SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL DEVICE AND SYSTEM

摘要

A solid oxide fuel cell device has an elongated tube (29) with a reaction zone (31) along a first lengthwise portion configured to be heated to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone (30) along a second lengthwise portion configured to remain at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated. Annular passages (14, 20) are included for delivery of fuel and oxidizer. A fuel cell system may incorporate a plurality of the fuel cell devices, each device positioned with the reaction zone in a hot zone chamber and having the first and second cold end regions extending outside the hot zone chamber. Methods of using the devices and system are also provided. In the various embodiments, a solid oxide fuel cell device may have an elongate substrate (29) having a length that is the greatest dimension whereby the elongate substrate has a coefficient of thermal expansion having only one dominant axis that is coextensive with the length. Furthermore, the device may comprise multi-layer anode-cathode structures comprising a plurality of anodes in opposing relation with a plurality of cathodes within the elongate substrate in the reaction zone and an electrolyte (28) disposed between each of the opposing anodes and cathodes.