Btu International, Inc.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Boston University

Donald A Seccombe, Jr

Gary A Orbeck

Wayne Thomas McDermott

Alexander Schwarz

Chun Christine Dong

Gregory Khosrov Arslanian

Richard E Patrick

Uday B Pal

Srikanth Gopalan

David S Harvey

Paul Edgington

Stephen J Parrott

Richard Tarczon

Terrance Wong

Geoffrey C Neiley, Iii

Robert Bouchard

David Bloom

An apparatus and a method comprising same for removing metal oxides from a substrate surface are disclosed herein. In one particular embodiment, the apparatus comprises an electrode assembly that has a housing that is at least partially comprised of an insulating material and having an internal volume and at least one fluid inlet that is in fluid communication with the internal volume; a conductive base connected to the housing comprising a plurality of conductive tips that extend therefrom into a target area and a plurality of perforations that extend therethrough and are in fluid communication with the internal volume to allow for a passage of a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas.

Electrode assembly for the removal of surface oxides by electron attachment

The present invention provides a method for conveniently manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) at a cost that is less than five-hundred dollars per kilowatt of electricity. The method comprises forming an electrode layer and depositing an electrolyte material on the surface of the electrode. The formed structure is an electrode-electrolyte bi-layer. A second electrode is deposited onto this bi-layer to form a multilayer fuel cell structure comprising an electrolyte positioned between two electrodes. This multilayer structure is then heated and fired in a single thermal cycle to remove any binder materials and sinter, respectively, the fuel cell. This thermal cycle can be performed in a furnace having one or more chambers. The chamber(s) preferably contains a variable or multiple frequency microwave source for heating the cell and removing binder materials in the electrolyte and electrode structures. The chamber(s) also preferably include a convection and/or radiation source for sintering the fuel cell. In addition, the method of the invention harmonizes and minimizes the deviation among the thermophysical properties of the electrolyte and electrode structures. This harmonization reduces and minimizes the temperature gradient within the cell such that the structure can be uniformly heated and fired during the thermal cycle. The multilayer structure is also unlikely to distort and fracture by minimizing the temperature gradient in the cell. An SOFC can also be manufactured by the present method in an order of magnitude less time than standard processes.

Process for solid oxide fuel cell manufacture

In a system for thermally processing materials, at least one slot eductor is disposed in a wall or roof surface of the furnace chamber to provide circulation of gas within the furnace chamber.

Thermal processing system having slot eductors

The present invention provides a system and method for binder removal and sintering of materials such as ceramic materials and products, LTCC intervals, solid oxide fuel cells and powder metals. A combination of microwave and convection/radiation heating is employed for binder removal and sintering. Preferably, the microwave heating is accomplished using a variable or multi-frequency microwave source. A gas atmosphere is provided in the furnace chamber by one or more eductors which produces a high volume gas circulation in the furnace chamber to achieve a highly uniform gas environment and temperature. The process in accordance with the invention controls the heating cycle, the heat sources and thermal profile depending upon the composition of the particular material being processed. The thermal processing can be accomplished in a batch furnace in which a product is loaded for processing and unloaded after processing. The invention can also be practiced in a continuous process wherein the product is conveyed between furnace sections or chambers of a furnace.

Process and system for thermally uniform materials processing

A modular furnace is fabricated from at least one module having a frame, a removable cover mounted to the frame, exterior cover panels on the frame, and an insulated case fastened to the interior of the module. A conveyor assembly extends through the module. A plurality of process zones, such as heating and cooling zones, are disposed within the module. Field replaceable universal blower assemblies are associated with each process zone. The motor shaft in each blower assembly is provided with a sealed bearing in the motor housing. Insulation within each module is held in place by gas permeable fabric covering large vent openings in cover panels to allow oxygen to diffuse out of the insulation rapidly upon start up.

Modular furnace system

Growing community of inventors

Gloucester, MA, United States of America

Donald A Seccombe, Jr