Abstract: An electrochemical device may be formed by assembly by stacking preassembled modules, each of these modules being produced as a usual stack of electrochemical cells. The manufacture of preassembled modules can make it possible to produce electrochemical devices with a large number of electrochemical cells, without the bracing problems present and excessive crushing courses that are encountered in the cell stacks according to the prior art, i.e., in a single block.

Abstract: A coupling system for high-temperature tight coupling of a stack having SOEC/SOFC-type solid oxides is described. The system includes a threaded hollow connector, a smooth hollow connector, and a threaded nut. The threaded hollow connector includes an opening for establishing fluid communication with a gas inlet/outlet pipe and is intended to be attached to the gas inlet/outlet pipe. The smooth hollow connector includes an opening for establishing fluid communication with a gas inlet/outlet pipe of the stack and is intended to be attached to the inlet/outlet pipe. The threaded nut engages with the threaded hollow connector to form a screw/nut system, slides relative to the smooth hollow connector, and includes a first threaded portion and a second smooth portion in sliding contact with the smooth hollow connector.

Abstract: An electrochemical device may be formed by assembly by stacking preassembled modules, each of these modules being produced as a usual stack of electrochemical cells. The manufacture of preassembled modules can make it possible to produce electrochemical devices with a large number of electrochemical cells, without the bracing problems present and excessive crushing courses that are encountered in the cell stacks according to the prior art, i.e., in a single block.

Abstract: Improved process for producing a component constituting an interconnector of an HTE electrolyser or of an SOFC fuel cell. The invention relates to a process for preparing a component (1), intended to constitute an interconnector for a fuel cell (SOFC) or a high-temperature electrolyser (HTE), comprising the following steps: a/preparing a substrate made of metal alloy (12), the base element of which is iron (Fe) or nickel (Ni), the substrate having two main flat faces, b/tape casting a thick ceramic layer (13); c/localized removal at one or more locations (14), of material of the tape-cast thick ceramic layer; d/hot pressing the green thick ceramic layer tape; e/grooving the thick ceramic layer so as to delimit channels that are suitable for distributing and/or collecting gases. It also relates to the component obtained according to the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to arranging a new seal within a porous substrate which forms the contact element of each hydrogen circulating electrode, such as the cathode for an SOEC reactor and the anode for an SOFC fuel cell, and in the periphery of the electrode beyond the ducts for supplying and recovering gases, in order to force the gases to circulate into the only useful zone of the cell which corresponds to the electrochemically active surface of the electrode. Thus, all of the gases supplied can be converted.

Abstract: A seal is mountable in contact with two metal carriers of an electrochemical device, in particular a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) or a high-temperature solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) for electrolysis of water vapour. This seal comprises a means for making the seal impermeable, comprising at least one vitreous material; and an electrically insulating supporting means that supports the impermeable means and that has two parallel main faces, an external peripheral edge and an internal peripheral edge, the seal being able to be mounted against these carriers via these main faces, which are covered with the impermeable means. The impermeable means partitions the supporting means between these internal and external edges while extending continuously from one of the main faces to the other through the supporting means, so that the impermeable means directly connects these carriers to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to arranging a new seal within a porous substrate which forms the contact element of each hydrogen circulating electrode, such as the cathode for an SOEC reactor and the anode for an SOFC fuel cell, and in the periphery of the electrode beyond the ducts for supplying and recovering gases, in order to force the gases to circulate into the only useful zone of the cell which corresponds to the electrochemically active surface of the electrode. Thus, all of the gases supplied can be converted.

Abstract: A coupling system for high-temperature tight coupling of a stack having SOEC/SOFC-type solid oxides is described. The system includes a threaded hollow connector, a smooth hollow connector, and a threaded nut. The threaded hollow connector includes an opening for establishing fluid communication with a gas inlet/outlet pipe and is intended to be attached to the gas inlet/outlet pipe. The smooth hollow connector includes an opening for establishing fluid communication with a gas inlet/outlet pipe of the stack and is intended to be attached to the inlet/outlet pipe. The threaded nut engages with the threaded hollow connector to form a screw/nut system, slides relative to the smooth hollow connector, and includes a first threaded portion and a second smooth portion in sliding contact with the smooth hollow connector.

Abstract: A seal is mountable in contact with two metal carriers of an electrochemical device, in particular a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) or a high-temperature solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) for electrolysis of water vapour. This seal comprises a means for making the seal impermeable, comprising at least one vitreous material; and an electrically insulating supporting means that supports the impermeable means and that has two parallel main faces, an external peripheral edge and an internal peripheral edge, the seal being able to be mounted against these carriers via these main faces, which are covered with the impermeable means. The impermeable means partitions the supporting means between these internal and external edges while extending continuously from one of the main faces to the other through the supporting means, so that the impermeable means directly connects these carriers to each other.