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Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA)
 Core Technology Program

The Core Technology Program supports the SECA Industry Teams by providing problem-solving research to overcome technological barriers.  The Core Technology Program provides the focused applied research and development component of SECA – research that is typically longer-term in nature, and thus not the focus of sustained industry investment.  The Core Technology Program focuses on the R&D efforts of universities, national laboratories, and other research institutions. 

The progress, results and contributions of the Core Technology Program are reviewed on an annual basis, via a Peer Review process.  Through this process guidance is given to the Core Technology Program participants and research may be redirected to meet changing priorities.

SECA Photo Collage

Meeting Research Priorities
The current priorities of Core Technology research are described in the following table.

Current Priorities: Core Technology Program
Rank Area

Description
1  Gas seals
  • Glass and compressive seals
  • Compliant seals
  • Self-healing materials
1  Interconnect
 (Electrical)
  • Modifying components in alloys
  • Coatings
  • Electrode contact interface
1  Failure analysis
  • Models with electrochemistry
  • Structural failure criteria
2  Cathode
 performance
  • Microstructure optimization
  • Mixed conduction
  • Interface modification
2  Anode/
 fuel processing
  • Metal oxides with interface modification
  • Catalyst surface modification
  • Characterize thermodynamics/kinetics
3  Material cost
  • Lower cost precursor processing
4  Power
electronics
  • DC to DC design for fuel cells

Core Technology Projects and Participants
Contributors to the Core Technology Program address crosscutting technology development needs of the Industry Teams in the following research areas:

Current projects and research participants are described in the following tables, segmented by research area.  In addition, there are many projects being funded out of the Small Business Innovative Research, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and University Coal Research Programs which support the SECA Core Technology Program.  These projects are also described in this section.

Fuel Cell Core Technology

MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING
  1. Allegheny Technologies, Inc.: Evaluation of a Functional Interconnect System for SOFCs [PDF-1104KB]
  2. Arcomac Surface Engineering, LLC: Oxidation Resistant, Cr Retaining, Electrically Conductive Coatings on Metallic Alloys for SOFC Interconnects [PDF-684KB]
  3. Argonne National Laboratory: SOFC Research and Development in Support of SECA [PDF-447KB]
  4. Carnegie Mellon University: SOFC Cathode Surface Chemistry and Optimization Studies [PDF-1919KB]
  5. Carnegie Mellon University: Investigations of Cr Contamination in SOFC Cathodes Using TEM [PDF-1904KB]
  6. Ceramatec, Inc.: Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Development [PDF-494KB]
  7. Georgia Institute of Technology: Characterization of Atomic and Electronic Structure of Electrochemically Active SOFC Cathode Surfaces [PDF-1187KB]
  8. Georgia Institute of Technology: Functionally Graded Cathodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-516KB]
  9. Georgia Institute of Technology: Novel Sulfur-Tolerant Anodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-2411KB]
  10. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Development of Inexpensive Metal Alloy Electrodes for Cost-Competitive Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-1583KB]
  11. Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Reliability and Durability of Materials and Components for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-779KB]
  12. Ohio University: Combined Theoretical and Experimental Investigation and Design of H2S Tolerant Anode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-1092KB]
  13. National Energy Technology Laboratory: Cost Effective, Efficient Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-1289KB]
  14. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: SOFC Glass Seal Development at PNNL [PDF-254KB]
  15. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: SOFC Cathode Materials Development at PNNL [PDF-620KB]
  16. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: SECA Core Technology Program Activities—PNNL [PDF-88KB]
  17. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: SOFC Interconnect Materials Development at PNNL [PDF-707KB]
  18. Sandia National Laboratories: Reliable Seals for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-975KB]
  19. Tennessee Technological University: Novel Composite Materials for SOFC Cathode-Interconnect Contact [PDF-288KB]
  20. Tennessee Technological University: Developing Low-Cr Fe-Ni Based Alloys for Intermediate Temperature SOFC Interconnect Application [PDF-498KB]
  21. University of Cincinnati: Innovative Seals for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-533KB]
  22. University of Missouri-Rolla: Resilient Sealing Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-264KB]
  23. University of Missouri-Rolla: Thermochemically Stable Sealing Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-499KB]
  24. University of Texas at San Antonio: Novel Low Temperature Solid State Fuel Cells [PDF-560KB]
  25. University of Utah: Electrically Conductive, Corrosion-Resistant Coatings through Defect Chemistry for Metallic Interconnects [PDF-1078KB]
  26. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Digital Manufacturing of Gradient Meshed SOFC Sealing Composites with Self-Healing Capabilities [PDF-893KB]
FUEL PROCESSING
  1. Delevan d.b.a. Goodrich Turbine Fuel Technologies: An Innovative Injection and Mixing System for Diesel Fuel Reforming [PDF-1111KB]
  2. Eltron Research and Development Inc.: Reformer for Conversion of Diesel Fuel into CO and Hydrogen [PDF-1188KB]
  3. National Energy Technology Laboratory: Hexaaluminate Reforming Catalyst Development [PDF-869KB]
  4. National Energy Technology Laboratory: Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel Reforming Studies [PDF-844KB]
  5. National Energy Technology Laboratory: Facility Development for Fuel Reforming R&D [PDF-1605KB]
  6. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Modification of Nickel-YSZ Anodes for Control of Activity and Stability from Carbon Formation during SOFC Operation [PDF-306KB]
  7. TDA Research, Inc.: Sorbents for Desulfurization of Natural Gas and LPG [PDF-686KB]
  8. University of Michigan: Hybrid Experimental/Theoretical Approach Aimed at the Development of Carbon Tolerant Alloy Catalyst [PDF-923KB]
POWER ELECTRONICS
  1. Mesta Electronics Inc.: DC-AC Inverter with Reactive-Power-Management Functionality [PDF-700KB]
  2. National Institute of Standards and Technology: Advanced Power Conversion System (PCS) Technologies for High-Megawatt Fuel Cell Power Plants [PDF-1146KB]
  3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: A Low-Cost Soft-Switched DC/DC Converter for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [PDF-431KB]
MODELING AND SIMULATION
  1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: SOFC Modeling at PNNL [PDF-592KB]
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Interfacial Strength and Interconnect Life Quantification Using an Integrated Experimental/Modeling Approach [PDF-1461KB]
BALANCE OF PLANT
  1. Acumentrics Corporation: Hybrid Ceramic/Metallic Recuperator for SOFC Generator [PDF-948KB]
  2. FuelCell Energy, Inc.: Advanced Control Modules for Hybrid Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine Power Plants [PDF-1092KB]
  3. Phoenix Analysis & Design Technologies: Hot Anode Recirculation Blower for SOFC Systems [PDF-1237KB]
  4. R&D Dynamics Corporation: Foil-Bearing Supported High-Speed Centrifugal Cathode Air Blower [PDF-728KB]
  5. R&D Dynamics Corporation: Foil Gas Bearing Supported High-Speed Centrifugal Anode Gas Recycle Blower [PDF-728KB]
  6. TIAX LLC: Low-Cost, High-Temperature Recuperators for SOFC Fabricated from Titanium Aluminum Carbide (Ti2AlC) [PDF-1328KB]
  7. University at Albany - SUNY: Feasibility of a SOFC Stack Integrated Optical Chemical Sensor [PDF-326KB]
 
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