start-up gas supply

prolonged

reduction

conductivities

treatment.

were,

however,

those observed previously (Ba, Sr, Ca)o,GTi0.2Nbo,803, decrease with

increasing

RR.

J.T.S.

Slater,

124(1/2)

61-72

The slightly

observed lower

than

for the related system and were found to M content,

Irvine:

x.

Solid

(1 September

State

Ionic:

1999).

Sol-gel synthesis of YSZ membranes Yttria-stabilised were

zirconia

synthesised

by controlled

condensation Yttrium

(YSZ)

of zirconium

nitrate

Changes in the performance solid oxide fuel cells with

electrolyte

membrane

material.

Fast degradation

the

porous

metal)

hydrolysis

and

(typically

around

sintering

of nickel

hydrolysis

as

anode,

process

the

zirconium

electronic

acetylacetone, for

The

dependence

n-propanol

hydrolysis.

membranes

by

membranes

(solvent)

With were

supports

of YSZ

as well as gelation time was experimentally on the contents of a

prepared a

stable

were characterised

permeability

(zirconia)

electrolyte

medium”

theory

process.

testing.

by SEM

The and gas

Unsupported

YSZ

membranes were also prepared with the same sol, and were investigated with isothermal nitrogen adsorption/desorption and XRD. The results membranes

with prepared

successfully with Xia

the polymeric

nanosize pores were by the sol-gel technique

Cao

with

Wang

Guangyao,

Science

Hong,

particles

Applicant:

D&n

The patent not only

describes

an electrode

material

electrical

conductivity,

permeability,

water

chemicals, proved

but

repellency properties,

processability. The electrode is formed

gaseous diffusion using a nonwoven

comprising

a fluoro-resin

conductive

fibre.

Patent

number:

Publication

WQ

Inwntors:

S. Tamaru,

proportion

of electrolyte, these factors.

Applicant: A reforming

reactor

reactor

stages,

material.

A heater

Fuel Cells

Bulletin

AC, has three

all

charged

is assigned

No. 14

slower inlet

eliminating

Inventors:

perovskite

type

expansion

coefficients.

La(Ni-M)03

(M

being used

However,

IaNiO,

was

oxides

with

They

therefore

= Al,

Cr,

and investigated

their

found

that

prepared

Fe, Co,

Ga)

characteristics

cathode

as

materials.

LaNi1-I!e,03

requirements

Al or form

low thermal

Mn,

fuel cell (SOFC)

It

satisfies

for a cathode,

the

if x - 0.4 in

has its highest

electronic

with

permits

ageing

effect

heat

a smaller

resulting

from

The catalyst

charge floating

from

separator

is relatively

and

(YSZ)

x lOA

Y. Sakurai:

281-288

a chemical

a flux switch

species, and

can be and is

Inventors:

and pressure

the

fuel cells with

S. Amarasinghe,

SOFC cover/start-up Siemens

weight.

F. Tinoco

Corporation,

gas supply

Westinghouse

A cover and start-up gas supply oxide fuel cell power generator Research

hydrocarbon

exhibit gradient

can be used to improve separation

distinct interfaces.

flux Such

fuel cells and to of

different

chemical species, such as transition metal species (lanthanides and actinides). Various magnetic

burner. prior

fuel,

Combustion to delivery

the combusted

Power

USA system for a solid is described. A

such as natural

fuel, and oxygen-containing from

species

to enable

date: 27 July 1999 J. Leddy,

Applicant:

USA composites

a

applications.

D. Heil

of Iowa

Publication

to make two chemical

chemical

distribution,

of ambient

State

1999).

to regulate the flow of

to control

enhanced performance and reduced Patent number: US 5928804

reforming stage in the

K-l).

