Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack includes a plurality of SOFCs, and a plurality of interconnects, each interconnect containing a conductive perovskite layer on an air side of the interconnect. The stack in internally manifolded for fuel and the conductive perovskite layer on each interconnect is not exposed in the fuel inlet riser. The SOFC electrolyte has a smaller roughness in regions adjacent to the fuel inlet and fuel outlet openings in the electrolyte than under the cathode or anode electrodes.

Abstract: A system and method for managing electrically isolated fuel cell powered devices within an equipment rack is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; fuel cell devices; a fluid bus; a fluid manifold, coupling the fluid bus to each of the fuel cell devices; and an external fuel cell manager, for controlling a flow of fuel cell fluids to each of the fuel cell devices. The method discloses: generating electrical power on an electrical bus internal to each of a set of fuel cell devices, which are located in an equipment rack having an external electrical bus; transporting fuel cell fluids from a fluid bus to the fuel cell devices through a fluid manifold; adjusting the electrical power generated by each of the fuel cell devices; and electrically isolating the internal electrical bus of each of the fuel cell devices from the external electrical bus.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells in a stacking direction. At one end of the stack body, first and second dummy cells are provided. At the other of the stack body, third and fourth dummy cells are provided. Each of the first to fourth dummy cells includes a first metal separator and a second metal separator. The first metal separator and a first metal separator of the power generation cell have substantially the same shape. The second metal separator and a second metal separator of the power generation cell have substantially the same shape.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is disclosed including a non-fuel cell cassette having temperature sensing elements disposed therein. The temperature sensing elements are disposed in one or more void spaces in the non-fuel cell cassette, which void spaces are connected to openings in the side of the non-fuel cell cassette for lead wires to communicate information from the temperature sensing elements to components outside of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A unit cell of a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and an anode side metal separator and a cathode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A plurality of first supply holes and a plurality of second supply holes extend through a channel unit of the anode side metal separator, and the channel unit connects a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas flow field. A fuel gas from the fuel gas supply passage flows into the first supply holes, and flows through an inlet connection channel. The fuel gas flows into the second supply holes connected to an end of the inlet connection channel. The fuel gas flows toward the side of the membrane electrode assembly, and then, the fuel gas is supplied to an anode.

Abstract: A fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an ion exchange membrane is supplied by hydrogen fuel through an anode fuel delivery conduit. A recirculation loop is provided to recycle gases in the fuel delivery conduit to a mixing point where a controlled flow rate of fuel is supplied and mixed therewith. Any oxidant species remaining in the fuel delivery conduit are thereby combusted in a controlled manner to avoid damage to the fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly. Small quantities of oxidant may be deliberately introduced into the fuel delivery conduit to generate water vapor and heat to pre-condition the fuel delivered to the anode. Such preconditioning assists in hydration control of the membrane, and temperature control of the membrane-electrode assembly for optimum fuel cell performance.

Abstract: The air-cooled thermal management of a fuel cell stack is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a cooling plate apparatus for an air-cooled fuel cell stack, where the cooling plate comprises a body configured to receive heat from one or more fuel cells in thermal communication with the body, and airflow channels formed in the body and configured to allow a flow of a cooling air to pass across the body. An insulating structure is disposed in the airflow channels, wherein the insulating structure has decreasing thickness from a cooling air inlet toward a cooling air outlet.

