Systems and methods for preventing chromium contamination of solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

In some embodiments, a solid oxide fuel system is provided. The solid oxide fuel cell system may include a chromium-getter material. The chromium-getter material may react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor. The solid oxide fuel cell system may also include an inert substrate. The chromium-getter material may be coated onto the inert substrate. The coated substrate may remove chromium species from chromium vapor before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing chromium contamination in a solid oxide fuel cell system, the method comprising:
 coating a substrate with a chromium-getter material such that the chromium-getter material is bonded to the inert substrate, the chromium-getter material comprising a material adapted to react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor; and   disposing the coated substrate in the solid oxide fuel cell system, such that the coated substrate removes chromium species from chromium vapor in the solid oxide fuel cell system before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium-getter material is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum oxide, lanthanum carbonate, and calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium-getter material comprises an inorganic carbonate, nitrate, hydroxide, or acetate that reacts with chromium vapor in a range of 300 to 850° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the chromium-getter material further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, barium, calcium, lithium, and sodium. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coated substrate is disposed in a solid oxide fuel cell stack of the solid oxide fuel cell system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium-getter material comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, lithium oxide, and sodium oxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coated substrate is disposed in a stack manifold and/or a stack hot box of the solid oxide fuel cell system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coated substrate is disposed in a hot system piping of the solid oxide fuel cell system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coated substrate is disposed in an air flow stream of a solid oxide fuel cell interconnect of the solid oxide fuel cell system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coated substrate is disposed in an area of the solid oxide fuel cell system that reaches a temperature above about 300° C. during use of the solid oxide fuel cell system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium-getter material comprises pellets. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inert substrate is made of alumina. 
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing chromium contamination in a solid oxide fuel cell, the method comprising:
 providing a chromium-getter material, the chromium-getter material comprising a material adapted to react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor; and   disposing the chromium-getter material inside air flow channels of the solid oxide fuel cell, such that the chromium-getter material removes chromium species from chromium vapor in the solid oxide fuel cell before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the method further comprises coating the chromium-getter material onto a substrate, and   disposing the chromium-getter material comprises disposing the substrate inside the air flow channels of the solid oxide fuel cell.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chromium-getter material is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum oxide, lanthanum carbonate, and calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chromium-getter material comprises an inorganic carbonate, nitrate, hydroxide, or acetate that reacts with chromium vapor in a range of 300 to 850° C. 
     
     
         7 . A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
 a chromium-getter material comprising a material adapted to react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor; and   an inert substrate,   wherein the chromium-getter material is coated on and bonded to the inert substrate, and the coated substrate is adapted to remove chromium species from chromium vapor in the solid oxide fuel cell system before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell system.   
     
     
         18 . The solid oxide fuel cell system of claim  17 , wherein the chromium-getter material is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum oxide, lanthanum carbonate, and calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         19 . The solid oxide fuel cell system of claim  17 , wherein the chromium-getter material comprises an inorganic carbonate, nitrate, hydroxide, or acetate that reacts with chromium vapor in a range of 300 to 850° C. 
     
     
         20 . The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 19 , wherein the chromium-getter material further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, barium, calcium, lithium, and sodium.