Edge seals for molten cabonate fuel cell stacks.

摘要

The reactant manifolds and corners of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack are sealed with particulate lithium aluminate members which are sufficiently porous so as to resist significant electrolyte migration therethrough. The seal members which are disposed in vertical planes of the stack are preferentially formed from lithium aluminate grains which are bonded together by a silica-free glass binder. The seal members which are disposed in horizontal planes in the stack are preferably formed from lithium aluminate grains which are bonded together by surface hydrolysis. Alumina-clad stainless steel labyrinth seal members are associated with each of the horizontal seal members to inhibit electrolyte migration from the cell electrolyte matrices to the vertical seal members.