Michael J Gardiner

US Patent:

20100086824, Apr 8, 2010

Filed:

Sep 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/553969

Inventors:

Michael Homel - Salt Lake City UT, US
Michael Gardiner - Grantsville UT, US
Jared Rich - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

H01M 8/10

US Classification:

429 30

Abstract:

This disclosure relates to a compact and thermally integrated structure for assemblies of hollow electrode electrochemical devices (HEED), such as solid oxide fuel cells, solid oxide electrolysis cells, and solid oxide ion transport membranes, for providing a means for electrical interconnection between multiple cells, and manifolds for reactant and product streams. The HEED comprises an inner electrode chamber, inner current collector, inner electrode, electrolyte, outer electrode, outer current collector, and outer electrode chamber. The system comprises a plurality of HEED, arranged in a parallel array, mechanically supported by one or more header plates, where a primary header plate encompasses a portion of a gas manifold connected to the inner chamber of the HEED. The HEED pass through the primary header plate, into the primary manifold chamber wherein electronic connections are formed between the inner current collector and outer current collectors of the HEED to allow for series, parallel, or series-parallel electrical configurations. The system is operated such that the temperature and atmosphere surrounding the interconnect assembly in the primary manifold chamber are conducive to the use of metallic interconnect materials. The outer electrode chamber of the HEED is housed in a manifold that may be thermally integrated with a heat exchanger, fuel reformer, tailgas combustor, or auxiliary heat source.