KR20080014161A - Fuel cell with hydrogen removal heating device, electrolyte control structure and electrolyte storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A fuel cell having a structure for collecting or discharging an electrolyte at the bottom of the container is provided to easily control the activation of a fuel cell, and to allow combustion of hydrogen gas by using an electric heater. A fuel cell comprises an electrode and an electrolyte(120), and further comprises at least one of an electric heater(135) for removing hydrogen, an electrolyte-controlling structure(150) for controlling supply of an electrolyte and an electrolyte storage container(160). The electric heater for removing hydrogen is composed of heating wires, and the electrolyte-controlling structure allows an electrode to be dipped into the electrolyte so that chemical reactions are activated when electricity generation is required, and an electrolyte to be discharged from the bottom of the electrode when electricity generation is not required.

Description

Fuel cell with hydrogen removal heating device, electrolyte control structure and electrolyte storage container

1 is an illustration of a chemical cell

2 is an exemplary view according to the present invention 1

3 is an exemplary view according to the present invention 2

4 is an exemplary view according to the invention 3

<Code Description of Drawings>

10. Electrode 120. Electrolyte

130. Upper Cap of Container 135. Hydrogen Removal Heater

136. Heating cable 137. Vent

138. Wires 140. Bottom of the vessel

141. Bottom sloped surface of container 142. Electrolytic solution inlet and outlet

150. Electrolyte control motor 160. Electrolyte container

170. Plumbing

The present invention provides a fuel cell incorporating an apparatus for easily controlling replenishment and discharging of an electrolyte solution and removing discharge hydrogen in a fuel cell composed of an electrode and an electrolyte solution.

In a chemical cell composed of an electrode and an electrolyte (liquid), electricity is generated when a material of the electrode is dissolved in an electrolyte by an oxidation-reduction action when the electrode is in contact with an electrolyte. When the foreign matter generated in this process reaches a certain concentration, electricity is no longer generated. On the other hand, even if no electricity is used, if the electrode and the electrolyte is combined, the natural discharge occurs somewhat, but if the electrode is separated from the electrolyte, the natural discharge does not occur, so it can be stored for a long time.

A battery that can be charged with electricity because the redox reaction becomes a reversible reaction is called a secondary battery. Lithium-ion batteries and lithium polymer batteries, which are secondary batteries, are mainly used as small rechargeable batteries due to manufacturing cost, lifespan, and capacity.

Another secondary battery, a lead acid battery, is composed of lead serving as an electrode and sulfuric acid serving as an electrolyte, and the lead-coupled container and sulfuric acid solution are separated and stored, and electricity is generated when the sulfuric acid solution is poured into the container. Lead-acid batteries are easily reacted and manufactured only when power is consumed or charged, and are used in a state in which electrolytes and electrodes are combined as transportation devices or emergency batteries including automobiles. Before using the lead acid battery for the first time, to prevent spontaneous discharge, keep the container combined with the lead electrode and sulfuric acid solution separately, and then open the upper cap 130 of the container and pour the solution. Discard the electrode and electrolyte. Lead-acid batteries are 40Wh / kg and are not widely used in electric vehicles and emergency batteries due to limitations in volume, weight and charging time.

Since the oxidation-reduction reaction irreversibly produces electricity, charging with electricity is impossible, but a chemical cell that can be used for a purpose such as a secondary battery by continuous exchange of an inexpensive electrolyte or electrode is a fuel cell.

The fuel cell is a chemical cell, but in the state where the electrode and the electrolyte are in contact with each other, electricity is generated by a chemical reaction regardless of the use of electricity, and after a predetermined time, there is a disadvantage in that no more electricity is produced by chemical change of the electrolyte. For example, a fuel cell using aluminum, zinc and magnesium as electrodes and water, seawater, brine, and other compounds as electrolytes will contact the electrolyte and after a certain period of time, the electrodes will melt in the electrolyte regardless of the use of electricity. No more electricity is produced. Previously, if the power generation is necessary to safely separate and store for a predetermined time, open the cap 130 of the upper part of the container in which the electrodes are coupled, and use it after filling with electrolyte, then discard or reuse the electrolyte or contents. In addition, since hydrogen continuously generated in the enclosed space accumulates in the enclosed space, there is a risk of explosion, which limits its use in the enclosed space.

The fuel cell capacity currently being developed is 100Wh / kg ~ 1,000Wh / kg, which has a larger power generation capacity per unit than a conventional secondary battery or lead acid battery, can use cheaper fuel, and has a short preparation time for reuse. It is expected that it can be used as a battery for distress or electric vehicles. However, once activated, the practical use is delayed due to the disadvantage of having to re-inject fuel materials after a certain time regardless of the use of electricity and the disadvantage of hydrogen generation.

All fuel cells to date have not had a structure for easily replenishing or discharging fuel material and a hydrogen removal device.

