An electrochemical reaction cell stack includes an electrochemical reaction block including three or more electrochemical reaction units arranged in a first direction. The electrochemical reaction block includes a gas introduction flow passage, a gas discharge flow passage, and a gas transfer flow passage. An upstream electrochemical reaction unit includes an upstream introduction communication passage for connecting an upstream anode chamber to the gas introduction flow passage, and an upstream discharge communication passage for connecting the upstream anode chamber to the gas transfer flow passage. Similarly, a downstream electrochemical reaction unit includes a downstream introduction communication passage and a downstream discharge communication passage. In each of two or more downstream electrochemical reaction units, the total volume of the downstream introduction communication passage and the downstream discharge communication passage is smaller than the total volume of the upstream introduction communication passage and the upstream discharge communication passage.

An electrochemical reaction cell stack includes an electrochemical reaction block including three or more electrochemical reaction units arranged in a first direction. The electrochemical reaction block includes a gas introduction flow passage, a gas discharge flow passage, and a gas transfer flow passage. An upstream electrochemical reaction unit includes an upstream introduction communication passage for connecting an upstream anode chamber to the gas introduction flow passage, and an upstream discharge communication passage for connecting the upstream anode chamber to the gas transfer flow passage. Similarly, a downstream electrochemical reaction unit includes a downstream introduction communication passage and a downstream discharge communication passage. In each of two or more downstream electrochemical reaction units, the total volume of the downstream introduction communication passage and the downstream discharge communication passage is smaller than the total volume of the upstream introduction communication passage and the upstream discharge communication passage.

A combustion section defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The combustion section includes a casing that defines a diffusion chamber. A combustion liner is disposed within the diffusion chamber and defines a combustion chamber. The combustion liner is spaced apart from the casing such that a passageway is defined between the combustion liner and the casing. A fuel cell assembly is disposed in the passageway. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell that extends between an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end receives a flow of air and fuel and the outlet end provides output products to the combustion chamber. The fuel cell extends at an angle between the inlet end and the outlet end relative to a radial projection line.

An electrochemical element (Q) has a metal substrate (1) and multiple electrochemical reaction portions. The metal substrate (1) has gas flow allowing regions that allow the flowing of a gas between the upper side (4) and the lower side (5) of the metal substrate (1). The electrochemical reaction portions each have at least an electrode layer (A), an electrolyte layer (B), and a counter electrode layer (C), and are arranged on the upper side (4) of the metal substrate (1). The electrolyte layer (B) is arranged between the electrode layer (A) and the counter electrode layer (C), and the gas flowing through the gas flow allowing regions is supplied to the electrode layer (A).

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fuel cell tube including one or more laterally segmented fuel cells each including multiple fuel cell portions that are electrically isolated from one another. When assembled into a fuel cell stack, secondary interconnects electrically connect adjacent fuel cell tubes via their respective laterally segmented fuel cells. The use of laterally segmented fuel cells to effect the fuel cell tube-to-fuel cell tube electrical connection enables more accurate testing of the electrical connection between adjacent fuel cell tubes.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fuel cell tube including one or more laterally segmented fuel cells each including multiple fuel cell portions that are electrically isolated from one another. When assembled into a fuel cell stack, secondary interconnects electrically connect adjacent fuel cell tubes via their respective laterally segmented fuel cells. The use of laterally segmented fuel cells to effect the fuel cell tube-to-fuel cell tube electrical connection enables more accurate testing of the electrical connection between adjacent fuel cell tubes.

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.

A high-temperature fuel cell system includes a reformer that reforms a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen, a fuel cell that generates power by using the reformed gas and an oxidant gas, and a burner that heats the reformer. The burner includes an anode-off-gas gathering portion that has an anode-off-gas ejection hole and at which an anode off-gas discharged from an anode of the fuel cell gathers. The anode-off-gas gathering portion surrounds a first cathode-off-gas passing area through which a cathode off-gas discharged from a cathode of the fuel cell passes. The anode-off-gas ejection hole is formed such that the anode off-gas ejected upward from the anode-off-gas ejection hole approaches the cathode off-gas passing upward through the first cathode-off-gas passing area. The anode off-gas ejected from the anode-off-gas ejection hole and the cathode off-gas that has passed through the first cathode-off-gas passing area are burned.

A high-temperature fuel cell system includes a reformer that reforms a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen, a fuel cell that generates power by using the reformed gas and an oxidant gas, and a burner that heats the reformer. The burner includes an anode-off-gas gathering portion that has an anode-off-gas ejection hole and at which an anode off-gas discharged from an anode of the fuel cell gathers. The anode-off-gas gathering portion surrounds a first cathode-off-gas passing area through which a cathode off-gas discharged from a cathode of the fuel cell passes. The anode-off-gas ejection hole is formed such that the anode off-gas ejected upward from the anode-off-gas ejection hole approaches the cathode off-gas passing upward through the first cathode-off-gas passing area. The anode off-gas ejected from the anode-off-gas ejection hole and the cathode off-gas that has passed through the first cathode-off-gas passing area are burned.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The system may comprise a fuel cell tube and a secondary interconnect. The fuel cell tube may comprise a substrate, a fuel channel, a first and second electrochemical active fuel cell, a primary interconnect, and an electrochemically inactive cell. The substrate may have a major surface. The fuel channel may be separated from the major surface by the substrate. The first and second electrochemically active fuel cells may be disposed on the major surface, and may comprise and anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The primary interconnect may electrically couple the anode of the first electrochemically active fuel cell to the cathode of a second electrochemically active fuel cell. The electrochemically inactive fuel cell may be disposed on the major surface and comprise a conductive layer electrically coupled to the second electrochemically active fuel cell. The secondary interconnect may be coupled to the conductive layer of the electrochemically inactive cell. The electrochemically inactive cell is configured to inhibit the migration of hydrogen from said fuel channel to the secondary interconnect.