EP1293007A1 - Pile a combustible de taille reduite pour applications portables - Google Patents

Pile a combustible de taille reduite pour applications portables

Info

Publication number
EP1293007A1
EP1293007A1 EP01952871A EP01952871A EP1293007A1 EP 1293007 A1 EP1293007 A1 EP 1293007A1 EP 01952871 A EP01952871 A EP 01952871A EP 01952871 A EP01952871 A EP 01952871A EP 1293007 A1 EP1293007 A1 EP 1293007A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
fuel
cell elements
anode
cathode
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01952871A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1293007A4 (fr
Inventor
Sekharipuram R. California Inst. Tech NARAYANAN
Thomas I. California Inst. Techn. Jet VALDEZ
Filberto California Inst. Techn. Jet CLARA
Harvey California Inst. Techn. Jet FRANK
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
California Institute of Technology CalTech
Original Assignee
California Institute of Technology CalTech
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by California Institute of Technology CalTech filed Critical California Institute of Technology CalTech
Publication of EP1293007A1 publication Critical patent/EP1293007A1/fr
Publication of EP1293007A4 publication Critical patent/EP1293007A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/8605—Porous electrodes
    • H01M4/8626—Porous electrodes characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04186—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2404—Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
    • H01M8/2418—Grouping by arranging unit cells in a plane
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • Fuel cells are known in the art as devices which produce electricity when provided with fuel.
  • conventional fuel cells include bipolar plate stacks, pumps, blowers, and other devices which may add considerable complexity to the final device. Summary
  • the present application teaches a fuel cell apparatus which has a structure that is highly suitable for miniaturization.
  • the apparatus has a structure that brings fuel into contact with specified parts of the fuel cell.
  • a wicking structure may be used to bring the fuel into contact with the fuel cell element.
  • Figure 1 A shows a front on view of a flat pack fuel cell of an embodiment
  • figure 1B shows an cross sectional edge view of a first embodiment of the fuel cell system along the line 1b-1b in figure 1a
  • figure 2 shows a top view of the first embodiment
  • Figure 3 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment
  • Figure 4 shows an embodiment with multiple flat pack elements electrically connected together.
  • the figure 1 A and 1 B embodiment show an edge view of the miniaturized, flatpack type fuel cell. Electrical energy is generated by oxidation of organic fuel and reduction of oxygen in air to water. Any of a number of different kinds of fuel cells may be used. One type is the fuel cell described in U.S. patent number 5,599,638.
  • the flatpack fuel cell may include a plurality of cells interconnected both in series and in parallel.
  • Figure 1 A shows a front view of the fuel cell assembly, with plural membrane electrode assemblies 97, 98, and 99.
  • Figure 1 B shows a cross section along the line 1b-1b, which shows the MEAs 97, 98,99.
  • Each of the membrane electrode assemblies such as 97 includes an anode 105 and a cathode 110.
  • the anode 105 and cathode 110 are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane 115.
  • a polymer electrolyte membrane may be, for example, of the type described in US Patent numbers 6,150,047 and 6,136,463.
  • all of the cells such as 97,98,99 are arranged along an axis 126, in a single contiguous plane.
  • the fuel cell elements are effectively connected in series.
  • the cathode 103 of fuel cell element 97 is connected via the interconnects 135 to the anode 104 of the next fuel cell element 98.
  • each cathode is connected in series to the next anode.
  • This provides the fuel cell elements being in series, providing outputs at the final electrodes 127, 128, that correspond to a series combination of all of the voltages.
  • the anode is in contact with a wicking structure 120 which also extends along that axis, substantially parallel to the anodes.
  • the wicking structure 120 itself is in contact with the fuel source 125, which may also include a refillable fuel reservoir 130.
  • the wicking structure can be made of any absorbent material, such as an absorbent pad, or any other absorbent material that is chemically stable in contact with the fuel and also electrochemically stable in contact with the anode.
  • any structure that can provide the liquid fuel via capillary action can be used for this purpose.
  • the fuel source and fuel reservoir may hold the fuel that drives the electrochemical reaction.
  • the fuel may be absorbed by the wicking structure, and provided to the anode.
  • Wicking structure 120 absorbs the fuel, and provides the fuel to the anodes.
  • the wicking structure may deliver the fuel in regulated amounts to the surfaces of the anodes.
  • a plurality of cathodes 110 are each in contact with air, for the oxygen used in the electrochemical reaction.
