Solid oxide fuel cell with sealed structure

摘要

This invention relates to the presence of slightly or non-porous zones in the electrode layer around gas inlets, in order to improve the leak tightness between the different individual cells making up a fuel cell with a plane geometry. The fuel cell comprises a first electrode layer having a non-porous zone forming a passage therethrough for gas flow and an electrolyte layer having a protuberance which extends into the first electrode layer for forming the non-porous zone with the non-porous zone representing a gas tight passage. Nested contact between the bipolar plate and the ceramic triple layer making up the basic cell is also described and is another possible means of avoiding mixes of gasses.

主权项

1. An individual cell for a fuel cell having a stack of cells with each individual cell comprising:
a first electrode layer having a first porosity; a second electrode layer having a second porosity; a solid electrolyte layer located between said first and second electrode layers; a first bipolar plate adjacent to the first electrode layer; a second bipolar plate adjacent to the second electrode layer; a first gas inlet; a second gas inlet; wherein the first electrode layer comprises a first non-porous zone forming a passage therethrough for gas flow from the first gas inlet; wherein said electrolyte layer has a protuberance which extends into the first electrode layer forming said first non-porous zone with the first non-porous zone representing a gas tight passage; wherein at least one of the two bipolar plates has a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the adjacent electrode layer and the electrolyte layer, wherein said one bipolar plate with said high coefficient of thermal expansion comprises at least a protuberance and the electrode layer adjacent thereto comprising a cavity with the protuberance of the one bipolar plate and the cavity in the adjacent electrode fitting into one another and wherein said one bipolar plate being connected to the adjacent electrode layer by nesting.