US20090090637A1 - Reliable, Fault-Tolerant, Electrolyzer Cell Stack Architecture - Google Patents
Reliable, Fault-Tolerant, Electrolyzer Cell Stack Architecture Download PDFInfo
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- US20090090637A1 US20090090637A1 US11/867,354 US86735407A US2009090637A1 US 20090090637 A1 US20090090637 A1 US 20090090637A1 US 86735407 A US86735407 A US 86735407A US 2009090637 A1 US2009090637 A1 US 2009090637A1
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B15/00—Operating or servicing cells
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
- C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells
Definitions
- the present invention relates to electrolyzer cell stacks and more particularly to methods for increasing the reliability and fault tolerance of electrolyzer cell stacks.
- renewable energy sources will ideally supply a large portion of the energy required to sustain our society.
- renewable energy may come in various forms, systems and methods are needed to efficiently convert this renewable energy into a form that is convenient and useable with different applications. For example, it may be necessary to convert electricity generated from wind and solar power to fuels such as hydrogen or synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to make it easier to store and transport.
- fuels such as hydrogen or synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to make it easier to store and transport.
- an electrolyzer cell stack such as a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) stack.
- SOEC solid oxide electrolyzer cell
- Such a stack may include numerous individual cells electrically stacked in a series configuration. Although each cell individually may be quite reliable with a low probability of failure (e.g., 1/10,000,000 chance of failure), stacking multiple cells together significantly compounds the probability of failure. This is because the stack will perform only as well as the least reliable cell. Thus, a failed cell (e.g., a cell acting as an open circuit) will cause the stack as a whole to fail. Similarly, a highly resistive cell will reduce the performance of every other cell in the stack. Due to the increasing probability of failure, some feel it is impractical to continue to increase the number of cells in electrolyzer cell stacks beyond a certain level.
- SOEC solid oxide electrolyzer cell
- each layer of the cell stack may include multiple independent cells arranged into an array.
- Interconnects may be placed between each layer to electrically connect the cells within each layer into a parallel configuration.
- multiple paths may be provided for electricity to flow through the stack. This allows the current to take an alternative path through the stack to avoid an open or highly resistive cell in one or more of the layers.
- this solution may be inefficient in the way it utilizes the area of each layer in the stack and may increase the complexity of each layer.
- This solution may also make it difficult to seal the area between the cells of each layer. Specifically, this solution may require that a seal be placed around each cell in the layer as well as around the entire array of cells in the layer. Thus, this solution may be difficult and costly to implement.
- one embodiment of a method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack includes providing multiple electrolyzer cell stacks, such as multiple solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks. Each electrolyzer cell stack includes multiple cells electrically connected in series. An external power source may be used to provide an electrical current through the electrolyzer cell stacks to cause the electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel. In the event that one or more cells of the electrolyzer cell stacks fail, the method includes electrically routing all or part of the current previously traveling through the failed cell through one or more cells of another electrolyzer cell stack. In selected embodiments, a failure may include a condition which makes a cell act as an open circuit or a condition which increases the resistance of a cell.
- a method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack may include providing multiple electrolyzer cell stacks. Each electrolyzer cell stack includes multiple cells separated by electrically conductive interconnects. The method includes generating, using an external power source, an electrical current through each of the electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel. The method further includes electrically connecting an interconnect of a first electrolyzer cell stack to an interconnect of a second electrolyzer cell stack located at a substantially equivalent electrical potential. This allows current to flow from the first electrolyzer cell stack to the second electrolyzer cell stack in the event a cell fails or increases in resistance.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an electrolyzer cell having an electrically conductive tab integrated into an interconnect thereof;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled electrolyzer cell containing the components illustrated in FIG. 1 ;
- an electrolyzer cell 100 in accordance with the invention is illustrated. Particular reference is made herein to solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOECs) with the understanding that the methods disclosed herein may also be applicable to other types of electrolyzer cells.
- SOECs solid oxide electrolyzer cells
- an electrolyzer cell 100 may, in certain embodiments, include an electrolyte layer 102 , such as an ionically conductive ceramic layer 102 .
- the electrolyte may also be an ionically conductive liquid or a membrane of appropriate material.
- Electrodes 104 a , 104 b may be deposited, such as by screen printing or otherwise installed on each side of the electrolyte layer 102 .
- the electrodes 104 a , 104 b may be porous to facilitate the flow of gas therethrough.
- corrugated and perforated layers 108 , 110 may be placed adjacent to each of the electrodes 104 a , 104 b .
- These layers 108 , 110 may be used to create open space to facilitate gas flow to the electrodes 104 a , 104 b and may be positioned perpendicular to one another to facilitate gas flow in two perpendicular directions.
- the layers 108 , 110 may also be formed in various configurations and may be designed for parallel or possibly counter-flow of the gases. For example, steam, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof may flow to the lower electrode 104 b through the space created by the corrugated layer 110 .
- gases may be converted to a fuel such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or a combination thereof, which may flow away from the electrode 104 b through the same space.
- oxygen may be generated at the other electrode 104 a where it may flow through open space created by the layer 108 .
- various gases may be generated during the reaction on the electrodes.
- a proton conducting electrolyte would leave oxygen on the side where the steam entered while an oxygen conducting electrolyte would leave hydrogen on the side where the steam enters.
- Electrically conductive interconnect plates 112 a , 112 b may be placed adjacent to each corrugated layer 108 , 110 to physically separate each cell 100 , provide an electrically conductive path between each cell 100 , and create a barrier to prevent passage of gases between adjacent cells 100 .
- Edge rails 114 a , 114 b may be used to seal the sides of the cell 100 by abutting against the interconnect plates 112 a , 112 b and the ceramic electrolyte layer 102 .
- the upper and lower sets of rails 114 a , 114 b may be aligned perpendicular to one another to accommodate gas flow in two directions (cross-flow). It is also possible to align the interconnect plates to allow parallel flow of the gases or by proper manifold arrangements to create a counter-flow of the gases.
- an interconnect 112 a may include a tab 116 or other projection 116 to conduct electrical current to and from an electrolyzer cell stack. As will be explained in more detail hereafter, this tab 116 may be used to connect the interconnect plate 112 a to a similarly positioned interconnect plate 112 a of another electrolyzer cell stack. As will be further explained, this provides an alternate path for electrical current to flow in the event a cell 100 in one of the electrolyzer cell stacks fails.
- the cell 100 when assembled, may include channels 120 a , 120 b extending from front-to-back and side-to-side to carry gases in and out of the cell 100 .
- the tab 116 may extend from the assembled cell 100 to facilitate connection to a wire or other conductor.
- multiple cells 100 may be stacked to create an electrolyzer cell stack 130 .
- selected interconnects 112 a may be provided with tabs 116 a - e to conduct current to and from the interconnects 112 a .
- Tabs 116 a , 116 e located on either end of the stack 130 may connect the stack 130 to an external power source. This power source may be used to apply a potential to the stack 130 and generate an electrical current through the stack 130 .
- the intermediate tabs 116 b - d are used primarily to transfer current to and from a similarly positioned tab of another electrolyzer cell stack, as will be explained in more detail in association with FIG. 4 .
- two or more stacks 130 a , 130 b may be integrated to create a reliable, fault-tolerant, electrolyzer cell stack architecture in accordance with the invention.
- the stacks 130 a , 130 b may share part of a manifold system.
- channels 132 a , 132 b and manifolds 134 a , 134 b located at or near the ends of the stacks 130 a , 130 b may be used to deliver steam, carbon dioxide, or the like to the stacks 130 a , 130 b .
- a central shared channel 132 c and manifold 134 c may output a fuel such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or a combination thereof collected from the stacks 130 a , 130 b.
- Tabs 116 a - e extending from the cell stack 130 a may be electrically connected to similarly positioned tabs 116 a - e extending from the other cell stack 130 b . This may be accomplished using conductors 140 a - e such as wires, bus bars, or the like. In selected embodiments, the conductors 140 a - e and tabs 116 a - e may be integrated to provide an uninterrupted conductive path between the stacks 130 a , 130 b.
- the conductors 140 a - e may connect interconnects 112 a that are at roughly equivalent electrical potentials in each of the stacks 130 a , 130 a and may be used to wire the cells 100 of each stack 130 a , 130 b in parallel.
- the conductors 140 a - e may also even out any electrical potential imbalances that may exist at different levels within the cell stacks 130 a , 130 b.
- the conductors 140 a - e will transfer current from the higher potential interconnect to the lower potential interconnect, thereby transferring electrical current between the stacks 130 a , 130 b .
- a cell 100 fails such that it acts as an open circuit or becomes highly resistive, current will flow from one stack 130 a to the other in order to bypass the defective cell 100 . After the defective cell 100 has been bypassed, current will flow back to the stack 130 a with the defective cell 100 .
- the wiring of the stacks 130 a , 130 b greatly reduces the probability that a defective cell 100 or cells 100 in either stack 130 a , 130 b will take down the entire stack 130 a , 130 b.
- the tabs 116 a - e and conductors 140 a - e may be provided at every nth interconnect 112 a to provide a coarse-grained parallelism.
- every fourth, fifth, or sixth interconnect 112 a of the stacks 130 a , 130 b may be electrically connected. This granularity may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of interconnects 112 a between each tab 116 a - e and conductor 140 a - e .
- every interconnect of the stacks 130 a , 130 b may be connected together to provide a fine-grained parallelism.
- the illustrated embodiment shows a pair of electrolyzer stacks 130 a , 130 b in an integrated architecture
- the system and method disclosed herein may be used to link more than two stacks 130 a , 130 b .
- groups of two, three, four, or more stacks 130 a , 130 b may be linked together using the tabs 116 a - e and conductors 140 a - e disclosed herein.
- interconnects 112 a from multiple stacks may be linked together by connecting to a common bus.
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Abstract
A method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack includes providing multiple electrolyzer cell stacks. Each electrolyzer cell stack includes multiple cells separated by electrically conductive interconnects. The method may further include generating, using an external power source, an electrical current through each of the electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel. The method may further include electrically connecting an interconnect of a first electrolyzer cell stack to an interconnect of a second electrolyzer cell stack located at a substantially equivalent electrical potential. This allows current to flow from one electrolyzer cell stack to another in the event a cell fails or creates a point of high resistance.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to electrolyzer cell stacks and more particularly to methods for increasing the reliability and fault tolerance of electrolyzer cell stacks.
- 2. Background
- In the future, renewable energy sources will ideally supply a large portion of the energy required to sustain our society. Because renewable energy may come in various forms, systems and methods are needed to efficiently convert this renewable energy into a form that is convenient and useable with different applications. For example, it may be necessary to convert electricity generated from wind and solar power to fuels such as hydrogen or synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to make it easier to store and transport.
- One method of converting electricity to hydrogen or synthesis gas is to use an electrolyzer cell stack, such as a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) stack. Such a stack may include numerous individual cells electrically stacked in a series configuration. Although each cell individually may be quite reliable with a low probability of failure (e.g., 1/10,000,000 chance of failure), stacking multiple cells together significantly compounds the probability of failure. This is because the stack will perform only as well as the least reliable cell. Thus, a failed cell (e.g., a cell acting as an open circuit) will cause the stack as a whole to fail. Similarly, a highly resistive cell will reduce the performance of every other cell in the stack. Due to the increasing probability of failure, some feel it is impractical to continue to increase the number of cells in electrolyzer cell stacks beyond a certain level.
- One possible solution to this problem may be to redesign each layer of the cell stack to include multiple independent cells arranged into an array. Interconnects may be placed between each layer to electrically connect the cells within each layer into a parallel configuration. Thus, multiple paths may be provided for electricity to flow through the stack. This allows the current to take an alternative path through the stack to avoid an open or highly resistive cell in one or more of the layers.
- Nevertheless, this solution may be inefficient in the way it utilizes the area of each layer in the stack and may increase the complexity of each layer. This solution may also make it difficult to seal the area between the cells of each layer. Specifically, this solution may require that a seal be placed around each cell in the layer as well as around the entire array of cells in the layer. Thus, this solution may be difficult and costly to implement.
- In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a method for increasing the reliability and fault tolerance of electrolyzer cell stacks, such as SOEC stacks, that is both simple and inexpensive to implement. Ideally, such a method could be used with conventional electrolyzer cell stacks having a single cell between each interconnect.
- Consistent with the foregoing, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, one embodiment of a method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack includes providing multiple electrolyzer cell stacks, such as multiple solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks. Each electrolyzer cell stack includes multiple cells electrically connected in series. An external power source may be used to provide an electrical current through the electrolyzer cell stacks to cause the electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel. In the event that one or more cells of the electrolyzer cell stacks fail, the method includes electrically routing all or part of the current previously traveling through the failed cell through one or more cells of another electrolyzer cell stack. In selected embodiments, a failure may include a condition which makes a cell act as an open circuit or a condition which increases the resistance of a cell.
