Development of a Gasket Seal for Metal Supported IT-SOFC

Completed

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)

Not Cross-cutting

Mr R Leah
Ceres Power Limited

Standard

DTI

01 April 2004

31 July 2005

15 months

£141,469

Power

South East

FCELLS

Mr R Leah, Ceres Power Limited

Project Contact, BHR Group Ltd
Project Contact, Flexitallic Ltd.

The objective of this project was to develop a viable compressive gasket sealing solution for 3rd Generation Metal Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (3GSOFCs) that operate at temperatures of 500-600 C. More specifically the aims were to: Define, test and characterise a refined gasket material suitable for 3G-SOFCs operating between 500 C and 600 C. Develop computer based design tools to predict and improve gasket seal performance using gathered data Compare expected seal performance with results from fuel cell seal tests Evaluate a mass manufacturing route for the refined gasket form and design Project value = 275930 DTI grant = 141469

All project milestones and targets were met or exceeded. Modifications were made to the gasket material that significantly simplified stack construction and improved seal capability.An extensive material characterisation study was concluded, suggesting that the refined gasket material is suitable for Ceres Power s planar 3G-SOFC technology. A stack computer model was successfully developed and validated at ambient temperature and extended to predict behaviourat temperatures up to 600 C.A gasket leak rate significantly lower than the project target of 1 of fuel flow was predicted by the computer model, and demonstrated in practice. A 100We stack was tested for 1000hrs showing an improvement in the stack seal 23 thermal cycles were demonstrated on a 100We stack, whilst maintaining stable stack open circuit voltage and seal integrity. Stack sealing integrity was improved from the startto the end of the project by more than 45 . A method suitable to mass manufacturing stack gaskets has been evaluated and costed.

01/01/07