Solid oxide fuel cell with improved current collection
View Patent ↗A solid oxide fuel cell includes a plurality of tubes, with each tube including an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte, A mechanically compliant anode current collector is associated with each tube. An interconnect portion may be attached to the anode current collector. A cathode current collector is also associated with each tube. The interconnect portion provides an oxygen barrier between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector.
1. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising:
a plurality of tubes, with each tube having an interior anode, an exterior cathode and an electrolyte; and
an anode current collector associated with each tube;
wherein the anode current collector is mechanically compliant relative to the plurality of tubes and wherein the anode current collector includes a low resistance stem portion and a brush portion extending radially out from the stem portion and wherein the brush portion includes a plurality of wire loops radiating from the stem portion, each wire loop extending directly from the stem portion to a radially distal looped anode contact area.
2. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the low resistance stem portion includes a ribbon wire.
3. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the stem portion and brush portion are unitary.
4. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the stem portion and brush portion are formed of a metal material compatible with a reducing atmosphere and with operating temperatures of a solid oxide fuel cell.
5. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the stem portion is formed of a different metal material than the brush portion.
6. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the stem portion and brush portion are formed of the same metal material.
7. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the stem portion and brush portion are independently formed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of: copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, silver, gold, platinum, and alloys, blends, coatings and claddings of the metal materials.
8. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the interconnect portion is formed of a material selected from gold, platinum, palladium, noble metals having a melting temperature above 1000 degrees centigrade, and alloys of iron, nickel or cobalt.
9. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the anode current collector includes a catalyst associated therewith.
10. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 including a cathode current collector on each tube.
11. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 10 wherein the brush portion includes a coating of catalyst or catalyst supporting material.
12. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 10 wherein the brush portion is formed of a catalytic material.
13. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 10 further including a catalyst brush extending radially out from the stem portion.
14. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 10 wherein the stem portion includes a catalyst or catalyst supporting material associated therewith.
15. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 10 wherein the stem portion includes an interconnect portion attached thereto.
16. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 10 wherein the cathode current collector includes a low resistance stem portion and a brush portion extending radially out from the stem portion.
17. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the anode current collector includes an interconnect portion attached thereto.
18. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 17 wherein the interconnect portion is formed of a material selected from gold, platinum, palladium, and noble metals having a melting temperature above 1000 degrees centigrade, and alloys of iron, nickel or cobalt.
19. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 17 wherein the anode current collector extends from an inlet end of the tube to an outlet end of the tube.
20. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 19 wherein the interconnect portion is positioned on the outlet end and extends out of the tube linking with the anode of an adjacent tube.
21. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 19 wherein the interconnect portion is positioned on the outlet end and extends out of the tube linking with the anode of an adjacent tube.
22. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 19 wherein the interconnect portion is positioned on the inlet end and extends out of the tube linking with the, cathode of an adjacent tube.
23. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 19 wherein the interconnect portion is positioned on the inlet end and extends out of the tube linking with the anode of an adjacent tube.
24. The solid oxide fuel cell of claim 17 wherein the anode is formed of a nickel alloy, the cathode is formed of a silver alloy and the interconnect portion is formed of gold, wherein the interconnect portion acts as an oxygen barrier between the nickel and silver alloys.