Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Plug Power Inc.

Curtis A Richardson

Karl Jacob Haltiner, Jr

Sean Michael Kelly

Norman Peschke

Bernard Edlinger

In a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly, a sealing gasket is disposed between spaced, parallel components and includes a gas-filled pillow structure formed in the general shape of the manifold opening to be sealed. The gasket acts as a passive gas spring that responds with increased seating force to increased temperature. The gasket comprises first and second elements formed from sheet or foil metal stock having mating concavities and joined along their mutual surfaces to form the gas-filled pillow structure in the shape of each opening to be sealed. The first and second elements are respectively formed of the same material as the components and diffusion bonded on their outer surfaces to their respective component surfaces.

Gas-filled gasket for a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly

A heat exchanger for a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly. A plurality of parallel tubes conveys fuel cell stack exhaust gas from a first manifold means to a second manifold means. The tubes are highly corrugated to increase the wall area and decrease the wall thickness. The tubes are disposed in a jacket through which is passed incoming air to be heated. The tubes may be linear between two manifolds, or they may be curved such that the first and second manifold functions are accommodated within a single component.

Heat exchanger for heating of fuel cell combustion air

A fuel cell assembly or system including flexible metal bellows elements in one or more tubes intended for carrying hot gases during operation of the assembly. The bellows elements include a tubing element having plurality of annular corrugated folds. Thermal expansion and contraction of rigid tubes and of the non-tubular elements of the assembly can lead to buckling, cracking, and failure of the tubes and failure of the assembly or system. The flexible bellows elements, having relatively low axial and radial spring rates thus are able to absorb thermal and vibrational dimensional changes in the assembly. In addition, the corrugations provide significant resistance to axial heat flow and large radiant surface area, thus increasing thermal isolation where desired between relatively hot and relatively cold regions of the assembly.

Thermal and vibrational break for high-temperature gas tubes in a solid-oxide fuel cell

An automated reactant flow control subsystem is provided for a fuel cell system. The subsystem is achieved with a minimum of parts for decreased cost and increased reliability. The subsystem includes a fail-safe solenoid-actuated three-way valve in the fuel line that achieves very low pressure drop and very low parasitic load requirements. The subsystem also includes a fuel bypass system such as a flare, and a controller to automatically interlock the fuel and oxidant streams of the fuel cell.

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Voorheesville, NY, United States of America

Curtis A Richardson