USRE40035E1 - Modular ceramic oxygen generator - Google Patents
Modular ceramic oxygen generator Download PDFInfo
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- USRE40035E1 USRE40035E1 US09/784,131 US78413101A USRE40035E US RE40035 E1 USRE40035 E1 US RE40035E1 US 78413101 A US78413101 A US 78413101A US RE40035 E USRE40035 E US RE40035E
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- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 52
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 52
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 47
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 34
- 229910021525 ceramic electrolyte Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012799 electrically-conductive coating Substances 0.000 claims 4
- 240000008100 Brassica rapa Species 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000007772 electrode material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 5
- -1 oxygen ions Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zirconium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Zr]=O MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000010416 ion conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000588731 Hafnia Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910000416 bismuth oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910010293 ceramic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- CETPSERCERDGAM-UHFFFAOYSA-N ceric oxide Chemical compound O=[Ce]=O CETPSERCERDGAM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000422 cerium(IV) oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- TYIXMATWDRGMPF-UHFFFAOYSA-N dibismuth;oxygen(2-) Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Bi+3].[Bi+3] TYIXMATWDRGMPF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007598 dipping method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002001 electrolyte material Substances 0.000 description 1
- CJNBYAVZURUTKZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N hafnium(IV) oxide Inorganic materials O=[Hf]=O CJNBYAVZURUTKZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010606 normalization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011224 oxide ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002407 reforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003303 reheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007784 solid electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003892 spreading Methods 0.000 description 1
- ZCUFMDLYAMJYST-UHFFFAOYSA-N thorium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Th]=O ZCUFMDLYAMJYST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
- H01M8/0252—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form tubular
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/32—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/32—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
- B01D53/326—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00 in electrochemical cells
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B13/00—Oxygen; Ozone; Oxides or hydroxides in general
- C01B13/02—Preparation of oxygen
- C01B13/0229—Purification or separation processes
- C01B13/0233—Chemical processing only
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B13/00—Oxygen; Ozone; Oxides or hydroxides in general
- C01B13/02—Preparation of oxygen
- C01B13/0229—Purification or separation processes
- C01B13/0248—Physical processing only
- C01B13/0251—Physical processing only by making use of membranes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
- H01M8/0256—Vias, i.e. connectors passing through the separator material
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
- H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
- H01M8/2425—High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/243—Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
- B01D2257/10—Single element gases other than halogens
- B01D2257/104—Oxygen
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2210/00—Purification or separation of specific gases
- C01B2210/0043—Impurity removed
- C01B2210/0046—Nitrogen
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
- H01M2300/0017—Non-aqueous electrolytes
- H01M2300/0065—Solid electrolytes
- H01M2300/0068—Solid electrolytes inorganic
- H01M2300/0071—Oxides
- H01M2300/0074—Ion conductive at high temperature
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M4/00—Electrodes
- H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
- H01M4/90—Selection of catalytic material
- H01M4/9016—Oxides, hydroxides or oxygenated metallic salts
- H01M4/9025—Oxides specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC
- H01M4/9033—Complex oxides, optionally doped, of the type M1MeO3, M1 being an alkaline earth metal or a rare earth, Me being a metal, e.g. perovskites
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M8/124—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
- H01M8/1246—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M8/124—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
- H01M8/1246—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides
- H01M8/1253—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides the electrolyte containing zirconium oxide
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M8/124—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
- H01M8/1246—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides
- H01M8/126—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides the electrolyte containing cerium oxide
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M8/124—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
- H01M8/1246—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides
- H01M8/1266—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides the electrolyte containing bismuth oxide
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
- Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
Definitions
- This invention relates to devices for separating oxygen from a more complex gas containing oxygen to deliver the separated oxygen for use. More particularly, the invention relates to solid state electrochemical devices for separating oxygen from a more complex gas.
- oxygen can be removed from more complex gasses, such as air, by an electrochemical process of ionizing the oxygen molecules transporting the oxygen ions through a solid electrolyte and reforming the oxygen molecules on the opposite electrolyte surface of the electric potential is applied to a suitable catalyzing electrode coating applied to the surface of the electrolyte which is porous to oxygen molecules and which acts to dissociate oxygen molecules into oxygen ions at its interface with the electrolyte.
- the oxygen ions are transported through the electrolyte to the opposite surface, which is also coated with a catalyzing electrode and electrically charged with the opposite electric potential which removes the excess electrons from the oxygen ions, and the oxygen molecules are reformed.
- the material forming the ion conductor is a ceramic, and a wide variety of ceramics have been found useful for this purpose.
- ceramics have been found useful for this purpose.
- the metal oxide may comprise from about 75% to about 90% of the overall composition, and typical oxides used to form the basis of the compositions may include zirconia, ceria, bismuth oxide, thoria, hafnia and similar materials known in the ceramics art. These are but examples, and the specific selection of material is not a part of the invention described herein.
- the ceramic electrolyte is constructed as a large flat plate, and this has significant disadvantages. It is limited in its ability to withstand high output delivery pressures Consequently, the plate must be either thicker, have stiffening ribs or have short spans between the sealed edges all of which add significantly to cost and manufacturing complexity.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,258 describes a device where a plurality of tubes each having electrodes on the interior and exterior surfaces thereof, are used
- the tube design is an improvement in terms of its ability to withstand higher pressures.
- considerable labor cost are involved for sealing each tube to a manifold and to make the necessary electrical connections to each of the tubes.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,990 describes a honeycomb configuration which provides a less expensive way to produce the necessary surface area for the process and is structurally adequate to withstand the higher delivery pressures desirable.
- the ceramic electrolyte in this configuration has a series of channels, a portion of which are electroded with a first polarity, and the others of which are electroded with a second polarity, these channels are said to form the honeycomb appearance.
- This arrangement has significant disadvantages in the labor required to seal the ends of numerous oxygen collecting channels and the wiring needed to connect those same channels.
- the alternating rows of oxygen and air channels provide only the effective surface area as might be available from the amount of ceramic electrolyte used, and the electrical connections throughout this honeycomb structure are intricate and expensive to manufacture.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a ceramic oxygen generator wherein the electrical connections to the individual anode and cathode surfaces are simplified and less costly to make.
- a further object of this invention is to provide a ceramic oxygen generator wherein the manifold structure for receiving the separated oxygen is an integral part of the manufactured generator structure and is less costly to make.
- Still another object or this invention is to provide a ceramic oxygen generator which is of a modular configuration and thereby provides a simple “building block” approach to meet differing requirements for amounts of oxygen to be generated.
- An additional object of the invention is to provide a ceramic oxygen generator meeting the foregoing objectives which is capable of operating with oxygen containing entrance gasses of a wide variety of pressures.
- an ionically conductive ceramic electrolyte is molded to have a plurality of tubes extending from a support member forming a module.
- the tubes are closed at the ends thereof outermost from the foregoing surface while open ends of the tube form openings in the support member for the tubes.
- All surfaces of the electrolyte including the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes and the top and bottom of the sup port support member are coated with a porous ionizing electrode material in a continuous fashion.
- a second coating of a different material may be applied to the same surfaces, if desired, to act as a low resistance current carrier and distributor.
- the tube-like members are formed into rows and columns on the tube support member.
- the aforementioned coatings of material are formed into electrical circuits which are created such that the columns of said tubes are connected in parallel while the rows thereof are connected in series.
- the tube support member includes a lower surface which is adapted to be joined with a like surface of another element to form an oxygen generator module assembly.
- a number of module assemblies can hie have their output ports connected together to form a system of greater capacity.
- FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one of the molded, modular elements used to form module assembly of two molded elements creating the ceramic oxygen generator module assembly according to the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the two of the FIG. 1 molded elements formed into the aforementioned module assembly.
- FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the FIG. 1 embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken along the line 4 — 4 of the FIG. 1 embodiment.
- the ceramic oxygen generating assembly is generally comprised of pairs of molded “building block” or modular elements such as the one depicted in FIG. 1 .
- the modular element 10 can be, for example, injection molded of an ionically conductive ceramic electrolyte and in the configuration shown provides a large surface area per unit volume, and it includes an integral manifold structure (to be described) for collecting oxygen. As is shown in FIG. 2 the symmetry of the modular design of element 10 allows a second element 10 ′ to be inverted and sealed to the first element to form the assembly.
- the element 10 is, for example, formed by an injection molding process from an ionically conductive ceramic electrolyte.
- element 10 is formed into a series of tubes 12 extending from a generally planar tube support member 14
- the tubes are formed into 28 columns of 8 tubes each, or stated another way, 8 rows of 28 tubes each.
- the outer end of each tube 12 is closed at 15 .
- the upper surface 16 and outer surfaces 13 of the tubes 12 along with the closed ends 15 thereof, are then coated with a catalyzing and electrically conductive material. (See FIG. 4 ).
- the lower surface 18 ( FIG. 3 ) and interiors 17 of each of the tubes 12 are coated with a similar electrically conductive material.
- a first electrode being connectable to a source of electrical potential at a first polarity and a second electrode being connectable to a source of electrical potential at a second polarity.
- a series of vias 20 are provided, which are simply holes extending through the ceramic electrolyte, and these holes are plated through (and filled and plugged) during the electroding process. After the electroding process the electrode material on portions of the upper and lower surfaces 16 and 18 may be burned away to form the desired electrical connections (to be described) through certain vias.
- the elements 10 and 10 ′ forming the FIG. 2 assembly are identical and symmetrical so that they may be placed together in the manner shown in FIG. 2 to form complete assembly.
- a flange member 22 extends outwardly from the lower surface 18 of tube support member 14 around the perimeter thereof so that when the elements 10 and 10 ′ are placed together as in FIG. 2 , the flange members 22 and 22 ′ are joined to form a manifold 24 in the interior therof thereof between the lowwer lower surfaces 18 of the two elements 10 and 10 ′.
- an exit port 26 is provided in tube support member 14 to communicate with the interior of manifold 24 . Outlet ports could also exit along the longer edges of the elements 10 and 10 ′ to allow side-by-side rather than end-to-end connection of a plurality of assemblies.
- FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken along the line 4 — 4 in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of four tubes from a row of 28 in the described embodiment.
- the tubes 12 and tube support member 14 are of the ceramic electrolyte material.
- the outer surfaces 21 of tubes 12 and the upper surface 16 of tube support member 14 are continuously coated with an ionizing and electrically conductive material to form an electrode for the time being continuously covering these surfaces.
- the interior surfaces 23 of tubes 12 are coated with an electrically conductive materials and this coating 34 continues to cover the lower surface 18 of tube support member 14 .
- the vias 20 extending through tube support member 14 will be filled with the electrically conductive material.
- the entire surface area is coated such as by a dipping process.
- a series of cuts in the electrode material 24 on the lower surface 18 of tube support member 14 are made as shown at 30 a-c. These cuts may be made with a suitable laser. These cuts extend longitudinally of the columns the full dimension of tube support member 14 between each of the columns of tubes 12 . Likewise, cuts 32 a-d are made in the electrode surface 21 formed on the upper surface 16 of tube support member 14 . Again, these cuts 32 extend longitudinally the full dimension of tube support member 14 along each column of tubes 12 .
- cut 32 a is made on the side of via 20 a nearer tube 12 a while cut 30 a is made on the side of via 20 a nearer tuber 12 b.
- a series connection is made between electrode surface 21 of tube 12 b and that portion of electrode surface 24 on tube 12 a.
- the same relationships will then occur between the first and second electrode surfaces of the next succeeding tubes in the row, and this same relationship will follow in each of the rows.
- each (8 rows) the electrodes (first and second electrodes) of each tube in each column of 8 tubes are in parallel electrically.
- Each of the 28 columns are in series electrically.
- this arrangement is only examples and the sizes of the tubes and the arrangement of the rows and columns of tubes can be varied allowing the design to be an optimized arrangement of the series and or parallel electrical connections to each tube for best voltage and current distribution.
- the FIG. 1 module receives power from a 24 volt supply, the voltage applied across each tube would be less than one volt because each column of tubes acts in effect, as one of 28 series resistors.
- the voltage required to effect the ionization and transport oxygen across such a device is affected by several parameters including operating temperature, differential oxygen partial pressure across the generator, ionic conductivity of the electrolyte, electrical resistance of the electrolyte, electrode interface, spreading resistance of the electrode and resistance of the electrical connections to the generator. In general, however, this voltage is less than one volt and can be a small fraction of a volt in optimized designs.
- the number of tubes (or columns of tubes) is dependent on the power supply voltage and the described voltage to be applied to each tube It is to be understood that each column of 8 tubes (and associated vias) in this example could be further subdivided such that 8 separate series of 28 tubes each are formed.
- the air or other gas from which oxygen is to be extracted flows across the tubes 12 and by reason of the principles of ionic conductivity discussed hereinabove, a gas having a higher pressure of oxygen is formed in the interiors of tubes 12 and is collected in manifold 24 . This supply of oxygen is communicated via port 26 to the component having the oxygen requirement.
- each column of hollow tubes is a hollow “cantilever shelf” configuration which would provide approximately the same effective surface area.
- These flat hollow sections with one end molded closed would be manifolded together as the tubes are to provide a common output port.
- Internal stiffening ribs could be added between the opposing flat walls to increase the ability to withstand internal pressure as required.
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Abstract
Description
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/784,131 USRE40035E1 (en) | 1995-08-24 | 2001-02-16 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US51864695A | 1995-08-24 | 1995-08-24 | |
US09/020,301 US5871624A (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1998-02-06 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
US09/784,131 USRE40035E1 (en) | 1995-08-24 | 2001-02-16 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/020,301 Reissue US5871624A (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1998-02-06 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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USRE40035E1 true USRE40035E1 (en) | 2008-01-29 |
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ID=24064868
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/020,301 Ceased US5871624A (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1998-02-06 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
US09/784,131 Expired - Lifetime USRE40035E1 (en) | 1995-08-24 | 2001-02-16 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/020,301 Ceased US5871624A (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1998-02-06 | Modular ceramic oxygen generator |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
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US (2) | US5871624A (en) |
EP (2) | EP0761284B1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP4017690B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2182069C (en) |
DE (2) | DE69636203T2 (en) |
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- 1996-07-30 EP EP96112291A patent/EP0761284B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP4847410B2 (en) | 2011-12-28 |
EP1374975A1 (en) | 2004-01-02 |
DE69636203T2 (en) | 2007-03-29 |
EP1374975B1 (en) | 2006-05-31 |
JPH09132402A (en) | 1997-05-20 |
CA2182069A1 (en) | 1997-02-25 |
DE69636203D1 (en) | 2006-07-06 |
DE69630263T2 (en) | 2004-08-26 |
DE69630263D1 (en) | 2003-11-13 |
EP0761284B1 (en) | 2003-10-08 |
EP0761284A1 (en) | 1997-03-12 |
CA2182069C (en) | 2002-04-09 |
US5871624A (en) | 1999-02-16 |
JP2007297278A (en) | 2007-11-15 |
JP4017690B2 (en) | 2007-12-05 |
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