Mitsubishi Materials Corporation

The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.

Jun Akikusa

Koji Hoshino

Kei Hosoi

Norikazu Komada

Takashi Yamada

Hoshino Koji

Yoshitaka Tamou

A solid oxide fuel cell includes a separator which has a fuel gas passageway and an oxidant gas passageway thereinside, and a plurality of power generation cells arranged in a parallel connection state on the same plane. Each of the power generation cells has a solid electrolyte layer sandwiched between a fuel electrode layer and an oxidant electrode layer. The oxidant gas passageway may start at an edge portion of the separator, extend to a central portion of the separator at a position enclosed by the power generation cells, be divided at the central portion, and be introduced in a portion facing the respective oxidant electrode layer.

Solid oxide fuel cell and fuel cell stack

A conductive and tabular separator is inserted into the gap between the fuel electrode layer of an i-th power generating cell and the oxidizer electrode layer of an (i+1)-th power generating cell adjacent to the fuel electrode layer. A fuel supply passage is so formed on one face of each of these separators that a fuel gas flows radially from almost the center of the fuel electrode layer to its edge. An oxidizer supply passage is so formed on the other face that an oxidizer gas outgoes almost uniformly in a shower toward the oxidizer polar layer. Thus, all of the surfaces of the power generating cells contribute to power generation to increase the frequency of collision between the fuel gas and the fuel electrode layer and that between the oxidizer gas and the oxidizer electrode layer, and to improve the generation efficiency.

Fuel cell structure for gas supply

A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. A fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layers and the oxidant electrode layers, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collectors and the air electrode current collectors, respectively. Alternatively, indents are provided on the surface of each of the separators, which surface is in contact with one of the current collectors, to increase the dwell volume and hence the retaining time of the gas in the interior of the current collectors.

Solid oxide fuel cell and separator

A conductive and tabular separator is inserted into the gap between the fuel electrode layer of an i-th power generating cell and the oxidizer electrode layer of an (i+l)-th power generating cell adjacent to the fuel electrode layer. A fuel supply passage is so formed on one face of each of these separators that a fuel gas flows radially from almost the center of the fuel electrode layer to its edge. An oxidizer supply passage is so formed on the other face that an oxidizer gas outgoes almost uniformly in a shower toward the oxidizer polar layer. Thus, all of the surfaces of the power generating cells contribute to power generation to increase the frequency of collision between the fuel gas and the fuel electrode layer and that between the oxidizer gas and the oxidizer electrode layer, and to improve the generation efficiency.

Fuel cell module and structure for gas supply to fuel cell

A solid electrolyte type fuel cell which incorporates a metal separator comprising a base material of a metal other than silver or a silver alloy which is plated with silver or a silver alloy. The fuel cell can achieve improved efficiency for electricity generation with no increase of the resistance of the metal separator, even when it is operated at a low temperature.

Solid electrolyte type fuel cell and air electrode current collector used for the same

A solid oxide fuel cell provided with a power cell () in which a fuel electrode layer () is arranged on one surface of a solid electrolyte layer () and an air electrode layer () is arranged on the other surface thereof, wherein the solid electrolyte layer () has a two layer structure including a first electrolyte layer () made of a ceria based oxide material and a second electrolyte layer () made of a lanthanum gallate based oxide material, and the second electrolyte layer is formed on the side of the air electrode layer. Preferably, the material composition for the fuel electrode layer () is a mixture of Ni and CeSmO, wherein the composition ratio of component materials is graded along the thickness thereof in such a way that the quantity of Ni is made less than the quantity of CeSmOnear the boundary interface with said solid electrolyte layer, and the mixing ratio of Ni is gradually increased with an increasing distance away from the interface.

Solid oxide fuel cell

A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In a first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layer and the oxidant electrode layer, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector, respectively. Each separator is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate in which a first gas discharge opening is arranged in a central part and second gas discharge openings are circularly arranged in a peripheral part, and a thin metal plate with an indented surface. Gases discharged from the separators can be supplied to entire areas of the electrode layers through the current collectors, so that electric power generation can be performed.

Solid electrolyte type fuel cell and air electrode current collector for used therein

A mixture of a fuel gas obtained by vaporizing hydrocarbon and air is burned in an engineto generate mechanical power. The fuel gas obtained by reforming the hydrocarbon is supplied to a fuel electrode layer of a fuel cell modulein which plural electric power generating cells each including a solid electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer disposed on both sides thereof are laminated, and the air or oxygen is supplied to the air electrode layer, so that the fuel cell moduleis constructed to be capable of generating electric power at 930&#xb0; C. or lower. One of or both of mechanical power generated by the engineand electric power generated by the fuel cell moduleare outputted. As a raw material of the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell module, gasoline, light oil or the like which can be supplied in a normal gasoline station can be used.

Hybrid power system including an engine and a fuel cell module

The objective of the present invention is to provide a solid oxide fuel cell which has an improved efficiency with a solid electrolyte layer having an improved ionic conductivity, while maintaining the partition wall function; In order to attain this object, the present invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an air electrode layer, a fuel electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer interposed between said air electrode layer and said fuel electrode layer, wherein said solid electrolyte layer comprises a first electrolyte layer which is made of a lanthanide-gallate oxide and has a first ionic transference number and a first total electric conductivity, and a second electrolyte layer which is made of a lanthanide-gallate oxide and has a second ionic transference number smaller than said first ionic transference number and a second total electric conductivity larger than said first total electric conductivity; said air electrode layer is laminated onto one side of said solid electrolyte layer; and said fuel electrode layer is laminated onto the other side of said solid electrolyte layer.

Growing community of inventors

Chiyoda-ku, Japan

Jun Akikusa