US4808491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corner heating in rectangular solid oxide electrochemical cell generators
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1988-02-16
•
Granted: 1989-02-28
•
Expires: 2008-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improvement in a solid oxide electrochemical cell generator 1 having a rectangular design with four sides that meet at corners, and containing multiplicity of electrically connected fuel cells 11, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and an oxygen containing gas is passed into said cells, and said fuel is burned to form heat, electricity, and an exhaust gas. The improvement comprises passing the exhaust gases over the multiplicity of cells 11 in such a way that more of the heat in said exhaust gases flows at the corners of the generator, such as through channels 19.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Reichner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/243; H01M8/04; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0625; H01M8/10; H01M8/12; H01M2008/1293; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0068; H01M2300/0071; H01M2300/0074; H01M8/04022; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
In a solid oxide electrochemical cell generator of a rectangular design, having four sides meeting at four corners, and containing a multiplicity of electrically connected electrochemical cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells, an oxygen-containing gas is passed into said cells, and fuel and oxygencontaining gas are reacted to form an exhaust gas, the improvement which comprises: channels 19 for passing at least a portion of said exhaust gas over the outside of the periphery of said multiplicity of cells, said channels being located so that more of the heat in said exhaust gases flows at the corners of said generator than over the remainder of the sides of said generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a solid oxide electrochemical cell generator of a rectangular design, having four sides meeting at four corners, and containing a multiplicity of electrically connected electrochemical cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells, an oxygen-containing gas is passed into said cells, and fuel and oxygencontaining gas are reacted to form an exhaust gas, the improvement which comprises: channels 19 for passing at least a portion of said exhaust gas over the outside of the periphery of said multiplicity of cells, said channels being located so that more of the heat in said exhaust gases flows at the corners of said generator than over the remainder of the sides of said generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An improvement according to claim 1, wherein said fuel gas is reformed inside said generator beneath said multiplicity of electrochemical cells, where said channels pass into a reformer means, whereby heat in said exhaust gases is used in reforming said fuel gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An improvement according to claim 1, wherein said channels are cut into insulation around said multiplicity of electrochemical cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An improvement according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cells are fuel cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An improvement according to claim 2, wherein said reformer means contains reforming catalyst.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a rectangular design, with four sides that meet at corners, and containing a multiplicity of electrically connected, tubular solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas passes over one side of said cells, an oxygen-containing gas is passed into said cells, and fuel and oxygen-containing gas are reacted to form an exhaust gas, an improved method of reducing the thermal gradient between the cells at the inside of said generator and the cells at the periphery of said generator which comprises passing said exhaust gases over the sides of said generator, where a greater quantity of said exhaust gases are passed over the corners of said generator than over the remainder of the sides of said generator.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a rectangular design, with four sides that meet at corners, and containing a multiplicity of electrically connected, tubular solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas passes over one side of said cells, an oxygen-containing gas is passed into said cells, and fuel and oxygen-containing gas are reacted to form an exhaust gas, an improved method of reducing the thermal gradient between the cells at the inside of said generator and the cells at the periphery of said generator which comprises passing said exhaust gases over the sides of said generator, where a greater quantity of said exhaust gases are passed over the corners of said generator than over the remainder of the sides of said generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the heat of said exhaust gases is distributed over said sides so as to achieve a uniform temperature along said sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said exhaust gases are passed through channels in insulation surrounding the periphery of sid multiplicity of fuel cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said fuel gas is reformed inside said generator beneath said multiplicity of fuel cells, where said channels pass into a reformer means, whereby heat in said exhaust gases is used in reforming said fuel gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said reformer means contains reforming catalyst.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |