Apparatus, methods, and applications for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors.

Abstract

This invention discloses an apparatus, method, and application for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors, relating to the field of solid oxide battery technology. It includes a connector assembly, a battery assembly, a current collector, an insulating seal, and fasteners. The connector assembly includes a first support and a connector, and the battery assembly includes a second support and a single cell. Both the first and second supports are provided with fastening holes, current collector ears, and grooves. The grooves of the first and second supports respectively form cavities accommodating the connector and the single cell. An annular insulating seal is disposed on the outer edge of the groove. Current collectors are provided on two planes of the single cell parallel to the annular insulating seal. Both the first and second supports are provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe communicating with the cavities. This apparatus has a simple structure, is reusable, and is convenient for testing. It can be used simultaneously to evaluate the performance of large-area batteries and verify the reliability of materials such as connectors, significantly reducing testing costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of solid oxide battery technology, and more specifically, to an apparatus, method, and application for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors. Background Technology

[0002] A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an all-solid-state chemical power generation device that directly and efficiently converts the chemical energy stored in fuel and oxidant into electrical energy. The reverse process is a solid oxide electrolyzer; together, they are called a solid oxide battery. In practical applications, a solid oxide battery uses a stack of multiple cells to generate electricity to meet the required power output. Each solid oxide battery cell consists of an anode or fuel electrode, an electrolyte, a cathode or air electrode, and connectors.

[0003] Solid oxide batteries (SOFCs) operating at medium and low temperatures typically use metallic materials for their interconnects. This necessitates that the interconnects possess sufficient oxidation resistance and chromium diffusion inhibition capabilities throughout the SOFC's design life. Otherwise, the excessively thickened, low-conductivity oxide layer will crack and peel off under thermal stress, severely threatening the reliability of the stack. Currently, most performance tests of interconnects are conducted in high-temperature muffle furnaces simulating cathode atmospheres. The resulting oxidation patterns exhibiting staged oxidation characteristics do not conform to the conventional Wagner parabolic oxidation pattern and cannot accurately reflect the degradation evolution of the interconnect's microstructure and properties under the coupled effects of heat, electricity, and atmosphere in the stack's operating environment. This introduces significant uncertainty into the oxidation kinetic curve data obtained through extrapolation evaluation methods. Furthermore, the environment faced by interconnects during SOFC stack operation is far more complex: high temperatures of 600–800°C, strong oxidizing and reducing atmospheres, current, and direct contact with electrodes and sealing materials. These conditions are difficult to reflect using conventional simulations of high-temperature oxidizing atmospheres. In recent years, a few papers have reported on the dismantling and dissecting of short battery stacks after operation. In addition to obtaining conventional corrosion data, they have also obtained other real service information data that cannot be reflected in single and dual simulated atmosphere environments. However, the battery stacks are scrapped after dismantling and cannot be reused, which is costly and time-consuming.

[0004] Furthermore, in the development of new configurations of large-area solid oxide fuel cells, to verify whether the battery performance meets design requirements, it is usually necessary to encapsulate individual cells, connectors, gas distribution covers, and other components with high-temperature sealant and then fire them at high temperatures to form a single battery stack. This entire process is complex and cumbersome, with long verification cycles and high costs. Currently, although some testing devices for solid oxide fuel cells and their local performance have been disclosed, their structures are relatively complex, and most can only be used for testing small-area cells. In addition, these testing devices cannot simultaneously evaluate the performance of connectors and their protective coating materials.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus, method, and application for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors.

[0007] This invention is implemented as follows:

[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors, comprising a connector assembly, a battery assembly, a current collector, an annular insulating seal, and fasteners.

[0009] The connector assembly includes a first support base and a connector, and the battery assembly includes a second support base and a single battery. Both the first and second support bases are provided with fastening holes, current collectors, and grooves. The fastening holes are used to install fasteners, and the current collectors are used to connect test leads. The grooves on the first and second support bases are used to accommodate the connector and the single battery, respectively, and the two grooves form a cavity for accommodating the connector and the single battery.