Abstract: Fuel cells are formed in a single layer of conductive monocrystalline silicon including a succession of electrically isolated conductive silicon bodies separated by narrow parallel trenches etched through the whole thickness of the silicon layer. Semicells in a back-to-back configuration are formed over etch surfaces of the separation trenches. Each semicell formed on the etch surface of one of the silicon bodies forming an elementary cell in cooperation with an opposite semicell formed on the etch surface of the next silicon body of the succession, is separated by an ion exchange membrane resin filling the separation trench between the opposite semicells forming a solid electrolyte of the elementary cell. Each semicell includes a porous conductive silicon region permeable to fluids, extending for a certain depth from the etch surface of the silicon body, at least partially coated by a non passivable metallic material.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and method for driving the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fuel cell system includes i) a fuel supply unit, ii) a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with the fuel supply unit, wherein the fuel cell stack has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and iii) a bypass pipe configured to transfer fuel received from the fuel supply unit to a fuel outflow pipe connected to the fuel outlet. In one embodiment, the driving method includes i) receiving fuel from a fuel supply unit, ii) transferring the received fuel to a fuel outflow pipe connected to a fuel outlet of a fuel cell stack and iii) discharging non-reacted fuel from a fuel inlet of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An SOFC stack module including an integral individual stack manifold containing all of the gas pathways necessary for supply and exhaust of fuel gas and cathode air to and from the stack chimneys. The stack is mounted and hermetically joined directly to the manifold without an intermediate base plate. Flanges at the inlet and outlet ports couple to system distributary manifolds via high temperature sealing joints. The manifold preferably is fabricated of a ferritic stainless steel, and may be formed in a one-piece casting, a combination of multiple castings and stamped plates metallurgically joined (brazed or welded together), or stamped from sheet metal stock. Preferably, the manifold includes fin structures extending into adjacent fuel gas and cathode air chambers to enhance balancing of temperatures by heat exchange therebetween. Heat exchange may be further improved by configuring the manifold to have a plurality of interleaved anode and cathode gas supply chambers.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack 10 includes a stacked structure 14 composed of a plurality of electricity-generating cells stacked successively, and dummy cells arranged at both ends in a stacking direction of the stacked structure 14. Each dummy cell 16 each includes a conductive plate 52 and first and second metallic separators 54, 56 which sandwich the conductive plate 52. The conductive plate 52 is formed of a metallic plate having substantially the same shape as that of the electrolytic membrane electrode assembly 22. The first and second metallic separators 54, 56 are structured in the same manner as the first and second metallic separators 24, 26 of the electricity-generating cell 12.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has a stack structure in which sheet bodies and support members are stacked in alternating layers. A space through which a fuel gas or air flows is formed between the adjacent sheet body and support member. Partitions are provided on the support member in such a manner as to stand in the space, thereby forming a “first flow F1” of gas according to the flow control effected by the partitions. Gaps are formed at the projecting ends of the partitions, thereby forming a “second flow F2” of gas which flows over the partitions and through the gaps. The ratio “gap/space height” is set to 2% to 50% inclusive.

Abstract: A common distribution device of a fuel cell of a vehicle is provided where a first module and a second module comprises an air supplying portion and an air discharging portion are disposed below in the stack, and a third module and a fourth module which comprises a hydrogen supplying portion and a hydrogen discharging portion are disposed above in a stack. The fluid can be uniformly discharged from the stack during acceleration, deceleration, and tilting of a vehicle.

Abstract: A method for performing a plausibility check of a fuel cell stack anode side pressure sensor to determine whether the pressure sensor is providing an accurate measurement. Prior to system start-up when a cathode side compressor is not providing cathode air to a fuel cell stack, and the cathode side of the stack is at ambient pressure, a pressure measurement from a differential pressure sensor between the anode side and the cathode side of the fuel cell stack is provided. The differential pressure sensor reading is added to a pressure measurement from an ambient pressure sensor, where the sum should be about the same as the pressure measurement from the anode side pressure sensor if the anode side pressure sensor is operating properly.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a support structure, a reactant conditioning structure, a plurality of stacks of planar solid oxide fuel cells arranged on the support structure circumferentially around the reactant conditioning structure, and a flow path extending outwardly from the reactant conditioning structure to deliver reactants to the plurality of stacks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell including, a stack having fuel channels through which fuel flows and air channels through which air flows, the fuel channels and air channels being located at both sides of a reaction film, an actuator disposed to be involved in the air channels, the actuator allowing external air of the stack to affect the air channels, and a skirt extending from the stack with communicating with the air channels.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a fuel cell stack purge at fuel cell system shut-down. The method provides a two-stage purge process where the first stage purge uses humidified cathode air to get the fuel cell stack to a known stack hydration level from an unknown stack hydration level at system shut-down. As the stack is purged with the humidified air, the hydration level of the stack decreases asymptotically to the known stack hydration level where the duration of the first stage is set based on the asymptote as a safety margin. Once the known hydration level is achieved, then the second stage purge is performed with dry air to further reduce the stack hydration to a final desired hydration level.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell power system includes a coolant source, a reactant source and a plurality of fuel cell modules. Each of the fuel cell modules includes a fuel cell stack and a fluid distribution plant in fluid communication with the reactant source, coolant source and fuel cell stack. The fluid distribution plant controls the flow of reactant between the reactant source and fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stacks are configured to be selectively electrically connected.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator having excellent corrosion resistance, electric conductivity and durability comprising a substrate made of austenitic stainless steel, and a nitride layer formed on a surface of the substrate in contact with an oxygen electrode or a current collector on the oxygen electrode side, the nitride layer comprising a solid solution compound phase composed of an Fe4N crystal, in which part of Fe is substituted by at least Cr and Ni.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack and a fuel cell system using the same are disclosed. The fuel cell stack may include an electricity generation unit generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction of fuel and oxidizer. The fuel cell stack may include a regulation member made of porous materials to disperse coolant flowed in through a cooling channel formed in the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell is provided that includes a pair of unipolar plates having a separator plate disposed therebetween. One of the unipolar plates is produced from a porous material to minimize cathode transport resistance at high current density. A fuel cell stack including a fuel cell and the bipolar plate is also provided.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a purge system for a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a blower, a differential pressure sensor and a purge valve. The blower delivers a recirculated gas back to the stack at varying electrical power levels and blower speeds. The differential pressure sensor senses pressure of the recirculated gas across the blower. The purge valve purges the recirculated gas based on at least one of a blower power level, a blower speed, and the pressure of the recirculated gas.

