METALLIC ELEMENT USEFUL AS SPACER OR INTERCONNECT FOR A HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL

摘要

The invention concerns ametallic element for a high tem- perature fuel cell stack, wherein each individual fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte and an elec- trochemically active area. The metallic element (1) com- prises a metallic sheet (2) having first and second planar surfaces (3,4) on opposite sides of the metallic sheet (2) and a first, second, third and fourth periphery (5,6,7,8), the first and third peripheries (5,7) and the second and fourth peripheries (6,8) forming opposing peripheries. The metallic sheet (1) is provided with inlet and outlet gas openings (99,100) extending completely through the metallic sheet from the first planar surface (3) to the second pla- nar surface (4) and positioned at first and third peripher- ies (5,7) only of the metallic sheet (2), at least one inlet gas opening (99) and at least one outlet gas (100) opening being partially open and extending into one or more micro channels (13) located on the first planar surface (3). Each micro channel (13) extends continuously or dis- continuously from the at least one inlet gas opening (99) or at least one outlet gas opening (100) adjacent to the electrochemically active area of the fuel cell. This metal- lic element ensures an improved flow distribution of gases taking part in electrochemical reactions within the fuel cell, and it is well suited for use as an interconnect in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) or a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC).