Claims
- 1. A solid oxide fuel cell module comprising:(a) a flexible ceramic electrolyte sheet of generally planar configuration having a surface indentation pattern comprising multiple indentations selected from the group consisting of multi-directional corrugations or waves, protrusions, and indentations, said indentation pattern providing a multiaxial strain tolerance not less than 0.5% in any direction in the sheet plane; (b) a cathode layer disposed on a first side of the electrolyte sheet; and (c) an anode layer disposed on a second side of the electrolyte sheet.
- 2. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 1 wherein said multiaxial strain tolerance is at least 1% in all directions in the sheet plane.
- 3. A solid oxide fuel cell module incorporating a flexible ceramic electrolyte sheet of generally planar configuration incorporating anodes and cathodes on opposing surfaces thereof, the sheet having at least one surface portion incorporating a surface indentation pattern comprising an array of surface indentations, protrusions and/or multi-directional corrugations, wherein:(a) the surface indentation pattern is positioned such that the surface portion is free of uninterrupted ridge or flat lines traversing the surface portion; (b) the surface indentation pattern does not exceed 2 mm in height from the sheet plane; and (c) the array imparts a theoretical strain tolerance of at least about 0.5% to the surface portion.
- 4. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 3 wherein the surface indentation pattern imposes curvature radii of not less than 2 mm in the surface of the ceramic electrolyte sheet.
- 5. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 3 wherein the pattern comprises multiple indentations and/or protrusions of hexagonal, circular, or Penrose tile shape.
- 6. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 3 wherein the flexible ceramic electrolyte sheet has a composition consisting predominantly of zirconia.
- 7. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 3 wherein the flexible ceramic electrolyte sheet incorporates one or more flat sections together with sections incorporating surface indentation patterns.
- 8. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 7 wherein the sheet incorporates a flat central section.
- 9. A solid oxide fuel cell module in accordance with claim 3 wherein the surface indentation pattern is an anisotropic pattern.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 60/173,133, filed Dec. 27, 1999, entitled “Solid Oxide Electrolyte, Fuel Cell Module, and Method”, by Helfinstine et al.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
9200934 |
Jan 1992 |
WO |
9444254 |
Sep 1999 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
The Electrochemical Society, Inc., Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, vol. 93-4, pp. 74-81. No month available. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/173133 |
Dec 1999 |
US |