(2 September

between

the

x 10”

Solid

can be used, for example,

species, to form

to

value (10.0

(12.0

F. Yoshimura,

for distinguishing

transport

closer

stage. The main

composites

and

30 to 1000°C K-l)

Y,O,

hzics 124(3/4)

composites

lo@

coefficient

production

US 5928614

transport

%. Chiba,

x

(180

expansion

the need for a hot gas filter

date: 27 July 1999

resulting

of LaNio~~Fe0,403

thermal

than Lao,Sro,Mn03

supplied

for mobile

University

than that of La,,&,,Mn03

<-I)

after

stage can filter

R. Autenrieth,

Foundation,

is

on the probability

in the central

suitable

Patent number:

composites a catalyst

stable

Zr0.+.08

Publication

properties

with

This

from

that substitution by Cr, Fe, Mn, be more suitable because they

3.92

fuel cell fabric

only to the central

considered Ga would

may not be the

particularly

arranged

in SOFCs.

(11.4

and

Germany

material

whose

high.

can be stabilised at high temperature, if some of the Ni is substituted by Co ions; the authors also

low

performance

This

gas constituents. the

pores,

of two metal grains.

reactor

reactor.

particles,

Applicant:

serially

best

in sintering

the inlet

that

and

optimal temperature range. This reformer implemented at relatively low cost,

J. Asano

as cathode

that the “best”

to

of methanol

Daimler-Benz

the

The latter depends

stage, with

Magnetic

Reforming

metal

degradation

provides

the outlet

i.e. the relative

It is shown

before

Magnetic

K. Yamamoto,

in the course of SOFC

im-

date: 22 July 1999

850°C

The average

boundary

takes place

99136980

this material

this system. This system

of the central

fibre and an electrically

prevents

important

reaction

mouldability

instability

reveals

in front

to have

above

and NiO,

insufficiently

effective-medium

air

and resistance

it is also claimed

handling

which

high

higher

means

has excellent

are

solution

possible

a very

temperature.

is unstable

to LazNiO*

by kinetic

The cermet composition,

the reacting Ltd, Japan

of metal

has

at room

S/cm).

from

Industries

this material

solid oxide

boundary

LaNiO,

However,

samples

Carlo

sintering

that conductivity

times

operation.

stage, with

material

the in

conducting

of the triple-phase

is known

electronic

as

active triple-phase

central

Electrode

boundary

by Monte

Solid

(2 September

conductivity of 580 S/cm at 8OO”C, when x = 0.4 in LaNilQexOj. This value is more than three

of pore opening

Patents

and verified

W. Lehnert:

221-237

degradation scenarios, as well as the factors that impede degradation, or even cause a rise of the

degradation.

1999).

This

and pores, where of the ionic into

oxygen-ion

Kornyshev,

Investigation of LaNi,-.Fex03 SOFC cathode material

conductivities

is analysed using an ‘effective-

Their

one that

181-188

with

is described

equations.

occur.

triple-phase

electrolyte conversion

Variation

composition

Peng Dingkun:

162(1/2)

may

124(3/4)

and decomposes

a spontaneous

time due to spontaneous

among

Huaqiang,

Meng

Membrane

(1 September

porosimetry that YSZ

~01s.

Changrong,

Yang Pinghua, J.

show

anodes

simulations.

ceramictemperatures

occurs on fuel supply.

sol,

alumina

to

statistical geometry of active triple-phase boundary

SOFC

on porous

dip-coating

current

Here the electrochemically

and water YSZ

electrolyte

A.A.

State Zonics

It

attributed

at operating particles

reduces

between the metal, the electrochemical

alkoxide.

as

interconnect

SOO-1000°C)

the source of yttria. Acetylacetone was used as chelating l&and to modify the reaction rate of sol formation investigated

(solid

where

the

is often

A. Ioselevich, 1999).

of high-temperature time, seen usually

and

cermet

sols

before

in porous

degradation, may be associared with the aging of various components: the anode, cathode, solid

polymeric

tetra-n-propoxide.

was added

Patterns of degradation cermet anodes

gas.or

gas are supplied

gas from the burner

diesel to a

is cooled

to the fire1 cell. The system mixes fuel constituents

with

hydrogen

which is preferably stored in solid form to obtain a non-explosive gas mixture. The system may be used to provide

both

non-explosive

cover gas and

0 13

hydrogen-rich Patent

start-up

number:

