Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assembly and Bipolar Plate for Such

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This invention is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assembly featuring a specially designed bipolar plate that integrates internal coolant channels directly within its plate-shaped body. The bipolar plate sits against the electrode of a membrane-electrode unit and contains open channels on its main surface to guide fuel (such as hydrogen-containing gas) or an oxidant (such as air) across the electrode. Coolant channels run through the body of the plate, and a dedicated coolant line connects the inlet and outlet sides of these channels to form a closed cooling loop. A cooling unit attached to this loop continuously extracts thermal energy from the circulating coolant, actively managing the heat generated during fuel cell operation.

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• Thermal management of high-temperature SOFC stacks in stationary power generation plants where overheating can degrade cell materials.
• Integration into combined heat and power (CHP) systems for buildings, where recovered heat from the cooling loop can be repurposed for space heating or hot water.
• Use in auxiliary power units (APUs) for heavy-duty vehicles or aircraft, where compact and efficient thermal control of SOFCs is critical.
• Deployment in industrial backup power systems requiring long-duration, stable SOFC operation with precise temperature control.
• Incorporation into modular SOFC stacks for distributed energy generation, where active cooling enables higher power density without thermal runaway.

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• Active cooling via a closed coolant loop prevents thermal degradation of SOFC components, extending the operational lifetime of the fuel cell stack.
• Integrating coolant channels directly into the bipolar plate eliminates the need for separate external cooling components, reducing system complexity and footprint.
• The closed-loop cooling circuit minimizes coolant loss and contamination, improving long-term reliability and reducing maintenance requirements.
• Precise thermal management enables more stable operating temperatures, which improves electrochemical efficiency and consistency of power output.
• The design allows excess heat to be captured and redirected by the cooling unit, enabling waste heat recovery for combined heat and power applications.
• Uniform heat extraction across the bipolar plate surface reduces thermal gradients within the cell, lowering mechanical stress and the risk of cracking or delamination.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell arrangement with at least one solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which comprises a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and at least one bipolar plate (6) with a plate-shaped base body (7), which rests with a main surface against an electrode of the membrane-electrode assembly (5), wherein channels (8, 9) are formed in the main surface, which are open toward the electrode, wherein the channels (8, 9) are intended for conducting a fuel, in particular a hydrogen-containing fuel gas, or a gaseous oxidizing agent, in particular air. In the base body (7), coolant channels (14) are formed for conducting a coolant with an inlet side and an outlet side, such that at least one coolant line (21) is connected to the coolant channels (14), which connects the inlet side and the outlet side of the coolant channels (14) to one another, forming a closed coolant circuit. A cooling unit (22a) is connected to the coolant line (21), which is designed to remove thermal energy from a coolant that is conveyed through the cooling circuit.