Tubular flat plate fuel cells and method of making the same

摘要

A solid oxide fuel cell employs an array of tubular flat plates that are sealed only at their extremities using compliant seals. The seals may be formed of talc and surround gas inlet and outlet openings in the tube extremities. Locating the seals remote from the higher temperature central areas of the tubes increases the service life of the seals and their tolerance to thermal cycling. The seals may incorporate an annular conductor for electrically interconnecting adjacent tubes into a common circuit.