Publication

dzte: 27 July 1999

Inventors:

P. Singh,

Integrated

Power

The patent

describes

distributor

plastically

Systems

a polymer

plates

deformable

foil, and which

electrolyte

made

from

material,

These

distributor

an elastic,

gas or liquid

stamping

with

the

or

gas

liquid

indentations Patent

number:

Publication

and

by

to form

corresponding

Argonne

for partially

oxidising

a high

while maintaining

molecule,

USA

oxidation

catalyst,

material,

CO content

less than

catalyst the

of

is required

oxidise

to generate

as the hydrogen

powder

(CeO,BGdO,zOl.Y)

and

which

could

oxide

like Co,03

be either

of

from

M.

US 5931658

R.A.

1999

Sederquist,

D.F.

Szydlowski,

T.J.

S.l? Bonk

University

powder

a metal like platinum

which

is reduced

carbon

electrodes

carbon

papers,

USA

for fabricating

by infiltrating membranes, or fabrics

carbon

foam

carbon

paper, for example,

precursor

material

readily

and

Precursor

with

ceria

phase

of California,

is described

with

thin,

flat

highly

porous

felts,

metal

material.

The

stays flat and flexible

pyrolysing materials

to

or an

in situ in the

include

sheets.

polyacrylonitrile,

flexibility

compared

improved monolithic

structures.

Patent

number:

US 5932185

Publication

dzte: 3 August

Inventors:

R.W. R.L.

Krumpelt,

with

more

1999 S.T.

Mayer,

J.L.

DMFC with gaseous fuel Forschungszentrum

Germany The patent direct

relates

methanol

vaporised

in

mixture

Jiilich

to a method fuel

the

cell.

cell,

is vapourised

for operating

mixture

is then

The patent

conveyed

fuel cell

number:

Publication Inventors:

WO

GmbH,

to the

cell’s

99138223 B. Hohlein

a solid

electrolyte

high

fuel cell arrangement

in which

several

is

have top discharge

openings

on opposite

the solid electrolyte

element.

Since the after-burn

excess anode

the excess

gas openings extend

are directed

upwards

arrangement,

undesirable

prevented. facilitates

from

The

upwards the

top

of

compression

between

the same compression forces.

These

the

cell

further

structure.

The electrolyte

and cathode

layers are

deposited

on a porous,

gas-permeable

by a thin-film

technique.

is a sintered comprising

body

carrier The

of metal

a highly

porous

carrier ceramic

base layer as

cover layer of anode material.

The base layer pores are open with

respect to one

another, and have an average diameter of >300 pm. The cover layer pore diameters are not substantially

greater

of thermal

expansion

than 1-3 pm. The coefftcient of the carrier

structure

is

the same as that of the solid electrolyte.

Inventors:

E. Batawi,

K. Honegger

Ion-conducting

fuel cell membrane

Dais Corporation,

sulfonated

( 1000°C) each joint

force by side

forces

USA

membrane

which

comprises

statistical The

copolymer

to obtain

number:

of

Znventors:

styrene

less than

WO

and

is obtained

then sulfonating

Publication

and

of styrene

membrane

an acetyl sulfate sulfonation least 30 mol% sulfonate. Patent

for fuel cells is

a hydrogenated

a copolymer

5%

by and

residual

the polymer

with

agent to a level of at

99138896

he:

5 August

B.M.

She&h-Ah,

can

Applicant:

Siemens

Corporation,

1999 G.E.

Wnek

The

be

Westinghouse

Power

USA

patent

assemblies.

the various

plates at the relatively high temperatures since, if there is no rigid soldering joint, is sealed with

film

SOFC connections

of the stack is

arrangement

sealing of the joints

a thin

sides of

and the flames

heating

vertical

Switzerland

fuel cell with

active multilayer

unsaturation,

a

also describes such a DMFC.

date: 29 July 1999 R. Menzer,

using

describes

electrolyte AG,

electrolyte has an electrochemically element which is executed as a planar

butadiene

Jiilich

cells are arranged upright adjacent to one another, connected in series. The air and fuel gas channels

methanol/water

Elements are provided for transferring heat from the fuel cell to the vaporiser. Patent

agent

patent

temperature

a methanol/water

in a vapouriser

heat from the cell. The vapourised chamber.

