Fuel cell stack clamping structure and solid oxide fuel cell stack

1. Clamping structure for a planar solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a flexible sheet and a rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet being capable of bending into a primarily convex shape, the rigid, thermally insulating end block shaped as a rectangular base with a planar surface and an opposing surface that is primarily convex in shape, the flexible sheet being placed on the opposing surface of the rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet thereby bending to obtain a shape that is primarily convex upon compression, wherein the flexible sheet does not have to withstand bending forces and has a thickness of 0.05-5 mm.

2. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is bent to obtain a shape that is curved in one direction only.

3. Clamping structure according to claim 2 , wherein the opposing surface of the rigid, thermally insulating end block is smoothly or stepwise rounded outwards into the primarily convex shape.

4. Clamping structure according to claim 3 , wherein the opposing surface of the rigid, thermally insulating end block is stepped or pyramidal in shape.

5. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is bent to obtain a shape that is curved in more than one direction.

6. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is made of metal.

7. Clamping structure according to claim 6 , wherein the metal is steel or an alloy of titanium, aluminium or nickel.

8. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is made of a fabric of ceramic fibers, metal wire mesh or a composite material based on glass, or carbon fibers embedded in polyester or epoxy resin.

9. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid, thermally insulating end block has a thermal conductivity of 0.01-2.0 W/mK.

10. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid, thermally insulating end block is made of alumina, calcium silicate or vermiculite based material.

11. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet has a length and a breadth of 1-2 times the corresponding solid oxide fuel cell length and breadth in the stack.

12. Clamping structure according to claim 1 , wherein the bent flexible sheet has a radius of 0.6 to 5 times the width of the solid oxide fuel cells.

13. Solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising the clamping structure of claim 1 , wherein the stack comprises one or more planar, solid oxide fuel cells interposed between end plates, at least one end plate lying adjacent to the clamping structure comprising a flexible sheet and a thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet being capable of bending into a primarily convex shape, the thermally insulating end block shaped as a rectangular base with a planar surface and an opposing surface that is primarily convex in shape, the flexible sheet being placed adjacent to the opposing surface of the thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet thereby bending to obtain a shape that is primarily convex, wherein the flexible sheet does not have to withstand bending forces and has a thickness of 0.05-5 mm, and the at least one end plate being in contact with the planar surface of the rectangular base of the thermally insulating end block.

14. Solid oxide fuel cell stack of claim 13 , wherein the clamping structure is positioned at each end plate.