UNIT CELL OF SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND STACK USING THE SAME
A unit cell of a solid oxide fuel cell (“SOFC”) and a fuel cell stack including the SOFC are disclosed. The SOFC may include a first electrode formed in a hollow cylinder shape, a second electrode formed on an outer surface of the first electrode, an electrolyte layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode and a cap coupled to an end portion of the first electrode. A seating groove may be formed in the cap such that a conductor may be inserted into the seating groove and be in surface contact with the cap. The cap may include a conductive material and a current collection area of the unit cell may be broad when the fuel cell is included in, a fuel cell stack.
1 . A unit cell of a solid oxide fuel cell (“SOFC”), comprising:
a first electrode formed in a hollow cylinder shape;
a second electrode formed on an outer surface of the first electrode;
an electrolyte layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
a cap coupled to one end portion of the first electrode,
wherein the cap has at least one seating groove,
wherein a first conductor is inserted in the at least one seating groove and in contact with the cap, and
wherein a second conductor electrically connects to the second electrode.
2 . The unit cell of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a conductive material.
3 . The unit cell of claim 1 , wherein the seating groove is formed along the outer circumferential surface of the cap.
4 . The unit cell of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seating groove is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the cap.
5 . The unit cell of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is an anode, and the second electrode is a cathode.
6 . A stack of SOFCs, comprising:
a plurality of unit cells of claim 1 ,
wherein the first conductor electrically connects the plurality of unit cells to one another.
7 . The stack of claim 6 , wherein the cap comprises a conductive material.
8 . The stack of claim 6 , wherein the seating groove is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the cap.
9 . The stack of claim 6 , wherein the first conductor is fixed in the at least one seating groove using a brazing method.
10 . The stack of claim 6 , wherein the first conductor is fixed into the at least one seating groove by press fitting the conductor from an upper portion of the conductor using a metal with a greater thermal expansion coefficient than that of the cap.
11 . The stack of claim 6 , wherein the first conductor is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of wire, felt and mesh.
12 . The stack of claim 6 , wherein the first electrode is an anode, and the second electrode is a cathode.