- In another aspect of the invention, a method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack may include providing multiple electrolyzer cell stacks. Each electrolyzer cell stack includes multiple cells separated by electrically conductive interconnects. The method includes generating, using an external power source, an electrical current through each of the electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel. The method further includes electrically connecting an interconnect of a first electrolyzer cell stack to an interconnect of a second electrolyzer cell stack located at a substantially equivalent electrical potential. This allows current to flow from the first electrolyzer cell stack to the second electrolyzer cell stack in the event a cell fails or increases in resistance.
- In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack includes providing multiple electrolyzer cell stacks, where each stack includes multiple cells separated by electrically conductive interconnects. The method may further include generating, using an external power source, an electrical current through each of the electrolyzer cell stacks in order to produce a fuel. The method may further include electrically connecting selected interconnects of one electrolyzer cell stack to selected interconnects of another electrolyzer cell stack. The interconnects that are connected together are located at substantially equivalent electrical potentials of the respective electrolyzer cell stacks. In selected embodiments, only interconnects at specific intervals are connected. Thus, the method may include electrically connecting every nth interconnect of an electrolyzer cell stack to every nth interconnect of another electrolyzer cell stack.
- In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited features and advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particular description of apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present invention and are not, therefore, to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, apparatus and methods in accordance with the present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an electrolyzer cell having an electrically conductive tab integrated into an interconnect thereof; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled electrolyzer cell containing the components illustrated inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an electrolyzer cell stack in accordance with the invention; and -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of multiple electrolyzer cell stacks integrated into a reliable, fault-tolerant architecture in accordance with the invention. - It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with the present invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the invention. The presently described embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.
- Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
- Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
- Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
- In the following description, numerous specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations such as vacuum sources are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , one embodiment of anelectrolyzer cell 100 in accordance with the invention is illustrated. Particular reference is made herein to solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOECs) with the understanding that the methods disclosed herein may also be applicable to other types of electrolyzer cells. As shown, anelectrolyzer cell 100 may, in certain embodiments, include anelectrolyte layer 102, such as an ionically conductiveceramic layer 102. The electrolyte may also be an ionically conductive liquid or a membrane of appropriate material.Electrodes electrolyte layer 102. Theelectrodes - To convey gases to the
electrodes perforated layers electrodes layers electrodes layers lower electrode 104 b through the space created by thecorrugated layer 110. These gases may be converted to a fuel such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or a combination thereof, which may flow away from theelectrode 104 b through the same space. Similarly, oxygen may be generated at theother electrode 104 a where it may flow through open space created by thelayer 108. Depending on the electrode and electrolyte assembly, various gases may be generated during the reaction on the electrodes. Thus, a proton conducting electrolyte would leave oxygen on the side where the steam entered while an oxygen conducting electrolyte would leave hydrogen on the side where the steam enters. - Electrically
conductive interconnect plates corrugated layer cell 100, provide an electrically conductive path between eachcell 100, and create a barrier to prevent passage of gases betweenadjacent cells 100. Edge rails 114 a, 114 b may be used to seal the sides of thecell 100 by abutting against theinterconnect plates ceramic electrolyte layer 102. The upper and lower sets ofrails - In selected embodiments, an
interconnect 112 a may include atab 116 orother projection 116 to conduct electrical current to and from an electrolyzer cell stack. As will be explained in more detail hereafter, thistab 116 may be used to connect theinterconnect plate 112 a to a similarly positionedinterconnect plate 112 a of another electrolyzer cell stack. As will be further explained, this provides an alternate path for electrical current to flow in the event acell 100 in one of the electrolyzer cell stacks fails. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , when assembled, thecell 100 may includechannels cell 100. Similarly, thetab 116 may extend from the assembledcell 100 to facilitate connection to a wire or other conductor. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , as mentioned,multiple cells 100 may be stacked to create anelectrolyzer cell stack 130. As shown, selectedinterconnects 112 a may be provided withtabs 116 a-e to conduct current to and from theinterconnects 112 a.Tabs 116 a, 116 e located on either end of thestack 130 may connect thestack 130 to an external power source. This power source may be used to apply a potential to thestack 130 and generate an electrical current through thestack 130. Theintermediate tabs 116 b-d, on the other hand, are used primarily to transfer current to and from a similarly positioned tab of another electrolyzer cell stack, as will be explained in more detail in association withFIG. 4 . - Referring to
FIG. 4 , as shown, two ormore stacks stacks channels manifolds stacks stacks channel 132 c andmanifold 134 c may output a fuel such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or a combination thereof collected from thestacks -
