Bloom Energy has patented a fuel cell stack design with interconnects, fuel cells, and seals to prevent cross-contamination between fuel and air flow fields. The seals are made of a specific seal material composition to ensure efficient operation. GlobalData’s report on Bloom Energy gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Bloom Energy, Polymer electrolyte fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. Bloom Energy's grant share as of February 2024 was 41%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Fuel cell stack with interconnects and seals for preventing leakage
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11916263B2) discloses a fuel cell stack design that includes interconnects stacked over one another, with fuel cells positioned between them. The stack features fuel inlet and outlet risers, riser seals, and perimeter seals to prevent cross-contamination between fuel and air flow fields. The seals are made of a specific seal material composition, including SiO2, B2O3, Al2O3, CaO, MgO, La2O3, and at least one of BaO and SrO. The patent also details the configuration of the fuel cells, which consist of an electrolyte layer, cathode, and anode, with manifold seals and an electrolyte reinforcement layer for structural support.
Furthermore, the patent describes additional features of the fuel cell stack, such as the absence of through holes in the fuel cells, the presence of conductive layers between cells and flow fields, and the use of curved ceramic baffle plates. The design also includes dielectric layers and a coating layer comprising lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) and (Mn, Co)3O4 spinel (MCO) in specific regions. The composition of the seal material is further detailed, with variations in the amounts of BaO and SrO based on different components of the stack. Overall, the patent highlights a novel fuel cell stack design with specific seal materials and configurations to enhance performance and prevent contamination between fuel and air flow fields.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
