A High-temperature Sealing Technology for Gas Separation Devices

Gas separation devices are needed in a variety of advanced energy systems (e.g., high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells). For such devices, a reliable sealing technology is needed to enable the hermetical joining of the ceramic membranes used in high temperature gas separation to their underlying support structures (e.g., a metallic body). This project will develop and demonstrate a reliable, reactive air brazing (RAB) technology for these high-temperature sealing applications. Phase I demonstrated technical feasibility by: (1) developing a novel material composition design based on Ag-CuO, (2) preparing the filler material and brazing process, and (3) characterizing wetting behavior, mechanical strength, and microstructure. In Phase II, the material composition will be optimized, and the process will be scaled-up for potential commercialization. The high-temperature sealing technology will be incorporated in some typical components (e.g., solid oxide fuel cell stacks), in order to demonstrate the benefits of the sealing technology at the system level Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The sealing technology should be of particular importance for longer-term fossil energy applications, including gas separations and storage, which require operation under hostile conditions (e.g. high temperatures, elevated pressures, and corrosive environments). These applications include energy conversion devices (fuel cells), chemical reactors (e.g., for the economical upgrading of low-grade fuels), and other gas separation and purification processes.