A method for operating a fuel cell system includes drawing a base level DC electric energy from a first fuel cell of a first type to a combined DC bus, measuring a DC voltage at the combined DC bus, determining whether the DC voltage at the combined DC bus falls short of a DC voltage threshold, and drawing a variable DC electric energy from a second fuel cell of a second type different from the first type in response to determining that the DC voltage at the combined DC bus falls short of the DC voltage threshold.

A fuel cell stack including a separator having a gas equal distribution structure includes a cell formed by sequentially stacking an air electrode, an electrolyte, and a fuel electrode, an air electrode current collector, an air electrode separator, a fuel electrode current collector, and a fuel electrode separator. The air path or the fuel path includes a first channel through which the air or the fuel is introduced from the outside and which is formed to extend to a predetermined length, an auxiliary channel branched off from the first channel so that the air or the fuel moves from the first channel, and a second channel connected to an end portion of the auxiliary channel and formed to extend to a predetermined length so that the air or the fuel moved from the auxiliary channel is moved and discharged to the outside.

A fuel cell stack including a separator having a gas equal distribution structure includes a cell formed by sequentially stacking an air electrode, an electrolyte, and a fuel electrode, an air electrode current collector, an air electrode separator, a fuel electrode current collector, and a fuel electrode separator. The air path or the fuel path includes a first channel through which the air or the fuel is introduced from the outside and which is formed to extend to a predetermined length, an auxiliary channel branched off from the first channel so that the air or the fuel moves from the first channel, and a second channel connected to an end portion of the auxiliary channel and formed to extend to a predetermined length so that the air or the fuel moved from the auxiliary channel is moved and discharged to the outside.

The invention relates to an electricity generating electrochemical device of the solid-oxide fuel-cell stack type. The device includes a planar assembly having at least one electrochemical cell comprised between first and second gas diffusing plates made of ceramic of expansion coefficient between 8×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 and 14×10.sup.−6K.sup.−1 and drilled with equidistant holes. First and second current conductive metal grids each are connected to a conductive wire allowing current to flow out of the device. The grilles are placed on either side of the at least one electrochemical cell between this cell and each of the first and second gas diffusing plates. A clamping device mechanically holds the planar assembly together.

The invention relates to an electricity generating electrochemical device of the solid-oxide fuel-cell stack type. The device includes a planar assembly having at least one electrochemical cell comprised between first and second gas diffusing plates made of ceramic of expansion coefficient between 8×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 and 14×10.sup.−6K.sup.−1 and drilled with equidistant holes. First and second current conductive metal grids each are connected to a conductive wire allowing current to flow out of the device. The grilles are placed on either side of the at least one electrochemical cell between this cell and each of the first and second gas diffusing plates. A clamping device mechanically holds the planar assembly together.

A module for an HTE reactor or an SOFC fuel cell, the module including a circuit for the circulation of a gas, in addition to the reactive gases required for the electrolysis reaction or the reverse reaction in an SOFC cell, the circuit enabling, during the operation under pressure, the additional gas to equalise, on one side of the glass- and/or vitroceramic-based seals, the pressure of the reactive gases generated on the other side.

A module for an HTE reactor or an SOFC fuel cell, the module including a circuit for the circulation of a gas, in addition to the reactive gases required for the electrolysis reaction or the reverse reaction in an SOFC cell, the circuit enabling, during the operation under pressure, the additional gas to equalise, on one side of the glass- and/or vitroceramic-based seals, the pressure of the reactive gases generated on the other side.

The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

Systems and methods for sintering and conditioning fuel cell stacks utilizing channel guides, baffles, and internal compression systems are provided. Sintering and conditioning may be performed utilizing a fuel cell column cartridge assembly and fuel cell stacks may be sintered and conditioned at the system level during the same annealing cycle on the same support.