IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0681833
(2001-06-13)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Narayanan, Sekharipuram R.
- Valdez, Thomas I.
- Clara, Filiberto
- Frank, Harvey A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- California Institute of Technology
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
23 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
A flat pack type fuel cell includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies. Each membrane electrode assembly is formed of an anode, an electrolyte, and an cathode with appropriate catalysts thereon. The anode is directly into contact with fuel via a wicking element. The fuel reservoir may exte
A flat pack type fuel cell includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies. Each membrane electrode assembly is formed of an anode, an electrolyte, and an cathode with appropriate catalysts thereon. The anode is directly into contact with fuel via a wicking element. The fuel reservoir may extend along the same axis as the membrane electrode assemblies, so that fuel can be applied to each of the anodes. Each of the fuel cell elements is interconnected together to provide the voltage outputs in series.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fuel cell, comprising: a plurality of fuel cell elements, including electrical connection parts that include an anode and a cathode, said plurality of fuel cell elements extending along an extended axis; a fuel reservoir, extending along said extended axis; and a fuel delivery element, ext
1. A fuel cell, comprising: a plurality of fuel cell elements, including electrical connection parts that include an anode and a cathode, said plurality of fuel cell elements extending along an extended axis; a fuel reservoir, extending along said extended axis; and a fuel delivery element, extending between said fuel reservoir and said anodes of all of said fuel cell elements, and supplying fuel to all of said anodes extending along said extended axis; wherein said fuel delivery element includes a wicking structure that provides fuel from said fuel reservoir to said anodes via capillary action. 2. A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein said fuel reservoir extends along an entirety of said extended axis, from one end of said one electrical connection parts to the other end of said one electrical connection parts. 3. A fuel cell as in claim 2, wherein said anode is rendered hydrophilic, to allow liquid fuel to be more readily absorbed thereby. 4. A fuel cell as in claim 3, wherein said cathodes, are located on an opposite side of said plurality of fuel cell elements from said anode, and said said cathodes are rendered hydrophobic. 5. A fuel cell as in claim 4, further comprising a housing, said housing including air holes in a vicinity of said cathode. 6. A fuel cell, comprising: a plurality of fuel cell elements, including electrical connection parts that include an anode and a cathode, said plurality of fuel cell elements extending along an extended axis; a fuel reservoir, extending along said extended axis; a fuel delivery element, extending between said fuel reservoir and said anodes of all of said fuel cell elements, and supplying fuel to all of said anodes extending along said extended axis; and a plurality of interconnections between said fuel cell elements, said plurality of interconnections including electrical interconnections; and wherein said interconnections include a connector plate connecting between portions of said electrodes. 7. A fuel cell, comprising: a plurality of fuel cell elements, including electrical connection parts that include an anode and a cathode, said plurality of fuel cell elements extending along an extended axis; a fuel reservoir, extending along said extended axis; and a fuel delivery element, extending between said fuel reservoir and said anodes of all of said fuel cell elements, and supplying fuel to all of said anodes extending along said extended axis; a second plurality of fuel cell elements, formed along a second extended axis parallel from but spaced from said extended axis, and also in connection with said fuel reservoir; and wherein said fuel delivery element includes a first wicking structure which extends between said fuel reservoir and anodes of said plurality of fuel cell elements, and a second wicking structure extending between second plurality of fuel cell elements and anodes of the second plurality of fuel cell elements, wherein said first and second wicking structures are each in contact with single fuel reservoir. 8. A method, comprising: providing a plurality of fuel cell elements along an extended axis, each of said fuel cell elements including an anode, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode; providing fuel from a fuel reservoir to each of said cathodes of each of said fuel cell elements directly, via capillary action; and rendering the anode hydrophilic, to facilitate fuel absorption into the anode. 9. A method, comprising: providing a plurality of fuel cell elements along an extended axis, each of said fuel cell elements including an anode, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode; providing fuel from a fuel reservoir to each of said cathodes of each of said fuel cell elements directly, via capillary action; and rendering the cathode hydrophobic, to prevent fuel front absorbing into the anode. 10. A method as in claim 9, further comprising rendering the cathode hydrophobic, to prevent fuel from absorbing into the cathode.
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