The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 13, 2004
Kevin Ellwood, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Stephen Harris, Bloomfield, MI (US);
Kevin Ellwood, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Stephen Harris, Bloomfield, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell in which kinetic rates for internal reforming are controlled. The solid oxide fuel cell comprises a cathode, an electrolyte layer adjacent to the cathode, and an anode adjacent to the electrolyte layer. The anode used in the cell of the invention includes a support structure which defines at least a portion of an anode flow channel and a catalyst that promotes reforming. The anode flow channel has an anode flow channel entrance for the introduction of fuel to the solid oxide fuel cell and an anode flow channel exit for removing unreacted fuel and/or by-products. The catalyst is dispersed within or upon the support structure such that the rate of reforming increases at increasing distances from the anode flow channel entrance. The present invention also provides a method of controlling internal reforming kinetic rates in a solid oxide fuel cell.