US4476197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Integral manifolding structure for fuel cell core having parallel gas flow
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1983-10-12
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2003-10-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein are manifolding means for directing the fuel and oxidant gases to parallel flow passageways in a fuel cell core. Each core passageway is defined by electrolyte and interconnect walls. Each electrolyte and interconnect wall consists respectively of anode and cathode materials layered on the opposite sides of electrolyte material, or on the opposite sides of interconnect material. A core wall projects beyond the open ends of the defined core passageways and is disposed approximately midway between and parallel to the adjacent overlaying and underlying interconnect walls to define manifold chambers therebetween on opposite sides of the wall. Each electrolyte wall defining the flow passageways is shaped to blend into and be connected to this wall in order to redirect the corresponding fuel and oxidant passageways to the respective manifold chambers either above or below this intermediate wall. Inlet and outlet connections are made to these separate manifold chambers respectively, for carrying the fuel and oxidant gases to the core, and for carrying their reaction products away from the core.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph E. Herceg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/2435; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0258; H01M8/026; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2483; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A fuel cell for electrochemically combining fuel and oxidant for generation of galvanic output, comprising the combination of a core having an array of electrolyte and interconnect walls, each electrolyte wall consisting of cathode and anode materials respectively sandwiching electrolyte material therebetween and each interconnect wall consisting of the cathode and anode materials respectively sandwiching interconnect material therebetween, the array providing that separate sections of each electrolyte wall are arranged between separate sections of adjacent pairs of interconnect walls operable to define a plurality of substantially parallel core passageways alternately arranged respectively where the inside faces thereof are formed either of only the anode or cathode material, each anode material passageway being for the fuel and each cathode material passageway being for the oxidant, means to direct the fuel and the oxidant for separate flow through each of its respective passageway, said last mentioned means including intermediate wall means extended from the electrolyte wall in the general direction of the passageways and each being spaced generally between the adjacent interconnect walls operable to define thereby separate end chambers open to the respective passageways, duct means for inputting the fuel and oxidant to the appropriate end chamber, and means to direct the galvanic output from the anode and cathode materials to an exterior circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A fuel cell for electrochemically combining fuel and oxidant for generation of galvanic output, comprising the combination of a core having an array of electrolyte and interconnect walls, each electrolyte wall consisting of cathode and anode materials respectively sandwiching electrolyte material therebetween and each interconnect wall consisting of the cathode and anode materials respectively sandwiching interconnect material therebetween, the array providing that separate sections of each electrolyte wall are arranged between separate sections of adjacent pairs of interconnect walls operable to define a plurality of substantially parallel core passageways alternately arranged respectively where the inside faces thereof are formed either of only the anode or cathode material, each anode material passageway being for the fuel and each cathode material passageway being for the oxidant, means to direct the fuel and the oxidant for separate flow through each of its respective passageway, said last mentioned means including intermediate wall means extended from the electrolyte wall in the general direction of the passageways and each being spaced generally between the adjacent interconnect walls operable to define thereby separate end chambers open to the respective passageways, duct means for inputting the fuel and oxidant to the appropriate end chamber, and means to direct the galvanic output from the anode and cathode materials to an exterior circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the interconnect walls are somewhat planar and are disposed substantially parallel to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein said electrolyte walls defining said passageways are angled and back folded relative to one another and relative to and extended between the interconnect walls thereby defining flow passageways having narrow portions adjacent one interconnect wall and wide portions adjacent the other interconnect wall, and end wall sections extended between the electrolyte walls and the intermediate walls to block off the narrow portions of the flow passageways.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said duct means communicate through openings in the sides of the core to the defined end chambers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the duct means communicate through openings in the interconnect walls at the top and bottom of the core with the end chambers, said core having stacks that extend between the intermediate wall and one adjacent interconnect wall operable to communicate adjacent like chambers with one another while extending transverse to the flow passageways and through the other chambers without communicating with the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate wall is extended transverse to the flow passageways to one of the adjacent pair of interconnect wall to close off one of the end chambers and is then extended transverse to the flow passageways to the other interconnect wall of the pair to close off the other of the end chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate wall in the region between the end chambers is further extended flush with the wall as to establish a sealed juncture thereat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the intermediate wall coincides with the thickness of the electrolyte wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate wall is formed of the electrolyte material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the intermediate wall coincides with the thickness of the electrolyte wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein each layer of the electrolyte and interconnect materials is of the order of 0.01-0.2 cm thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrochemcial fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein each layer of the cathode and anode materials is of the order of 0.002-0.1 cm thick.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein each electrolyte wall is of the order of 0.015-0.4 cm thick.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein each interconnect wall is of the order of 0.015-0.4 cm thick.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein said electrolyte walls defining said passageways are angled and back folded relative to one another and relative to and extended between the interconnect walls thereby defining flow passageways having narrow portions adjacent one interconnect wall and wide portions adjacent the other interconnect wall, and end wall sections extended between the electrolyte walls and the intermediate walls to block off the narrow portions of the flow passageways.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein said duct means communicate through openings in the sides of the core to the defined end chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein the duct means communicate through openings in the interconnect walls at the top and bottom of the core with the end chambers, said core having stacks that extend between the intermediate wall and one adjacent interconnect wall operable to communicate adjacent like chambers with one another while extending transverse to the flow passageways and through the other chambers without communicating with the same.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate wall is further extended transverse to the flow passageways to one of the adjacent pair of interconnect wall to close off one of the end chambers and is then extended transverse to the flow passageways to the other interconnect wall of the pair to close off the other of the end chambers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 18, wherein the intermediate wall in the region between the end chambers is further extended flush with the wall as to establish a sealed juncture thereat.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrochemical fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said cathode is lanthanum manganite (LaMnO 3 ); said anode is cobalt yttria-stabilized zirconia cermet or mixture (Co+ZrO 2 +Y 2 O 3 ); said electrolyte is yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO 2 +Y 2 O 3 ); and said interconnect is lanthanum chromite (LaCrO 3 ).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |