Patent ID: 6635375
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:a symmetric hollow frame supporting a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a second MEA; said first and said second MEAs having a cathode layer positioned such that a cathode side of said MEA is exposed within the fuel cell and an anode layer positioned such that an anode side of said MEA is exposed within the fuel cell, said cathode and said anode layers are horizontally separated by an electrolyte layer; said first and said second MEAs are separated by a bipolar plate (BPP); a cathode separator plate separates said first MEA on said cathode side from said BPP; an anode separator plate separates said second MEA on said anode side from said BPP; and where said cathode separator plate, said BPP, and said anode separator plate are arranged between said first and said second MEAs to define an air preheat pass, a reactive air pass, a fuel preheat pass, and a fuel reactive pass; a means for determining an air temperature located at an exit end of said air preheat pass; a means for comparing and controlling said air temperature to a set point air temperature; a cathode control valve to add air into said reactive air pass from an air bypass flow; a means for determining a fuel temperature located at an exit end of said fuel preheat pass; a means for comparing and controlling said fuel temperature to a set point fuel temperature; and an anode control valve to add fuel into said reactive fuel pass from a fuel bypass flow.