Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack (12) comprising a plurality of stacked cell units (10), each defining an external perimeter, a housing (58) surrounding the stack (12) to define a volume around the external perimeters, and at least one electrically insulating beam (76), the beam (76) extending generally in a stacking direction of the stacked cell units (10), to extend across a multiple of the cell units (10), and located between the external perimeters thereof and the housing (58), wherein an electrical connection member (54) of the cell stack's current delivery system extends inside the electrically insulating beam (76).

Abstract: A method for multiview picture data encoding comprising the steps of: performing extraction of features from multiview picture data to obtain a plurality of feature maps; performing stitching and/or transforming of the obtained plurality of feature maps to obtain at least one panoramic map of features; performing transforming of the multiview picture data to select a plurality of patches of view of the multiview picture data; encoding the at least one panoramic map of features; and encoding the plurality of patches of view.

Abstract: A method for multiview video data encoding is provided. The method includes: performing feature detection on first picture data relating to a first view to obtain a first set of features corresponding to said first view; generating a picture bitstream based on the first picture data relating to the first view; performing feature detection on second picture data relating to a second view to obtain a second set of features corresponding to said second view; performing feature matching of the first and second sets of features so as to identify an area of common characteristics; and performing prediction on second input picture data based on the area of common characteristics so as to generate a residual data bitstream.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an improved fuel cell stack assembly comprising a metal base plate on which is mounted at least one fuel cell stack and a metal end plate, each stack comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer that comprises at least one fuel cell and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket, wherein a skirt is attached to the base and end plates enclosing the stack and is under tension therebetween so as to maintain a compressive force through the stack, thereby obviating the need for tie-bars.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell assembly (1400) comprising a base plate (308) and a top plate (303) between which a stack of planar cell units (306) and at least one electrical end plate (1402, 1407) are disposed in compression. The electrical end plate (1402, 1407) comprises a two-layer construction in which a first layer (1416, 1419) and a second layer (1417, 1420) formed of different respective materials are permanently connected together to form a single conductive body. The first layer (1416, 1419) of the electrical end plate (1402, 1407) is electrically connected to an external electrical terminal (301, 505) of the cell assembly, and the second layer (1417, 1420) of the electrical end plate (1402, 1407) has an outwardly facing side having a first electrically conductive ceramic layer (1418, 1824) bonded thereto that is in face-to-face abutment with, and in electrical contact with, an adjacent cell unit (306).

Abstract: An electrochemical cell assembly (300, 500) comprising a base plate (308) and a top plate (303) between which a stack of planar cell units (306) and at least one positive (302, 507) and at least one negative electrical end plate (302, 507) are disposed in compression by means of compression means (307) acting between the base plate (308) and top plate (303). At least one of the electrical end plates (302, 507) is connected or integrally formed with, and in electrical contact with, an electrical stud (301, 505) that extends from a base portion of the at least one electrical end plate (302, 507) and passes through an opening in one of the base plate (308) and top plate (303) to form an electrical terminal. A fluidic seal is maintained by the compression means (307) between the base portion and the respective one of the base plate (308) and top plate (303), so as to prevent loss of fluid through the opening.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an improved fuel cell stack assembly (10) comprising a metal base plate (20) on which is mounted at least one fuel cell stack (30) and a metal end plate (40), each stack comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer (50) that comprises at least one fuel cell (101, 102) and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket (110), wherein a skirt (130) is attached to the base and end plates enclosing the stack and is under tension therebetween so as to maintain a compressive force through the stack, thereby obviating the need for tie-bars.

Abstract: A stack of rectangular, planar electrochemical cell units (200), each cell unit (200) comprising at least one first fluid mid-port (230, 235) that is disposed midway along its length within or between one or more active cell chemistry regions (210) and is in fluid communication with a first fluid volume of the cell unit (200). The first fluid mid-ports (230, 235) of the respective cell units (200) align to form at least one first fluid mid-passageway extending in the stack direction. The stack is configured such that, in each first fluid volume, first fluid flow paths (405, 410) extend across the one or more active cell chemistry regions (210) between the at least one first fluid mid-port (230, 235) and each respective opposed cell end.

