Bloom Energy Corporation

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Stackpole International Powder Metal, Ulc

Daniel J Darga

Harald Herchen

Vijay Srivatsan

Tad Armstrong

Cheng-Yu Lin

Chockkalingam Karuppaiah

Stephen Couse

Ramesha Guntanur

Paturi Balaji Narasimha Prasad

Michael Groesch

Matthias Gottmann

James Wilson

Manoj Pillai

Ravi Oswal

Ram Ramanan

Ananda Sundararajan

Jeffrey Allan Rock

Steven G Goebel

Thomas A Trabold

Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

John P Salvador

Matthew J Beutel

Michael Gasda

Jon P Owejan

Thomas W Tighe

Gary M Robb

Pinkhas A Rapaport

Daniel P Miller

Rohith Shivanath

Anthony G Chinnici

Jon R Sienkowski

Avinash Verma

Steven L Piedmont

Shivanand Majagi

Natarajan Ramanan

Sachin Parhar

Clipson M Class

Mark T Schluentz

Brendan Ayre

Brandon Dawson

Various embodiments include fuel cell interconnects having a fuel distribution portion having an inlet opening, a fuel collection portion having an outlet opening, and a primary fuel flow field containing channels, wherein the fuel distribution portion comprises at least one raised feature defining a fuel distribution flow path, and the fuel distribution flow path is not continuous with the channels in the primary fuel flow field. The at least one raised feature may include, for example, a network of ribs and/or dots. Further embodiments include interconnects having a fuel distribution portion with a variable surface depth to provide variable flow restriction and/or a plenum with variable surface depth and raised a raised relief feature on the cathode side, and/or varying flow channel depths and/or rib heights adjacent a fuel hole.

Interconnect for fuel cell stack

Methods and systems for measuring and/or estimating a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of a component of a fuel cell system. A CTE measurement technique includes securing a measurement member over a surface of the component via a seal having a melting point, heating the seal above its melting point of the seal, cooling the component, measurement member and seal to a second temperature below the melting point of the seal, and determining the CTE of the component based on the change in the span of the measurement member after cooling. A fuel cell component characterization technique includes measuring an electrical resistivity (ER), conductivity (EC), resistance or conductance of the component, measuring at least one additional property of the component which, together with ER, EC, resistance or conductance, correlates to the CTE of the component, and sorting the component based on the measurements.

Method of measurement and estimation of the coefficient of thermal expansion in components

Various methods of treating a chromium iron interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack and coating the interconnect with a ceramic layer are provided.

Coatings for SOFC metallic interconnects

A chromium-iron interconnect includes at least one of Fe rich regions in the interconnect and carbon in the interconnect.

Composition and processing of metallic interconnects for SOFC stacks

Various embodiments include interconnects and/or end plates having features for reducing stress in a fuel cell stack. In embodiments, an interconnect/end plate may have a window seal area that is recessed relative to the flow field to indirectly reduce stress induced by an interface seal. Other features may include a thicker protective coating and/or larger uncoated area of an end plate, providing a recessed portion on an end plate for an interface seal, and/or recessing the fuel hole region of an interconnect relative to the flow field to reduce stress on the fuel cell. Further embodiments include providing intermittent seal support to minimize asymmetric seal loading and/or a non-circular seal configuration to reduce stress around the fuel hole of a fuel cell.

Interconnect and end plate design for fuel cell stack

Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack include placing a compressed metal powder interconnect on a porous support, and sintering the interconnect in the presence of a non-oxidizing gas. The method may further include placing the sintered interconnect on a porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of flowing air, or placing the sintered interconnect on a dense, non-porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of a gas comprising pure oxygen or an oxygen/inert gas mixture that is substantially nitrogen-free.

Fuel cell interconnect

Various embodiments include interconnects for a fuel cell stack that includes a first support frame having a first surface that is configured to be secured to a first surface of a fuel cell. A gas flow separator section is secured to a second surface of the first support frame, opposite the first surface of the first support frame. A second support frame is secured to a second surface of a second fuel cell, opposite the first surface of the first fuel cell. The first and second support frames have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that substantially matches the CTE of the electrolyte material of the fuel cells, and the gas flow separator section has a CTE that does not substantially match a CTE of an electrolyte material of the fuel cells.

A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes providing a chromium alloy interconnect and providing a nickel mesh in contact with a fuel side of the interconnect. Formation of a chromium oxide layer is reduced or avoided in locations between the nickel mesh and the fuel side of the interconnect. A Cr&#x2014;Ni alloy or a Cr&#x2014;Fe&#x2014;Ni alloy is located at least in the fuel side of the interconnect under the nickel mesh.

Fuel cell interconnect with reduced voltage degradation over time

Fuel cell interconnect heat treatment method

An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first plurality of ribs extending from a first major surface of the interconnect and defining a first plurality of gas flow channels between the ribs, the ribs extending between a first rib end and a second rib end and having a tapered profile in a vertical dimension, perpendicular to the first major surface of the interconnect, proximate at least one of the first rib end and the second rib end, wherein the ribs comprise a flat upper surface and rounded edges between the flat upper surface and the adjacent gas flow channels, the rounded edges having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the gas flow channels comprise a rounded surface having a second radius of curvature, different from the first radius of curvature.

Fuel cell interconnects and methods of fabrication

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Victor, NY, United States of America

Daniel J Darga