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
  • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
  • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous 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
• • 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
  • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
  • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
  • H01M8/065—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0017—Non-aqueous electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0065—Solid electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0082—Organic polymers
• • 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
  • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
  • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
  • H01M8/04156—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal
• • 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
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
• • 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
  • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage
• • 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 cell for powering electronic devices especially portable
• the invention is in the field of autonomous electrical energy supply devices. It relates to such a device, consumable, for portable electronic devices, for example cell phone or the like, or equipment with electronic memory or the like.
• a consumable device for supplying electrical energy intended for a portable electronic device and comprising a fuel cell comprising an electrolyte disposed between an anode and a cathode, means for storing hydrogen, means for supplying hydrogen stored towards the anode, means for capturing the ambient air and for supplying the captured air in contact with the cathode, means for controlling the release of hydrogen and for neutralizing the excess water produced by the battery.
• An objective targeted by the designers of portable electronic devices lies in the light character and small footprint of these devices, in particular to make them easily transportable and handy.
• This objective must in particular take into account the problem posed by the means of supplying energy supply, commonly constituted by a relatively heavy and bulky rechargeable battery. It appears in fact that an increase in the autonomy of the device implies an increase in the size and weight of these means. It turns out that designers are subject to the constraint of having to find a compromise between the duration of autonomy of the device, and the space and weight reserved for the battery. It will be noted that this compromise must also take into account the duration of recharging the battery, which constitutes a constraint for the user.
• Fuel cells are also known for the autonomous production of electrical energy. These fuel cells combine electrodes (anode and cathode) with a fuel in the form of hydrogen, which is brought into contact via an electrolyte with an oxidant in the form of oxygen. We will note a problem posed by the conditioning of the hydrogen used for these fuel cells. According to a first proposed solution, fuel cells operate by electrolysis of water to obtain the hydrogen and oxygen necessary for their operation. According to other solutions, hydrogen is produced by plasma reforming of gas or methanol.
• EP-A-788172 and GB-A-2164637 disclose the use of a metal hydride as a hydrogen storage element. Subject of the invention
• the general aim of the present invention is to propose a solution to the aforementioned problem of space and weight of the means for supplying electrical energy to a portable electronic device.
• the inventive step of the present invention consisted in its generality in proposing to produce electrical energy from an on-board fuel cell, in particular to power a portable electronic device.
• the fuel cell proposed by the present invention comprises the characteristics according to which the hydrogen is contained in at least one body of a solid material decomposable by combustion, while the oxygen is taken from the ambient air by capture means. of this air.
• Hydrogen is released by pyrotechnic means, which cause the solid material to ignite for decomposition. It will be noted that these pyrotechnic means are associated with control means for their implementation.
• the solid bodies are preferably in plurality and are each independently connected to a respective firing member that includes the pyrotechnic means.
• These provisions are such that the overall quantity of hydrogen contained in the device is gradually released by a separate ignition of the different solid bodies.
• the control means notably comprise means for addressing the firing members, which are associated with activation means. The implementation of these latter means is advantageously placed under the dependence of means for measuring the amount of energy available for the device. Energy delivery for the device occurs when a minimum threshold of available energy is detected, and / or when an operation to be performed by the device requires an energy supply.
• the solid bodies are in plurality, these may each contain the same amount of hydrogen, or respective amounts of hydrogen. Note the advantage in the latter case of allowing the delivery of hydrogen in a quantity adapted to a specific need, according to the ignition of a determined body ordered by the addressing means advantageously placed under the dependence of the measuring means. the amount of energy available to the device.
• the provisions of the invention allow spontaneous use of the residual water for the operation of the combustion cell of the invention, the surplus being neutralized.
• This spontaneous operation lies in particular in keeping the electrodes and the electrolyte in a humid environment and in preserving the device from too great an increase in heat. It will also be noted that these provisions make it possible to improve the efficiency of the combustion cell of the invention.
• the ambient air capture means are preferably means causing a circulation of the air surrounding the device, such as by suction and or discharge, through an oxygen chamber one of the walls of which is at least partially formed by the cathode.
