Abstract: The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

Abstract: A method of making a planar solid oxide fuel cell is described involving: (1) sintering at least an electrolyte layer; (2) juxtaposing one of a sintered anode or cathode layer with a metal substrate, with a bonding agent therebetween; and (3) applying heat to bond the juxtaposed anode or cathode layer to the metal substrate; where the anode and cathode layers are each sintered, together or independently, simultaneously with sintering the electrolyte layer, simultaneously with applying heat to bond the ceramic fuel cell element to the metal substrate, or in one or more separate sintering steps.

Abstract: An actuator includes a piezoelectric stack within a housing that applies a compressive load to the stack. The housing may include a cylindrical tube closed at one end and may seal the stack against fluid pressure. The housing may be shorter than the length of the piezoelectric stack and may include resilient means for inducing elastic strain in the stack. The resilient means may include one or more slots extending around the circumference of the housing and/or a corrugated region of the housing to form a tension spring at a lower end of the housing. The tension spring may then serve to draw the stack into compression. The stack may include a plurality of layers of piezoelectric or piezoceramic material interspersed with a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material and connecting means for connecting the layers to a source of electrical power.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an approximation to a measure of the volatility of fuel on-board a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of the fuel corresponding to a temperature of the fuel, a volume of the fuel, and a concentration of oxygenates within the fuel; determining an approximation of the a measure of the volatility of the sample volume of fuel using a linear function based on the at least one measured characteristic of the fuel corresponding to temperature, volume, and concentration of oxygenates of the fuel. Preferably, at least one temperature measurement is associated with a predetermined volume of the sample as the sample is evaluated. The method can include determining whether a fuel contains ethanol, and if not, whether the fuel is a winter blend of fuel or a summer blend of fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an approximation to a measure of the volatility of fuel on-board a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of the fuel corresponding to a temperature of the fuel, a volume of the fuel, and a concentration of oxygenates within the fuel; determining an approximation of the a measure of the volatility of the sample volume of fuel using a linear function based on the at least one measured characteristic of the fuel corresponding to temperature, volume, and concentration of oxygenates of the fuel. Preferably, at least one temperature measurement is associated with a predetermined volume of the sample as the sample is evaluated. The method can include determining whether a fuel contains ethanol, and if not, whether the fuel is a winter blend of fuel or a summer blend of fuel.