Systems and methods of securing immunity to air CO2 in alkaline fuel cells
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/06
H01M-008/08
출원번호
US-0862746
(2010-08-24)
등록번호
US-8895198
(2014-11-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Gottesfeld, Shimson
출원인 / 주소
Cellera, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
ISUS Intellectual Property PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
37
초록▼
An air CO2 filtration assembly or system is provided that includes CO2 filters or traps designed and configured with a limited, but high capacity, volume to maximize filtration/absorption of CO2 from an air stream supplied to an alkaline fuel cell to thereby minimize the CO2 level in the air stream
An air CO2 filtration assembly or system is provided that includes CO2 filters or traps designed and configured with a limited, but high capacity, volume to maximize filtration/absorption of CO2 from an air stream supplied to an alkaline fuel cell to thereby minimize the CO2 level in the air stream fed into the fuel cell cathode. The CO2 filters or traps include at least one thermally regenerative CO2 chemical filter or trap arranged in a tandem configuration with a strongly bonding CO2 chemical filter or trap. The combination of the two types of filters or traps sequentially filter/absorb CO2 from the air stream and reduce the level of CO2 in the air stream fed into the cathode. The air CO2 filtration assembly or system may be used in conjunction with electrochemical purging of the alkaline fuel cell that enables removal of CO2 from the fuel cell by anodic decomposition of accumulated carbonate ions in the fuel cell anode and release of CO2 through the anode exhaust stream.
대표청구항▼
1. An alkaline fuel cell comprising: an air inlet operatively coupled with a multi-trap air filter assembly; the multi-trap air filter assembly including a series of a first thermally regenerative chemical CO2 trap arranged in tandem with a second strongly-bonding CO2 chemical trap, the first and se
1. An alkaline fuel cell comprising: an air inlet operatively coupled with a multi-trap air filter assembly; the multi-trap air filter assembly including a series of a first thermally regenerative chemical CO2 trap arranged in tandem with a second strongly-bonding CO2 chemical trap, the first and second CO2 traps being disposed downstream from the air inlet, the second CO2 trap disposed between the first CO2 trap and an inlet to the cathode of the alkaline fuel cell; the first and second CO2 traps reduce levels of CO2 in an air stream supplied to the inlet to the cathode; and wherein the alkaline fuel cell includes an alkaline aqueous electrolyte or an OH− ion conducting polymeric membrane without liquid electrolyte, wherein the first CO2 trap includes, as active material, a resin with amine functional groups serving as CO2 trapping sites via a reaction of the amine with CO2 and water vapor forming bicarbonate according to a process: R—NH2+CO2+H20=R—NH3+(HCO3−) or; CO2 trapping sites via a reaction with CO2 under dry air conditions forming carbamate according to a process: 2(R—NH2)+CO2=(R—NHCOO—)(R—NH3+) where R includes a carbonaceous polymer backbone, wherein the first CO2 trap is for thermal regeneration whereby the first CO2 trap releases absorbed CO2 in response to rejuvenation air passing through the first CO2 trap at temperatures within a range of between about 80 degrees C. and 120 degrees C., and preferably within a range of between about 100 degrees C. to about 105 degrees C. 2. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein, per kW of power generated, the first CO2 trap defines dimensions of about 2 liters and is configured to reduce the level of CO2 in the air stream by a factor of about 10. 3. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first CO2 trap is configured to enable residence time of gas within the first CO2 trap of up to about 1 second, and is further configured to reduce levels of CO2 in the air stream by a factor of about 10. 4. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first CO2 trap is configured to reduce levels of CO2 in the air stream on passing the air stream through the first CO2 trap by a factor of about 10 and wherein the air stream passing through the first CO2 trap has temperatures of up to about 45 degrees C. 5. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the configuration and operation temperatures for the first CO2 trap ensure that the time for thermal regeneration to recover CO2 trapping capacity is shorter than the CO2 saturation time under substantially equal air flow rates during adsorption and desorption half cycles. 6. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first CO2 trap is configured for thermal regeneration by passing a rejuvenating air stream through the first CO2 trap, wherein the rejuvenating air stream includes the cathode exhaust air supplied to the first CO2 trap with or without additional heating. 7. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 6, wherein the additional heating includes heating provided by an electric heater or a catalytic heater operatively coupled with the fuel cell. 8. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the second CO2 trap includes an active material including soda lime, lithium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide. 9. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the second CO2 trap is configured to reduce levels of CO2 in the air stream exiting from the first CO2 trap by a factor of about 10. 10. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first CO2 trap is configured to reduce levels of CO2 in the air stream by a factor of about 10, and the second CO2 trap is configured to reduce levels of CO2 in the air stream exiting from the first CO2 trap by a factor of about 10, wherein the level of CO2 in the air stream supplied to the cathode air inlet is under about 5 ppm, and preferably equal to or less than about 1 ppm. 11. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the second CO2 trap is disposable and configured for periodic replacement. 12. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 1, further comprising the application of a perturbation current to remove residual carbonate buildup in the membrane of the alkaline membrane fuel cell electrolyte through anodic electrochemical consumption of carbonates and release of CO2 through the anode exhaust stream of the fuel cell, the perturbation current having a magnitude being just short of an onset of cell reversal in the stack. 13. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 12, wherein duration of the application of the perturbation current is from about 1 second to about 30 seconds. 14. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the perturbation current is triggered in response to a decrease in fuel cell performance over a given operation time. 15. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 12, further comprising an auxiliary power supply operatively coupled with the fuel cell and configured to supplement or supply power to the load and without interruption during the application of the perturbation current. 16. The alkaline fuel cell of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary power includes a battery operatively coupled with the fuel cell for recharging from the fuel cell after completion of the application of the perturbation current.
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