Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.

Misa Watanabe

Michio Horiuchi

Shigeaki Suganuma

Yasue Tokutake

Shuji Yamazaki

Ryo Fukasawa

The present invention relates to a solid electrolyte fuel-cell device wherein a plurality of fuel cells are formed on a single plate. A plurality of cathode layers are formed on one surface of the flat plate-like solid electrolyte substrate, and a plurality of anode layers on the opposite surface thereof, and each fuel cell is formed from a pair of the cathode layer and the anode layer. An electromotive force extracting lead wire is attached to the cathode layer, and a lead wire is attached to the anode layer. The plurality of fuel cells are connected in series by electrically connecting the cathode layer of one fuel cell to the anode layer of an adjacent fuel cell. Flames formed by combustion of a fuel such as a methane gas are supplied to the entire surface of each anode layer, and air is supplied to each cathode layer.

Solid electrolyte fuel-cell device

A solid oxide fuel cell includes: a solid electrolyte; and electrodes on both surfaces of the solid electrolyte, wherein at least one of joint surfaces where the solid electrolyte and the electrodes are in contact with each other is a roughened surface having at least two different types of surface roughness.

Solid oxide fuel cell and method of manufacturing the same

A solid electrolyte fuel cell configuration provided with a single sheet shaped solid electrolyte substrate formed with a plurality of fuel cells and thereby not having a sealed structure, achieving a reduction of the size and a reduction of the cost, and able to improve the durability and improve the power generation efficiency, a single sheet shaped solid electrolyte substrate, in particular a solid electrolyte fuel cell configuration provided with a single sheet shaped solid electrolyte substrate, a plurality of anode layers formed on one side of the solid electrolyte substrate, and a plurality of cathode layers formed on the side opposite to the one side of the solid electrolyte substrate at positions facing the anode layers, the anode layers and cathode layers facing each other across the solid electrolyte substrate forming a plurality of fuel cells, the anode layers and cathode layers being connected in series.

Solid electrolyte fuel cell configuration

A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit which comprises an anode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and an anode-forming material carried by this mesh, a cathode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and a cathode-forming material carried by this mesh, and a solid electrolytic layer in the form of a thin film arranged between and supported by the anode layer and the cathode layer.

Fuel cell

A solid oxide fuel cell that directly utilizes a flame according to the present invention has a solid oxide substrate, a cathode electrode layer formed on one surface, and an anode electrode layerformed on the opposite surface and a platinum mesh is embedded in the entire surfaces of the solid cathode electrode layer and the anode electrode layer. An oxide layer covers the entire periphery of the solid oxide substrate from the end part of the cathode electrode layer to the end part of the anode electrode layer. Due to the platinum mesh and the oxide layer, thermal shock due to rapid heating by a flame is alleviated and cracking in the solid oxide substrate is prevented from occurring.

Solid oxide fuel cell directly utilizing flame

The present invention relates to a power generating apparatus using a solid oxide fuel cell. A plurality of solid oxide fuel cells, each comprising a solid oxide substrate, a porous cathode electrode layer, and a porous anode electrode layer, are stacked vertically and housed inside a walled structure. A mixture gas is supplied to each solid oxide fuel cell from above. An exhaust gas discharged from each fuel cell is burned in a space below each fuel cell, producing a flame. Each fuel cell is heated by this flame.

Power generating apparatus using solid oxide fuel cell

The present invention is directed to the provision of a solid electrolyte fuel-cell device that achieves increased durability, increased power generation efficiency, and easy utilization of heat, by making provisions to apply flames over the entire surface of an anode layer formed on a solid electrolyte substrate. Each individual fuel cell is constructed by forming a cathode layer and an anode layer on opposite surfaces of a plate-like solid electrolyte substrate. Power generation efficiency is increased by making provisions to ensure that a plurality of flames formed by burning a fuel supplied from a fuel supply pipe are applied over the entire surface of the anode layer. When a coolant pipe is provided in an interlaced fashion with the fuel supply pipe, not only can the heating of the fuel supply pipe by the burning of the fuel be suppressed, but also the waste heat can be utilized.

A solid oxide fuel cell C including a solid oxide fuel cell having a planar solid oxide substrate, a cathode electrode layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and an anode electrode layer formed on a surface opposite the one surface, is disposed so that the anode electrode layer opposes a catalytically-oxidizing memberof a heating appliance. Fuel supplied from a fuel storage containeris subjected to flameless combustion in the catalytically-oxidizing member by catalytic oxidation. The heat is conducted to the fuel cell C from the catalytically-oxidizing member, thereby maintaining the fuel cell at its operating temperature. Simultaneously, produced oxidation fuel components of the fuel are supplied to the anode electrode layer; and air is supplied to the cathode electrode layer. Hence, the fuel cell generates electric power.

