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 29, 2021
Priority date	Jul 29, 2020
Publication date	Feb 3, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell to provide a higher power density. The fuel cell can be produced by 3D printing in ceramic and has an improved power density by virtue of its spiral shape. In order to better extract the energy generated by the fuel cell, an interconnector sheet can be fastened positively to fastening knobs of the fuel cell by holding eyes. In addition, the interconnector sheet can be fixed by glass solder.

First claim

1 . A fuel cell for a fuel cell system comprising a plurality of fuel cell regions along a construction axis, wherein each fuel cell region has at least one gas channel, which is configured to extend in a circumferential direction around the construction axis.

2 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein a first fuel cell region having a first gas channel for fuel and a second fuel cell region having a second gas channel for oxidizer are arranged.

3 . The fuel cell of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of first and second fuel cell regions is arranged along the construction axis such that the first gas channels and the second gas channels are in each case fluidically connected.

4 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein each gas channel has at least one gas inlet region and at least one gas outlet region, which are each arranged such that, when a further fuel cell region is arranged or formed offset along the construction axis, the gas outlet region is aligned with and or fluidically connected to the gas inlet region of the further fuel cell region.

5 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein an ion-conductive separating layer is on one of the gas channels or between the gas channels to connect the gas channels to one another in an ion-conducting manner.

6 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell comprises at least one distribution tube, which is configured to feed fuel and or oxidizer into a respective gas channel or to discharge reaction product or unconsumed gas from a respective gas channel, wherein, when viewed along the construction axis, the distribution tube is at least partially surrounded by each gas channel.

7 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell comprises a plurality of subsections, wherein the gas channels in respective subsections can be supplied in parallel with fuel and oxidizer.

8 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the gas channels, when viewed in a direction of extent thereof, enclose an angle between 30 ° and 60°, with a plane orthogonal to the construction axis.

9 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein the gas channels form a double helix.

10 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein each gas channel has a gas channel curvature region and an adjoining gas channel plane region, wherein a gas inlet region and or a gas outlet region are or is arranged on the gas channel plane region in a middle of the gas channel plane region.

11 . The fuel cell of claim 6 , wherein each distribution tube is arranged within a region surrounded by the gas channel curvature regions and the gas channel plane regions.

12 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , wherein each gas channel contains a conductive electrode coating for generated electrical energy.

13 . The fuel cell of claim 12 , wherein the fuel cell comprises a plurality of interconnector sheets configured to extract the electrical energy, wherein the interconnector sheet is embedded in the electrode coating.

14 . The fuel cell of claim 1 , where the fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell of an aircraft.

15 . A fuel cell system for an aircraft, comprising a plurality of fuel cells of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cells are arranged in one plane and or stacked at a distance from each other along their construction axis.

16 . An aircraft comprising a fuel cell of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Gmbh

Inventors

• Zimmermann Kristian
• Hermle Frank
• Friedl Stephan

Classifications

• H01M8/2484

  characterised by external manifolds · CPC title

• H01M8/2483

  characterised by internal manifolds · CPC title

• H01M8/2475

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

• H01M8/243

  Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration · CPC title

• H01M8/2428

  Grouping by arranging unit cells on a surface of any form, e.g. planar or tubular · CPC title