[0010] Preferably, the upper surface of the groove of the second support seat is on the same plane as the upper surface of the single battery, which is beneficial for the subsequent sealing of the fuel gas passage by the annular insulating seal.

[0011] Preferably, the first support and the second support are the same size, and the grooves inside them are also the same size.

[0012] An annular insulating seal is disposed on the outer edge of the groove, that is, the non-groove surface of one side of the groove on the first support and the second support is used to place the annular insulating seal. The size of the annular insulating seal is the same as the size of the non-groove surface, and the size of the hollow inside the annular seal is the same as the size of the battery cathode, so that the single battery and the connector can be accommodated in the sealed cavity formed by the first support and the second support.

[0013] The fitting gaps between the first support and the connector, and between the second support and the single battery, when forming an assembly, are called connection gaps. The annular insulating seal must cover the connection gaps to achieve a flexible seal between the connector assembly and the battery assembly. The seal also serves to isolate the electrical contact between the first support and the second support.

[0014] It is understood that the annular insulating seal in this invention can be a square ring or a circular ring structure, preferably a square ring structure.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the material of the annular insulating seal includes any one of high-temperature glass, glass-mica, and vermiculite composite flexible seals. The annular insulating seal can achieve flexible sealing of gas and prevent gas leakage from the first support and / or the second support.

[0016] The number of current collectors is at least two. Current collectors are provided on both planes parallel to the annular insulating seal of the single cell, so that the positive and negative terminals of the single cell are in direct contact with the current collectors, thereby enhancing the electrical connection between the single cell and the connector.

[0017] Both the first and second supports are equipped with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that communicate with the cavity. The reaction gas can be introduced through the inlet pipe so that the reaction gas can undergo an electrochemical reaction after entering the device.

[0018] In the above embodiment, the first support base and the second support base are insulated from each other by an annular insulating seal, and the internal groove forms a sealed cavity. In the cavity, a connector, a current collector, a single battery and a current collector are arranged sequentially along the direction from the first support base to the second support base.

[0019] Preferably, the inlet and outlet pipes on the first support are used to transport air or other oxidizing gases, and the inlet and outlet pipes on the second support are used to transport fuel gas.

[0020] It is understood that the single cell in this invention refers to a solid oxide battery cell, which generally includes an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. Depending on the type of solid oxide battery, other related structures, such as metal supports, may also be added.

[0021] In an optional embodiment, the groove of the second support is provided with a gas flow channel communicating with the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, so that the gas is transported to the anode side of the battery to carry out an electrochemical reaction; the connector is provided with a gas flow channel, so that the oxidizing gas is transported to the cathode side of the battery to carry out an electrochemical reaction.

[0022] In an optional embodiment, in the battery assembly, a single battery is fixedly mounted in a groove of the second support.

[0023] In an optional embodiment, the single cell includes any one of an anode-supported solid oxide battery, an electrolyte-supported solid oxide battery, and a metal-supported solid oxide battery.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the airflow channel of the connector has one side of the channel in contact with the surface of the cathode end of the single cell through a current collector, that is, the cathode end of the single cell faces the connector assembly.

[0025] Preferably, the gas flow channel that serves as a connector for current collection and gas distribution in the battery assembly is integrated with the second support, and the anode end of the single cell is in contact with the upper surface of the gas flow channel through a current collection mesh.

[0026] In an optional implementation, there are three current collectors. In addition to the current collectors on both sides of the single battery, there is also a current collector between the first support and the connector, which can conduct current.

[0027] In some embodiments, a first current collector, a connector, a second current collector, a single battery, and a third current collector are sequentially arranged in the cavity formed by the first support and the second support along the direction from the first support to the second support.

[0028] Because the present invention provides a current collecting mesh between the connector assembly and the cathode of the single cell, and provides an annular insulating seal at the edge, a flexible seal is achieved between the reaction gas flow channel and the single cell, and it can be reused after the test is completed.

[0029] The device provided by this invention can test the high-temperature performance of connectors or connectors / coatings, and can also test the performance of novel large-area single cells. When it is necessary to test the performance of the battery, the connector can be fixed to the first support base, so that different batteries can be replaced for measurement. When it is necessary to test the performance of the connector, the single cell can be fixed and sealed to the second support base, and different connectors can be replaced for measurement.