Solid oxide fuel cell device

A fuel cell comprised of a solid electrolyte layer sandwiched by a cathode layer and an anode layer to which a mixed gas of a fuel gas and air mixed together is supplied, wherein the fuel cell is formed into a spiral member comprised of a single cell layer comprised of the cathode layer, solid electrolyte layer, and anode layer stacked together or a multilayer member of a plurality of the single cell layers stacked together rolled up spirally, the cathode layer and anode layer forming facing surfaces of each upper stratum and lower stratum of the single cell layer or multilayer member adjoining each other in a diametrical direction of the spiral member are arranged through an electrical insulator, and the cathode layer and anode layer or the electrical insulator are or is formed with a gas passage enabling passage of the mixed gas, whereby it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the cell even if increasing the contact area of the anode layer and cathode layer with the air or fuel gas.

A fuel cell generates electric power when the solid oxide type fuel cell element is arranged in a flame or in a position close to the flame, and the durability of the fuel cell is high. A fuel cell 10 for generating electricity when the solid oxide type fuel cell, in which a cathode layer is formed on one face of a solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer is formed on the other face of the solid electrolyte layer, is arranged in a flame or in a position close to the flame, wherein the solid electrolyte layer is made of porous material, the porosity of which is not less than 10%, so that cracks are not caused in the solid electrolyte layer by a sudden temperature change in the solid oxide type fuel cell when the solid oxide type fuel cell is arranged in the flame or in a position close to the flame or when the solid oxide type fuel cell is separated from the flame or the position close to the flame.

Fuel cell structure

A single chamber fuel cell comprised of a cell arranged in a mixed fuel gas comprised of hydrogen or another fuel gas and oxygen, wherein the cell used is a pn junction type semiconductor having electrodes of a p-type semiconductor with carriers of holes and an n-type semiconductor with carriers of electrons connected to ends of electrical takeout wires, and each of the p-type semiconductor and n-type semiconductor is formed porous to an extent enabling the mixed fuel gas to pass.

A fuel cell comprising a container and a fuel cell element or elements contained in the container, to which a mixed fuel gas containing a fuel gas and oxygen is fed to generate electricity, and the gas having passed through the fuel cell element or elements is discharged, as an exhaust gas, from the container, wherein the space other than the fuel cell element or elements in the container, through which the mixed fuel gas or the exhaust gas flows, is filled with packing materials to form a packed layer having a gap between the adjacent packing materials, at which gap the mixed fuel gas cannot be ignited, during the operation of the fuel cell, even if the mixed fuel gas has a fuel gas concentration within the ignition limits for the mixed fuel gas, and a burn-up section, in which the exhaust gas discharged from the packed layer is burned, is provided at, or in the vicinity of, the exhaust gas outlet of the container.

A fuel cell comprising a container having at least one feed port and at least one exhaust port, and a stack of fuel cell elements contained in the container in such a manner that the circumferential faces of the stack of fuel cell elements and the inner surfaces of the container are contacted, the element comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer, with the electrolyte layer being interposed between the cathode and anode layers, and a mixed gas containing a fuel gas and oxygen being fed to the fuel cell from the feed port, and an exhaust gas is discharged from the exhaust port, wherein packing materials are filled in each of the spaces between the feed port and the stack of fuel cell elements and between the stack of fuel cell elements and the exhaust port, and wherein there is a gap between the adjacent packing materials, at which gap the mixed fuel gas cannot be ignited at the operating condition of the fuel cell even if the mixed fuel gas has an oxygen concentration within the ignition limits for the mixed fuel gas.

A fuel cell comprising a container having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and a multi-element stack contained in the container and made up of two or more elements for the fuel cell, the element comprising an electrolyte layer, a cathode layer, and an anode layer, with the electrolyte layer being interposed between the cathode and anode layers, and a mixed gas of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas being fed to the fuel cell from the gas inlet, wherein the multi-element stack is formed of the elements stacked in such a manner that the cathode layer of one element is in direct contact to the anode layer of another element, and each of the electrolyte, cathode, and anode layers has a passage through which the mixed gas passes. A multi-element stack for such a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Nagano, Japan

Misa Watanabe