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Fuel cell with flow-through porous electrodes

  • US 10,079,391 B2
  • Filed: 10/09/2007
  • Issued: 09/18/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A membraneless fuel cell for use with liquid reactants, the fuel cell comprising:

  • a first porous electrode and a second porous electrode, whereinthe first porous electrode is a porous, electrically conductive anode having a porosity ranging from 40% to 95% and comprising an interstitial pore network, the porous anode being fluidly coupled to an anodic reactant inlet that flows anodic reactant orthogonally through the porous anode; and

    the second porous electrode is a porous, electrically conductive cathode having a porosity ranging from 40% to 95% and comprising an interstitial pore network, the porous cathode being fluidly coupled to a cathodic reactant inlet that flows cathodic reactant orthogonally through the porous cathode in a direction opposite to that of anodic reactant flow through the porous anode;

    an electrolyte channel, defined by the anode and cathode, for receiving a parallel co-laminar flow of anodic reactant and product and cathodic reactant and product in liquid electrolyte through the electrolyte channel, wherein the parallel co-laminar flow of anodic reactant and product and cathodic reactant and product is in the same direction; and

    one reactant outlet per porous electrode;

    whereinat least one of the first porous electrode or the second porous electrode is a hydrophilic porous electrode comprising a catalyst;

    the electrolyte and the anodic reactant are mixed as they flow through the anode, and electrolyte and the cathodic reactant are mixed as they flow through the cathode; and

    the first and second porous electrodes and outlets are positioned to provide orthogonally arranged flow of liquid reactants towards the outlets, in use.

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