High-volume-manufacture fuel cell arrangement and method for production thereof
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/04
H01M-008/10
출원번호
UP-0678510
(1996-07-09)
등록번호
US-7531262
(2009-07-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Simpson, Maria
Duffy, Torrence L.
Simpson, Charles
대리인 / 주소
Cahn & Samuels, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
A fuel cell which is producible in high volume has electrolyte, positive electrode and negative electrode components which incorporate structure, external electrical connections, internal fuel and oxidizer distribution and an exhaust passage to form a simple assembly which can be formed into a stack
A fuel cell which is producible in high volume has electrolyte, positive electrode and negative electrode components which incorporate structure, external electrical connections, internal fuel and oxidizer distribution and an exhaust passage to form a simple assembly which can be formed into a stack. The fuel cell can utilize either a rigid or a flexible electrolyte. The components are manufacturable by a process of printing rolled or flat stock, cutting where appropriate and stacking into a fuel cell assembly.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell comprising fuel distribution plate, an oxidizer distribution plate, and a solid electrolyte operatively arranged between the fuel distribution plate and the oxidizer distribution plate, wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a frame with a central portion having
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell comprising fuel distribution plate, an oxidizer distribution plate, and a solid electrolyte operatively arranged between the fuel distribution plate and the oxidizer distribution plate, wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a frame with a central portion having a positive electrode and catalyst applied on one side of the central portion and a negative electrode and catalyst on a side of the central portion opposed to the one side, fuel and oxidizer vias arranged centrally of the frame, fuel, and exhaust conducts arranged in the frame and electrical contact lugs extending in a direction outwardly of the frame. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizer distribution plate is arranged on the positive electrode side of the solid electrolyte and comprises an outer frame having alternately arranged fuel conduits and exhaust conduits therein congruent with the fuel and exhaust conduits of the solid electrolyte frame, fuel, and oxidizer vias congruent with solid electrolyte vias, and a plurality of members extending between the frame and the vias to define permissible areas for the oxidizer. 3. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel distribution plate is arranged on the negative electrode side of the central portion and comprises an outer frame having alternately arranged fuel conduits and exhaust conduits therein congruent with the fuel and exhaust conduits of the solid electrolyte frame, fuel and oxidizer vias congruent with solid electrolyte vias, and a plurality of members extending between the frame and the vias to define permissible areas for the fuel. 4. The fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the oxidizer distribution plate is arranged on the positive electrode side of the solid electrolyte and comprises an outer frame having alternately arranged fuel conduits and exhaust conduits therein congruent with the fuel and exhaust conduits of the solid electrolyte frame, fuel and oxidizer vias congruent with solid electrolyte vias, and a plurality of members extending between the frame and the vias to define permissible areas for the oxidizer. 5. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel and oxidizer vias are arranged in a radially extending pattern in substantially the same plane. 6. The fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein the vias are defined by integral structure of the distribution plates and solid electrolyte. 7. The fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein the radially extending vias are concentrically arranged. 8. The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust conduits in the frames of the fuel distribution plate and the oxidizer distribution plate are open at inner sides of the frames to communicate with the permissible areas which constitute a major portion of the area of the plates inside their respective frames. 9. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel distribution plate, the oxidizer distribution plate and the solid electrolyte are so configured as to provide a flexible or rigid electrolyte fuel cell construction. 10. A fuel cell, comprising components which include: (a) a fuel distributor, (b) an oxidizer distributor, and (c) a solid electrolyte operatively arranged between the fuel distributor and the oxidizer distributor, wherein each of the components (a), (b) and (c), and subassemblies thereof, are configured so as to be stackable to form a solid electrolyte fuel cell in which said components and subassemblies thereof constitute an alignable, sealable, modular structure with internal fuel feed passages, fuel distribution passages, oxidizer feed passages, oxidizer distribution passages, return passages, and exhaust passages contained in the modular structure and with electrical connection tabs accessible externally of the modular structure. 11. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said components are internally configured to provide the fuel feed passages, the fuel distribution passages, the oxidizer feed passages, the oxidizer distribution passages, the return passages and the exhaust passages. 12. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said components are formable into one of a single fuel cell, a fuel cell module, and a fuel cell stack with end components located at each end of a completed cell stack, and the end components being internally configured to connect the fuel feed passages, the oxidizer feed passages, the return passages and the exhaust passages to corresponding external fittings and having compressive connection means for connecting between closure pieces and the remainder of the fuel cell assembly. 13. The fuel cell according to claim 12, wherein the fuel distribution plate is arranged on the opposed side of the central portion and has alternately arranged fuel conduits and exhaust conduits therein congruent with the fuel and exhaust conduits of the solid electrolyte, fuel and oxidizer vias congruent with the solid electrolyte vias, and a plurality of members defining permissible areas for the fuel, said fuel distribution plate serving as a structural support and as an electrical interconnect for the fuel side of the solid electrolyte, incorporating electrical contact lugs extending outwardly from the outer frame thereof. 14. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the oxidizer distribution plate is arranged on one side of the solid electrolyte and comprises an outer frame having alternately arranged fuel conduits and exhaust conduits therein congruent with the fuel and exhaust conduits of the solid electrolyte frame, fuel and oxidizer vias congruent with the solid electrolyte vias, and a plurality of members extending between the frame and the vias to define permissible areas for the oxidizer. 15. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the fuel distribution plate is arranged on an opposite side of the central portion and comprises an outer frame having alternately arranged fuel conduits and exhaust conduits therein congruent with the fuel and exhaust conduits of the solid electrolyte frame, fuel and oxidizer vias congruent with the solid electrolyte vias, and a plurality of members extending between the frame and the vias to define permissible areas for the fuel. 16. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein a nonconductive seal and closure member is arranged between and substantially congruent with adjoining fuel cell components or fuel cell component assemblies to obtain alternative electrical separation and enclosure. 17. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the solid electrolyte, electrode, distribution plates and assemblies thereof are configured such that a fuel side of one electrolyte is arranged to face a fuel side of a succeeding electrolyte, thereby enabling use of one common fuel distribution plate or one common fuel distribution assembly independently of whether the negative electrodes are at fuel sides of the facing electrolytes, to the common fuel distribution plate or to the common fuel distribution assembly, and further wherein the oxidizer side of one electrolyte is configured to face the oxidizer side of a succeeding electrolyte, thereby enabling use of one common oxidizer distribution plate or one common oxidizer distribution assembly independently of whether the positive electrodes are applied to the oxidizer sides of the facing electrolytes, or to the common oxidizer distribution plate or to the common oxidizer distribution assembly and thus reducing size and weight of a complete fuel stack. 18. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the electrodes, and electrode-containing and conductive components and component assemblies incorporate externally selectable and connectable electrical tabs which extend outwardly of the component frames are positioned and configured as to always uniquely identify a negative and a positive, and are congruent with like contact tabs of adjoining cell components and cells, thus enabling externally directed edge conductive current collection which eliminates internal cell-to-cell electrical contact with resultant thermal, resistive, corrosive failures, and bipolar separators. 19. The fuel cell according to claim 17, wherein common anode and cathode plenums and externally selectable and connectable edge current collection tabs can be configured to provide electrical connectability every two cells in series, thereby effectively doubling as an active stack area, with at least two-cell building blocks being configured as modular, replaceable units. 20. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the electrical connection tabs are configured to allow individual cells or cell modules within a fuel cell stack to be tested in operation and on line, and to provide a multiplicity of power configurations. 21. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the oxidizer and fuel distribution plates, fuel and oxidizer vias arranged centrally of the frame, fuel return and exhaust conduits arranged peripherally in the frame and a plurality of members extending radially between the vias and frame, are configured to facilitate fluid flow for desired surface distribution, fuel utilization and removal of increased exhaust fluid volume without the use of air compressors and fuel expanders. 22. The fuel cell according to claim 10, further comprising fuel and air feeds which have a co-annular arrangement. 23. The fuel cell according to claim 10, further comprising fuel and air feeds which are offsettable from one another along an axis to selectively obtain desired separation between fuel and oxidizer. 