Monitor device for fuel cell

• US 20050153174A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kondo, Jun, Wakahoi, Toshiya, Harada, Ichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,416,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/432
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0202 Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0258 characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0276 Sealing means characterised by their form H01M8/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0297 Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other H01M8/0271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04313 characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04552 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2457 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• 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

A seal space is formed between first and second metal separators of a power generation cell. A device body is disposed in the seal space. The device body includes a voltage measurement sensor and a transmission mechanism. The voltage measurement sensor measures the voltage generated during operation of the power generation cell. The transmission mechanism transmits information of the voltage measured by the voltage measurement sensor via wireless communication. The voltage measurement sensor and the transmission mechanism are embedded in an electromagnetic/heat resistant shield member, and attached to a surface of the second metal separator.

Claims

1. A monitor device for monitoring operating condition of a fuel cell, said fuel cell including an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly, said electrolyte electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes, said monitor device comprising:

an internal information detection mechanism for detecting internal information of said fuel cell;

a transmission mechanism for transmitting said detected internal information via wireless communication; and

a receiver mechanism provided outside said fuel cell for receiving said internal information transmitted via wireless communication,

wherein said internal information detection mechanism and said transmission mechanism are provided inside seal members of said separators.

2. A monitor device according to claim 1, wherein a seal space surrounded by said seal members is formed between said separators such that entry of foreign material into said seal space is prevented;

and

at least one of said internal information detection mechanism and said transmission mechanism is disposed in said seal space.

3. A monitor device according to claim 2, wherein said separators comprise first and second metal separators sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly;

said seal member comprises first and second seal members provided on said first and second separators, respectively, and said first and second seal members tightly contact each other to form said seal space; and

said first and second metal separators have first and second metal surface portions exposed to said seal space, respectively.

4. A monitor device according to claim 3, wherein said internal information detection mechanism is electrically connected to said first and second metal surface portions.

5. A monitor device according to claim 4, wherein said internal information detection mechanism and said transmission mechanism are embedded in an electromagnetic/heat resistant shield member, and attached to said first metal surface portion or said second metal surface portion.

6. A monitor device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission mechanism is connected to a power source unit, and said power source unit is embedded in said seal member.

7. A monitor device according to claim 1, wherein said internal information detection mechanism includes a voltage measurement sensor for measuring the cell voltage of said fuel cell.