  • the cells create a voltage by the electrochemical reaction. This voltage is produced between the top current collector 127 and the bottom current collector 128.
  • FIG. 2 A top view of the cell is shown in figure 2. This also shows the electrode/current collector 127, and the corresponding electrodes of the other cells 97, 98,99.
  • biplates which may add weight, volume, complexity and cost to the fuel cell. These biplates are not used in the flatpack cell. Instead, the cells are connected using interconnects 135, 136, that connect to and/or extend through part of the membrane. These interconnects may be made from corrosion resistant conductive materials. Example materials which can form a through-membrane connectors include graphite, platinum, gold, and appropriate stable polymer blinders such as PVDF or Nafion.
  • a second embodiment, formed in figure 3 uses an edge connector instead of the through-membrane connectors. The edge and connector configuration is formed of a thin strip of conductive material. An insulator slot 300 is formed, and the interconnects 305,310 are formed in tabs in the insulator slot. These interconnects are connected between the electrodes 315.
  • the interconnect tabs may be formed of gold or graphite, for example.
  • the membrane electrode assemblies may be formed in the conventional way.
  • the anodes in figure 1 may first be fabricated by applying catalyst layers and backing structures.
  • the membrane is applied to the anode, and the catalyst layer and cathode are fitted together.
  • the catalyst may be applied, for example, using catalyst inks or catalyst-pre-coated membranes, or may be applied using a sputter deposition process.
  • Gas diffusion backing layers may also be bonded to the membrane using a hot pressing process. An example is described in US Patent no 5,599,638; and 6,171 ,721.
  • non-bonded backing layers can be used to form the membrane electrode assemblies.
  • Other alternatives may include preparation of such assemblies by reactive sputter deposition of metal catalyst layers, spray deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrodeposition, ion impregnation, in situ catalyst deposition from organic metal precursor and combustion chemical vapor deposition.
  • a platinum-ruthenium catalyst may be used at the anode.
  • the cathode may use a pure platinum catalyst, for example.
  • other catalysts may be used which involve binary and turnery compositions of Pt, Ru, Ti, Zr, Ir and Os, especially on the anode.
  • the anode structure may be made hydrophilic, so that liquid organic fuel may be absorbed through the anode.
  • the wicking structure 120 brings the fuel into contact with the anode 105, allowing the liquid organic fuel to access the catalyst layer, and to allow carbon dioxide product to readily leave the surface.
  • the cathode may be rendered hydrophobic, in order to prevent water from saturating the electrode. This also provides air more ready access to the catalyst layer.
  • Two of the basic building blocks shown in figures 1-3 may be combined in series or in parallel to increase the voltages.
  • a three cell flatpack may be capable of producing a terminal voltage in the range of 1 - 1.2 V depending on the load that is placed on the voltage.
  • multiple ones of these arrays may be used to obtain higher voltages.
  • Figure 4 shows two sets of flat pack fuel cells 405,410 arranged with a common fuel feed 400, e.g., a methanol feed, arranged between the two fuel cells.
  • the two flatpacks each have respective outputs.
  • the fuel cell element 405 has output terminals 401 ,402.
  • the fuel cell element 410 includes the outputs 411 , 412. These output terminals may be connected may be electrically connected in series to increase the voltage output.
  • terminal 402 could be connected to terminal 411 , with outputs being obtained between terminals 401 and 12.
  • the fuel cells could be connected in parallel to increase the current handling capability.
  • the device may be made and tested in an enclosure with an internal absorbent pad on the anode side that retains the methanol solution.
  • the fuel is delivered to the anode via capillary action.
  • the other end of the housing has multiple air openings allowing air access.
  • other housings may be similarly used.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une pile à combustible du type boîtier plat renfermant une pluralité d'ensembles électrodes à membrane. Chaque ensemble électrode à membrane est constitué d'une anode, d'un électrolyte et d'une cathode recouverte d'un catalyseur approprié. L'anode se trouve directement au contact du combustible via un élément à effet de mèche. Le réservoir à combustible peut s'étendre le long du même axe que les ensembles électrodes à membrane, de manière que le combustible puisse être appliqué sur chacune des anodes. Tous les éléments de la pile à combustible sont interconnectés de manière à fournir des tensions de sortie en série.
EP01952871A 2000-06-13 2001-06-13 Pile a combustible de taille reduite pour applications portables Withdrawn EP1293007A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21144400P 2000-06-13 2000-06-13
US211444P 2000-06-13
PCT/US2001/040990 WO2001097314A1 (fr) 2000-06-13 2001-06-13 Pile a combustible de taille reduite pour applications portables

