Patent ID: 7625648

Claim:
An electrochemical cell assembly comprising: at least one electrically driven oxygen separator having an electrolyte capable of oxygen ion transport under application of electrical potential to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing gas, the at least one electrically driven oxygen separator connected to a ground; an electrical power source connected to the at least one electrically driven oxygen separator and to the ground so that an electrical potential generated by the electrical power source is applied between the at least one electrically driven oxygen separator and to the ground and therefore, the electrolyte thereof; and at least one conduit for use in one of introducing the oxygen containing gas into the at least one electrically driven oxygen separator and for discharging the oxygen separated from the oxygen containing gas from the at least one electrically driven oxygen separator, the at least one conduit connected to the ground and connected to the at least one oxygen separator so that the electrical potential applied to the electrically driven oxygen separator also creates another potential along the length of the at least one conduit; said at least one conduit formed in whole or in part of a ceramic material that is an electrical insulator and is also resistant to electrochemical reduction, the ceramic material comprising distinct phases of magnesia and spinel.