• the capture means are means for circulating the ambient air
• these means of circulating the ambient air make it possible to obstruct an inappropriate rise in temperature.
• the solid body containing hydrogen is for example housed inside at least one compartment.
• the solid bodies are in plurality, these are housed, according to various variants, either in a respective compartment, or in a global compartment, or even if necessary in compartments housing the bodies in respective groups. depending on the amount of hydrogen they contain respectively.
• This compartment opens onto an expansion chamber for the released hydrogen, one of the walls of which is at least partially formed by the anode.
• the proton exchange between the anode and the cathode takes place by means of an electrolyte interposed between them.
• the electrodes are brought into contact with conjugate connection members of the device to be supplied.
• the device can, according to various variants, either directly dispose of the energy supplied, or be equipped with buffer means for storing the energy supplied by the fuel cell, in order to regulate its use by the device. .
• These buffer means are in particular interposed between the fuel cell and the electronic means of the device provided for its supply. It should be understood that in the latter case, the energy storage buffer capacity of these means is low in this regard, compared with that of similar members equipping portable electronic devices of the prior art. It will be noted that these buffer energy storage means are advantageously associated with the abovementioned means for measuring the amount of energy available for the device.
• the proposed device is a consumable device for supplying electrical energy to a portable electronic device.
• This device is mainly constituted by a fuel cell comprising: a) at least one anode and at least one cathode, between which is interposed an electrolyte which is assigned to them in pairs, b) at least one solid body for storing a mass of hydrogen, this body being decomposable by combustion, c) means for capturing the ambient air surrounding the support, and for supplying the captured air in contact with the cathode, d) pyrotechnic means for igniting of the body, to release the hydrogen and bring it into contact with the anode, e) means for controlling the ignition of the pyrotechnic means, f) means for neutralizing the water produced by the exchange between the hydrogen and oxygen, g) means for bringing the electrodes into contact with the device's power supply circuit.
• the portable electronic device is supplied with electrical energy in complete safety for the device and its user, from an autonomous and consumable source of energy production.
• the solid bodies are preferably in plurality.
• the pyrotechnic means comprise a corresponding plurality of firing members assigned to a respective body.
• the control means comprise means for addressing the plurality of firing members associated with means for activating the latter. Note that thanks to these provisions, it is possible to advantageously place the implementation of the activation means under the dependence of means for measuring the amount of energy available for the device. Note however that this implementation can, independently or in combination, be advantageously controlled on demand by the user by means in particular of a corresponding manual control member.
• the solid body is housed in the thickness of an interchangeable support, in particular a plane as shaped as a card.
• an interchangeable support in particular a plane as shaped as a card.
• This card is advantageously in the format of a current credit card (of the order of 46 cm 2 of surface for a thickness of the order of a millimeter).
• This card is interchangeable to allow its replacement when the hydrogen reserve is used up.
• all of the means of the device of the invention can be carried on a generally interchangeable support.
• the means for bringing the electrodes into contact with the device's own distribution circuit are constituted by members for connecting the electrodes to the corresponding members of the device. These connection members, and where appropriate connection members of the pyrotechnic means to the control means, then emerge from the support.
• the invention therefore also relates, according to another approach, to a hydrogen reserve for a combustion cell, comprising an interchangeable support, advantageously shaped as a card.
• This support forms a receptacle for at least one solid body for storing a mass of hydrogen, this body being decomposable by combustion and emerging from the support, in particular with a view to allowing an expansion of the hydrogen released inside d '' an expansion chamber located inside the device to be supplied.
• This support further comprises: a) at least one firing member assigned to the body, b) means for activating the firing member, c) easily reversible mechanical connection means to the device to be supplied. It will be noted that the assembly between the support and the device is sealed, the device or alternatively the support comprising for example sealing members for confining the support inside the hydrogen expansion chamber provided in the device.
• the support further comprises connection members cooperating with conjugated connection members of the device to be supplied for bringing together the activation means and the control means, or even addressing, embedded on the device. It will be noted that these connection members and the abovementioned means for mechanical connection of the support to the device are advantageously combined.
• the electrolyte is for example a polymer membrane, such as that of National (registered trademark Dupont de Nemours).
• the electrodes for their part, are for example formed from a carbon-based material.