The

GmbH,

A cooling

and

temperature

butadiene.

Germany Applicant:

This high

described,

Forschungszentrum

1999

Innotec

An ion-conducting

Morrison

High temperature

R. Kumar,

Applicant:

Operating

US 5932366

hydrogenating

S. Ahmed,

air is

to pre-heat

in fuel cells,

1999

R. Doshi

Supply

the heat-exchanger,

Sulzer

Applicant:

Pekala,

a

to the open

Patent number: US 5932368 Publication akte: 3 August 1999

These thin films are ideal for use electrodes

adjacent

SOFC with thin-film

essentially

/formaldehyde, formaldehyde

and energy

to arrange

well as a fine-pored a

during

thin

resorcinol phenol/

brittle

Kaschmitter,

form

it possible

immediately

Applicant:

structure

infiltrated

and The

H. Ringel

material

is then cured to form

This

brittle

also makes

date: 3 August

structure

an appropriate

pressure.

highly

plates.

number:

Inventor:

date: 3 August

etc., or mixtures.

a high

doped

a second

date: 27 July

Inventors:

the furnace. Patent number: Publication

Patent

within

at room

electrolyte

through

Publication

as high power

reactor to cobalt metal. Pdtent number: US 5929286 Publication

to increase the flame temperature

polymethylacrylonitrile, catechollformaldehyde,

dissolving

The catalyst can be prepared area

chambers

that uses air and fuel pre-heat

sealing

the

ends of the air and gas channels. the air.

curing

the

arrangement

values

solid

heat-exchanger

a furnace

The

the carbon

gas. This catalyst is a cermet ceria as the oxide ion conduction

surface

the

gel-saturated carbon paper, which is dried and pyrolysed to form a thin sheet of porous carbon.

hydrocarbon

for long enough

and platinum

material.

fuels such as yield

and then selectively

hydrogen-rich containing

To increase

a

describes

fibres/powders

percentage

“dehydrogenate”

chain, at >4Oo”C

fuel

Laboratory,

5 ~01%. A bifunctional can

reactor.

with

of

sensitive

conducted

Applicant:

hydrocarbon

to produce

about

reaction

Thin carbon foam electrodes

National

relates to a partial

which

is a catalytic

and a catalytic

A method

This patent

hydrogen,

gas into electricity.

extremely

low

the required

fractures

efficiency of the catalytic reaction and reduce the size/number of catalytic reactors, the patent

Corrigan,

27 July 1999

HZ-rich gas from hydrocarbon

gasoline

gas, and a fuel cell

prevents

the product

at relatively

accommodate

of a hydrocarbon

the sealing arrangement.

H. Elias

Applicant:

furnace

USA

has a fuel processing

for steam reforming

Inventors:

US 5928807

hte:

Inventor:

plates.

elevations

ducts

to form

ducts.

respect to elevated

can be produced

corresponding

Fuel Cells,

generally

stack for converting

fuel cell

in the distributor

plates

International

The fuel processing

such as graphite

have integrated

are integrated

Applicant:

temperature, and increased at high temperatures when the sealing material is sufficiently softened to

fuel and steam into a product

Inc, Canada

To seal off the gas or liquid spaces with one another simply and cost-effectively, portions

maintained

apparatus

seal for PEM fuel cell

Ballard

Fuel cell power plant furnace A fuel cell system

R. George

Applicant: with

gas to the fuel cell.

US 5928805

describes The

members member

connected connected

Adjacent

cell bundles

mechanically compliant/rigid

a connection

connection

joining

for fuel cell

includes

compliant

to individual cells, and a rigid to the compliant members. or modules their

connection

are connected

rigid permits

members.

by The

construction

Fuel Cells Bulletin No. 14