Abstract: A metal-supported, planar cell arrangement (200) comprising at least one pair of cells (110a, 110b), each cell (110a, 110b) comprising a metal substrate (120a, 120b) having first and second sides and a porous region (124) providing fluid communication between the sides, planar cell chemistry layers (111, 112, 113) comprising fuel electrode, electrolyte, and air electrode layers being coated or deposited over, and supported by, the porous region (124) on the first side, wherein the metal substrates (120) are in a stacked arrangement with their cell chemistry layers (111, 112, 113) overlying each other such that either both their first sides, or, both their second sides face inwardly in a spaced, opposed relationship, the inwardly facing sides thereby defining a common first fluid volume (140) between them for one of fuel or oxidant.

Abstract: An alignment dowel comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a plurality of resilient vanes that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator portion. The stack has openings of a predetermined diameter. The vanes are arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the axis and project radially outwards to define an outer diameter of the body. The actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration. A stack assembly jig, comprises a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned. The tool base has guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings in the stack.

Abstract: A steam generator for a fuel cell system having a heat exchanger (34) with at least one internal heat exchange surface, a water inflow pipe (46), a dripper head (52) with a flow passageway fluidly connected to the water inflow pipe (46). The dripper head (52) extends inside the heat exchanger (52) above the heat exchange surface for feeding water down onto the heat exchange surface for conversion into steam. The dripper head (52) has outlet holes (56) spaced along the flow passageway and between adjacent outlet (holes 56) the dripper head has a stepped profile on at least its underside to prevent droplets from adjacent holes coalescing. A fuel inflow pipe can have a section mounted coaxially to a part of the water inflow pipe (46). The fuel inflow pipe's section can surround the water inflow pipe's part.

Abstract: A metal-supported, SOEC or SOFC fuel cell unit (10) comprising a separator plate (12) and metal support plate (14) with chemistry layers (50) overlie one another to form a repeat unit, at least one plate having flanged perimeter features (18) formed by pressing the plate, the plates being directly adjoined at the flanged perimeter features to form a fluid volume (20) between them and each having at least one fluid port (22), wherein the ports are aligned and communicate with the fluid volume, and at least one of the plates has pressed shaped port features (24) formed around its port extending towards the other plate and including elements spaced from one another to define fluid pathways to enable passage of fluid from the port to the fluid volume. Raised members (120) may receive a gasket (34), act as a hard stop or act as a seal bearing surface.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly apparatus comprising a base and a stack alignment feature extending generally perpendicular to said base for aligning ferritic fuel cell units stacked against it into a fuel cell stack assembly, wherein each fuel cell unit comprises a respective first alignment feature complimentary in shape to said stack alignment feature. Other features include a magnetic abutment extending generally perpendicular to said base for attracting the plurality of fuel cell units towards the stack alignment feature, and an alignment slider slidable generally perpendicular to said base for aligning ferritic fuel cell units stacked against the stack alignment feature. A method of using the assembly apparatus comprises stacking fuel cell units upon each other on the base with their respective first alignment features against the stack alignment feature, and attracted towards the same by virtue of the magnetic force of the at magnetic abutment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: An alignment dowel comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a plurality of resilient vanes that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator portion. The stack has openings of a predetermined diameter. The vanes are arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the axis and project radially outwards to define an outer diameter of the body. The actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration. A stack assembly jig, comprises a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned. The tool base has guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings in the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly apparatus comprising a base and a stack alignment feature extending generally perpendicular to said base for aligning ferritic fuel cell units stacked against it into a fuel cell stack assembly, wherein each fuel cell unit comprises a respective first alignment feature complimentary in shape to said stack alignment feature. Other features include a magnetic abutment extending generally perpendicular to said base for attracting the plurality of fuel cell units towards the stack alignment feature, and an alignment slider slidable generally perpendicular to said base for aligning ferritic fuel cell units stacked against the stack alignment feature. A method of using the assembly apparatus comprises stacking fuel cell units upon each other on the base with their respective first alignment features against the stack alignment feature, and attracted towards the same by virtue of the magnetic force of the at magnetic abutment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an improved fuel cell stack assembly (10) comprising a metal base plate (20) on which is mounted at least one fuel cell stack (30) and a metal end plate (40), each stack comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer (50) that comprises at least one fuel cell (101, 102) and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket (110), wherein a skirt (130) is attached to the base and end plates enclosing the stack and is under tension therebetween so as to maintain a compressive force through the stack, thereby obviating the need for tie-bars.