US4329403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolyte-electrode assembly for fuel cells
Assignee: Fuelcell Energy Inc
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Filing: 1981-04-27
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Granted: 1982-05-11
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Expires: 2001-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An electrolyte-electrode assembly for high temperature fuel cells in which the electrolyte member is adapted to exhibit a more gradual transition in coefficient of thermal expansion in going from the anode electrode to the inner electrolyte region and in going from the cathode electrode to such inner electrolyte region.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard S. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/14; H01M8/141; H01M8/142; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An electrolyte-electrode assembly for use in a high-temperature fuel cell comprising: an anode electrode comprised of a first material; a cathode electrode comprised of a second material; an electrolyte member situated between said anode and cathode electrodes and having an inner region and first and second regions on opposite sides of said inner region facing said anode and cathode electrodes, respectively, said first region having a thermal coefficient of expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of said anode electrode and said inner region and said second region having a coefficient of thermal expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of said cathode electrode and said inner region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An electrolyte-electrode assembly for use in a high-temperature fuel cell comprising: an anode electrode comprised of a first material; a cathode electrode comprised of a second material; an electrolyte member situated between said anode and cathode electrodes and having an inner region and first and second regions on opposite sides of said inner region facing said anode and cathode electrodes, respectively, said first region having a thermal coefficient of expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of said anode electrode and said inner region and said second region having a coefficient of thermal expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of said cathode electrode and said inner region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said first material is a metal; said second material is one of a metal and metal oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: said inner region and said first and second regions each comprise a layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: said inner region includes an alkali-carbonate electrolyte material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said inner region is non-conductive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said inner region further includes a first filler material for inhibiting gas cross-over.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein: one of said first and second regions includes a second filler material for inhibiting gas cross-over.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said first filler material and said second filler material are substantially the same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein: said first and second filler materials are each comprised of lithium aluminate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said first region includes said first material and said alkali-carbonate electrolyte; and said second region includes said second material and said alkali-carbonate electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein: said inner region includes a filler material; and one of said first and second regions includes said filler material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said first and second regions each include said filler material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said filler material concentration of said one of said first and second regions is higher than the filler material concentration of said inner region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 13 further comprising: a third region between said one of said first and second regions and said inner region, said third region having a coefficient of thermal expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of said one region and said inner region and including said filler material of said one region said alkali-carbonate material, said filler material in said third region being in concentration between the concentration of filler material in said one and inner regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein: said one region is said first region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly in accordance with claims 12 wherein: said first material is nickel; and said second material is nickel oxide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein: said filler material is lithium aluminate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein: the total thickness of said regions containing said first material is between 5-40 mils; the total thickness of said regions containing said second material is between 5-40 mils; and the total thickness of the remaining regions is between 5-20 mils.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a first set of one or more regions disposed between said first region and said anode electrode, the one of said regions of said first set closest to said anode electrode having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the immediately preceding region and said anode electrode and each remaining region of said first set having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the immediately preceding and immediately succeeding regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 1 or 19 further comprising: a second set of one or more regions disposed between said second region and said cathode electrode, the one of said regions of said second set closest said cathode electrode having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the immediately preceding region and said cathode electrode and each of said remaining regions of said second set having a coefficient of thermal expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the immediately preceding and succeeding regions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3404038A
Cited
US3268365A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-10 | 1985-11-09 | 1986-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-10 | 1989-11-09 | 1990-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-11-09 | 1994-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |