Method and apparatus for reducing water loss

• US 20070141462A1
• 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: Lemmon, John, Wei, Chang, Wang, Shengxian
• Application Number:
  US11/314,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20070141462A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/206
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/26 Selection of materials as electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• 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 6/04 Cells with aqueous electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/045 characterised by aqueous electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/083 Alkaline fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/18 Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An electrochemical cell is provided. The cell may include at least one anode; at least one cathode; and an electrolyte composition contacting the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte composition may include an alkali and a hydrophilic additive having one or more functional groups effective for bonding with water.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

at least one anode;

at least one cathode; and

an electrolyte composition contacting the anode and cathode, the electrolyte composition comprising an alkali and a hydrophilic additive.

2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte composition comprises sodium polyacrylate.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic additive has a molecular weight of about 3,000,000.

4. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic additive comprises one or more polytheylene oxide, carboxymethylcellulose, alcohols, or amines.

5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic additive comprises one or more functional groups effective for bonding with water.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic additive is present in the electrolyte in an amount in a range of from about 1 weight percent to about 95 weight percent.

7. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises an alkaline hydroxide.

8. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the electrolyte comprises potassium hydroxide.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is a battery.

13. An electrochemical cell stack comprising two or more of the electrochemical cells of claim 1.

11. A composition, comprising:

an electrolyte comprising water and an alkali; and

a hydrophilic additive.

12. The composition as defined in claim 11, wherein the alkali is potassium hydroxide;

and, the hydrophilic additive comprises an alcohol or an amine, and has a molecular weight greater than 500,000.

14. A method, comprising:

adding a hydrophilic additive to an aqueous electrolyte to form an electrolyte composition, wherein the hydrophilic additive has one or more functional groups effective for bonding with water; and

reducing water loss in an electrochemical cell comprising electrolyte composition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the hydrophilic additive is added in a concentration in a range of from about 2 weight percent to about 5 weight percent based on the weight of the electrolyte composition.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the hydrophilic additive comprises one or more of polyacrylate, glycerin, polytheylene oxide, carboxymethylcellulose, alcohol, or amine.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the hydrophilic additive comprises one or more of polyacrylate, glycerin, polytheylene oxide, carboxymethylcellulose, alcohol, or amine.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the hydrophilic additive is added in a concentration in a range of from about 2 weight percent to about 5 weight percent based on the weight of the electrolyte composition.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the relative humidity stability is maintained at less than 60 percent relative humidity.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the relative humidity stability is maintained at about 55 percent relative humidity.

17. A method for stabilizing relative humidity in an electrochemical cell comprising water and an electrolyte, the method comprising:

adding a hydrophilic additive having one or more functional groups effective for bonding with water to the electrolyte.