[0030] In an optional implementation, the connector includes either a connector body or a connector with a coating. Therefore, during actual testing, the service condition of the connector and the service condition of the surface coating of the connector can be tested.

[0031] In an optional embodiment, the fastener includes a bolt, a nut, and an insulating sleeve, with the bolt passing through a fastening hole on a first support and a second support, the insulating sleeve fitted onto the bolt, and the nut threadedly engaging with the bolt.

[0032] In an optional embodiment, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the materials of the bolt and nut is less than that of the materials of the first support and the second support.

[0033] In an optional embodiment, to prevent the first and second supports from short-circuiting with the external structure, the testing device of the present invention further includes two insulating pads, which are respectively disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second supports. The first insulating pad covers the surface of the first mounting base away from the groove, and the second insulating pad covers the surface of the second mounting base away from the groove.

[0034] Preferably, the current collector includes any one of silver mesh, nickel foam, and stainless steel foam. The current collector may also be other unmentioned metal materials, as long as they can enhance the electrical connection between the single cell and the connector.

[0035] Secondly, the present invention provides a method for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors, applicable to any of the aforementioned embodiments, comprising assembling a connector assembly, a battery assembly, a current collector, an annular insulating seal and fasteners, placing them in a testing device and slowly heating them to the battery operating temperature, introducing a reaction gas into the inlet pipe to generate electricity, collecting battery operating data information by testing equipment such as an electrochemical workstation, and removing the individual cells and / or connectors for analysis and testing after the operation is completed.

[0036] Preferably, the performance of a single cell can be tested using an electrochemical workstation, and the performance of the connector can be tested using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and / or other material characterization methods.

[0037] Thirdly, the present invention provides an application of an apparatus or method as described in any of the foregoing embodiments in the field of solid oxide batteries.

[0038] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0039] This invention provides an apparatus, method, and application for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors. By using the apparatus of this invention to operate a single battery, information on the performance of the battery in the operating environment and the degradation behavior of the microstructure of materials such as connectors and coatings can be obtained. There is no need to burn and assemble the single battery and connectors into a battery stack. The testing method is simple, the experimental testing cycle is short, and the cost is low. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the device for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 An exploded view of the apparatus for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first support base and the second support base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 4 This is an inverted schematic diagram of the structure of the first support base and the second support base provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the connector provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a single battery provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0047] Key component symbols: 100 - Apparatus for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors; 111 - First support; 1111 - First support current collector; 1112 - First support fastening hole; 112 - Connector; 121 - Second support; 1211 - Second support current collector; 1212 - Second support fastening hole; 1213 - Second support gas flow channel; 122 - Single cell; 1221 - Metal support; 1222 - Battery body; 1223 - Anode; 1224 - Cathode 1225 - Electrolyte; 130 - Groove; 140 - Annular insulating seal; 151 - First current collector; 152 - Second current collector; 153 - Third current collector; 161 - Air inlet pipe; 1611 - First support seat air inlet pipe; 1612 - Second support seat air inlet pipe; 162 - Air outlet pipe; 1621 - First support seat air outlet pipe; 1622 - Second support seat air outlet pipe; 171 - Bolt; 172 - Nut; 173 - Insulating sleeve; 181 - First insulating pad; 182 - Second insulating pad. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Where specific conditions are not specified in the embodiments, conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer shall apply. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all conventional products that can be purchased commercially.

[0049] The features and performance of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

[0050] Example 1

[0051] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides an apparatus 100 for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors, including a connector assembly, a battery assembly, a current collector, an annular insulating seal 140, and fasteners.

[0052] Among them, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the connector assembly includes a first support base 111 and a connector 112, and the battery assembly includes a second support base 121 and a single battery 122. Both the first support base 111 and the second support base 121 have grooves 130. Fastening holes 1112 and 1212 of the first and second support bases are used to install fasteners. Current collectors 1111 and 1211 of the first and second support bases are used to connect test leads. The groove 130 of the first support base 111 is used to accommodate the connector 112, and the groove 130 of the second support base 121 is used to accommodate the single battery 122. Cavities are formed between the two grooves 130 to accommodate the connector 112 and the single battery 122, respectively.

