Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention the fuel cell device includes an electrolyte sheet. The electrolyte sheet has a substantially non-porous body of a varied thickness, a relatively smooth surface and a more textured surface with multiple indentations therein, wherein the thickest part of the electrolyte sheet is at least 0.5 micrometers greater than the thinnest part of said electrolyte sheet. The side of the electrolyte sheet with a relatively smooth surface is subjected to the predominately tensile force and the other, more textured surface subjected to predominately compressive force. According to one embodiment, the fuel cell also includes one cathode disposed on the more textured side of said electrolyte sheet at least at least one anode disposed opposite the cathode on the relatively smooth side of aid electrolyte sheet.

Abstract: A bus bar for an electrolyte sheet is provided that includes a bus strip of electrically conductive material in contact with a side edge of the cell or cells in the electrolyte sheet, wherein the amount of material in shoulder portions of the bus strip decreases as the strip approaches end portions of the cell edge to reduce stress. Preferably, such material reduction is accomplished by tapering the shoulder portions of the bus strip. The tapered shape of the shoulders reduces the amount of electrical conductor needed to form the bus bar. The stress reducing bus bar also includes a lead which is orthogonally oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the side edge of the cell. The tapered shape of the shoulder portions of the bus strip, in combination with the orthogonally oriented lead, reduces stresses that would otherwise occur between the bus bar and the electrolyte sheet as a result of differences in the thermal coefficient of expansion.

Abstract: A method of replacing a fuel cell packet module in a fuel cell stack, said method comprising: (i) powering down the fuel cell stack; (ii) electrically disconnecting the fuel cell packet module from external power load, (iii) mechanically disconnecting the fuel cell packet module from the fuel cell stack; and (iv) removing the fuel cell packet module from the stack.

Abstract: An electrolyte sheet comprises a substantially non-porous body and has at least one stress-relief area on at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet. The stress-relief area has a surface with a plurality of smoothly domed cells.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing the formation of gaseous inclusions in glass sheets and the resulting glass sheets are described herein. The system includes a melting, fining, delivery, mixing or forming vessel that has a refractory metal component (e.g., platinum component) which has an inner wall that contacts molten glass and an outer wall coated with an oxygen ion transportable material (e.g., zirconia) which is coated with a conductive electrode. The system also includes a DC power source that supplies DC power across the oxygen ion transportable material which causes oxygen ions to migrate from the refractory metal component to the conductive electrode and enables one to control the partial pressure of oxygen around an exterior of the vessel which helps one to effectively prevent hydrogen permeation from the molten glass in order to suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions and surface blisters within the glass sheet.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a low voltage, high current electrical production device includes a charge transfer member (612). An electrically conductive member (605) having a non-uniform resistance is disposed on the charge transfer member 612 for optimizing current coupling.

Abstract: A method for forming honeycomb structures, such as wall-flow honeycomb filters, which utilizes extrusion of multiple material supplies at once. Such methods may be used to form intermittent plugs or other structures in the cell channels during the extrusion process, for example. A die assembly is provided which includes secondary feedholes machined in the pins for intermittently or periodically injecting secondary material (e.g., plug material) into the cell channels of the honeycomb structure while it is being extruded.

Abstract: An electrolyte sheet comprises a substantially non-porous body and has at least one stress-relief area on at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet. The stress-relief area has a surface with a plurality of folds. The plurality of folds are arranged around and directed longitudinally toward a common central area.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention a fuel cell device comprises: a plurality of fuel cells, each of the plurality of fuel cells having an active area, wherein at least two of the plurality of fuel cells have differently sized active area, such that ratio of the active areas of these two fuel cells is at least 1.1:1.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing the formation of gaseous inclusions in glass sheets and the resulting glass sheets are described herein. The system includes a melting, fining, delivery, mixing or forming vessel that has a refractory metal component (e.g., platinum component) which has an inner wall that contacts molten glass and an outer wall coated with an oxygen ion transportable material (e.g., zirconia) which is coated with a conductive electrode. The system also includes a DC power source that supplies DC power across the oxygen ion transportable material which causes oxygen ions to migrate from the refractory metal component to the conductive electrode and enables one to control the partial pressure of oxygen around an exterior of the vessel which helps one to effectively prevent hydrogen permeation from the molten glass in order to suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions and surface blisters within the glass sheet.