Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte gas in a gas stream with a sensor are described. The analyte gas sensor may include a mass-sensitive resonator and a diffusion barrier. The mass-sensitive resonator may be coated with an absorptive material which is reactive with an analyte gas, such as NOx. The diffusion barrier may be positioned to limit a gas flow with the analyte gas towards the absorptive material, and a ratio of the diffusion time of the gas flow through the diffusion barrier to the reaction time of the analyte gas with the absorptive material may be from about 0.1 to about 100.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to insulating compositions for use in solid oxide fuel cells. Such compositions can be used to prevent seal damage and increase the electrical and ion efficiency.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to highly crystalline, frit-sintered glass-ceramic materials and seals made using them that are suitable for solid oxide fuel cell applications. The seals have a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of 70-130×10−7° C., preferably 85-115×10−7° C. The glass-ceramic materials have a crystalline component and a glass component, the crystalline component being >50% of the glass-ceramic and the glass component being 75%. Regarding the crystalline component only, >50% of the crystals in the crystalline component of the glass-ceramic has a structure selected from the structural groups represented by walstromite, cyclowollastonite, μ-(Ca,Sr)SiO3, kalsilite, kaliophilite and wollastonite (the primary crystalline phase) and the remaining
Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell device assembly comprising: (i) at least one solid oxide fuel cell device including one electrolyte sheet sandwiched between at least one pair of electrodes; and (ii) a non-steel frame fixedly attached to said at least one fuel cell device without a seal located therebetween.
Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a thin ceramic electrolyte sheet having an increased street width is disclosed. Also disclosed are solid oxide fuel cells comprising: a substantially flat ceramic electrolyte sheet, a substantially flat ceramic electrolyte sheet having a seal area of greater thickness than the active area of the electrolyte sheet, a ceramic electrolyte sheet that overhangs the seal area, a ceramic electrolyte sheet and at least one substantially flat border material, and a border material having a non-linear edge. Methods of making a solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with the disclosed embodiments are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making a solid oxide fuel cell wherein the seal has a uniform thickness, wherein the seal is heated to remove a volatile component prior to sealing, and wherein the distance between the frame and the ceramic electrolyte sheet of the device is constant.
Abstract:
A stress reducing mounting for an electrolyte sheet assembly in a solid electrolyte fuel cell is provided that includes a support frame or manifold having an inner edge portion that supports a peripheral portion of the sheet assembly, a seal that affixes an edge of the peripheral portion to the frame or manifold, and a stress reducer disposed around the peripheral portion of the electrolyte sheet and the frame or manifold that reduces tensile stress in the peripheral portion of the electrolyte sheet when the peripheral portion is bent by pressure differentials or thermal differential expansion. The stress reducer is at least one of a convex curved surface on the inner edge portion of the frame or manifold that makes area contact with the peripheral portion when it bends in response to a pressure differential or thermal differential expansion, and a stiffening structure on the sheet peripheral portion that renders the ceramic sheet material forming the peripheral portion more resistant to bending. The stress reducing mounting reduces cracking in the electrolyte sheet at the peripheral portions due to tensile forces.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to protected metal anode architecture and method of making the same, providing a protected metal anode architecture comprising a metal anode; and a composite protection film formed over and in direct contact with the metal anode, wherein the metal anode comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal and an alkaline earth metal, and the composite protection film comprises particles of an inorganic compound dispersed throughout a matrix of an organic compound. The present disclosure also provides a method of forming a protected metal anode architecture.
Abstract:
According to one embodiment of the present invention a fuel cell system comprises: (i) a plurality of fuel cell packets, each packet comprising at least one fuel inlet, at least one fuel outlet, a frame, and two multi-cell fuel cell devices, the fuel cell devices situated such that an anode side of one fuel cell device faces an anode side of another fuel cell device, and the two fuel cell devices, in combination, at least partially form a fuel chamber connected to the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet; (ii) a plurality of heat exchange packets, each packet comprising at least one oxidant inlet, at least one oxidant outlet, and an internal oxidant chamber connected to the at least one oxidant inlet and the least one oxidant outlet; the heat exchange packets being parallel to and interspersed between the fuel cell packets, such that the heat exchange packets face the fuel cell packets and form, at least in part, a plurality of cathode reaction chambers between the heat exchange packets and the fuel cell packets; (iii) a housing supporting and enclosing the fuel packets and the heat exchange packets; (iv) an oxidant inlet plenum operatively connected to oxidant inlets of the heat exchange packets; (v) an oxidant exhaust plenum operatively connected to the cathode reaction chambers; (vi) an inlet fuel manifold connected to fuel inlets of the fuel cell packets; and (vii) an exhaust fuel manifold connected to the fuel outlets of the fuel cell packets.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates to ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes and processes for forming them. The ceramic lithium electrolyte membrane may comprise at least one ablative edge. Exemplary processes for forming the ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes comprise fabricating a lithium ion electrolyte sheet and cutting at least one edge of the fabricated electrolyte sheet with an ablative laser.
Abstract:
A flame spray pyrolysis method for making nanoscale, lithium ion-conductive ceramic powders comprises providing a precursor solution comprising chemical precursors dissolved in an organic solvent, and spraying the precursor solution into an oxidizing flame to form a nanoscale, lithium ion-conductive ceramic powder, wherein a concentration of the chemical precursors in the solvent ranges from 1 to 20 M. The precursor solution can comprise 1-20% excess lithium with respect to a stoichiometric composition of the ceramic powder. Nominal compositions of the nanoscale, ceramic powders are Li1.4Al0.4M1.6(PO4)3 where M is Ti or Ge.