Abstract: A method for separation of molecular hydrogen from a gaseous mixture containing the molecular hydrogen, which method employs a dense mixed oxide ion/electronic/hydrogen atom conducting membrane or separator having a feed side and a permeate side that enables two mechanisms for hydrogen separation—ambi-polar conduction and hydrogen atom conduction. In this method, at least a portion of the molecular hydrogen is converted on the feed side of the membrane to hydrogen atoms, which hydrogen atoms are conducted through the membrane to the permeate side thereof where they are converted back to molecular hydrogen. The permeate side of the membrane is contacted with steam, forming water and/or steam on the feed side of the membrane and additional molecular hydrogen on the permeate side of the separator.

Abstract: A method for extracting hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing gas mixture in which a first side of a mixed oxide ion/electronic conducting membrane is contacted with the hydrogen-containing gas mixture and the opposite side of the mixed oxide ion/electronic conducting membrane is contacted with steam, forming steam on the first side of the mixed oxide ion/electronic conducting membrane and hydrogen gas on the opposite side of the mixed oxide ion/electronic conducting membrane. The hydrogen-containing mixture in accordance with one embodiment of this invention is derived from the gasification of a solid hydrocarbon fuel, such as coal or biomass.

Abstract: A flow field forming one wall of a channel in a flow field plate of a solid oxide fuel cell, the flow field includes a flat substrate having a patterned array of differently-shaped flow barriers projecting from the substrate into the channel, the flow field channel decreases in cross-sectional area in a flow direction.

Abstract: A sealant composition for use in sealing solid oxide fuel cells is provided which comprises a glass component which comprises a mixture of alkali-free inorganic oxides, and an optional filler component dispersed in the glass component, said filler component being up to 40% by weight of the composition. The glass component can include, on a mole basis, 20 to 50% BaO, 1 to 10% Y2P3, 5 to 20% B2O3, 10 to 30% SiO2, 3 to 35% MgO, 2 to 20% CaO, 1 to 10% ZnO, and 0 to 5% ZrO2, and exemplary filler components include zirconia, alumina, barium titanate, strontium titanate, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of planar fuel cells in a spiral configuration. The fuel cells angularly offset from one another such that immediately adjacent cells only partially overlap one another. The cells are preferably of the unitized type. A manifold assembly is operatively adjacent to the fuel cells. The manifold assembly includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for each of the gases that are in communication with the fuel cells. The unitized solid oxide fuel cell comprises a first planar interconnect, a planar ceramic cell adjacent the first planar interconnect, a second planar interconnect adjacent the opposite side of the planar ceramic cell, and a plurality of gas tubes adjacent the planar ceramic cell. The gas tubes are arranged to a first configuration, a second configuration, a third configuration and a fourth configuration with a cylindrical gas tube shape and a T-shape gas tube designs.

Abstract: A sealless, planar fuel cell stack system, including a continuous bottom plate, a first permeable or interconnect layer, a continuous cell, a second permeable or interconnect layer, a continuous top plate, a fuel supply member, and an oxidant gas supply member, is provided. The fuel cell system of the present invention does not require glass-based sealants to seal its planar components. In the present system, the continuous cell of the system is supported by the first permeable layer. The second permeable layer is supported by the continuous cell. The fuel supply member supplies fuel into the first permeable layer. The fuel supply member extends between an outer edge and a center region of the first permeable layer and allows distribution of the fuel in a radial fashion. Further, the fuel supply member is connected to an external fuel manifold adjacent the outer edge. The oxidant gas supply member supplies oxidant gas into the second permeable layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layered and multifunctional cathode in solid oxide fuel cells having high conductivity, high catalytic activity, minimized coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, excellent compatibility to other portions of the fuel cell, and reduced temperature operation. The cathode comprises a conductive layer, a catalyst layer and a graded composition layer. The conductive layer has a first density, the catalyst layer has a second density that is less than the first density, and the graded composition layer is characterized by a graded electronic conductivity and a graded ionic conductivity.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode opposite to the anode, and an electrolyte between the anode and cathode. The electrolyte includes a barrier layer that prevents chemical interactions between the electrolyte and the anode, in addition to preventing elemental losses from the electrolyte. The electrolyte further includes a strengthening layer having alternating layer elements that provide fracture resistance to the electrolyte.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of planar fuel cells in a spiral configuration. The fuel cells angularly offset from one another such that immediately adjacent cells only partially overlap one another. The cells are preferably of the unitized type. A manifold assembly is operatively adjacent to the fuel cells. The manifold assembly includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for each of the gases that are in communication with the fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layered and multifunctional cathode in solid oxide fuel cells having high conductivity, high catalytic activity, minimized coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, excellent compatibility to other portions of the fuel cell, and reduced temperature operation. The cathode comprises a conductive layer, a catalyst layer and a graded composition layer. The conductive layer has a first density, the catalyst layer has a second density that is less than the first density, and the graded composition layer is characterized by a graded electronic conductivity and a graded ionic conductivity.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of planar fuel cells in a spiral configuration. The fuel cells angularly offset from one another such that immediately adjacent cells only partially overlap one another. The cells are preferably of the unitized type. A manifold assembly is operatively adjacent to the fuel cells. The manifold assembly includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for each of the gases that are in communication with the fuel cells. The unitized solid oxide fuel cell comprises a first planar interconnect, a planar ceramic cell adjacent the first planar interconnect, a second planar interconnect adjacent the opposite side of the planar ceramic cell, and a plurality of gas tubes adjacent the planar ceramic cell. The gas tubes are arranged to a first configuration, a second configuration, a third configuration and a fourth configuration with a cylindrical gas tube shape and a T-shape gas tube designs.

Abstract: A method for producing engineered materials from salt/polymer aqueous solutions in which an aqueous continuous phase having at least one metal cation salt is mixed with a hydrophilic organic polymeric disperse phase so as to form a metal cation/polymer gel. The metal cation/polymer gel is then treated to form a structural mass precursor, which structural mass precursor is heated, resulting in formation of a structural mass having predetermined characteristics based upon the intended application of the structural mass.