Fuel cell with overmolded electrode assemblies
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/06
H01M-008/12
H01M-004/86
출원번호
US-0284817
(2002-10-31)
발명자
/ 주소
Puttaiah,Rajeev
Menjak,Zdravko
Gradinarova,Latchezara M.
Venkatesan,Srinivasan
Aladjov,Boyko
Dhar,Subhash
Ovshinsky,Stanford R.
출원인 / 주소
Texaco Ovonic Fuel Cell LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
7인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes electrode assemblies having a frame overmolded around the electrode to maintain a
A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes electrode assemblies having a frame overmolded around the electrode to maintain a flow rates and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell comprising: at least one hydrogen, electrode frame overmolded about a hydrogen electrode having a hydrogen interface and an electrolyte interface, said overmolded hydrogen electrode frame and said hydrogen electrode forming an overmolded hydrogen electrode assembl
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell comprising: at least one hydrogen, electrode frame overmolded about a hydrogen electrode having a hydrogen interface and an electrolyte interface, said overmolded hydrogen electrode frame and said hydrogen electrode forming an overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly having an inner side and an outer side; at least one oxygen electrode frame overmolded about an oxygen electrode having an oxygen interface and an electrolyte interface, said overmolded oxygen electrode frame and said oxygen electrode forming an overmolded oxygen electrode assembly having an inner side and an outer side; and at least one electrolyte chamber disposed between said hydrogen electrode and said oxygen electrode; said inner sides of said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly and said overmolded oxygen electrode assembly being adhered together forming a series of electrolyte flow channels disposed between said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly and said overmolded oxygen electrode assembly, and a plurality of electrolyte flow distributing structures disposed within said electrolyte flow channels, said series of electrolyte flow channels and said electrolyte flow distributing structures being configured to uniformly distribute a high flow rate of an electrolyte solution laterally through said electrolyte chamber at a low pressure. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly and said overmolded oxygen electrode assembly have a tongue and groove configuration. 3. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly and said overmolded oxygen electrode assembly are adhered together using a vibrational welding process. 4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly and said overmolded oxygen electrode assembly are adhered together using a ultrasonic welding process. 5. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said flow distributing structures extend from said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly to said overmolded oxygen electrode, assembly. 6. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said flow distributing structures have a polygonal cross section. 7. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said flow distributing structures have a circular cross section. 8. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte chamber provides mechanical support within said fuel cell and provides an uninterrupted pathway for said electrolyte solution to contact said electrolyte interface of said hydrogen electrode and said electrolyte interface of said oxygen electrode. 9. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte chamber contacts said electrolyte interface of said hydrogen electrode and said electrolyte interface of said oxygen electrode. 10. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte chamber comprises a porous support structure disposed between a pair of membranes. 11. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said membrane prevents excess electrolyte solution from contacting said hydrogen electrode and said oxygen electrode. 12. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said membrane prevents said oxygen stream and said hydrogen stream from penetrating into said electrolyte. 13. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said porous support structure is comprised of an expanded polymer sheet. 14. The fuel cell according to claim 13, wherein said expanded polymer sheet is comprised of a polyolefin. 15. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a compression plate adapted to distribute a hydrogen stream across said hydrogen interface is disposed within said outer side of said overmolded hydrogen electrode assembly. 16. The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein said compression plate disposed within said hydrogen electrode frame has a series of flow channels configured to uniformly distribute said hydrogen stream across said hydrogen electrode. 17. The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein said compression plates are adapted to absorb expansion of said hydrogen electrode. 18. The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein said compression plates provide mechanical support within said fuel cell. 19. The fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein said compression plate is comprised of rubber. 20. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a compression plate adapted to distribute an oxygen stream across said oxygen interface is disposed within outer side of said overmolded oxygen electrode assembly. 21. The fuel cell according to claim 20, wherein said compression plate disposed within said oxygen electrode frame has a series of flow channels configured to uniformly distribute said oxygen stream across said oxygen electrode. 22. The fuel cell according to claim 20, wherein said compression plates are adapted to absorb expansion of said hydrogen electrode. 