Abstract: In a stack of non-circulating-type fuel cells 20 where a supply of a fuel gas is not recirculated, a control circuit 50 sets a changeover valve assembly 41 in a disconnected state from both high-pressure hydrogen tanks 30 and outside of a cell stack body 21, while setting residual changeover valve assemblies 40, 42, and 43 in a connecting state to connect inside of the cell stack body 21 with the high-pressure hydrogen tanks 30. The supply of the fuel gas is accordingly fed into the stack of fuel cells 20 via the changeover valve assemblies 40, 42, and 43 and goes through electrochemical reactions. An impurity-containing gas after the electrochemical reactions is accumulated in the vicinity of a connection port 22. The control circuit 50 then sets the changeover valve assembly 41 in a connecting state to connect the inside of the fuel cells 20 with the outside and discharge the impurity-containing gas to the outside of the fuel cells 20.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a cell stack formed by laminating a membrane electrode assembly and a separator and sandwiching them from the both sides in the laminating direction with a pair of end plates is fastened by being tightened in the laminating direction with a first plate spring. The first plate spring includes two arm sections for pressing the pair of end plates and a connecting section connecting the arm sections, and has a C-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: To prevent the flooding phenomenon at the cathode in a unit cell where the temperature is relatively low or the supply of air is small, a fuel cell stack includes at least three flat unit cells stacked with separators interposed therebetween, the unit cells comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween, and having an oxidant channel formed on the surface of the separator adjacent to the cathode, and the anode and the cathode comprising a catalyst layer attached to the electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer, wherein the cross-sectional area of the inlet side of the oxidant channel, the area of the cathode catalyst layer, the thickness of the electrolyte membrane or the amount of a water repellent contained in the combination of the cathode and the oxidant channel is the largest in at least one of the unit cells at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: The fuel cell cartridge including: an external casing; a fuel cell body (stack), which is accommodated in the external casing and which includes at least a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode, and an ion conductor; and a fuel tank for storing a fuel, wherein the external casing has a penetration hole, which penetrates an inner portion of the external casing and which is in communication with outside air, and wherein an inner wall of the penetration hole is provided with at least an opening communicating with the oxidizer electrode. The fuel cell cartridge is detachably attached to an electric apparatus, and an inlet of the penetration hole of the fuel cell cartridge is situated at a position corresponding to an outside-air communicating port, which is provided in the electric apparatus and which is in communication with outside air.

Abstract: A separator comprises a first and second metal plates laid over each other. A cooling medium flow passage is integrally provided between the first and second metal plates. The cooling medium flow passage has inlet buffer portions communicating with a cooling medium inlet communication hole, outlet buffer portions communicating with a cooling medium outlet communication hole, and linear flow passage grooves linearly extending in the direction of arrow B and that of arrow C.