An object of the present invention is to enable the electrode of the fuel cell is immersed in the electrolyte and activated when power generation is required, the electrolyte control structure and hydrogen generated to easily control the electrode is separated from the electrolyte and inactivated when power generation is not necessary It is to provide a fuel cell combined with a device for removing.

In order to realize the object of the present invention, the conventional chemical cell combines the structure of collecting or discharging the electrolyte solution at the bottom of the bottom of the container, the disadvantage of inefficiently immersing or separating the electrode in the electrolyte solution because the electrolyte is added or removed from the top or side of the container. This can be solved by easily controlling the activation of the battery and providing a function of burning the generated hydrogen gas using a heat transfer device.

1 is an exemplary view of a chemical battery using a lead acid battery as an example.

An electrode 110 made of lead and an electrolyte 120, which is a sulfuric acid solution, are used in a container including a lower end surface 140 of the container. Previously, since the electrolyte solution 120 was injected and discharged through the cap 130 of the upper part of the container, not only the lead acid battery but also the fuel cell container lower end 140 were manufactured or used without the inlet and outlet 142.

Figure 2 illustrates the present invention in addition to Figure 1 in order to illustrate the invention easily. In FIG. 1, the lower end face 140 of the container is removed, the lower end face 141 and the lower device are attached thereto, and the hydrogen removal heat transfer device 135 is attached thereto. The present invention basically comprises an inclined lower end surface 141, an inlet and outlet 142, an electrolyte control motor 150, an electrolyte container 160, a pipe 170, and a hydrogen removal heat transfer device 135.

If you describe each component,

The inclined lower end surface 141 may be made of existing materials PE, rubber, and silicon. When the electrolyte is discharged by inclining it toward the center or to one side as shown in FIG. 3, the electrolyte solution does not remain in the battery container. Inclination is a function that collects liquids in one place.

Inlet and outlet 142 is a passage for sending or bringing the electrolyte in the battery container to the electrolyte container 160, the size of the hole depends on the amount of the electrolyte, but at least 1mm or more is suitable.

The electrolyte control motor 150 is a power motor that replenishes or discharges the electrolyte solution 120 from the electrolyte container 160 to the battery container. Direct current or alternating current electricity can be used. When using the principle of the siphon device to move the position of the electrolyte container 160 up and down, the electrolyte control motor 150 may be replaced or removed by the on-off valve.

The electrolyte container 160 is a component that temporarily stores the electrolyte when power generation is temporarily stopped, and is suitable when the volume of the electrolyte container 160 is larger than the internal volume of the battery container. The material is rubber or plastic or metal, and it can be manufactured in the form of volume control such as folding (Jabara) or fixed volume such as water bottle.

Piping 170 is a connecting passage of the electrolyte and can be used to soften when bent well when used as a portable or distress fuel cell to move the electrolyte of the electrolyte container 160 in accordance with the principle of siphon, fixed type Or when using the electrolyte control motor 150, a metal material is also possible.

The hydrogen removal heating device 135 of FIG. 2 includes a heating line 136, a ventilation opening 137, and an electric wire 138 of FIG. 4. The heating wire uses a common heating material such as nichrome wire that generates heat, and maintains a temperature at which hydrogen passes through the vent 137 during power generation. The heating temperature of the heating line 136 is preferably 150 ° C., but may be any temperature of 80 ° C. or more. Hydrogen generated in the electrolyte during power generation is burned by the heating line 136 while passing through the ventilation hole 137, so that the size and capacity of the hydrogen may be used as long as it generates a flame even at the minimum power generation capacity of the battery. The vent 137 that discharges the hydrogen collected from the surface of the electrolyte of the fuel cell to the outside may be made of metal, rubber, or plastic, and the heating line 136 may be combined with one or more lines. The wire 138 connects the positive and negative poles of the fuel cell to the heating wire, and the material may be a conventional wire.

The function of each component will be described by way of example.

Example 1 Battery for Electric Vehicle

1.Used battery: magnesium metal air fuel cell (80 electrode plates), 10% salt water 5ℓ, 1 lead acid battery for automobile, 1 DC generator, 1 DC generator speed controller, 2 time switches, 1 power switch

2. Configuration

-Connect the output of fuel cell to DC generator via speed controller

-Connect the DC generator to the drive shaft of the car

-Connect the power of lead acid battery to power switch ON, time switch 1, and battery direction of electrolyte control motor (150)

-Connect the power of the fuel cell to the power switch OFF, the time switch 2, and the electrolyte container 160 of the electrolyte control motor 150.

-Fill the brine to the electrolyte container (160)

3. Works

-Power switch ON: The electrolyte solution 120 in the electrolyte container 160 passes through the piping 170, the electrolyte control motor 150, the inlet and outlet 142, and the lower inclined surface 141 in order to the upper portion of the electrode 110. Movement: Output of Fuel Cell

-With the output of fuel cell, hydrogen is generated and hydrogen is burned by the heating of heating wire in the vent.