Tabs 116 a-e extending from thecell stack 130 a may be electrically connected to similarly positionedtabs 116 a-e extending from theother cell stack 130 b. This may be accomplished using conductors 140 a-e such as wires, bus bars, or the like. In selected embodiments, the conductors 140 a-e andtabs 116 a-e may be integrated to provide an uninterrupted conductive path between thestacks - The conductors 140 a-e may connect
interconnects 112 a that are at roughly equivalent electrical potentials in each of thestacks cells 100 of eachstack stacks - In the event a condition occurs which causes an electrical potential imbalance in the stacks, the conductors 140 a-e will transfer current from the higher potential interconnect to the lower potential interconnect, thereby transferring electrical current between the
stacks cell 100 fails such that it acts as an open circuit or becomes highly resistive, current will flow from onestack 130 a to the other in order to bypass thedefective cell 100. After thedefective cell 100 has been bypassed, current will flow back to thestack 130 a with thedefective cell 100. Thus, the wiring of thestacks defective cell 100 orcells 100 in either stack 130 a, 130 b will take down theentire stack - In selected embodiments, the
tabs 116 a-e and conductors 140 a-e may be provided at everynth interconnect 112 a to provide a coarse-grained parallelism. For example, every fourth, fifth, orsixth interconnect 112 a of thestacks interconnects 112 a between eachtab 116 a-e and conductor 140 a-e. In other embodiments, every interconnect of thestacks - Although the illustrated embodiment shows a pair of
electrolyzer stacks stacks more stacks tabs 116 a-e and conductors 140 a-e disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, interconnects 112 a from multiple stacks may be linked together by connecting to a common bus. - The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essence or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims (25)
1. A method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack, the method comprising:
providing first and second electrolyzer cell stacks, each electrolyzer cell stack comprising a plurality of cells electrically connected in series;
generating, using an external power source, a first current through the first electrolyzer cell stack and a second current through the second electrolyzer cell stack, thereby causing the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel;
electrically routing at least part of the first current through the second electrolyzer cell stack in the event at least one cell of the first electrolyzer cell stack fails.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks are solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein electrically routing comprises electrically routing at least part of the first current from a first interconnect of the first electrolyzer cell stack to a second interconnect of the second electrolyzer cell stack having a substantially equivalent electrical potential as the first interconnect.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein electrically routing comprises electrically routing at least part of the first current from the first interconnect to the second interconnect in the event the electrical potential of the first interconnect exceeds that of the second interconnect.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first and second interconnects each comprise an electrically conductive projection extending therefrom.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein electrically routing comprises electrically routing at least part of the first current through a conductor connected between the first and second electrically conductive projections.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cell produces one of an open circuit and a higher than normal resistance.
8. A method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack, the method comprising:
providing first and second electrolyzer cell stacks, each electrolyzer cell stack comprising a plurality of cells separated by a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects;
generating, using an external power source, a first current through the first electrolyzer cell stack and a second current through the second electrolyzer cell stack, thereby causing the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel; and
electrically connecting a first interconnect of the first electrolyzer cell stack to a second interconnect of the second electrolyzer cell stack located at a substantially equivalent electrical potential.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks are solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising electrically routing at least part of the first current from the first interconnect to the second interconnect in the event at least one cell of the first electrolyzer cell stack fails.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising electrically routing at least part of the first current from the first interconnect to the second interconnect in the event the electrical potential of the first interconnect exceeds that of the second interconnect.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second interconnects each comprise an electrically conductive projection extending therefrom.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein electrically connecting comprises extending a conductor between the electrically conductive projections.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the conductor is selected from the group consisting of a wire and a bus bar.
15. A method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack, the method comprising:
providing first and second electrolyzer cell stacks, each electrolyzer cell stack comprising a plurality of cells separated by a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects;
generating, using an external power source, a first current through the first electrolyzer cell stack and a second current through the second electrolyzer cell stack, thereby causing the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel; and
electrically connecting selected interconnects of the first electrolyzer cell stack to selected interconnects of the second electrolyzer cell stack located at substantially equivalent electrical potentials.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein electrically connecting comprises electrically connecting every nth interconnect of the first electrolyzer cell stack to every nth interconnect of the second electrolyzer cell stack.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks are solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selected interconnects each comprise an electrically conductive projection extending therefrom.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein electrically connecting comprises extending a conductor between the electrically conductive projections.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the conductor is selected from the group consisting of a wire and a bus bar.