24. The fuel cell according to claim 10, further comprising a fuel re-circulation loop configured to act as a heat transfer medium, with excess cathode flow being used for heat removal. 25. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the electrolytes are thin, nonstructural polymer members not requiring auxiliary humidification. 26. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the passages, enclosures and vias are simultaneously closed or sealed. 27. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the components are configured to be reversible. 28. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the components are provided with means for alignment thereof. 29. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said components (a), (b) and (c) are configured to incorporate therein features which include internal fuel, oxidizer and exhaust passages, fuel return passages as required, alignment and interlock guides and externally extending electrical connection tabs. 30. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said components (a), (b) and (c) are configured to be congruent with each other to form a complete, alignable, repeatable solid electrolyte fuel cell with internally located, integrated vias and ports for plate-to-plate and inter-cell fuel, oxidizer and exhaust passages, and electrical connection tabs extending outwardly from said fuel cell, to provide for selective external electrical connection of the stacked cells for a desired electrical output. 31. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the fuel, oxidizer and exhaust passages are internally configured in and formed by said components (a), (b) and (c) so that when said components (a), (b) and (c) are aligned and stacked to form a complete cell and stacks of cells, passages of adjoining components and adjoining cells are congruent and form integrated plate-on-plate and cell-to-cell corresponding passages. 32. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein said components (a), (b) and (c) are configured to be assemble into a complete single cell, whereby a plurality of such single cells is formable into a cell stack having end components closure pieces congruent with adjacent cell components and configured to connect the internal fuel, oxidizer and exhaust passages to corresponding singular external fittings, and including means for compressively connecting between closure pieces and the remainder of the fuel cell assembly. 33. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the solid electrolyte incorporates a negative electrode on a one side facing the fuel distributor, and a positive electrode on an opposed side facing the oxidizer distributor to provide a single inclusive unit consisting of solid electrolyte and positive and negative electrodes, externally extending electrical connection tabs are incorporated with the fuel and oxidizer passages constituting means for internal plate-to-plate and cell-to-cell passage of fuel and oxidizer, exhaust vias for internal plate-to-plate and cell-to-cell passage of exhausted product, and alignment and interlock guides, with the fuel distributor and the oxidizer distributor being non-conductive and incorporating fuel, oxidizer and exhaust vias congruent with the corresponding solid electrolyte vias, fuel and oxidizer inlets to the cell, defined permissible areas for distribution of fuel and oxidizer respectively to the electrolyte, and the alignment and interlock guides and optional externally extending non-conductive tabs being congruent with corresponding features of the solid electrolyte. 34. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the oxidizer distributor incorporates positive electrode material to provide a positive electrode with internal oxidizer distribution, thereby serving as a structural support and as an unitized distribution plate and electrode with external electrical connection for an oxidizer side of the solid electrolyte, said oxidizer distributor with electrode incorporating integral externally extending electrical connection tabs, fuel and oxidizer vias for the internal plate-to-plate and cell-to-cell passage of exhausted product, and a defined working area for distribution of the oxidizer to the electrolyte, and the oxidizer distributor constituting a single plate made of one of non-conductive material with electrode material applied to both sides, and entirely of conductive metal. 35. The fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the fuel distributor incorporates negative electrode material to provide a negative electrode with internal fuel distribution, thereby serving as a structural support and as an unitized distribution plate and electrode with external electrical connection for a fuel side of the solid electrolyte, said fuel distributor with electrode incorporating integral externally extending electrical connection tabs, fuel and oxidizer vias for the internal plate-to-plate and cell-to-cell passage of fuel and oxidizer, fuel inlet to the cell, exhaust vias for the internal plate-to-plate and cell-to-cell passage of exhausted product, optional internal fuel return passages for return of hydrogen-rich fuel to the source, and a defined working area for distribution of the fuel to the electrolyte, the fuel distributor constituting a single plate made of one of non-conductive material with electrode material applied to both sides, and entirely of non-conductive material.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Harats Yehuda (Jerusalem ILX) Dechovich Boris (Jerusalem ILX) Korall Menachem (Jerusalem ILX), Cell for a metal-air battery.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.