CA1308776C - Fuel cell and method of ameliorating temperature distribution thereof - Google Patents
Fuel cell and method of ameliorating temperature distribution thereofInfo
- Publication number
- CA1308776C CA1308776C CA000584230A CA584230A CA1308776C CA 1308776 C CA1308776 C CA 1308776C CA 000584230 A CA000584230 A CA 000584230A CA 584230 A CA584230 A CA 584230A CA 1308776 C CA1308776 C CA 1308776C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- plate
- separator
- fuel
- cell
- gas
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 93
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 11
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 130
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Carbonate Chemical compound [O-]C([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 126
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 claims description 93
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000004027 cell Anatomy 0.000 description 109
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 5
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphoric acid Chemical compound OP(O)(O)=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 4
- 210000005056 cell body Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910000147 aluminium phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- SUBDBMMJDZJVOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 5-methoxy-2-{[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]sulfinyl}-1H-benzimidazole Chemical compound N=1C2=CC(OC)=CC=C2NC=1S(=O)CC1=NC=C(C)C(OC)=C1C SUBDBMMJDZJVOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005868 electrolysis reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002407 reforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Cell elements, each of which includes an electrolyte plate such as fused carbonate, an anode plate and a cathode plate, and separator plates provided with heat transfer assisting means are stacked one on the other. Oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate flows in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to an adjacent separator plate, so that heat propagates easily in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked through the heat transfer assisting means, thereby making the temperature profile of the fuel cell more gentle.
Cell elements, each of which includes an electrolyte plate such as fused carbonate, an anode plate and a cathode plate, and separator plates provided with heat transfer assisting means are stacked one on the other. Oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate flows in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to an adjacent separator plate, so that heat propagates easily in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked through the heat transfer assisting means, thereby making the temperature profile of the fuel cell more gentle.
Description
The present invention relates to a fuel cell in which fuel gas and gaseous oxidizer react with each other to produce electricity. More particularly, it is concerned with a fuel cel] comprising stacking cell elements and separators, and a method of improving temperature distribution of the fuel cell, each cell element comprising an electrolyte such as fused carbonate sandwiched between two electrode plates, and the fuel gas and oxidizer being supplied through the separators.
The principle of the fuel cell is as follows: hydrogen from the fuel gas and oxygen forming from the oxidizer are chemically reacted with each other with the aid of an electrolyte, thereby producing electricity and water. This process is the opposite of the electrolysis of water.
Major components of the fuel cell are the cell elements, each of which includes an electrolyte plate, a porous anode plate and a porous cathode plate, with the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between the anode and the cathode plates.
Electricity is generated by supplying the fuel gas to the anode side while supplying the oxidizer to the cathode side.
Phosphoric acid or fused carbonate has been employed as the electrolyte of the fuel cell.
Reactions at the anode and the cathode plates, when the fused carbonate is utilized as the electrolyte, are as follows:
Cathode: 1/2 2 + C 2 + 2e --> C 032-Anode: H2 + CO3 --> H2O + CO2 + 2e In conventional fuel cells, the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked alternately, forming a plurality of stages, and the fuel gas and the gaseous oxidizer are supplied to each cell element in a manner such that they flow along the upper and lower faces of the separator plate from one side of the separator plate to the other.
1 ~8~6 Since heat is produced upon generation of electricity in the fuel cell, steps have to be taken to eliminate such heat.
Heat removal or cooling can be carried out by certain cooling means, or by the continuous supply of fuel gas and oxidizer gas so that the previously supplied fuel gas and oxidizer and the fuel cell system may be cooled by the incoming gases.
Gases introduced in a passage formed within the separator plate cool the cell element by receiving heat from the cell element as well as the separator plate until they reach the outlet of the passage. In such a cooling arrangement, however, the temperature distribution along the cell element face is not gentle, creating a considerable temperature difference of as much as three hundred degrees C between the highest and the lowest temperature points.
Such a large variation in temperature profile along the cell element surface results in a non-uniform current density, which in turn leads to deterioration of the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell. Also, a sharp incline in temperature distribution reduces longevity of the cell element and the separator.
According to a first aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between the anode plate and the cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply gaseous oxidizer to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising: anode side gas supply means for supplying the fuel gas to fuel gas passages ~.,, ~,.
1 3`0~776 formed on one face of the separator plate: cathode side gas supply means for supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages formed on the other face of the separator plate such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator; and heat transfer assisting means on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat transfer in the direction the separator plates and the cell elements are stacked.
According to a second aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate: and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the separator plates so as to supply fuel to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked on one another to create a plurality of stages, the separator plates being formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passage between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face and forms the oxidizer gas passage between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said other face, a plurality of openings being formed along both lateral sides of the cell elements and the separator plates such that these openings form paths for supplying and discharging the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas when the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, anode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and exit of the fuel gas passages, cathode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the oxidizer gas passages such that the oxidizer gas flows through one separator plate in a direction opposite to the oxidizer gas flowing through the next separator plate, heat transfer assisting means being formed in the passages on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the separator plates 1 30~776 and the cell elements are stacked, holding means being provided for clamping the stacked cell elements and the separator plates, and means being provided for the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages respectively to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and discharge the same ther-efrom.
According to a third aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, and an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between an anode plate and cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to creating a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising:
cathode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied through one separator plate can flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; anode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging fuel gas such that the fuel gas supplied through one separator plate may flow in the direction perpendicular to the fuel gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; and heat transmission assisting means formed on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked.
According to a fourth aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of 1 30~77~
the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, wherein the separator plates are formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passages between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face, and forms the oxidizer gas passages between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said the other face; a plurality of openings are formed at predetermined intervals along the periphery of each cell element and each separator plate such that the openings can form fuel gas and oxidizer gas paths extending in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, and such that the openings bored along two opposite segments of the periphery of each cell element and separator plate serve as a part of the oxidizer gas path while the openings bored along the other two opposite segments of the periphery of the same serve as a part of the fuel gas path, so as to allow the oxidizer gas flow perpendicular to the ~uel gas; cathode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the passages for the oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the next separator plate; anode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passages so as to distribute the fuel gas to the groups of fuel gas passages of each face of the separator plate; heat transfer assisting means formed in the passages of both faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked; holding means for clamping the stacked fuel elements and the separator plates; and means are provided on the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and to discharge the same therefrom.
1 30~77$
According to a fifth aspect of present invention there is provided a method of improving the temperature distribution in a cell element of a fuel cell, the fuel cell including:
cell elements, each cell element including an electroiyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate;
and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said method comprising the steps of: supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas passages on one face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the fuel gas passages: forming heat transfer assisting means on both faces of each separator plate; supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages on the other face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the oxidizer passages in a manner such that the gaseous oxidizer supplied to one separator plate flows in the direction perpendicular to the gaseous oxidizer supplied to the next separator plate; and transmitting heat through the heat transfer assisting means between the gaseous oxidizer supplied to adjacent separator plates in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked near the entrances and the exits of the gaseous oxidizer passages.
The fuel cell has a plurality of separators, each of which possesses oxidizer gas passages on one face thereof in such a manner that the gaseous oxidizer flowing through one separator moves in the counter direction relative to the oxidizer flowing through the next separator.
The separator has a novel construction so that thermal exchange in the direction the cell elements and the stacked separator plates is improved, whereby the temperature profile of the cell element may be symmetrical with only a small fall and rise.
1 30~776 The ups and downs in the temperature distribution over the surfaces of the cell elements and the separators can be reduced.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fundamentalarrangement of a fuel cell according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the supply and discharge of the fuel gas and the oxidizer to separator plates which are stacked on cell elements;
Figure 3 is a partial sectional perspective view depicting a complete fuel cell system of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view depicting the details of the cell elements and the separator plates of Figure 3 as they are stacked one on the other;
Figure 5 is a partial enlarged view of the separator plate;
Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view illustrating the gases being fed through the gas passages to the separator plates;
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the temperature distributi~n of the gases flowing along the front and back faces of adjacent separator plates and the cell elements with the horizontal axis lying in the direction the gas flows; 25 Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating a basic construction for assembling the fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a partially-cut perspective view of the fuel cell of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows the temperature distribution of a conventional fuel cell for comparison with Figure 7.
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a basic construction of a fuel cell of the present invention will be described. Reference numeral 10 designates a cell element, which is composed of an electrolyte plate made from fuqed 1 30~77~
carbonate, phosphoric acid, or the like, and an anode plate 14 and a cathode plate 16, with the electrolyte plate being located between the anode plate and the cathode plate.
Numeral 18 denotes a separator plate through which fuel gas, such as hydrogen is supplied to the anode plate 14, and gaseous oxidizer such as air is supplied to the cathode plate 16.
The cell elements and the separator plates 18 are stacked on top of each other, creating multiple stages as a body 20 of the fuel cell. Each cell element 10 is arranged such that the cathode plate 16 may become a front face or an upper face while the anode plate 14 a back face or a lower face, and such that fuel gas passages Al and A2 may be formed between the anode plate 14 and the upper face of the separator plate 18, as indicated by shaded arrows in Figure 1 while oxidizer gas passages C1 and C2 may be formed between the cathode plate 16 and the lower face of the separator as indicated by un~haded arrows C1 and C2.
The oxidizer gas passages C1 and C2 are formed such that the oxidizer supplied to one separator plate may flow in the counter direction relative to the oxidizer gas supplied to adjacent separator plates as indicated by C1 and C2. As for one cell element lo the oxidizer qas and the fuel gas flow in the same direction, which is referred to as "co-flow", as indicated by C2 and A2, or C1 and A1. As for one separator plate 18, the fuel gas supplied to one face thereof flows in the counter direction against the oxidizer gas supplied to the other face thereof as indicated by A1 and C2, or A2 and C1.
On the top face as well as the bottom face of each separator plate 18, there are formed near the entrance and the exit of the passage, block-like projections or fins 22 and 24 which extend parallel to each other in the direction of the supplied gases flow, and small hemi-spherical projections 26 therebetween. Among these fins 22 and Z4, the outermost fins 22 are made relatively short, and the fins 24 thereinside are spaced from the outermost fins 22 by clearance 28 and made relatively long. These fins 22 and 24 are formed such that they occupy approximately half the separator plate surface from the entrance and exit side, with one-fourth being occupied from each side. Another half of the separator plate surface is occu~ied by the small hemi-spherical projections 66 provided between the fins 24. The block-shaped fins 22 and 24 contact with corresponding anode plate 14 and cathode plate 16 of the cell elements 10 as the cell elements 10 and the separator plates 18 are stacked, so that the heat transfer between the anode plate 24 and the cathode plate 26 are improved, as is the heat transfer between cathode plates of the adjacent cell elements.
Referring now to Figure 2, the anode side passages Al and A2 of adjacent separators 18 are connected to fuel gas supply passages 30a and 32a and fuel gas discharge passages 30b and 32b respectively, while the cathode side passages Cl and C2 communicate with oxidizer gas supply passages 34a and 36a, and oxidizer gas discharge passages 34b and 36b respectively, so that the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas may flow in the opposite directions along the top and bottom faces of each separator plate 18 respectively, and that Cl and C2 may be directed in directions opposite to each other.
As the fuel gas is fed to the anode plate 14 and the oxidizer gas is fed to the cathode plate 16 of each cell element 10, the gases so fed re-act Z each other via the electrolyte 12 to generate electrical energy, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
Each cell element 10 and separator plate 18 are electrically connected to each other, whereby superposed electric power can be drawn from the uppermost cathode plate 26 and the lowermost anode plate 24 of the fuel cell body 20.
1 30g776 During generation of the electric power, 10 to 20 times as much oxidizer gas is supplied as fuel gas. If the oxidizer gas temperature at the entrance of the passage is 7500C, the same rises to 555C, which is very influential to the temperature profile of the cell element. In this particular embodiment, since the oxidizer gas passages Cl an C2 are directed in the opposite direction respectively, and the fins 22 and 24 are provided mainly near the entrances and the exits of those passages, heat of the oxidizer gas is transmitted in the direction of the stack near the block-like fins 22 and Z4. In other words, since these fins 22 and 24 serve to assist the heat transmission between adjacent cell elements 10, particularly between oxidizer gases flowing through Cl and C2, the temperature difference between the entrance and the exit of each cell element 10 is reduced, thereby making the temperature distribution curve rather flat in the direction the gas flow.
Figures 3 to 6 illustrate more detailed view of construction of the fuel cell according to the present invention. The cell element 10 and the separator plate 18 are rectangular, as shown in Figure 4. A large number of small openings 40 and 42, which serve as the supply passage 30a, 30a, 34a and 36a, and the discharge passage 30b, 32b, 34b and 36b of Figure 2, are formed at equal intervals within the plate 10 along both longer lateral sides thereof. The cell element 10 is constituted by sandwiching the electrolyte 12 between the anode plate 14 and the cathode plate 16. The openings 40 for supplying/discharging the gases are formed in the anode plate 24 as well as the cathode plate 16.
The pores 42 of the separator plate 18 are provided with distributors 44a and 44b which allow the pores 44a and 44b to communicate with the corresponding passages A1, A2, Cl and C2 so that the fuel gases and the oxidizer may be introduced to the passages Al, A~, Cl and C2 formed on the upper and lower faces of the separator 18. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, if the fuel gases are desired to be supplied to the anode side gas passage A2 of the separator plate 18, an entrance distributor 44a is provided for the fuel gas supply passage 32a, and an exit distributor 44b is provided for the discharge passage 32b. For example, when there is provided a four~-channel supply/discharge line for the fuel gas and oxidlzer, four distributors 44a, 44b are provided alonq the pores 42 on either side of the separator plate 28.
Sealing frames 46 for ensuring a tight seal with the cell element 10 are respectively mounted on the upper and lower faces of the separator plate 18, and a punched metal plate 48 is provided inside the sealing frame 46 such that heat may be transferred between two adjacent cell elements through the projecting fins 22 and 24 of the separator plate lO and the pun~hed metal plate 48 while allowing the supplied gases to pass through the passages.
Assembly of the above described fuel cell system including the cell elements 10 and the separator plates 18, stacked on top o~ each other, will be explained with reference to Figure 3.
A fuel cell body 20, which is a laminated body of a plurality of cell elements 10 and separator plates 18, is located on the bottom holder 50, and a top holder S2 is placed on the top face of the laminated body 20. In the bottom and top holders 50 and 52, entrance and exit ports 30A, 32A, 34A, 36A, 30B, 32B, 34B, and 36B are formed, which are respectively connected to the gas supply passage 30, 32a, 34a, 36a and the discharge passage 30b, 32b, 34b, 36b. To connect these entrance and exit ports to each other, paths 52a and 52b are formed within the holders 50 and 52.
Terminals for taking out electric current, 54 and 56 are also provided on the lower and upper holders 50 and 52.
A presser plate 60 is disposed on the upper holder 52 via a bellows 58. Lugs 62 and 64 project from the lower holder and the presser plate 60 respectively at corresponding positions 1 30~776 thereof, and each pair of lugs 62 and 64 are joined by a rod 68 and nuts 70. Reinforcement members are integrally provided on the presser plate 60 so as to span every two lugs 64 in the width direction of the fuel cell body.
According to the fuel cell constructed in the above manner, when the power géneration temperature is set to 650 degrees C, fuel gas, such as hydrogen, at approximately 500 degrees C
has to be supplied to the inlet port 30A and 32A. The fuel gas is, for example, hydrogen-rich gas which is obtained by reforming natural gas with steam by a reformer.
Oxidant gas of approximately 400 degrees C is fed to the inlets 34A and 36A. Preferably between ten and twenty times as much oxidizer gas is supplied as fuel gas.
Upon power generation, steam and CO2 are expelled from the fuel gas exit 30B and 32B while residual gases are exhausted from the oxidant gas exit 34B and 36B.
Referring now to Figure 7, Al and A2 indicate fuel gas temperature. Cl and C2 indicate oxidant gas temperature, and I indicates cell element temperature in the direction the respective gaseC flow.
According to the present invention, since the fins 22 and 24, which serve as thermal transfer assisting means/ are provided near the entrances and the exits of the separator plate, heat propagation between the oxidizer gas flowing through C1 and C2, which is influential to the temperature distribution, is promoted, whereby the variation of the cell element temperature profile I becomes more gentle, namely the temperature range is reduced to as little as about one hundred degrees C, with symmetrical configuration.
Figure 10 shows a temperature profile of a fuel cell of conventional structure: the cathode side gas C1 and C2 flow in the same direction ("co-flow" type) for comparison with Figure 8. In Figure 10, the gas temperature at the entrance is about 550C and that at the exit is about 700OC, so that the profile has a large variation of approximately 150C.
Figure 8 illustrates a basic construction of another embodiment of the present invention. A major feature of this illustrated embodiment lies in the way the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow in, i. e. the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow perpendicularly to each other along the upper face and the lower face of the separator plate 18 respectively. The lo fundamental structure of the fuel cell of this embodiment is identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 and like numerals are assigned to like components in both figures, so that explanation about those components is omitted.
In this particular embodiment, the projecting fins 22 and 24 of the cathode plate 16 are laid in the direction perpendicular to those of the anode 14 so the passages C1 and C2 on the cathode plate may cros~ the passages Al and A2 on the anode plate at right angles.
A fuel cell employing the basic structure depicted in Figure 8 iB illustrated in Figure 9. The cell element 10 and the separator plate 18 have square openings 40 and 42 made along the periphery thereof so as to form the supply and discharge paths for the fuel gas and oxidant gas. The distributors 44 are formed at the openings 42 for respective paths of the separator plates 18.
Entrance and exit ports for the fuel gas and the oxidant gas 30A, 32A, 34A, 36A, 30B, 32B, 34B and 36B are respectively provided for the lower holder 50 and the upper holder 52, and therefore the fuel gas and the oxidant gas enter from those entrance ports, flowing through the passages 30a, 32a/ 34a, and 36a, 30b, 32b, 34b and 36b, and discharged from the exit ports.
In this embodiment, although the directions of the fuel gas flow and the oxidant gas flow are orthogonal at two faces of each separator plate 18, the projecting fins 22 and 24 disposed in the gas passages function as the heat transmission assisting means, likewise as mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, thereby improving heat exchange between the fuel gas flowing along one face of the separator and the oxidant gas flowing along the other face thereof. Hence, the temperature profile of the cell element 10 exhibits a more gentle rise and fall.
Those skilled in the art may make various modifications to the preferred embodiments chosen to illustrate the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present contribution to the art. For example, the cathode may be attached to the lower face of the cell element 10 and the anode to the upper face thereof. Also, the direction the fuel gas flows in and the locations of the openings 40 and 42 are not limlted to those illustrated in the figures since the fuel gas has little influence on the temperature distribution of the cell element. Moreover, the configurations of the fins 22 and 24 are not limited to those illustrated.
The principle of the fuel cell is as follows: hydrogen from the fuel gas and oxygen forming from the oxidizer are chemically reacted with each other with the aid of an electrolyte, thereby producing electricity and water. This process is the opposite of the electrolysis of water.
Major components of the fuel cell are the cell elements, each of which includes an electrolyte plate, a porous anode plate and a porous cathode plate, with the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between the anode and the cathode plates.
Electricity is generated by supplying the fuel gas to the anode side while supplying the oxidizer to the cathode side.
Phosphoric acid or fused carbonate has been employed as the electrolyte of the fuel cell.
Reactions at the anode and the cathode plates, when the fused carbonate is utilized as the electrolyte, are as follows:
Cathode: 1/2 2 + C 2 + 2e --> C 032-Anode: H2 + CO3 --> H2O + CO2 + 2e In conventional fuel cells, the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked alternately, forming a plurality of stages, and the fuel gas and the gaseous oxidizer are supplied to each cell element in a manner such that they flow along the upper and lower faces of the separator plate from one side of the separator plate to the other.
1 ~8~6 Since heat is produced upon generation of electricity in the fuel cell, steps have to be taken to eliminate such heat.
Heat removal or cooling can be carried out by certain cooling means, or by the continuous supply of fuel gas and oxidizer gas so that the previously supplied fuel gas and oxidizer and the fuel cell system may be cooled by the incoming gases.
Gases introduced in a passage formed within the separator plate cool the cell element by receiving heat from the cell element as well as the separator plate until they reach the outlet of the passage. In such a cooling arrangement, however, the temperature distribution along the cell element face is not gentle, creating a considerable temperature difference of as much as three hundred degrees C between the highest and the lowest temperature points.
Such a large variation in temperature profile along the cell element surface results in a non-uniform current density, which in turn leads to deterioration of the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell. Also, a sharp incline in temperature distribution reduces longevity of the cell element and the separator.
According to a first aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between the anode plate and the cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply gaseous oxidizer to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising: anode side gas supply means for supplying the fuel gas to fuel gas passages ~.,, ~,.
1 3`0~776 formed on one face of the separator plate: cathode side gas supply means for supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages formed on the other face of the separator plate such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator; and heat transfer assisting means on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat transfer in the direction the separator plates and the cell elements are stacked.
According to a second aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate: and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the separator plates so as to supply fuel to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked on one another to create a plurality of stages, the separator plates being formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passage between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face and forms the oxidizer gas passage between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said other face, a plurality of openings being formed along both lateral sides of the cell elements and the separator plates such that these openings form paths for supplying and discharging the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas when the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, anode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and exit of the fuel gas passages, cathode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the oxidizer gas passages such that the oxidizer gas flows through one separator plate in a direction opposite to the oxidizer gas flowing through the next separator plate, heat transfer assisting means being formed in the passages on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the separator plates 1 30~776 and the cell elements are stacked, holding means being provided for clamping the stacked cell elements and the separator plates, and means being provided for the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages respectively to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and discharge the same ther-efrom.
According to a third aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, and an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between an anode plate and cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to creating a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising:
cathode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied through one separator plate can flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; anode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging fuel gas such that the fuel gas supplied through one separator plate may flow in the direction perpendicular to the fuel gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; and heat transmission assisting means formed on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked.
According to a fourth aspect of present invention there is provided a fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of 1 30~77~
the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, wherein the separator plates are formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passages between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face, and forms the oxidizer gas passages between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said the other face; a plurality of openings are formed at predetermined intervals along the periphery of each cell element and each separator plate such that the openings can form fuel gas and oxidizer gas paths extending in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, and such that the openings bored along two opposite segments of the periphery of each cell element and separator plate serve as a part of the oxidizer gas path while the openings bored along the other two opposite segments of the periphery of the same serve as a part of the fuel gas path, so as to allow the oxidizer gas flow perpendicular to the ~uel gas; cathode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the passages for the oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the next separator plate; anode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passages so as to distribute the fuel gas to the groups of fuel gas passages of each face of the separator plate; heat transfer assisting means formed in the passages of both faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked; holding means for clamping the stacked fuel elements and the separator plates; and means are provided on the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and to discharge the same therefrom.
1 30~77$
According to a fifth aspect of present invention there is provided a method of improving the temperature distribution in a cell element of a fuel cell, the fuel cell including:
cell elements, each cell element including an electroiyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate;
and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said method comprising the steps of: supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas passages on one face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the fuel gas passages: forming heat transfer assisting means on both faces of each separator plate; supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages on the other face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the oxidizer passages in a manner such that the gaseous oxidizer supplied to one separator plate flows in the direction perpendicular to the gaseous oxidizer supplied to the next separator plate; and transmitting heat through the heat transfer assisting means between the gaseous oxidizer supplied to adjacent separator plates in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked near the entrances and the exits of the gaseous oxidizer passages.
The fuel cell has a plurality of separators, each of which possesses oxidizer gas passages on one face thereof in such a manner that the gaseous oxidizer flowing through one separator moves in the counter direction relative to the oxidizer flowing through the next separator.
The separator has a novel construction so that thermal exchange in the direction the cell elements and the stacked separator plates is improved, whereby the temperature profile of the cell element may be symmetrical with only a small fall and rise.
1 30~776 The ups and downs in the temperature distribution over the surfaces of the cell elements and the separators can be reduced.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fundamentalarrangement of a fuel cell according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the supply and discharge of the fuel gas and the oxidizer to separator plates which are stacked on cell elements;
Figure 3 is a partial sectional perspective view depicting a complete fuel cell system of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view depicting the details of the cell elements and the separator plates of Figure 3 as they are stacked one on the other;
Figure 5 is a partial enlarged view of the separator plate;
Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view illustrating the gases being fed through the gas passages to the separator plates;
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the temperature distributi~n of the gases flowing along the front and back faces of adjacent separator plates and the cell elements with the horizontal axis lying in the direction the gas flows; 25 Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating a basic construction for assembling the fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a partially-cut perspective view of the fuel cell of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows the temperature distribution of a conventional fuel cell for comparison with Figure 7.
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a basic construction of a fuel cell of the present invention will be described. Reference numeral 10 designates a cell element, which is composed of an electrolyte plate made from fuqed 1 30~77~
carbonate, phosphoric acid, or the like, and an anode plate 14 and a cathode plate 16, with the electrolyte plate being located between the anode plate and the cathode plate.
Numeral 18 denotes a separator plate through which fuel gas, such as hydrogen is supplied to the anode plate 14, and gaseous oxidizer such as air is supplied to the cathode plate 16.
The cell elements and the separator plates 18 are stacked on top of each other, creating multiple stages as a body 20 of the fuel cell. Each cell element 10 is arranged such that the cathode plate 16 may become a front face or an upper face while the anode plate 14 a back face or a lower face, and such that fuel gas passages Al and A2 may be formed between the anode plate 14 and the upper face of the separator plate 18, as indicated by shaded arrows in Figure 1 while oxidizer gas passages C1 and C2 may be formed between the cathode plate 16 and the lower face of the separator as indicated by un~haded arrows C1 and C2.
The oxidizer gas passages C1 and C2 are formed such that the oxidizer supplied to one separator plate may flow in the counter direction relative to the oxidizer gas supplied to adjacent separator plates as indicated by C1 and C2. As for one cell element lo the oxidizer qas and the fuel gas flow in the same direction, which is referred to as "co-flow", as indicated by C2 and A2, or C1 and A1. As for one separator plate 18, the fuel gas supplied to one face thereof flows in the counter direction against the oxidizer gas supplied to the other face thereof as indicated by A1 and C2, or A2 and C1.
On the top face as well as the bottom face of each separator plate 18, there are formed near the entrance and the exit of the passage, block-like projections or fins 22 and 24 which extend parallel to each other in the direction of the supplied gases flow, and small hemi-spherical projections 26 therebetween. Among these fins 22 and Z4, the outermost fins 22 are made relatively short, and the fins 24 thereinside are spaced from the outermost fins 22 by clearance 28 and made relatively long. These fins 22 and 24 are formed such that they occupy approximately half the separator plate surface from the entrance and exit side, with one-fourth being occupied from each side. Another half of the separator plate surface is occu~ied by the small hemi-spherical projections 66 provided between the fins 24. The block-shaped fins 22 and 24 contact with corresponding anode plate 14 and cathode plate 16 of the cell elements 10 as the cell elements 10 and the separator plates 18 are stacked, so that the heat transfer between the anode plate 24 and the cathode plate 26 are improved, as is the heat transfer between cathode plates of the adjacent cell elements.
Referring now to Figure 2, the anode side passages Al and A2 of adjacent separators 18 are connected to fuel gas supply passages 30a and 32a and fuel gas discharge passages 30b and 32b respectively, while the cathode side passages Cl and C2 communicate with oxidizer gas supply passages 34a and 36a, and oxidizer gas discharge passages 34b and 36b respectively, so that the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas may flow in the opposite directions along the top and bottom faces of each separator plate 18 respectively, and that Cl and C2 may be directed in directions opposite to each other.
As the fuel gas is fed to the anode plate 14 and the oxidizer gas is fed to the cathode plate 16 of each cell element 10, the gases so fed re-act Z each other via the electrolyte 12 to generate electrical energy, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
Each cell element 10 and separator plate 18 are electrically connected to each other, whereby superposed electric power can be drawn from the uppermost cathode plate 26 and the lowermost anode plate 24 of the fuel cell body 20.
1 30g776 During generation of the electric power, 10 to 20 times as much oxidizer gas is supplied as fuel gas. If the oxidizer gas temperature at the entrance of the passage is 7500C, the same rises to 555C, which is very influential to the temperature profile of the cell element. In this particular embodiment, since the oxidizer gas passages Cl an C2 are directed in the opposite direction respectively, and the fins 22 and 24 are provided mainly near the entrances and the exits of those passages, heat of the oxidizer gas is transmitted in the direction of the stack near the block-like fins 22 and Z4. In other words, since these fins 22 and 24 serve to assist the heat transmission between adjacent cell elements 10, particularly between oxidizer gases flowing through Cl and C2, the temperature difference between the entrance and the exit of each cell element 10 is reduced, thereby making the temperature distribution curve rather flat in the direction the gas flow.
Figures 3 to 6 illustrate more detailed view of construction of the fuel cell according to the present invention. The cell element 10 and the separator plate 18 are rectangular, as shown in Figure 4. A large number of small openings 40 and 42, which serve as the supply passage 30a, 30a, 34a and 36a, and the discharge passage 30b, 32b, 34b and 36b of Figure 2, are formed at equal intervals within the plate 10 along both longer lateral sides thereof. The cell element 10 is constituted by sandwiching the electrolyte 12 between the anode plate 14 and the cathode plate 16. The openings 40 for supplying/discharging the gases are formed in the anode plate 24 as well as the cathode plate 16.
The pores 42 of the separator plate 18 are provided with distributors 44a and 44b which allow the pores 44a and 44b to communicate with the corresponding passages A1, A2, Cl and C2 so that the fuel gases and the oxidizer may be introduced to the passages Al, A~, Cl and C2 formed on the upper and lower faces of the separator 18. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, if the fuel gases are desired to be supplied to the anode side gas passage A2 of the separator plate 18, an entrance distributor 44a is provided for the fuel gas supply passage 32a, and an exit distributor 44b is provided for the discharge passage 32b. For example, when there is provided a four~-channel supply/discharge line for the fuel gas and oxidlzer, four distributors 44a, 44b are provided alonq the pores 42 on either side of the separator plate 28.
Sealing frames 46 for ensuring a tight seal with the cell element 10 are respectively mounted on the upper and lower faces of the separator plate 18, and a punched metal plate 48 is provided inside the sealing frame 46 such that heat may be transferred between two adjacent cell elements through the projecting fins 22 and 24 of the separator plate lO and the pun~hed metal plate 48 while allowing the supplied gases to pass through the passages.
Assembly of the above described fuel cell system including the cell elements 10 and the separator plates 18, stacked on top o~ each other, will be explained with reference to Figure 3.
A fuel cell body 20, which is a laminated body of a plurality of cell elements 10 and separator plates 18, is located on the bottom holder 50, and a top holder S2 is placed on the top face of the laminated body 20. In the bottom and top holders 50 and 52, entrance and exit ports 30A, 32A, 34A, 36A, 30B, 32B, 34B, and 36B are formed, which are respectively connected to the gas supply passage 30, 32a, 34a, 36a and the discharge passage 30b, 32b, 34b, 36b. To connect these entrance and exit ports to each other, paths 52a and 52b are formed within the holders 50 and 52.
Terminals for taking out electric current, 54 and 56 are also provided on the lower and upper holders 50 and 52.
A presser plate 60 is disposed on the upper holder 52 via a bellows 58. Lugs 62 and 64 project from the lower holder and the presser plate 60 respectively at corresponding positions 1 30~776 thereof, and each pair of lugs 62 and 64 are joined by a rod 68 and nuts 70. Reinforcement members are integrally provided on the presser plate 60 so as to span every two lugs 64 in the width direction of the fuel cell body.
According to the fuel cell constructed in the above manner, when the power géneration temperature is set to 650 degrees C, fuel gas, such as hydrogen, at approximately 500 degrees C
has to be supplied to the inlet port 30A and 32A. The fuel gas is, for example, hydrogen-rich gas which is obtained by reforming natural gas with steam by a reformer.
Oxidant gas of approximately 400 degrees C is fed to the inlets 34A and 36A. Preferably between ten and twenty times as much oxidizer gas is supplied as fuel gas.
Upon power generation, steam and CO2 are expelled from the fuel gas exit 30B and 32B while residual gases are exhausted from the oxidant gas exit 34B and 36B.
Referring now to Figure 7, Al and A2 indicate fuel gas temperature. Cl and C2 indicate oxidant gas temperature, and I indicates cell element temperature in the direction the respective gaseC flow.
According to the present invention, since the fins 22 and 24, which serve as thermal transfer assisting means/ are provided near the entrances and the exits of the separator plate, heat propagation between the oxidizer gas flowing through C1 and C2, which is influential to the temperature distribution, is promoted, whereby the variation of the cell element temperature profile I becomes more gentle, namely the temperature range is reduced to as little as about one hundred degrees C, with symmetrical configuration.
Figure 10 shows a temperature profile of a fuel cell of conventional structure: the cathode side gas C1 and C2 flow in the same direction ("co-flow" type) for comparison with Figure 8. In Figure 10, the gas temperature at the entrance is about 550C and that at the exit is about 700OC, so that the profile has a large variation of approximately 150C.
Figure 8 illustrates a basic construction of another embodiment of the present invention. A major feature of this illustrated embodiment lies in the way the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow in, i. e. the fuel gas and the oxidant gas flow perpendicularly to each other along the upper face and the lower face of the separator plate 18 respectively. The lo fundamental structure of the fuel cell of this embodiment is identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 and like numerals are assigned to like components in both figures, so that explanation about those components is omitted.
In this particular embodiment, the projecting fins 22 and 24 of the cathode plate 16 are laid in the direction perpendicular to those of the anode 14 so the passages C1 and C2 on the cathode plate may cros~ the passages Al and A2 on the anode plate at right angles.
A fuel cell employing the basic structure depicted in Figure 8 iB illustrated in Figure 9. The cell element 10 and the separator plate 18 have square openings 40 and 42 made along the periphery thereof so as to form the supply and discharge paths for the fuel gas and oxidant gas. The distributors 44 are formed at the openings 42 for respective paths of the separator plates 18.
Entrance and exit ports for the fuel gas and the oxidant gas 30A, 32A, 34A, 36A, 30B, 32B, 34B and 36B are respectively provided for the lower holder 50 and the upper holder 52, and therefore the fuel gas and the oxidant gas enter from those entrance ports, flowing through the passages 30a, 32a/ 34a, and 36a, 30b, 32b, 34b and 36b, and discharged from the exit ports.
In this embodiment, although the directions of the fuel gas flow and the oxidant gas flow are orthogonal at two faces of each separator plate 18, the projecting fins 22 and 24 disposed in the gas passages function as the heat transmission assisting means, likewise as mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, thereby improving heat exchange between the fuel gas flowing along one face of the separator and the oxidant gas flowing along the other face thereof. Hence, the temperature profile of the cell element 10 exhibits a more gentle rise and fall.
Those skilled in the art may make various modifications to the preferred embodiments chosen to illustrate the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present contribution to the art. For example, the cathode may be attached to the lower face of the cell element 10 and the anode to the upper face thereof. Also, the direction the fuel gas flows in and the locations of the openings 40 and 42 are not limlted to those illustrated in the figures since the fuel gas has little influence on the temperature distribution of the cell element. Moreover, the configurations of the fins 22 and 24 are not limited to those illustrated.
Claims
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between the anode plate and the cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply gaseous oxidizer to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising: anode side gas supply means for supplying the fuel gas to fuel gas passages formed on one face of the separator plate; cathode side gas supply means for supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages formed on the other face of the separator plate such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator; and heat transfer assisting means on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat transfer in the direction the separator plates and the cell elements are stacked.
2. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte plate is made from fused carbonate.
3. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anode side gas supply and discharge means of one separator plate supplies the fuel gas in a direction parallel to the oxidizer gas supplied from the cathode gas supply and discharge means of the next separator plate with respect to the cell element between these separator plates.
4. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are provided at the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates.
5. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates.
6. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates, and projections are provided between those fins.
7. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fins are arranged in parallel rows in the direction of gas flow.
8. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fins are arranged to contact with the anode or cathode which faces the fins in the direction in which the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked.
9 A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the separator plates so as to supply fuel to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked on one another to create a plurality of stages, the separator plates being formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passage between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face and forms the oxidizer gas passage between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said other face, a plurality of openings being formed along both lateral sides of the cell elements and the separator plates such that these openings form paths for supplying and discharging the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas when the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, anode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and exit of the fuel gas passages, cathode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the oxidizer gas passages such that the oxidizer gas flows through one separator plate in a direction opposite to the oxidizer gas flowing through the next separator plate, heat transfer assisting means being formed in the passages on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the separator plates and the cell elements are stacked, holding means being provided for clamping the stacked cell elements and the separator plates, and means being provided for the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages respectively to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and discharge the same therefrom.
10, A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein an electrolyte of the cell element is made from fused carbonate.
11. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plate.
12. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates.
13. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidant gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates, and projections are provided between those fins.
14. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fins are arranged in parallel rows in the direction of gas flow.
15. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein each separator plate is provided with perforated plates on the front and back faces thereof so as to contact the neighboring cell elements facing said front and back faces, and sealing frames, each of which is provided for the perforated plate such that it surrounds the perforated plate and ensures a good seal with the stacked cell elements.
16. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 15, wherein the heat transfer assisting means contacts the cell element via the perforated plate.
17. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 15, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passage and the oxidant gas passages on the front and the back faces of the separator plates, and the plurality of fins formed on one face of the separator plate contact with the anode plate of a neighboring cell element via the perforated plate, and the fins formed on the other face contact with the cathode plate of the other neighboring cell element via another perforated plate.
18. A fuel cell as claimed claim 9, wherein the cell elements are stacked with all the anode plates directed in one predetermined direction and all the cathode plates in the directed in opposite predetermined direction, and terminals for taking out electric current are provided on the holder means, disposed at both ends of the fuel cell.
19. A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, and an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between an anode plate and cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to creating a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising: cathode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied through one separator plate can flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; anode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging fuel gas such that the fuel gas supplied through one separator plate may flow in the direction perpendicular to the fuel gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; and heat transmission assisting means formed on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked.
20. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein an electrolyte of the cell element is made from fused carbonate.
21. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plate.
21. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidant gas passages on the front and back faces of each separator plate such that the fins formed on the front face extend perpendicular relative to the fins on the back face.
23. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein the heat transfer assisting means includes a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates such that the fins formed on the front face extend perpendicular relative to the fins on the back face, and projections provided on the separator plate between those fins.
24. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, wherein the fins on each face of the separator plate are arranged like parallel rows.
25. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, wherein fins of one face of the separator plate contact with the anode plate facing said one face, and fins of the other face contact with the cathode plate facing said the other face.
26. A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, wherein the separator plates are formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passages between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face, and forms the oxidizer gas passages between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said the other face; a plurality of openings are formed at predetermined intervals along the periphery of each cell element and each separator plate such that the openings can form fuel gas and oxidizer gas paths extending in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, and such that the openings bored along two opposite segments of the periphery of each cell element and separator plate serve as a part of the oxidizer gas path while the openings bored along the other two opposite segments of the periphery of the same serve as a part of the fuel gas path, so as to allow the oxidizer gas flow perpendicular to the fuel gas; cathode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the passages for the oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the next separator plate; anode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passages so as to distribute the fuel gas to the groups of fuel gas passages of each face of the separator plate; heat transfer assisting means formed in the passages of both faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked: holding means for clamping the stacked fuel elements and the separator plates; and means are provided on the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and to discharge the same therefrom .
27. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein an electrolyte of the cell element is made from fused carbonate.
28. A fuel cell as claimed claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plate respectively.
29. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means includes a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates respectively.
30. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means includes a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates, and projections are formed on the separator plate between those fins.
31. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 29, wherein the fins are arranged in parallel rows on each face of the separator plate in the direction of gas flows.
32. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein each separator plate is provided with perforated plates on the front and back faces thereof so that each face of the separator plate contacts with the neighboring cell elements facing each face of the separator plates, and sealing frames, each of which sealing frame is provided for the perforated plate such that it surrounds the perforated plate and ensures the sealing with the cell element when the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked up one on the other.
33. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, wherein the heat transfer assisting means contact the cell element via the perforated plate.
34. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed in the vicinity of the entrances and the exits of the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages of each Separator plate, and the plurality of fins formed on one face of the separator plate contact with the anode plate of a neighboring cell element via the perforated plate, and the fins formed on the other face contact with the cathode plate of the other neighboring cell element via another perforated plate.
35. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cell elements are stacked with all the anode plates directed in a predetermined one direction and all the cathode plates in the opposite direction, and terminals for taking out electric current are respectively provided on the holder means disposed at both ends of the fuel cell.
36. A method of improving the temperature distribution in a cell element of a fuel cell, the fuel cell including: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said method comprising the steps of: supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas passages on one face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the fuel gas passages; forming heat transfer assisting means on both faces of each separator plate; supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages on the other face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the oxidizer passages in a manner such that the gaseous oxidizer supplied to one separator plate flows in the direction perpendicular to the gaseous oxidizer supplied to the next separator plate; and transmitting heat through the heat transfer assisting means between the gaseous oxidizer supplied to adjacent separator plates in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked near the entrances and the exits of the gaseous oxidizer passages.
37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the electrolyte plate is made from fused carbonate.
38. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the fuel gas is supplied in the counter or cross direction against the oxidizer gas with respect to one separator plate.
39. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the fuel gas includes hydrogen and the oxidizer includes oxygen.
40. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the power generation temperature is between 650 and 700°C, about 10 to 20 times as much oxidizer gas being supplied by volume as the fuel gas.
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between the anode plate and the cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply gaseous oxidizer to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising: anode side gas supply means for supplying the fuel gas to fuel gas passages formed on one face of the separator plate; cathode side gas supply means for supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages formed on the other face of the separator plate such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator; and heat transfer assisting means on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat transfer in the direction the separator plates and the cell elements are stacked.
2. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte plate is made from fused carbonate.
3. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anode side gas supply and discharge means of one separator plate supplies the fuel gas in a direction parallel to the oxidizer gas supplied from the cathode gas supply and discharge means of the next separator plate with respect to the cell element between these separator plates.
4. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are provided at the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates.
5. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates.
6. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates, and projections are provided between those fins.
7. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fins are arranged in parallel rows in the direction of gas flow.
8. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fins are arranged to contact with the anode or cathode which faces the fins in the direction in which the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked.
9 A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the separator plates so as to supply fuel to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked on one another to create a plurality of stages, the separator plates being formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passage between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face and forms the oxidizer gas passage between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said other face, a plurality of openings being formed along both lateral sides of the cell elements and the separator plates such that these openings form paths for supplying and discharging the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas when the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, anode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and exit of the fuel gas passages, cathode side distributors being provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the oxidizer gas passages such that the oxidizer gas flows through one separator plate in a direction opposite to the oxidizer gas flowing through the next separator plate, heat transfer assisting means being formed in the passages on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the separator plates and the cell elements are stacked, holding means being provided for clamping the stacked cell elements and the separator plates, and means being provided for the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages respectively to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and discharge the same therefrom.
10, A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein an electrolyte of the cell element is made from fused carbonate.
11. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plate.
12. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates.
13. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidant gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates, and projections are provided between those fins.
14. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fins are arranged in parallel rows in the direction of gas flow.
15. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 9, wherein each separator plate is provided with perforated plates on the front and back faces thereof so as to contact the neighboring cell elements facing said front and back faces, and sealing frames, each of which is provided for the perforated plate such that it surrounds the perforated plate and ensures a good seal with the stacked cell elements.
16. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 15, wherein the heat transfer assisting means contacts the cell element via the perforated plate.
17. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 15, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passage and the oxidant gas passages on the front and the back faces of the separator plates, and the plurality of fins formed on one face of the separator plate contact with the anode plate of a neighboring cell element via the perforated plate, and the fins formed on the other face contact with the cathode plate of the other neighboring cell element via another perforated plate.
18. A fuel cell as claimed claim 9, wherein the cell elements are stacked with all the anode plates directed in one predetermined direction and all the cathode plates in the directed in opposite predetermined direction, and terminals for taking out electric current are provided on the holder means, disposed at both ends of the fuel cell.
19. A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate, and an anode plate and a cathode plate, the electrolyte plate being sandwiched between an anode plate and cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to creating a plurality of stages, said fuel cell further comprising: cathode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied through one separator plate can flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; anode side gas supply and discharge means for supplying and discharging fuel gas such that the fuel gas supplied through one separator plate may flow in the direction perpendicular to the fuel gas supplied to the adjacent separator plate; and heat transmission assisting means formed on the front and back faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked.
20. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein an electrolyte of the cell element is made from fused carbonate.
21. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plate.
21. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidant gas passages on the front and back faces of each separator plate such that the fins formed on the front face extend perpendicular relative to the fins on the back face.
23. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, wherein the heat transfer assisting means includes a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates such that the fins formed on the front face extend perpendicular relative to the fins on the back face, and projections provided on the separator plate between those fins.
24. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, wherein the fins on each face of the separator plate are arranged like parallel rows.
25. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, wherein fins of one face of the separator plate contact with the anode plate facing said one face, and fins of the other face contact with the cathode plate facing said the other face.
26. A fuel cell comprising: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces thereof so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidizer gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, wherein the separator plates are formed such that each separator plate forms the fuel gas passages between one face thereof and the cell element facing said one face, and forms the oxidizer gas passages between the other face thereof and another cell element facing said the other face; a plurality of openings are formed at predetermined intervals along the periphery of each cell element and each separator plate such that the openings can form fuel gas and oxidizer gas paths extending in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked, and such that the openings bored along two opposite segments of the periphery of each cell element and separator plate serve as a part of the oxidizer gas path while the openings bored along the other two opposite segments of the periphery of the same serve as a part of the fuel gas path, so as to allow the oxidizer gas flow perpendicular to the fuel gas; cathode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the passages for the oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas supplied to one separator plate may flow in the direction opposite to the oxidizer gas supplied to the next separator plate; anode side distributors are provided in the vicinity of the openings which serve as the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passages so as to distribute the fuel gas to the groups of fuel gas passages of each face of the separator plate; heat transfer assisting means formed in the passages of both faces of each separator plate so as to assist heat propagation in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked: holding means for clamping the stacked fuel elements and the separator plates; and means are provided on the holding means and connected to the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages to supply the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas to the passages and to discharge the same therefrom .
27. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein an electrolyte of the cell element is made from fused carbonate.
28. A fuel cell as claimed claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means are formed in the vicinity of the entrance and the exit of the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plate respectively.
29. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means includes a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates respectively.
30. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means includes a plurality of fins formed near the entrance and the exit of the fuel and oxidizer gas passages on the front and back faces of the separator plates, and projections are formed on the separator plate between those fins.
31. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 29, wherein the fins are arranged in parallel rows on each face of the separator plate in the direction of gas flows.
32. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein each separator plate is provided with perforated plates on the front and back faces thereof so that each face of the separator plate contacts with the neighboring cell elements facing each face of the separator plates, and sealing frames, each of which sealing frame is provided for the perforated plate such that it surrounds the perforated plate and ensures the sealing with the cell element when the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked up one on the other.
33. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, wherein the heat transfer assisting means contact the cell element via the perforated plate.
34. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer assisting means comprise a plurality of fins formed in the vicinity of the entrances and the exits of the fuel gas passages and the oxidizer gas passages of each Separator plate, and the plurality of fins formed on one face of the separator plate contact with the anode plate of a neighboring cell element via the perforated plate, and the fins formed on the other face contact with the cathode plate of the other neighboring cell element via another perforated plate.
35. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cell elements are stacked with all the anode plates directed in a predetermined one direction and all the cathode plates in the opposite direction, and terminals for taking out electric current are respectively provided on the holder means disposed at both ends of the fuel cell.
36. A method of improving the temperature distribution in a cell element of a fuel cell, the fuel cell including: cell elements, each cell element including an electrolyte plate sandwiched between an anode plate and a cathode plate; and separator plates, each separator plate having passages formed on the front and back faces of the cell elements so as to supply fuel gas to the anode plate of the cell element and to supply oxidant gas to the cathode plate, the cell elements and the separator plates being stacked one on the other to create a plurality of stages, said method comprising the steps of: supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas passages on one face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the fuel gas passages; forming heat transfer assisting means on both faces of each separator plate; supplying the gaseous oxidizer to the oxidizer passages on the other face of each separator plate and discharging the same from the oxidizer passages in a manner such that the gaseous oxidizer supplied to one separator plate flows in the direction perpendicular to the gaseous oxidizer supplied to the next separator plate; and transmitting heat through the heat transfer assisting means between the gaseous oxidizer supplied to adjacent separator plates in the direction the cell elements and the separator plates are stacked near the entrances and the exits of the gaseous oxidizer passages.
37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the electrolyte plate is made from fused carbonate.
38. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the fuel gas is supplied in the counter or cross direction against the oxidizer gas with respect to one separator plate.
39. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the fuel gas includes hydrogen and the oxidizer includes oxygen.
40. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the power generation temperature is between 650 and 700°C, about 10 to 20 times as much oxidizer gas being supplied by volume as the fuel gas.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000584230A CA1308776C (en) | 1988-11-25 | 1988-11-25 | Fuel cell and method of ameliorating temperature distribution thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000584230A CA1308776C (en) | 1988-11-25 | 1988-11-25 | Fuel cell and method of ameliorating temperature distribution thereof |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1308776C true CA1308776C (en) | 1992-10-13 |
Family
ID=4139184
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000584230A Expired - Fee Related CA1308776C (en) | 1988-11-25 | 1988-11-25 | Fuel cell and method of ameliorating temperature distribution thereof |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1308776C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110495031A (en) * | 2017-04-13 | 2019-11-22 | Avl李斯特有限公司 | The cell of fuel cell of auxiliary device with stacking |
-
1988
- 1988-11-25 CA CA000584230A patent/CA1308776C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110495031A (en) * | 2017-04-13 | 2019-11-22 | Avl李斯特有限公司 | The cell of fuel cell of auxiliary device with stacking |
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