US4876163A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Generator configuration for solid oxide fuel cells
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1987-12-18
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Granted: 1989-10-24
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Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are improvements in a solid oxide fuel cell generator 1 having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells 2, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and an oxygen-containing gas is passed over the other side of said cells resulting in the generation of heat and electricity. The improvements comprise arranging the cells in the configuration of a circle, a spiral, or folded rows within a cylindrical generator, and modifying the flow rate, oxygen concentration, and/or temperature of the oxygen-containing gases that flow to those cells that are at the periphery of the generator relative to those cells that are at the center of the generator. In these ways, a more uniform temperature is obtained throughout the generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Reichner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/243; H01M8/04; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/2465; H01M8/10; H01M8/12; H01M2008/1293; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0068; H01M2300/0071; H01M2300/0074; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/04022; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side of said cells, whereby said fuel is consumed and heat and electricity are generated, the improvement which comprises said cells being disposed in the configuration of a spiral.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side of said cells, whereby said fuel is consumed and heat and electricity are generated, the improvement which comprises said cells being disposed in the configuration of a spiral.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is separately controlled relative to the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the concentration of oxygen in said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that area at the periphery of said generator is greater than the concentration of oxygen in said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the temperature of said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the temperature of said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said fuel cells are placed within a metal canister that is a barrier to hydrogen, and insulation is placed outside of said canister.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein said insulation is alumina.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the electrical connection between said cells is attached to each cell on opposite sides of the cell so that the portions of each cell that are in between said attached electrical connections are equal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to ciaim 8 wherein said electrical connection is a strip, U-shaped in cross-section, with the open portion of the U facing towards the outside of said generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to ciaim 8 wherein said electrical connection is a strip, U-shaped in cross-section, with the open portion of the U facing towards the outside of said generator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein all of said cells are electrically connected in series.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side of said cells, whereby said fuel is consumed and heat and electricity are generated the invention which comprises arranging said cells in a plurality of concentric circles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side of said cells, whereby said fuel is consumed and heat and electricity are generated the invention which comprises arranging said cells in a plurality of concentric circles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the center of said generator is separately controlled relative to the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 12, wherein said flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein the concentration of oxygen in said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that area at the periphery of said generator is greater than the concentration of oxygen in said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein the temperature of said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the temperature of said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein said fuel cells are placed within a metal canister that is a barrier to hydrogen, and insulation is placed outside of said canister.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention according to claim 16 wherein said insulation is alumina.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein the electrical connection between said cells is attached to each cell on opposite sides of the cell so that the portions of each cell that are in between said attached electrical connections are equal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 18 wherein said electrical connection in a strip, U-shaped in cross-section, with the open portion of the U facing towards the center of said generator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein all of said cells are electrically connected in series.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side of said cells, whereby heat and electricity are generated, the improvement which comprises arranging said cells in the configuration of folded rows where the outside periphery of said folded rows is circular.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells, where a fuel gas is passed over one side of said cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side of said cells, whereby heat and electricity are generated, the improvement which comprises arranging said cells in the configuration of folded rows where the outside periphery of said folded rows is circular.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 21 wherein the flow of the source of oxygen to those cells that are at the center of said generator is separately controlled relative to the flow of said source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 22 wherein said flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention according to claim 21 wherein the concentration of oxygen in said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that area at the periphery of said generator is greater than the concentration of oxygen in said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention according to claim 21 wherein the temperature of said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the temperature of said gaseous source of oxygen that flows to those cells that are at the center of said generator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 21 wherein said fuel cells are placed within a metal canister that is a barrier to hydrogen, and insulation is placed outside of said canister.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention according to claim 26 wherein said insulation is alumina.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 21 wherein the electrical connection between said cells is attached to each cell on opposite sides of the cell so that the portions of each cell that are in between said attached electrical connections are equal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-23 | 1993-04-24 | 1993-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-23 | 1997-04-24 | 1997-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-23 | 2001-04-24 | 2001-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |