US4898792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrochemical generator apparatus containing modified high temperature insulation and coated surfaces for use with hydrocarbon fuels
Assignee: Siemens Energy Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-07
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Granted: 1990-02-06
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Expires: 2008-12-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical generator apparatus (30) is constructed containing an electrochemical cell assembly which contains a plurality of electrochemical cells or cell bundles (41) and (43) and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards (33) between cell bundles, porous generator insulation (44), porous cell support boards (45), porous fuel entry distribution boards (35), and porous fuel conditioner boards (53), where a gaseous fuel (46) containing hydrocarbons will contact the insulation materials, characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials is impregnated with metal atom containing material, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al combinations, Sr-Al combinations, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni. The impregnated insulation materials may also be pre-heated in air so that the oxides are formed prior to their insertion into the generator apparatus. These electrochemical cells are contacted with a hydrocarbon fuel gas and operated at over 700° C. The metal oxides formed are effective in preventing cell assembly deterioration due to carbon deposition from the hydrocarbon fuel and any elemental nickel formed is effective as a fuel reforming medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Prabhakar Singh
- 👤 Roswell J. Ruka
- 👤 Raymond A. George
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0625; H01M8/10; H01M8/12; H01M8/1231; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/243; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2484; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An electrochemical generator apparatus, containing an electrochemical cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards between cell bundles, porous generator insulation, porous cell support boards, porous fuel entry distribution boards, and porous fuel conditioner boards, where a gaseous fuel containing hydrocarbons will contact the insulation materials, the improvement characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials is impregnated with metal atom containing material, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al, Sr-Al, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electrochemical generator apparatus, containing an electrochemical cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards between cell bundles, porous generator insulation, porous cell support boards, porous fuel entry distribution boards, and porous fuel conditioner boards, where a gaseous fuel containing hydrocarbons will contact the insulation materials, the improvement characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials is impregnated with metal atom containing material, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al, Sr-Al, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 1, where the electrochemical cells are in the form of cell bundles of fuel cells and the fuel cells comprise a porous fuel electrode an air electrode, and a solid electrolyte therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 1, where the metal of the metal atom containing material is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof plus Ni.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 1, where the metal of the metal atom containing material is selected from the group consisting of Mg, and, Mg plus Ni.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 1, where the impregnated insulation material is in the form of porous fuel conditioner boards, and where the metal of the metal atom containing material is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof plus Ni.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 1, where the impregnated material is a porous partition board and where the metal of the metal atom containing material is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof plus Ni.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 1 where the metal containing material is a metal salt and where the salt is selected from the group consisting of nitrate, formate and acetate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrochemical generator of claim 1, where after impregnation of the insulating material and prior to assembly into the electrochemical cell assembly, the impregnated insulation material is heated in air to oxidize the metal containing material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The electrochemical generator of claim 2, where the electrochemical cell assembly also includes a plurality of fuel passage means, and where the interior of the fuel passage means is coated with metal atom containing material, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al combinations, Sr-Al combinations, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrochemical generator apparatus containing an electrochemical cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards between cell bundles, porous generator insulation, porous cell support boards, porous fuel entry distribution boards, and porous fuel conditioner boards, where a gaseous fuel containing hydrocarbons will contact the insulation materials, the improvement characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials contains metal oxide, where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al, Sr-Al, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrochemical generator apparatus containing an electrochemical cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards between cell bundles, porous generator insulation, porous cell support boards, porous fuel entry distribution boards, and porous fuel conditioner boards, where a gaseous fuel containing hydrocarbons will contact the insulation materials, the improvement characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials contains metal oxide, where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al, Sr-Al, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 10, where the electrochemical cells are in the form of cell bundles of fuel cells and the fuel cells comprise a porous fuel electrode an air electrode, and a solid electrolyte therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 10, where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof plus Ni.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 10, where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of Mg, and, Mg plus Ni.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 10, where the impregnated insulation material is in the form of porous fuel conditioner boards, and where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof plus Ni.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 10, where the impregnated material is a porous partition board and where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg, Ce, and mixtures thereof plus Ni.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The electrochemical generator of claim 11, where the electrochemical cell assembly also includes a plurality of fuel passage means, and where the interior of the fuel passage means is coated with metal containing material, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al combinations, Sr-Al combinations, Zr, Y, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electrochemical generator apparatus, operating at a temperature of over 700 ° C. containing an electrochemical cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards between cell bundles, porous generator insulation, porous cell support boards, porous fuel entry distribution boards, and porous fuel conditioner boards, where a gaseous fuel containing hydrocarbons contacts the insulation materials, the improvement characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials contain metal material where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of (A) metal oxides having metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al, Sr-Al, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metal oxides plus elemental Ni metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electrochemical generator apparatus, operating at a temperature of over 700 ° C. containing an electrochemical cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards between cell bundles, porous generator insulation, porous cell support boards, porous fuel entry distribution boards, and porous fuel conditioner boards, where a gaseous fuel containing hydrocarbons contacts the insulation materials, the improvement characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials contain metal material where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of (A) metal oxides having metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al, Sr-Al, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metal oxides plus elemental Ni metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 17, where the electrochemical cells are in the form of cell bundles of fuel cells and the fuel cells comprise a porous fuel electrode an air electrode, and a solid electrolyte therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 17, where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of Mg oxide, Ce oxide, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg oxide, Ce oxide, and mixtures thereof plus elemental Ni metal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 17, where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of Mg oxide, and, Mg oxide plus elemental Ni metal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 17, where the impregnated insulation material is in the form of porous fuel conditioner boards, and where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of Mg oxide, Ce oxide, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg oxide, Ce oxide and mixtures thereof with elemental Ni metal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrochemical generator apparatus of claim 17, where the impregnated material is a porous partition board and where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of Mg oxide, Ce oxide, and mixtures thereof, and, Mg oxide, Ce oxide, and mixtures thereof plus elemental Ni metal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
75 words
The electrochemical generator of claim 18, where the electrochemical cell assembly also includes a fuel plurality of passage means and where the interior of the fuel passage means is coated with metal material, where the metal material is selected from the group consisting of (A) metal oxides having metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al combinations, Sr-Al combinations, Zr, Y, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metal oxides plus elemental Ni metal.
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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) | 1993-02-05 | 1993-08-07 | 1994-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-05 | 1997-08-07 | 1998-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-05 | 2001-08-07 | 2002-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |