Fuel cell closed structure

• US 20070141431A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wei, Chang, Cai, Jun, Wang, Shengxian, Fu, Qijia
• Application Number:
  US11/314,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20070141431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/281 Large cells or batteries with stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/282 with bipolar electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0014 Alkaline electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/242 Hydrogen storage electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/385 of the type LaNi5
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/138 adapted for specific cells, e.g. electrochemical cells operating at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/083 Alkaline fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A galvanic cell with a closed structure is provided. The cell may include a galvanic cell unit having a metal hydride anode, separators positioned on opposite sides of the metal hydride anode, oxygen electrodes positioned adjacent to the separators on sides opposite to the metal hydride anode, insulator plates positioned in contact with the oxygen electrodes, an electrolyte in contact with any one or more of the metal hydride anode, oxygen electrodes, insulator plates, or separators, and a pressure vessel enclosing the galvanic cell unit.

Claims

1. A galvanic cell structure, comprising:

a pressure vessel having components disposed in an interior volume, the components comprising;

a metal hydride anode,

one or more separators positioned on opposite sides of the metal hydride anode,

one or more oxygen electrodes positioned adjacent to each separator on sides opposite to the metal hydride anode,

insulator plates in contact with a respective oxygen electrode, and

an electrolyte in contact with one or more of the metal hydride anode, the oxygen electrode, insulator plate, or separator.

2. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein in the galvanic cell structure comprises a rechargeable fuel cell unit.

3. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein in the galvanic cell structure comprises a metal/air battery cell unit.

4. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel encloses a plurality of sets of the components.

5. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is an alkaline hydroxide.

6. The galvanic cell structure of claim 5, wherein the electrolyte comprises sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

7. The galvanic cell of claim 1, wherein the oxygen electrode comprises a catalyst layer and gas diffusion layer.

8. The galvanic cell of claim 7, wherein the catalyst layer comprises catalyst, a conductive particulate, and a binder.

9. The galvanic cell of claim 8, wherein the catalyst comprises one or more of a metal catalyst, metal oxide catalyst, or perovskite catalyst.

10. The galvanic cell of claim 8, wherein the catalyst comprises silver or manganese.

11. The galvanic cell of claim 8, wherein the conductive particulate is carbon-based.

12. The galvanic cell of claim 7, wherein the gas diffusion layer comprises carbon black and a binder.

13. The galvanic cell of claim 7, wherein the gas diffusion layer comprises an oxygen storage material.

14. The galvanic cell of claim 13, wherein the oxygen storage material comprises one or more metal-organic framework materials.

15. The galvanic cell of claim 13, wherein the oxygen storage material comprises one or more ceria-based ceramics.

16. The galvanic cell of claim 1, wherein the metal hydride anode comprises an active material, a binder, and at least one conductive additive.

17. The galvanic cell of claim 16, wherein the active material is a metal hydride.

18. The galvanic cell structure of claim 17, wherein the metal hydride is a LaNi₅ hydride.

19. The galvanic cell structure of claim 16, wherein the binder comprises one or both of polytetrafluoroethylene or carboxymethylcellulose.

20. The galvanic cell structure of claim 16, wherein the conductive additive comprises nickel powder.

21. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein the separator is configured as a membrane.

22. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein each of the insulator plates comprises plastic and defines a plurality of apertures.

23. The galvanic cell structure of claim 1, wherein the vessel is configured as a high-pressure container that is operable to contain a pressure of greater than 1 atmosphere.

24. The galvanic cell structure of claim 23, wherein the high-pressure container comprises steel or plastic.

25. A galvanic cell structure, comprising:

a pressure vessel having a set of components disposed in an interior volume, the components comprising;

a metal hydride anode having a surface;

one or more separators positioned on opposite sides of the metal hydride anode;

one or more oxygen electrodes positioned adjacent to each separator on an opposing side relative to the metal hydride anode;

an electrolyte in contact with one or more of the metal hydride anode, the one or more oxygen electrodes, or the one or more separators;

one or more bipolar plates having a surface with at least a portion of the bipolar plate surface in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the oxygen electrode and at least another portion in contact with at least a portion of the metal hydride anode surface; and

a barrier layer contacting and shielding another portion of the metal hydride anode surface that is not in contact with the one or more bipolar plates.

26. The galvanic cell structure of claim 25, wherein in the galvanic cell structure is a rechargeable fuel cell.

27. The galvanic cell structure of claim 25, wherein in the galvanic cell unit is a metal/air battery cell.

28. The galvanic cell structure of claim 25, wherein the pressure vessel encloses more than one set of the components.

29. The galvanic cell structure of claim 25, wherein the electrolyte comprises an alkaline hydroxide.

30. The galvanic cell structure of claim 29, wherein the electrolyte is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

31. The galvanic cell of claim 25, wherein the oxygen electrode comprises a catalyst layer and gas diffusion layer.