SOEC/SOFC Interconnector Grid Welding for Stable Stack Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-temperature SOEC/SOFC-type solid-oxide stacks face challenges in achieving stable and secure assembly, ensuring good electrical contact and gas distribution, preventing gas recombination, and maintaining temperature homogeneity, which affects production efficiency and durability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving spot-welding a metal coating layer on interconnectors with a Nickel grid and using a specific glue composition to fasten electrochemical cells, along with a ceramic contact layer, to create a stable and secure assembly in the stack, enhancing electrical contact and gas distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional assembly methods are used for SOEC/SOFC stacks, then the assembly process is simpler, but the stability and security of the stack assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact layer is spot-welded to the interconnector before assembling the electrochemical cell, pre-establishing a secure mechanical and electrical connection. This preliminary action ensures that when the cell is placed and compressed, the contact layer remains firmly attached, preventing movement and ensuring stable assembly without requiring complex post-assembly fastening mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The contact layer acts as an intermediary component between the interconnector and the electrochemical cell. By spot-welding this intermediary layer to the interconnector, the invention creates a secure connection interface that facilitates both mechanical stability and electrical contact, resolving the contradiction between simple assembly and stable composition
2Reliability
If the contact layer is not securely fastened to the interconnector, then the assembly process is faster, but the electrical contact and gas distribution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical fastening methods (such as screws or clips) with spot-welding, which creates a permanent, reliable electrical and mechanical connection. The spot-welding process rapidly fuses the contact layer to the interconnector, ensuring reliable electrical contact and gas distribution while maintaining acceptable assembly speed through the efficiency of the welding process
3Manufacturing precision
If spot-welding is used to fasten the contact layer, then the electrical contact and assembly stability improve, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the electrical and thermal parameters of the interconnector and contact layer materials to enable spot-welding. By selecting materials with suitable electrical conductivity and melting points, the contact layer can be rapidly fused to the interconnector through controlled electrical discharge, achieving precise positioning and secure attachment while managing manufacturing complexity through material parameter optimization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method improves the stability and efficiency of the stack by preventing movement during assembly, ensuring good electrical contact, and optimizing gas distribution, thereby enhancing production efficiency and durability.
Implementation Method 1
spot-welding the metal coating layer on the first face of the interconnector to enable fastening
Implementation Method 2
using a specific glue composition to fasten electrochemical cells
Data Source
AI summary
A main object of the invention is a method for making a SOEC/SOFC-type solid oxide stack operating at high temperature, including a plurality of electrochemical cells each formed by a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a plurality of metal interconnectors each arranged between two adjacent electrochemical cells,each interconnector having two main planar faces, a first face (P1) of the two main planar faces comprising a metal coating layer (GN) in the form of a grid forming a contact layer with an electrochemical cell,the method including the step of spot-welding (S) the metal coating layer (GN) on the first face (P1) of the interconnector to enable fastening thereof.