Solid oxide fuel cell as well as a method of manufacturing said solid oxide fuel cell
View Patent ↗A solid oxide fuel cell for oxidation of hydrogen, coal gas or methane, and comprising a solid oxide electrolyte which is preferably formed by YSZ, and where a thin layer of anode material is attached to the electrolyte, and where a fluid flow-controlling coupling layer furthermore is placed on both the anode and the cathode side. The fluid flow-controlling coupling layer is according to the invention formed by a number of mutually separated columns 13 . Such a embodiment of the coupling layer ensures a material saving. Furthermore, the height of each cell can be reduced and thereby increase the power density.
1. A solid oxide fuel cell for oxidation of gases, including methane, coal gas or hydrogen, and comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, formed by YSZ, wherein a thin layer of anode material is attached to the electrolyte, wherein a fluid flow-controlling coupling layer is arranged on both the anode and the cathode side of the fuel cell, wherein the fluid flow-controlling coupling layer comprises a number of mutually separated columns, and wherein the columns comprise a material different from the thin layer of anode material.
2. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the columns are equidistantly arranged.
3. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the centre distance between the columns is approximately 1.8 mm.
4. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each column has a height of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm.
5. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each column has a diameter of approximately 1.0 mm.
6. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell further comprises flow-controlling means between the columns.
7. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the columns comprise one of a ceramic material or a mixture of ceramics and metal.
8. A method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell for oxidation of gases, including methane, coal gas or hydrogen, and comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, formed by YSZ, and wherein a fluid-controlling coupling layer comprising a number of mutually separated columns of a ceramic material on both the anode and the cathode side of the fuel cell, wherein the ceramic material comprises a material that differs from at least one of the anode or the cathode, the method comprising a stamping out columns from a plate of the ceramic material, wherein the columns are fixed to a layer of paper, whereafter the columns are subjected to a sintering after being placed on both the anode and the cathode side of the fuel cell.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising subjecting the columns to a mechanical load during sintering.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the columns are subjected to a mechanical load of 4.5 to 24.5 kPa at a temperature of 850 to 1000° C. for approximately two hours during sintering.
11. A method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising placing an interconnect disk on the columns.
12. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each column has a height of approximately 0.5 to 1. mm.
13. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each column has a height of approximately 0.5 to 1. mm.
14. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each column has a diameter of approximately 1.0 mm.
15. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each column has a diameter of approximately 1.0 mm.
16. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 4 , wherein each column has a diameter of approximately 1.0 mm.
17. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the columns comprise one of a ceramic material or a mixture of ceramics and metal.
18. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the columns comprise one of a ceramic material or a mixture of ceramics and metal.
19. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the columns comprise one of a ceramic material or a mixture of ceramics and metal.
20. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the columns comprise one of a ceramic material or a mixture of ceramics and metal.
21. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the columns comprise one of a ceramic material or a mixture of ceramics and metal.
22. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fuel cell further comprises flow-controlling means between the columns.
23. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fuel cell further comprises flow-controlling means between the columns.
24. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 4 wherein the fuel cell further comprises flow-controlling means between the columns.
25. A solid oxide fuel cell as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fuel cell further comprises flow-controlling means between the columns.