GB844584A - Gaseous fuel cells - Google Patents

Abstract

844,584. Fuel cells. SHELL RESEARCH Ltd. Feb. 19, 1959, No. 5751/59. Class 53. A fuel cell employing hydrogen and oxygen has two electrodes in contact respectively with sulphuric acid and nitric acid contained in separate compartments of the cell separated by an ion-permeable membrane. Fig. II shows in side view a cell in which the gases are led into the cell through pipes 8, 7 which pass through holes 10 in steel end plates 1, 2 which communicate with a series of channels 9 formed in. the face of each plate as shown in Fig. III. A second series of channels 12 communicates with a gas outlet 11 leading to the atmosphere. A valve may be provided in the outlet to produce a suitable back pressure. The channelled faces of the plates are in contact with electrodes 5, 6, each having a porous central area corresponding to the area of the channelled portions of the plates, the remaining area of the electrodes being non- porous. Adjacent the electrodes are separators 3, 4, Fig. II, which carry the acid electrolytes. The centre portion 16 of each separator, Fig. IV, is cut away to form a chamber corresponding in size to the porous part of the electrodes, and the chambers have inlet and outlet tubes 17, 18 through which the acids may be circulated. The members 3, 4 are separated by diaphragm 19 which may consist of an ion-exchange resin or of a ceramic tile coated with collodion. The electrodes may be made of porous carbon impregnated with or coated with a catalytic metal, for example platinum, palladuim, nickel or vanadium for the hydrogen electrode, and platinum, palladium, chromium or manganese for the oxygen electrode. Alternatively the electrodes may be of iron or nickel coated with platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium or copper. Electrodes of graphite and magnetite may also be used. The acids may be jellified with silica gel, or they may be absorbed in solid carriers inserted in the chambers 16.