Method and apparatus for assembling solid oxide fuel cells

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:866944

Szreders, Bernard E ^[1]; Campanella, Nicholas ^[2]

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1. Oakdale, CT
2. O'Fallon, MO

A plurality of jet air tubes are supported and maintained in a spaced matrix array by a positioning/insertion assembly for insertion in respective tubes of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in the assembly of an SOFC module. The positioning/insertion assembly includes a plurality of generally planar, elongated, linear vanes which are pivotally mounted at each end thereof to a support frame. The vanes, which each include a plurality of spaced slots along the facing edges thereof, may be pivotally displaced from a generally vertical orientation, wherein each jet air tube is positioned within and engaged by the aligned slots of a plurality of paired upper and lower vanes to facilitate their insertion in respective aligned SOFC tubes arranged in a matrix array, to an inclined orientation, wherein the jet air tubes may be removed from the positioning/insertion assembly after being inserted in the SOFC tubes. A rectangular compression assembly of adjustable size is adapted to receive and squeeze a matrix of SOFC tubes so as to compress the inter-tube nickel felt conductive pads which provide series/parallel electrical connection between adjacent SOFCs, with a series of increasingly larger retainer frames used to maintain larger matrices of SOFC tubes in position. Expansion of the SOFC module housing at the high operating temperatures of the SOFC is accommodated by conductive, flexible, resilient expansion, connector bars which provide support and electrical coupling at the top and bottom of the SOFC module housing.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4827606
• OSTI ID: 866944
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
assembling
solid
oxide
fuel
cells
plurality
jet
air
tubes
supported
maintained
spaced
matrix
array
positioning
insertion
assembly
respective
cell
sofc
module
planar
elongated
linear
vanes
pivotally
mounted
support
frame
slots
facing
edges
displaced
vertical
orientation
tube
positioned
engaged
aligned
paired
upper
facilitate
arranged
inclined
removed
inserted
rectangular
compression
adjustable
size
adapted
receive
squeeze
compress
inter-tube
nickel
conductive
pads
provide
series
parallel
electrical
connection
adjacent
sofcs
increasingly
larger
retainer
frames
maintain
matrices
position
expansion
housing
operating
temperatures
accommodated
flexible
resilient
connector
bars
coupling
top
bottom
pivotally mounted
module housing
fuel cell
air tubes
matrix array
support frame
fuel cells
oxide fuel
solid oxide
operating temperature
operating temperatures
electrical connection
respective tubes
spaced slots
vertical orientation
air tube
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