초록

Direct reaction fuel cells (10) with cross-flow of an electrolyte mixture through thick, porous electrodes (12, 18) that contain a mixture of catalyst particles and that rotate to generate Taylor Vortex Flows (54) and Circular Couette Flows (56) in electrolyte chambers (24) are disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel cell (10) containing means (24, 26, 28) for pumping electrolyte (AE) between its porous cathode (12) and anode (18) electrodes comprising in addition: means (32, 34, 36, 42) for pumping electrolyte cross-flow (AF, AO) through at least one of the electrodes (12, 18) in a direction transvers

1. A fuel cell (10) containing means (24, 26, 28) for pumping electrolyte (AE) between its porous cathode (12) and anode (18) electrodes comprising in addition: means (32, 34, 36, 42) for pumping electrolyte cross-flow (AF, AO) through at least one of the electrodes (12, 18) in a direction transverse to that of the electrolyte (AE) pumped between the electrodes (12,18). 2. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 wherein the cross-flow pumped electrolyte comprises: an aerosol mixture with one gas from a group consisting of fuel and oxidizer that is pumped cross-flow (AF, AO) through at least one of the electrodes (12,18). 3. The fuel cell (10) of claim 2 wherein the means for pumping the aerosol mixture comprises: means for maintaining a gas-electrolyte volume ratio of at least 4:1 in the aerosol mixture pumped cross-flow through at least one of the electrodes (12, 18). 4. The fuel cell (10) of claim 3 wherein the means for pumping the aerosol mixture comprises: means for maintaining the aerosol mixture volume and the aerosol mixture electrolyte molar concentration at entry of the aerosol mixture into at least one of the electrodes (12, 18) in at least stoichiometric balance with at least one gas of the group consisting of fuel and oxidizer. 5. The fuel cell (10) of claim 4 wherein the stoichiometric balance is maintained by a control system comprising means for metering: a. steam vapor pressure;b. electrolyte vapor pressure;c. fuel volume; andd. oxidizer mass flow. 6. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 wherein at least one of the porous electrodes (12,18) contains: catalyst particles. 7. The fuel cell (10) of claim 6 wherein: the catalyst particles are mixed with carbon nanotubes. 8. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 wherein: one of the electrodes (12, 18) is at least 250 microns thick in the direction of electrolyte cross-flow (AF, AO). 9. The fuel cell (10) of claim 8 wherein: one of the electrodes (12, 18) is not more than 10,000 microns thick in the direction of electrolyte cross-flow (AF, AO). 10. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 wherein the means for pumping electrolyte between its cathode (12) and anode (18) electrodes comprises: means (12, 18, 52) for creating Taylor Vortex Flows (54) in the electrolyte gap (24) between the electrodes (12, 18). 11. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 wherein the means for pumping electrolyte between its cathode (12) and anode (18) electrodes comprises: means (12, 18, 52) for creating Circular Couette Flows (56) in the electrolyte gap (24) between the electrodes (12, 18). 12. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 comprising in addition: a. means (32, 34, 36, 42) for pumping an aerosol mixture of electrolyte and one of a group consisting of fuel and oxidizer cross-flow (AF, AO) through one of the electrodes (12,18);b. means (12, 18, 52) for creating Taylor Vortex Flows (54) in the electrolyte gap (24) between the electrodes (12, 18); andc. a mixture of catalyst particles and carbon nanotubes contained within at least one electrode (12,18) that is at least 250 microns thick in the direction of electrolyte cross-flow. 13. The fuel cell (10) of claim 1 comprising in addition: an electroacoustic transducer (58) generating electroacoustic kinetic energy in at least one of the electrodes (12, 18).