SOEC/SOFC Interconnector Tab Geometry for Lower Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-temperature solid oxide electrolyser and fuel cell stacks face challenges in achieving optimal electrical conductivity, mechanical contact, and reducing pressure losses during gas flow, which affect the efficiency and consistency of hydrogen and oxygen production.
Innovation Solution
The design of an interconnector with optimised geometry, featuring tabs and slots with specific dimensions and raised elements, enhances electrical conductivity and mechanical contact while reducing pressure losses by creating a larger gas flow volume and accommodating surface defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional interconnector design with standard tab geometry is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but pressure losses during gas flow are high and electrical conductivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnector applies local quality by creating tabs with non-uniform geometry - specifically varying widths along the tab length and different tab heights - to optimize local flow characteristics and electrical contact properties in different regions of the interconnector, thereby reducing overall pressure losses while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes geometric parameters of the tabs, including tab width (varying from root to tip), tab height, and slot dimensions, to optimize the balance between gas flow resistance and electrical conductivity. These parameter modifications directly address the contradiction by tuning the interconnector geometry to reduce pressure losses without excessive complexity
2Reliability
If tabs with larger contact area are used, then electrical conductivity improves, but gas flow volume is reduced increasing pressure losses
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnector design implements local quality by creating tabs with varying widths - wider at the base for electrical contact and narrower toward the tips for gas flow - allowing different regions of the same tab to serve different functions optimally, thus balancing electrical conductivity and gas flow requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention resolves the contradiction by adding vertical dimensionality through tabs of varying heights, allowing electrical contact area to be increased in the vertical direction while maintaining horizontal openings for gas flow, thereby decoupling the trade-off between conductivity and flow volume
3Reliability
If interconnector geometry is optimized for electrical contact, then conductivity improves, but mechanical contact consistency deteriorates due to surface defects
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnector employs a flexible contact mechanism through spring-loaded or compliant tab structures that can deform to accommodate surface irregularities and manufacturing tolerances, ensuring consistent mechanical and electrical contact despite variations in cell stacking flatness and surface defects
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates beforehand cushioning by using compliant or spring-loaded tab elements that pre-compress to absorb surface irregularities and maintain stable contact pressure, compensating for manufacturing variations before they affect electrical conductivity or mechanical consistency
Data Source
AI summary
An interconnector for a stack of SOEC/SOFC type solid oxide cells, configured to be arranged between two adjacent electrochemical cells, is formed by the assembly of at least three plates extending along first and second axes of symmetry, the main plate including holes, and each hole including tabs spaced apart to form a comb. Slots are defined between the edge of a hole and a tab or between two successive tabs. The width of each tab of at least one hole is between 0.1 mm and 3 mm.