[0053] Please continue to refer to Figures 2 to 4 An annular insulating seal 140 is disposed on the outer edge of the groove 130 to cover the connection gap and isolate the electrical connection between the first support 111 and the second support 121, and to seal the connector assembly and the battery assembly, so that the single battery 122 and the connector 112 are both accommodated in the cavity formed by the two grooves 130. Specifically, the annular solid structure of the annular insulating seal 140 contacts the first support 111 and the second support 121 and plays a sealing role, so that the connector assembly and the battery assembly are sealed. The hollow structure of the annular insulating seal 140 corresponds to the groove 130 of the first support 111 and the second support 121, and the size of the hollow structure is consistent with the size of the outer periphery of the cathode 1224, so that the single battery 122, the connector 112 and other structures can be accommodated in the sealed cavity formed by the first support 111 and the second support 121.

[0054] There are three current collectors: a first current collector 151, a second current collector 152, and a third current collector 153. The first current collector 151 is located between the first support 111 and the connector 112, and can conduct current and enhance the electrical connection between the connector 112 and the first support 111.

[0055] The single battery 122 and the annular insulating seal 140 are respectively provided with a second current collector 152 and a third current collector 153 on two planes, so that the anode and cathode of the single battery 122 are in direct contact with the current collector, thereby enhancing the electrical connection between the single battery 122 and the connector 112 and the second support 121.

[0056] The first support 111 and the second support 121 are respectively provided with a first support inlet pipe 1611 and a second support inlet pipe 1612 (collectively referred to as inlet pipe 161) communicating with the cavity, and corresponding first support outlet pipe 1621 and second support outlet pipe 1622 (collectively referred to as outlet pipe 162). The reaction gas can be introduced through the inlet pipe 161 so that the reaction gas enters the single cell 122 to carry out the electrochemical reaction. The cavity of the second support 121 is provided with a second support gas flow channel 1213 communicating with the second support inlet pipe 1612 and the second support outlet pipe 1622 to ensure the normal operation of the battery.

[0057] The first support seat inlet pipe 1611 and the first support seat outlet pipe 1621 on the first support seat 111 are used to transport air or other oxidizing gases, and the second support seat inlet pipe 1612 and the second support seat outlet pipe 1622 on the second support seat 121 are used to transport fuel gas.

[0058] The fasteners include a bolt 171, a nut 172, and an insulating sleeve 173. The bolt 171 passes through the fastening hole 1112 of the first support seat and the fastening hole 1212 of the second support seat. The insulating sleeve 173 is fitted on the bolt 171. The nut 172 is threadedly engaged with the bolt 171.

[0059] Please refer to the following: Figures 2 to 5 In this embodiment, the connector 112 is installed in the groove 130 of the first support 111, and the connector 112 is in spaced contact with the cathode of the single battery 122 through the second current collector 152. The groove 130 of the second support 121 is provided with a second support gas flow channel 1213 with a depth less than the depth of the groove 130, and the upper surface of the second support gas flow channel 1213 is in spaced contact with the anode of the single battery 122 through the third current collector 153, and the upper surface of the single battery 122 and the upper surface of the second support 121 are controlled to be in the same plane.

[0060] In this embodiment, within the cavity formed by the first support 111 and the second support 121, a first current collector 151, a connector 112, a second current collector 152, a single battery 122, and a third current collector 153 are sequentially arranged along the direction from the first support 111 to the second support 121.

[0061] To prevent short circuits between the first support base 111 and the second support base 121 and the end faces of the metal fastener, insulating pads are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the first support base 111 and the second support base 121. Specifically, there are two insulating pads: a first insulating pad 181 and a second insulating pad 182. The first insulating pad 181 covers the surface of the first support base 111 away from the groove 130, and the second insulating pad 182 covers the surface of the second support base 121 away from the groove 130.