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1293007A1 true EP1293007A1 (fr) 2003-03-19
EP1293007A4 EP1293007A4 (fr) 2006-12-20

Family

ID=22786948

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01952871A Withdrawn EP1293007A4 (fr) 2000-06-13 2001-06-13 Pile a combustible de taille reduite pour applications portables

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1293007A4 (fr)
CA (1) CA2412558A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001097314A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1429417A (zh) 2000-04-18 2003-07-09 电池技术电力有限公司 能量转换的电化学装置和方法
US6994932B2 (en) 2001-06-28 2006-02-07 Foamex L.P. Liquid fuel reservoir for fuel cells
DE10136753A1 (de) * 2001-07-27 2003-02-20 Siemens Ag Portable Direkt-Methanol-Brennstoffzelle
DE10136755A1 (de) * 2001-07-27 2003-02-20 Siemens Ag Portable Direkt-Methanol-Brennstoffzelle und zugehöriges Betriebsverfahren
KR100493153B1 (ko) * 2002-03-20 2005-06-03 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 공기 호흡형 직접 메탄올 연료전지 셀팩
KR100450820B1 (ko) * 2002-04-23 2004-10-01 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 공기 호흡형 직접 메탄올 연료전지 셀팩
EP1550171A2 (fr) 2002-09-18 2005-07-06 Foamex L.P. Reservoir de combustible liquide a orientation independante
US7943270B2 (en) 2003-06-10 2011-05-17 Celltech Power Llc Electrochemical device configurations
WO2004112175A2 (fr) 2003-06-10 2004-12-23 Celltech Power, Inc. Facilitateur d'oxydation
WO2009025613A1 (fr) * 2007-08-20 2009-02-26 Myfc Ab Agencement permettant de relier mutuellement des piles électrochimiques, ensemble pile électrochimique et procédé de production d'un dispositif de pile électrochimique

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5966066A (ja) * 1982-10-06 1984-04-14 Hitachi Ltd 液体燃料電池
US5534363A (en) * 1994-03-22 1996-07-09 Rockwell International Corporation Hollow artery anode wick for passive variable pressure regenerative fuel cells
US5759712A (en) * 1997-01-06 1998-06-02 Hockaday; Robert G. Surface replica fuel cell for micro fuel cell electrical power pack
EP1087455A2 (fr) * 1999-09-21 2001-03-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Réservoir contenant du combustible liquide pour pile à combustible et pile à combustible

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5364711A (en) * 1992-04-01 1994-11-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Fuel cell
US5599638A (en) 1993-10-12 1997-02-04 California Institute Of Technology Aqueous liquid feed organic fuel cell using solid polymer electrolyte membrane
US6054228A (en) 1996-06-06 2000-04-25 Lynntech, Inc. Fuel cell system for low pressure operation
WO1999016137A1 (fr) 1997-09-22 1999-04-01 California Institute Of Technology Membranes de cellules electrochimiques deposees par pulverisation et electrodes

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5966066A (ja) * 1982-10-06 1984-04-14 Hitachi Ltd 液体燃料電池
US5534363A (en) * 1994-03-22 1996-07-09 Rockwell International Corporation Hollow artery anode wick for passive variable pressure regenerative fuel cells
US5759712A (en) * 1997-01-06 1998-06-02 Hockaday; Robert G. Surface replica fuel cell for micro fuel cell electrical power pack
EP1087455A2 (fr) * 1999-09-21 2001-03-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Réservoir contenant du combustible liquide pour pile à combustible et pile à combustible

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO0197314A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1293007A4 (fr) 2006-12-20
CA2412558A1 (fr) 2001-12-20
WO2001097314A1 (fr) 2001-12-20

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