• the invention also relates to a fuel cell per se.
• hydrogen is supplied, not by electrolysis of a water reserve or from a reserve of pressurized material for example, but from decomposable solid bodies by combustion.
• This fuel cell is therefore recognizable in its generality in that the hydrogen is stored inside at least one solid body decomposable by combustion, the fuel cell comprising pyrotechnic means for igniting the body to release the hydrogen in an expansion chamber in contact with the anode.
• Oxygen is taken from the ambient air by means of capturing this air and supplying the captured air in contact with the cathode.
• the fuel cell is viable in complete safety for an application to the supply of electrical energy to a portable electronic device, both because of the virtual absence of water and because of the secure storage. of the hydrogen reserve.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic representations of devices according to respective alternative embodiments of the invention.
• a fuel cell intended to equip a portable electronic device 2. At least one anode 12,12 'is in contact with the interior volume of a hydrogen expansion chamber 14,14' while at at least one cathode 10,10 'is in contact with the interior volume of a chamber 16,16' of air circulation, which contains oxygen. At least one 18,18 'electrolyte is interposed between each pair 10,12 and 10', 12 'of anode and cathode.
• the hydrogen storage solids 20, 20 ′ liberate hydrogen gas by slow combustion. They can optionally be constituted by a pyrotechnic material releasing hydrogen by combustion when it is activated. It will be noted that connection members 32 relating to the pyrotechnic means 24, 26, 28 are provided for cooperating with conjugated connection members 34 of the device 2 to be supplied. It will also be noted that the device 2 incidentally includes an energy buffer reserve 36 interposed between the device 2 and the fuel cell of the invention, to regulate the energy delivered to the device in operation.
• the cell of the invention comprises means 38, 38 ′ for capturing ambient air and for bringing this air into the oxygen chambers 16, 16 ′.
• These means 38, 38 ′ are for example means causing natural circulation of the air inside these chambers 16, 16 ′, such as by venturi effect.
• Filtration grids 46 make it possible to avoid the introduction of undesirable particles.
• the surplus, not used by the device, of the water produced by the exchange between hydrogen and oxygen is absorbed by evaporation.
• This evaporation is caused by the rise in temperature resulting from the combustion of the bodies 20, 20 ′, and from the heat given off by the electrochemical reaction.
• the vapor is entrained outside the fuel cell by the means 38, 38 ′ for circulating the sampled ambient air. It will be noted that the resorption of water can be supplemented by absorbent means, such as 40.40 '.
• the device comprises a sealed receiving housing for the support 22 of the solid bodies 20.
• the sealing is for example obtained by means of seals, such as 42 or 44, which are interposed in particular between the support 22 and the device 2, as well as at the ends of the electrodes 10, 10 'and 12, 12'.
• the support which corresponds to compartment 22, forms a receptacle for the solid bodies 20 which emerge therefrom.
• This support 22 is in the form of a flat support shaped like a current credit card. According to the exemplary embodiments of the support 22 illustrated in these figures, it has a volume of the order of 3.5 to 4 cm 3 .
• Such a support taking into account the inert packaging and sectoring materials, makes it possible to accommodate a quantity of solid hydrogen storage material of the order of 0.4 grams. This results in a potential quantity of releasable hydrogen of the order of 0.052 grams, making it possible to deliver 0.53 Wh of electrical energy.
• Such a delivery corresponds, for a cell phone for example, to a duration of use of approximately two hours of conversation under nominal operating conditions.
• a selective membrane 51 is associated with the anode 12, 12 ′, and is made up of a material making it possible to isolate the solid bodies 20, 20 ′ of hydrogen storage from humidity, while allowing the passage of I ⁇ 2 .

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Fuel Cell (AREA)
• Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
• Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 2000
  • 2000-12-22 FR FR0016941A patent/FR2818808B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-12-20 EP EP01989639A patent/EP1344266A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-12-20 JP JP2002553257A patent/JP4322505B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-12-20 US US10/450,058 patent/US7267897B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-12-20 WO PCT/FR2001/004092 patent/WO2002052666A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2001-12-20 CN CNB018212719A patent/CN1288780C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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