Mixed reactant molecular screen fuel cell

• US 20050058875A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allan Jerome
• Original Assignee: Allan Jerome
• Inventors: Jerome, Allan
• Application Number:
  US10/909,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/456
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8605 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8657 layered
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0232 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0236 Glass; Ceramics; Cermets
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0239 Organic resins; Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0245 in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0687 Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a fuel cell having a first membrane selective to a fuel, a second membrane selective to an oxidant, and a mixed reactant flow provided to the screens. The invention further includes an anode, a cathode and a semi-permeable electrolyte fluidly separating the same.

Claims

1. An electrically powered apparatus comprising:

at least one electrical device connected to an anode and a cathode, said anode and cathode being fluidly isolated from one another;

a reactant supply system operable to provide a mixture of an oxidant and a fuel; and

an electricity generating cell connected with said supply system, said cell including a first membrane selectively permeable to said fuel and operably associated with said anode, a second membrane selectively permeable to said oxidant and operably associated with said cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between said first and second membranes.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising a power stack having a plurality of membranes selectively permeable to said fuel, and a plurality of membranes selectively permeable to said oxidant.

3. The device of claim 2 comprising a catalyst for oxidizing fuel at said anode.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said catalyst is a first catalyst, and further comprising a second catalyst for reducing oxygen at said cathode.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first and second membranes comprises an electrical conductor.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first and second membranes includes the operably associated anode or cathode, respectively.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first and second membranes includes said first or said second catalyst, respectively.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein at least one of said first and second membranes comprises a silica-based matrix.

9. The device of claim 2 comprising

a first selective catalyst disposed between said first membrane and said electrolyte for oxidizing fuel at said anode;

a second selective catalyst disposed between said second membrane and said electrolyte for reducing oxidant at said cathode.

10. The device of claim 2 comprising an on-board fuel-enrichment apparatus operable to provide a fuel to said supply system.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said fuel-enrichment apparatus comprises a hydrolytic system.

12. The device of claim 11 comprising an electrolytic system operable to selectively produce a first fuel type and a second fuel type.

13. An electricity generating cell comprising:

a reactant supply operable to provide a mixture of an oxidant and a fuel;

a power circuit configured to drive an electrical load and including an anode and a cathode;

an electrolyte disposed between and fluidly isolating said anode and said cathode;

a selectively fuel-permeable membrane in communication with said reactant supply to provide fuel to said anode; and

a selectively oxidant-permeable membrane in communication with said reactant supply to provide oxidant to said cathode.

14. The electricity generating cell of claim 13 wherein at least one of said membranes comprises a silicon based matrix defining a plurality of pores.

15. The electricity generating cell of claim 14 wherein said silicon based matrix comprises a plurality of similar silica structures arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern.

16. The electricity generating cell of claim 15 wherein said selectively fuel-permeable membrane comprises a protic solvent disposed in said pores.

17. The electricity generating cell of claim 16 wherein said selectively oxidant-permeable membrane comprises high oxidant-affinity chemical modifiers attached to said silicon based matrix.

18. A method of electrochemically generating electricity in a device having a fluidly isolated anode and cathode and a power loop connecting the same, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a reactant stream that includes a fuel;

supplying fuel from the reactant stream to the anode by separating at least a portion of the fuel from the reactant stream with a selectively fuel-permeable membrane; and

supplying oxidant to the cathode.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the step of providing a reactant stream comprises providing a reactant stream containing both oxidant and fuel; and

the step of supplying oxidant to the cathode includes separating at least a portion of the oxidant from the reactant stream with a selectively oxidant-permeable membrane.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing a reactant stream comprises providing a fuel and oxidant mixture that can be substantially reacted in the device only with at least one of additional heat and a catalyst.