STRESS REDUCING MOUNTING FOR ELECTROLYTE SHEET ASSEMBLY IN A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL

摘要

A stress reducing mounting for an electrolyte sheet assembly in a solid electrolyte fuel cell includes a support frame or manifold that supports a peripheral portion of the sheet assembly, a seal that affixes an edge 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 and mounting reduces cracking in the electrolyte sheet at the peripheral portions due to tensile forces. The stress reducer is either a convex curved surface on the frame or manifold that makes area contact with the peripheral portion when it bends or a stiffening structure on the sheet peripheral portion that renders the ceramic sheet material forming the peripheral portion more resistant to bending.