초록 ▼

A generally planar, rectangular solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units, each of the fuel cell units having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte disposed there between, at least one bipolar separator plate disposed between the anode electrode of one fuel cell unit and the

A generally planar, rectangular solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units, each of the fuel cell units having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte disposed there between, at least one bipolar separator plate disposed between the anode electrode of one fuel cell unit and the cathode electrode of an adjacent fuel cell unit, an oxidant manifold for delivering oxidant to the cathode electrode, a fuel manifold for delivering fuel to the anode electrode, an anode exhaust gas removal manifold for removing anode exhaust gases from the solid oxide fuel cell stack, and a cathode exhaust gas removal manifold for removing cathode exhaust gases from the solid oxide fuel cell stack. At least one ducted gas flow panel is disposed proximate the fuel cell stack and configured in combination with the fuel cell stack to preheat oxidant gas flowing therethrough and, thus, maintain the fuel cell stack in an operational condition without supplemental heating of the oxidant after entering the at least one ducted gas flow panel.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An apparatus for generating electricity comprising: a generally planar, rectangular solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units, each said fuel cell unit comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte disposed there between, at least one bip

We claim: 1. An apparatus for generating electricity comprising: a generally planar, rectangular solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units, each said fuel cell unit comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte disposed there between, at least one bipolar separator plate disposed between said anode electrode of one said fuel cell unit and said cathode electrode of an adjacent said fuel cell unit, oxidant delivery means for delivering oxidant to said cathode electrode, fuel delivery means for delivering fuel to said anode electrode, anode exhaust gas removal means for removing anode exhaust gases from said solid oxide fuel cell stack, and cathode exhaust gas removal means for removing cathode exhaust gases from said solid oxide fuel cell stack, at least one of said oxidant delivery means and said fuel delivery means comprising an internal manifold; and said oxidant delivery means comprising at least one ducted gas flow panel disposed proximate said fuel cell stack and configured in combination with said fuel cell stack to maintain said fuel cell stack in an operational condition without supplemental heating of the oxidant after entering said at least one ducted gas flow panel. 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one ducted gas flow panel comprises a front wall facing said solid oxide fuel cell stack, a back wall spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said front wall and facing away from said solid oxide fuel cell stack, said back wall connected to said front wall and forming at least one oxidant flow duct between said front wall and said back wall having an oxidant inlet and an oxidant outlet. 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said at least one ducted gas flow panel is constructed of a material having a thermal emissivity of at least about 0.3. 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said material has a thermal emissivity in a range of about 0.3 to about 1.0. 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein a distance between said front wall and said back wall is in a range of about 0.25 cm to about 1.25 cm. 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said at least one ducted gas flow panel is disposed at a distance from said solid oxide fuel cell stack in a range of about 0.25 cm to about 1.25 cm. 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said at least one oxidant flow duct is oriented to provide oxidant flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to a stacking direction of said solid oxide fuel cell stack. 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one ducted gas flow panel is adapted to provide an oxidant temperature increase of up to about 400�� C. 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said oxidant delivery means comprises a plurality of said ducted gas flow panels, at least one of said ducted gas flow panels being disposed proximate a fuel inlet side of said solid oxide fuel cell stack and at least one of said ducted gas flow panels being disposed proximate an anode exhaust gas outlet side of said solid oxide fuel cell stack. 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one oxidant preheat burner adapted to preheat said oxidant prior to entering said at least one ducted gas flow panel. 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid oxide fuel cell stack is adapted to adjust said operational condition to a new operational condition by one of self-adjustment of an operating temperature of said solid oxide fuel cell stack while maintaining oxidant temperature of oxidant entering said at least one ducted gas flow panel constant and adjustment of said oxidant temperature entering said at least one ducted gas flow panel while maintaining a stack temperature of said solid oxide fuel cell stack substantially constant. 12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said at least one ducted gas flow panel forms a plurality of said oxidant flow ducts. 13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of said oxidant flow ducts contains thermal insulation. 14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of said oxidant flow ducts contains a removable, functional insert adapted to at least one of control the direction of flow and enhance heat transfer. 15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein a wall of at least one of said oxidant flow ducts has a form selected from the group consisting of smooth, ribbed, finned, bridged and combinations thereof. 16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one additional ducted gas flow panel having at least one gas flow duct disposed proximate said fuel cell stack. 17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one reforming catalyst is disposed within said at least one gas flow duct. 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said at least one additional ducted gas flow panel is disposed on an oxidant outlet side of said solid oxide fuel cell stack. 19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrically insulating strips disposed between said solid oxide fuel cell stack and said at least one ducted gas flow panel. 20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one ducted gas flow panel is at least equal in size to a side of said solid oxide fuel cell stack. 21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of spaced apart said solid oxide fuel cell stacks with said at least one ducted gas flow panel disposed between said spaced apart solid oxide fuel cell stacks. 22. In a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell units having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte disposed there between, said at least one solid oxide fuel cell stack having a fuel gas inlet side, an oxidant gas inlet side, a reaction products outlet side disposed opposite said fuel gas inlet side, and an excess oxidant outlet side disposed opposite said oxidant gas inlet side, a method for thermal management of said system comprising the steps of: positioning at least one substantially planar ducted gas flow panel proximate said fuel gas inlet side, said at least one substantially planar ducted gas flow panel having dimensions and orientation with respect to said fuel gas inlet side whereby oxidant flowing through said gas flow panel is heated to a temperature suitable for maintaining said at least one solid oxide fuel cell stack in an operational condition without supplemental heating of said oxidant after entering said at least one ducted gas flow panel; introducing said fuel gas into said at least one fuel cell stack; introducing said oxidant into at least one duct of said ducted gas flow panel, heating said oxidant to form heated oxidant; and directing said heated oxidant from said at least one ducted gas flow panel through said oxidant gas inlet side to said cathode electrode without supplemental heating of said oxidant between said at least one ducted gas flow panel and said oxidant gas inlet side. 23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said temperature of said oxidant is increased up to about 400�� C. in said at least one ducted gas flow panel. 24. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said fuel gas and said oxidant are introduced into said at least one solid oxide fuel cell stack in a cross-flow arrangement. 25. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said at least one duct is oriented to provide flow of said oxidant in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction of said at least one fuel cell stack. 26. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said oxidant is preheated prior to being introduced into said at least one gas flow panel. 27. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said fuel gas is a reformed fuel. 28. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said reformed fuel is produced in a second gas flow panel disposed proximate said at least one solid oxide fuel cell stack. 29. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said oxidant flow is substantially parallel to a direction of a declining stack hardware temperature on a stack sidewall facing said gas flow panel.