Connections for solid oxide fuel cells

Patent · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872750

Collie, Jeffrey C ^[1]

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1. Pittsburgh, PA

A connection for fuel cell assemblies is disclosed. The connection includes compliant members connected to individual fuel cells and a rigid member connected to the compliant members. Adjacent bundles or modules of fuel cells are connected together by mechanically joining their rigid members. The compliant/rigid connection permits construction of generator fuel cell stacks from basic modular groups of cells of any desired size. The connections can be made prior to installation of the fuel cells in a generator, thereby eliminating the need for in-situ completion of the connections. In addition to allowing pre-fabrication, the compliant/rigid connections also simplify removal and replacement of sections of a generator fuel cell stack.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-91MC28055
• Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation (Orlando, FL)
• Patent Number(s): US 6001501
• OSTI ID: 872750
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/429/
addition
adjacent
allowing
assemblies
basic
bundles
cell
cell stack
cell stacks
cells
completion
compliant
connected
connection
connections
construction
desired
disclosed
dual fuel
eliminating
fuel
fuel cell
fuel cells
generator
in-situ
individual
individual fuel
installation
joining
mechanically
modular
modules
oxide
oxide fuel
permits
pre-fabrication
prior
removal
replacement
rigid
sections
simplify
size
solid
solid oxide
stack
stacks