Ion conductor stack with offset seals and biasing electrodes

US6042703A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Stuart Adler · Salt Lake City, US
• Raymond Ashton Cutler · Bountiful, US
• Brett Tamatea Henderson · Salt Lake City, US
• Jimmy Ludlow · Salt Lake City, US
• Robin Edward Richards · Phoenix, US
• Dale M. Taylor · Salt Lake City, US
• Merrill Wilson · West Jordan, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 1998
• Grant date: Mar 28, 2000
• Expiry date: May 6, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An electrochemical device for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas comprises a plurality of planar ion-conductive solid electrolyte plates and electrically-conductive gas-impermeable interconnects assembled in a multi-cell stack. Electrically-conductive anode and cathode material is applied to opposite sides of each electrolyte plate. A gas-tight anode seal is bonded between the anode side of each electrolyte plate and the anode side of the adjacent interconnect. A biasing electrode, applied to the anode side of each electrolyte plate between the anode seal and the edge of the anode, eliminates anode seal failure by minimizing the electrical potential across the seal. The seal potential is maintained below about 40 mV and preferably below about 25 mV. A gas-tight seal is applied between the cathode sides of each electrolyte plate and the adjacent interconnect such that the anode and cathode seals are radially offset on opposite sides of the plate. The combination of biasing electrodes and offset seals is particularly effective in eliminating anode seal failure.