[0062] In this embodiment, the single battery 122 has a cuboid structure, so the first support 111 and the second support 121 are both square structures. The annular insulating seal 140 is a vermiculite annular sealing plate, and the annular structure is square ring-shaped to adapt to the shape of the single battery 122, the first support 111 and the second support 121.

[0063] Please refer to Figure 6 It is understood that the single cell 122 in this embodiment refers to a solid oxide battery cell, specifically a metal-supported solid oxide battery, including a metal support 1221 and a battery body 1222, wherein the battery body 1222 includes an anode 1223, a cathode 1224 and an electrolyte 1225.

[0064] Preferably, the apparatus provided in this embodiment can be used to evaluate the connector 112, particularly to characterize the performance evolution of the material of the connector 112 and the high-temperature resistive chromium protective coating applied to its surface during stack operation. Therefore, in the battery assembly, the single cell 122 is fixedly mounted in the groove 130 of the second support 121. Since the single cell 122 is a metal-supported solid oxide battery, the single cell 122 is fixed to the second support 121 by applying pressure through an annular insulating seal 140 or by fasteners to achieve a seal.

[0065] This invention provides an apparatus 100, a method, and an application for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors, which have at least the following advantages:

[0066] The device of this invention enables the operation of a single cell 122, and can obtain the operating data of solid oxide batteries in service environment and the degradation law of the performance of connector 112 and its coating. It eliminates the need to use sealant to fire the single cell 122 and connector 112 into a battery stack, which greatly shortens the experimental cycle, reduces experimental costs, and makes the testing process convenient and fast.

[0067] By setting an annular insulating seal 140, a closed gas path is provided for the single battery 122 without affecting its operation, thus preventing fuel gas leakage and potential safety accidents.

[0068] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and connectors, characterized in that, Includes connector assembly, battery assembly, current collector, annular insulating seal and fasteners; The connector assembly includes a first support base and a connector, and the battery assembly includes a second support base and a single battery. Both the first and second support bases have fastening holes, current collectors, and grooves. The fastening holes are for installing fasteners, and the current collectors are for connecting test leads. The grooves on the first and second support bases are respectively used to accommodate the connector and the single battery, forming a cavity for accommodating the connector and the single battery. The annular insulating seal is located on the outer edge of the groove, and current collectors are provided on two planes of the single battery parallel to the annular insulating seal. Both the first and second support bases have inlet and outlet pipes communicating with the cavity, allowing reactive gases to enter the cavity and react. The second support base has a gas flow channel in the groove that communicates with the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe; The connectors in the connector assembly are connected to the surface of the single cell cathode and the inner surface of the groove of the first support base at intervals via current collectors. The individual cells in the battery assembly are installed in the groove of the second support seat with a gas flow channel, and the anode side of the individual cell is in contact with the upper surface of the gas flow channel through a current collector. The connector is provided with an airflow channel, and the channel side of the airflow channel is connected to the cathode side of the single cell through a current collector. The connector includes either a connector body or a connector with a coating; the connector with a coating is a connector with a high-temperature conductive chromium protective layer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fastener includes a bolt, a nut, and an insulating sleeve. The bolt passes through a fastening hole on the first support and the second support. The nut is threaded into the bolt. The insulating sleeve is fitted onto the bolt. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the materials of the bolts and nuts is less than that of the materials of the first support and the second support.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes insulating pads, of which there are two, which are respectively disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second support bases, so as to insulate the bolts and nuts from the support bases.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The single cell includes any one of an anode-supported solid oxide battery, an electrolyte-supported solid oxide battery, and a metal-supported solid oxide battery.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the annular insulating seal includes any one of high-temperature glass, glass-mica, and vermiculite composite flexible seals; The current collection mesh includes any one of flexible silver mesh, foamed nickel, or foamed stainless steel.

6. A method for testing the performance of solid oxide batteries and their connectors, characterized in that, The device is applicable to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising assembling the connector assembly, battery assembly, current collector, annular insulating seal and fastener, placing it in a test device and slowly heating it to the battery operating temperature, introducing reactive gas into the inlet pipe to generate electricity, collecting battery operating data information by an electrochemical workstation, and removing the single cell and / or connector after operation and performing relevant testing and analysis.

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