WO1996004690B1 - Tubular fuel cells and their manufacture - Google Patents
Tubular fuel cells and their manufactureInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996004690B1 WO1996004690B1 PCT/US1995/009947 US9509947W WO9604690B1 WO 1996004690 B1 WO1996004690 B1 WO 1996004690B1 US 9509947 W US9509947 W US 9509947W WO 9604690 B1 WO9604690 B1 WO 9604690B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- fuel cell
- electrode
- current
- gas
- electrolytic
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract 26
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims 5
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims abstract 8
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract 8
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract 8
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims abstract 4
- 210000004027 cells Anatomy 0.000 claims 19
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims 8
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 claims 6
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims 6
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims 6
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims 5
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims 5
- 210000003850 cellular structures Anatomy 0.000 claims 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims 4
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims 3
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 3
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 claims 3
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 3
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 claims 2
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 2
- 229910000897 Babbitt (metal) Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009954 braiding Methods 0.000 claims 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 239000006229 carbon black Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000023298 conjugation with cellular fusion Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005202 decontamination Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000003588 decontaminative Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007790 solid phase Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000935 solvent evaporation Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000021037 unidirectional conjugation Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009827 uniform distribution Methods 0.000 claims 1
- UQSQSQZYBQSBJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fluorosulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(F)(=O)=O UQSQSQZYBQSBJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000002522 swelling Effects 0.000 abstract 1
Abstract
A lightweight hydrogen fuel cell assembly employing a wet perfluorosulfonic acid electrolytic membrane (918), prone to swelling, has a tubular shape (910) and inner (916) and outer (920) helically wound electrodes which assist compression of the electrolytic membrane (918) and provide novel and efficient current collection means. Disclosed embodiments include a self-contained portable fuel cell in which the cell is shaped to accommodate a canister of hydrogen fuel and an array of cells arranged around a common hydrogen fuel tank or canister.
Claims
- -
AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 1 February 1996 (01.02.96); original claims 1-18 replaced by amended claims 1-19 (4 pages)]
Claim l. A wet-operating electrolyte, curved shape, oxygen-reduction fuel cell comprising gas-pervious, curved current-collecting electrodes shaped to mate one with another, gas-dissociating catalyst zones at each electrode and a proton transport electrolytic member constrained between the current collecting electrodes, wherein the current-collecting electrodes are load-bearing structures acting to compress the electrolytic member characterized in that at least one of the current-collecting electrodes includes a coiled, electrically conductive winding acting to compress the electrolytic member and to collect current.
Claim 2. A fuel cell according to claim 1 characterized by having a generally tubular shape with tubular components, and by each electrode comprising concentric tubular coils of an electrically conductive winding, the electrolytic member being compressed between the tubular coil electrodes.
Claim 3. A fuel cell according to claim 2 characterized by comprising a porous gas diffusion layer, one for each current collecting electrode, to spread gas permeating the electrode for uniform delivery to catalyst layers adjacent the electrolytic member.
Claim 4. A fuel cell according to claim 3 characterized in that the gas diffusion layers comprise carbon black in a porous conductive binder.
Claim 5. A fuel cell according to claim 1 characterized in that the catalyst zones comprise thin films of catalyst particles deposited one on each surface of the electrolytic member.
Claim 6. A fuel cell according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that each winding comprises a conductive winding having a platinum coating. -37-
Claim 7. A hydrogen fuel cell characterized by being shaped to receive and embrace a hydrogen supply canister to provide a self-contained portable electricity generating unit.
Claim 8. A fuel cell according to claim 7 characterized by including the hydrogen supply canister, the hydrogen supply canister having a volume and being received into the fuel cell to an extent of at least one half of the volume.
Claim 9. A wet-operating electrolyte, curved shape, oxygen-reduction fuel cell comprising gas-pervious, curved current-collecting electrodes shaped to mate one with another, gas-dissociating catalyst zones at each electrode and a proton transport electrolytic member constrained between the current collecting electrodes, the current- collecting electrodes are load-bearing structures acting to compress the electrolytic member characterized in that at least one of the electrodes comprises an openwork, load bearing electrically conductive, metallic structure acting to compress the electrolytic member and to collect current.
Claim 10. A method of manufacturing a hydrogen fuel cell comprising a self-supporting shaped, layered structure in which a proton-transporting electrolytic material member is sandwiched between a porous anodic electrode and a porous cathodic electrode, characterized by comprising the steps of a) coating a first, shaped self-supporting electrode with a curable, liquid-phase, proton-transporting electrolytic material to provide an electrolytic coating; b) curing the electrolytic coating to the solid phase; c) assembling the coated electrode with a second, mating, shaped electrode to provide the layered structure; d) and assembling the electrode structure with a support base.
Claim 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized by comprising a further step of coating the first electrode with a catalyst-containing curable, liquid-phase proton- transporting material.
Claim 12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the curing step has two stages: a first, solvent- evaporation stage at a moderately elevated temperature, and a second purification or decontamination stage at a higher temperature.
Claim 13. A method of manufacturing a shaped, non-flat, layered fuel cell of the wet-electrolyte type, having fuel cell components comprising current collecting electrodes and a wet-operating electrolytic member compressed between the electrodes, wherein oxygen is reduced by a combustible gas, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming a first gas-pervious, load bearing, current collecting electrode to a first shape; b) forming a second gas-pervious, load bearing, current collecting electrode to a second shape mateable with the first shape; and c) assembling the first and second current- collecting electrodes with the electrolytic member into a self-supporting structure; characterized in that each electrode comprises an open-work load-bearing metal structure.
