Page 52 - High Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Fundamentals, Design and Applications
P. 52
History 33
oxygen concentration in a gas phase using a high-temperature galvanic cell [52].
After 1960, a rapidly increasing number of applications for patents and of papers
concerning SOFCs appeared in several countries. Some early contributions are
described below.
In the USA, during a short period in 1961-62, four companies applied for
patents on solid oxide fuel cells, partly with series connection [53-571. The first
publication in English about this subject, ‘A Solid Electrolyte Fuel Cell’ by
Weissbart and Ruka came out in 1962 [58]. From February 1962 to April 1963
in Westinghouse Electric Corporation. a team of 16 people under the leadership
of Archer developed solid oxide fuel cell stacks; parallel flat-plate and tubular
cells with platinum electrodes were produced and connected in series, using a
gold/nickel solder [59]. Flat discs did not lead to satisfactory success; they
resulted in bulky stacks and had difficulties with sealing, in contrast to the
tubular cells using bell-and-spigot joints (Figure 2.7). The main problem was at
Electrodes
Cell 2
Shunt Current
Path 1
(0’ flw in opposite
direction)
Air
Shunt Current
Path 2
Electrodes
Figzire 2.7 Cross-section of two solid electrolyte fuel cells of the bell-and-spigot type with shunt current
paths in the seal region developedat Vlestinghouse (I 963)