23. The fuel cell according to claim 20, wherein said compression plates provide mechanical support within said fuel cell. 24. The fuel cell according to claim 20, wherein said compression plate is comprised of rubber. 25. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen electrode comprises an anode active material having hydrogen storage capacity. 26. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein said anode active material is electrically connected to a current collector. 27. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein the bulk of said anode active material is disposed between said hydrogen interface and said electrolyte interface. 28. The fuel cell according to claim 27, wherein said hydrogen interface is adapted to dissociate and absorb gaseous hydrogen. 29. The fuel cell according to claim 28, wherein the bulk of said anode active material is adapted to store said absorbed hydrogen. 30. The fuel cell according to claim 29, wherein said electrolyte interface is adapted to react said stored hydrogen with said electrolyte solution. 31. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen electrode comprises an anode active material layer, a porous polytetrafluoroethylene layer, and at least one current collector grid. 32. The fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said anode active material layer is disposed between said current collector grid and said polytetrafluoroethylene layer. 33. The fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said anode active material layer is dispersed throughout said current collector grid. 34. The fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said anode active material layer comprises a mixture of Misch metal nickel alloy, Raney nickel, graphite, and polytetrafluoroethylene powder. 35. The fuel cell according to claim 34, wherein said anode active material has the following composition: 35 to 40% weight percent Misch metal nickel alloy; 45 to 50% weight percent Raney nickel; 4% weight percent graphite; and 7 to 15% weight percent polytetrafluoroethylene. 36. The fuel cell according to claim 35, wherein said anode active material layer has the following preferred composition: 35 weight percent Misch metal nickel alloy, 46 weight percent raney nickel, 4 weight percent graphite, and 15 weight percent polytetrafluoroethylene powder. 37. The fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said current collector grid comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of mesh, grid, matte, expanded metal, foil, foam and plate. 38. The fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said current collector grid comprises 40 wires per inch running horizontally and 20 wires per inch running vertically. 39. The fuel cell according to claim 31, wherein said current collector grid is comprised of a conductive metal. 40. The fuel cell according to claim 39, wherein said conductive metal is nickel. 41. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen electrode comprises a cathode active material. 42. The fuel cell according to claim 41, wherein said current collector is electrically connected to said cathode active material. 43. The fuel cell according to claim 41, wherein said oxygen electrode has an oxygen interface, an electrolyte interface, and a bulk of said cathode active material. 44. The fuel cell according to claim 43, wherein said bulk of said cathode active material is disposed between said oxygen interface and said electrolyte interface. 45. The fuel cell according to claim 43, wherein said oxygen interface is adapted to dissociate and absorb gaseous oxygen. 46. The fuel cell according to claim 43, wherein said bulk of said cathode active material is adapted to store said absorbed oxygen. 47. The fuel cell according to claim 43, wherein said electrolyte interface is adapted to react said stored oxygen with an electrolyte solution. 48. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen electrode comprises a gas diffusion layer, a catalyst layer, a polytetrafluoroethylene layer, and at least one current collector grid. 49. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said catalyst layer is disposed between said gas diffusion layer and said current collector grid. 50. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said gas diffusion layer is disposed between said catalyst layer and said polytetrafluoroethylene layer. 51. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said polytetrafluoroethylene layer is in intimate contact with said oxygen stream. 52. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said catalyst layer is dispersed throughout said current collector grid. 53. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said current collector grid is in intimate contact with said electrolyte stream. 54. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said current collector comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of mesh, grid, matte, expanded metal, foil, foam and plate. 55. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said current collector grid comprises 40 wires per inch running horizontally and 20 wires per inch running vertically. 56. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said current collector grid is comprised of a conductive metal. 57. The fuel cell according to claim 56, wherein said current collector grid is comprised of nickel. 58. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said gas diffusion layer has the following composition: 40 weight percent polytetrafluoroethylene; 60 weight percent carbon black. 59. The fuel cell according to claim 48, wherein said catalyst layer has the following composition: 70 to 80 weight percent of a mixture by weight of 20 percent polytetrafluoroethylene and 80 percent carbon black, 20 to 30 weight percent silver oxide. 60. The fuel cell according to claim 59, wherein said silver oxide contains a lithium aluminum alloy. 61. The fuel cell according to claim 60, wherein said silver oxide contains gallium.
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