Claim 14. A method according to claim 13 characterized in that the fuel cell components include gas diffusion members to spread reaction gases for uniform distribution to opposed surfaces of the electrolyte.
Claim 15. A method according to claim 13 or 14 characterized in that the metal is titanium.
Claim 16. A method according to claim 13 or 14 -39- characterized in that the metal structure is selected from the group consisting of a coiled winding, expanded metal and metal braiding.
Claim 17. A method according to claim 13 or 14 characterized in that one or more of the fuel cell components is shaped around a former.
Claim 18. A method according to claim 13 or 14 characterized by comprising inserting plugs at the ends of the fuel cell to seal the fuel cell against loss of combustible gas.
Claim 19. A method of manufacturing a shaped, non-flat, layered fuel cell of the wet-electrolyte type, having fuel cell components comprising current collecting electrodes and a wet-operating electrolytic member compressed between the electrodes, the method characterized by comprising the steps of: a) forming a first gas-pervious, load bearing, current collecting wound titanium wire electrode to a coiled, tapered open-ended tube; b) forming a second gas-pervious, load bearing, current collecting titanium wire electrode to a coiled tapered tube sized to receive the first electrode and to mateably clamp the electrolytic member between the electrodes; and c) assembling the first and second current- collecting electrodes with the electrolytic member by inserting one component into another lengthwise; d) pressing the components together lengthwise to compress the electrolytic member radially; and e) plugging the tube endwise to seal the cell against loss of combustible gas. -40-
STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19
Applicant notes that the five references cited in the Search Report are designated category "A" as indicating the general state of the art and are not considered to be of particular relevance. This is in keeping with applicants' belief that the claims as filed are clearly and patentably distinguished from what was known to those skilled in the art prior to the present invention.
New claim 9 defines the invention as it relates to embodiments recited at page 25, lines 19-20. In addition to renumbering claims 8- 18 as 9- 19, minor amendments have been made to claim 1 (line 6, "wherein" and the characterizing clause) claim 2 (lines 3-4), claim 3 (characterizing clause), claim 6 (correct "comprises") and claim 10 (lines 3-4), to clarify the definition of the invention claimed.
Prior to the present invention, those skilled in the art did not know a fully satisfactory solution to the problems of ensuring low-resistance current collection while maintaining good electrode-to-electrolyte membrane engagement in low-weight, wet-membrane fuel cells, and in particular non- planar, curved or tubular fuel cells. These problems are solved by applicant's claimed invention which provides one or both electrodes with an electrically conductive coiled winding, or an openwork metallic equivalent thereof, as well as methods of manufacturing such novel fuel cells.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP95929394A EP0804814A2 (en) | 1994-08-04 | 1995-08-04 | Tubular fuel cells and their manufacture |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/286,131 US5509942A (en) | 1992-08-21 | 1994-08-04 | Manufacture of tubular fuel cells with structural current collectors |
| US08/285,945 US5458989A (en) | 1992-08-21 | 1994-08-04 | Tubular fuel cells with structural current collectors |
| US08/285,945 | 1994-08-04 | ||
| US08/286,131 | 1994-08-04 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1996004690A1 WO1996004690A1 (en) | 1996-02-15 |
| WO1996004690B1 true WO1996004690B1 (en) | 1996-03-07 |
Family
ID=26963483
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1995/009947 WO1996004690A1 (en) | 1994-08-04 | 1995-08-04 | Tubular fuel cells and their manufacture |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0804814A2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1996004690A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE69708715T2 (en) * | 1996-02-05 | 2002-08-08 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Fuel cell for mounting on devices |
| GB0020051D0 (en) * | 2000-08-16 | 2000-10-04 | Mat & Separations Tech Int Ltd | Improved fuel cell structure |
| JP2005353484A (en) | 2004-06-11 | 2005-12-22 | Toyota Motor Corp | Membrane electrode composite for tube type fuel cell, and current collector for tube type fuel cell |
| JP2007103345A (en) * | 2005-09-07 | 2007-04-19 | Toyota Motor Corp | Tubular solid polymer fuel cell and production method thereof |
| JP4910347B2 (en) * | 2005-09-27 | 2012-04-04 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Fuel cell module with current collecting electrode that also serves as a spacer |
| FR2892237B1 (en) * | 2005-10-19 | 2007-11-30 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | FUEL CELL TUBULAR MODULE AND ITS SEALING DEVICE |
| JP5773448B2 (en) * | 2009-05-28 | 2015-09-02 | エゼレロン ゲーエムベーハー | Oxide-ceramic high temperature tubular fuel cell |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4175165A (en) * | 1977-07-20 | 1979-11-20 | Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation | Fuel cell system utilizing ion exchange membranes and bipolar plates |
| US4477541A (en) * | 1982-12-22 | 1984-10-16 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Solid electrolyte structure |
| US4975342A (en) * | 1986-07-24 | 1990-12-04 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel cell |
| US4824742A (en) * | 1988-04-21 | 1989-04-25 | The United States Department Of Energy | Manifold, bus support and coupling arrangement for solid oxide fuel cells |
| DE4011506A1 (en) * | 1990-04-10 | 1991-10-17 | Abb Patent Gmbh | FUEL CELL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF |
-
1995
- 1995-08-04 WO PCT/US1995/009947 patent/WO1996004690A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-08-04 EP EP95929394A patent/EP0804814A2/en not_active Withdrawn
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