21. A method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack, the method comprising:
providing first and second electrolyzer cell stacks, each electrolyzer cell stack comprising a plurality of cells separated by a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects, wherein the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks are solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks;
generating, using an external power source, a first current through the first electrolyzer cell stack and a second current through the second electrolyzer cell stack, thereby causing the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel; and
electrically connecting selected interconnects of the first electrolyzer cell stack to selected interconnects of the second electrolyzer cell stack located at substantially equivalent electrical potentials, wherein electrically connecting comprises electrically connecting every nth interconnect of the first electrolyzer cell stack to every nth interconnect of the second electrolyzer cell stack.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the selected interconnects each comprise an electrically conductive projection extending therefrom.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein electrically connecting comprises extending a conductor between the electrically conductive projections.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the conductor is selected from the group consisting of a wire and a bus bar.
25. A method for increasing the reliability of an electrolyzer cell stack, the method comprising:
providing first and second electrolyzer cell stacks, each electrolyzer cell stack comprising a plurality of cells separated by a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects, wherein the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks are solid oxide electrolyzer cell stacks;
generating, using an external power source, a first current through the first electrolyzer cell stack and a second current through the second electrolyzer cell stack, thereby causing the first and second electrolyzer cell stacks to produce a fuel; and
electrically connecting selected interconnects of the first electrolyzer cell stack to selected interconnects of the second electrolyzer cell stack located at substantially equivalent electrical potentials, wherein the selected interconnects each comprise an electrically conductive projection extending therefrom, and wherein electrically connecting comprises extending a conductor between the electrically conductive projections.
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US11/867,354 US20090090637A1 (en) | 2007-10-04 | 2007-10-04 | Reliable, Fault-Tolerant, Electrolyzer Cell Stack Architecture |
PCT/US2008/078811 WO2009046344A1 (en) | 2007-10-04 | 2008-10-03 | Reliable, fault-tolerant, electrolyzer cell stack architecture |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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FR2999612A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-20 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | METHOD FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER VAPOR AND ANOTHER GAS, INTERCONNECTOR, REACTOR AND METHODS OF OPERATION THEREOF |
WO2019132684A1 (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2019-07-04 | Mocevic Vojin | Modular device and procedure for producing reproducible quality hydrogen and oxygen gases |
WO2023021387A3 (en) * | 2021-08-16 | 2023-04-20 | Dioxycle | Methods and systems for automated optimization of co x electrolysis reactor |
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US4614628A (en) * | 1982-05-26 | 1986-09-30 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Solid electrolyte structure and method for forming |
US6368739B1 (en) * | 1999-09-08 | 2002-04-09 | Sofco | Joined solid oxide fuel cell stacks and method for fabricating same |
US7276306B2 (en) * | 2003-03-12 | 2007-10-02 | The Regents Of The University Of California | System for the co-production of electricity and hydrogen |
Family Cites Families (1)
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JP4761195B2 (en) * | 2005-08-18 | 2011-08-31 | 独立行政法人産業技術総合研究所 | Hydrogen production equipment |
-
2007
- 2007-10-04 US US11/867,354 patent/US20090090637A1/en not_active Abandoned
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2008
- 2008-10-03 WO PCT/US2008/078811 patent/WO2009046344A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US4614628A (en) * | 1982-05-26 | 1986-09-30 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Solid electrolyte structure and method for forming |
US6368739B1 (en) * | 1999-09-08 | 2002-04-09 | Sofco | Joined solid oxide fuel cell stacks and method for fabricating same |
US7276306B2 (en) * | 2003-03-12 | 2007-10-02 | The Regents Of The University Of California | System for the co-production of electricity and hydrogen |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2999612A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-20 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | METHOD FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER VAPOR AND ANOTHER GAS, INTERCONNECTOR, REACTOR AND METHODS OF OPERATION THEREOF |
WO2014097101A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-26 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives | Method for high-temperature electrolysis of steam and another gas, related interconnector, electrolysis reactor and operating methods |
US9920437B2 (en) | 2012-12-17 | 2018-03-20 | Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives | Method for high-temperature electrolysis of steam and another gas, related interconnector, electrolysis reactor and operating methods |
WO2019132684A1 (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2019-07-04 | Mocevic Vojin | Modular device and procedure for producing reproducible quality hydrogen and oxygen gases |
WO2023021387A3 (en) * | 2021-08-16 | 2023-04-20 | Dioxycle | Methods and systems for automated optimization of co x electrolysis reactor |
Also Published As
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WO2009046344A1 (en) | 2009-04-09 |
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