Self-cooling mono-container fuel cell generators and power plants using an array of such generators

Patent · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871538

Gillett, James E ^[1]; Dederer, Jeffrey T ^[2]; Zafred, Paolo R ^[3]

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1. Greensburg, PA
2. Valencia, PA
3. Pittsburgh, PA

A mono-container fuel cell generator (10) contains a layer of interior insulation (14), a layer of exterior insulation (16) and a single housing (20) between the insulation layers, where fuel cells, containing electrodes and electrolyte, are surrounded by the interior insulation (14) in the interior (12) of the generator, and the generator is capable of operating at temperatures over about 650.degree. C., where the combination of interior and exterior insulation layers have the ability to control the temperature in the housing (20) below the degradation temperature of the housing material. The housing can also contain integral cooling ducts, and a plurality of these generators can be positioned next to each other to provide a power block array with interior cooling.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-91MC28055
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5750278
• OSTI ID: 871538
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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