-Adjust speed controller (start of operation): DC generator drives car drive shaft

-Power switch OFF: Electrolyte solution 120 which was immersed in the electrode 110 by the reverse operation of the electrolyte control motor 150 is the lower inclined surface 141, the inlet and outlet 142, piping 170, the electrolyte control motor (150) Go through the electrolyte container (160)

-Power generation stop of fuel cell: Power generation stops after the power decreases gradually by salt on the electrode

-Reduced hydrogen generation by decreasing output

-Heat dissipation stop of the hydrogen removal heating device 135 according to the output decrease

-Waiting for your next trip

4. fuel replacement

-Salt water exchange every 4 hours of fuel cell operation

-Electrode exchange after 50 times of brine replacement

-Other: Dispose of salt water when it is not used for a long time

Example 2: Household Emergency Cell

1.Used battery: Magnesium metal air fuel cell (20 electrode plates), 10% brine 2ℓ, 1 DC-AC converter

2. Configuration

-Connect the output of fuel cell to DC-AC converter

-Connect the electrolyte opening and closing valve to the pipe (170) in the closed state.

-The lower end of the electrolyte container 160 is installed higher than the upper end of the electrode (110)

3. Works

-Opening of the electrolyte opening and closing valve: The electrolyte 120 in the electrolyte container 160 moves to the upper part of the electrode 110 while passing through the piping 170, the electrolyte opening and closing valve, the inlet and outlet 142, and the lower inclined surface 141 in order. ; Output of fuel cell

-Home appliances are operated while fuel cell output goes through DC-AC converter

-Adjusting the position of the electrolyte container 160 so that the upper end of the electrolyte container 160 is below the electrolyte opening / closing valve: the electrolyte solution 120 which is immersing the electrode 110 is the lower inclined surface 141, the inlet and outlet 142, Transfer to electrolyte container 160 through piping 170 and electrolyte open / close valve: Power generation stop after fuel cell output decreases

-Lock electrolyte valve

-Waiting for next use

4. Others: same as car

Example 3: Mountainous (Charge and Distress) Mobile Battery

1. Battery: Foldable magnesium metal fuel cell (4 electrode plates), 10% brine 0.5ℓ, 1 DC-AC converter, 1 DC-DC converter

2. Configuration

-1 set of fuel cell body, bellows (foldable electrolyte container), 1 DC-AC converter, 1 DC-DC converter, and salt bag

3. Works

-Keep bellows higher than electrolyte

-Put salt and water (sea water or snow) in bellows (160)

-Open the electrolyte opening and closing valve

-Connect and use DC-AC converter, DC-DC converter to charger or electronic device

-For a short time of use: Keep the bellows lower than the battery container and close the electrolyte shutoff valve when all of the electrolyte has moved from the battery container (120) to the bellows.

-When you do not need to move or use for a long time: discard the salt water of bellows (160).

4. Others: same as car, home

Referring to the effects of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

Previously, in an electrolyte fuel cell with a large power generation capacity and a low power generation cost per unit, once the electrode is immersed in the electrolyte, it is cumbersome to exchange the electrode or electrolyte at the top of the container manually after a certain time regardless of the use of electricity. Its battery life is limited and its use in confined spaces is limited. In the present invention, the electrolyte is supplied to the lower electrode of the separated electrolyte storage container through the inlet and outlet to immerse the electrode to activate the chemical reaction or to separate the electrolyte from the electrode to easily control the chemical reaction by inactivating the life of the fuel cell. This greatly extended and combusted hydrogen with a hydrogen removal heat exchanger allows it to be used in confined spaces. According to the present invention, a fuel cell using an electrolyte solution can be efficiently used for portable, distress, emergency, and automobile.

Claims (5)

In a fuel cell composed of an electrode and an electrolyte, a fuel comprising a combination of one, two, or three of a hydrogen removing heat transfer device for removing hydrogen, an electrolyte control structure for regulating supply of an electrolyte, and an electrolyte storage container. battery The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-removing heating device comprises a heating wire as a main material, and is coupled to the inside of the vent and connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the battery by using electric power generated by the battery. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte control structure is to immerse the electrode to activate the chemical reaction when power generation is required, and to discharge the electrolyte from the bottom of the electrode when power generation is not necessary, one side or the bottom of the container to inactivate the chemical reaction Fuel cell, characterized in that the inclination of 0.01 ° or more, the inlet and outlet are coupled 4. The fuel cell according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the inlet and outlet are coupled to a container portion below the electrode to inject and inject the electrolyte solution of the electrolyte storage container into the electrolyte container by manual or power pressure. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte storage container and the pipe are made of rubber, plastic, or metal, and are foldable or fixed.

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