Fuel cell

• US 20080063913A1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirayama, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,998,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0234 Carbonaceous material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0245 in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04225 during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes a fuel tank that stores a liquid fuel, a power generation section including an anode and a cathode, a first fuel supply section that supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the anode, an oxygen supply section that supplies oxygen to the cathode, and a second fuel supply section that supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the cathode. The power generation section generates power by a chemical reaction of the liquid fuel and the oxygen.

Claims

1. A fuel cell comprising:

a fuel tank that stores a liquid fuel;

a power generation section including an anode and a cathode;

a first fuel supply section that supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the anode;

an oxygen supply section that supplies oxygen to the cathode; and

a second fuel supply section that supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the cathode;

wherein the power generation section generates power by a chemical reaction of the liquid fuel and the oxygen.

2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises:

a chemical reaction layer in which the oxygen chemically reacts; and

a diffusion layer stacked on the chemical reaction layer, the diffusion layer having a venting hole.

3. The fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the venting hole has a catalyst layer that acts as a catalyst of the chemical reaction.

4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature measurement section that measures a temperature of the power generation section; and

a control section that controls a supply of the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the cathode, in accordance with the temperature.

5. The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the second fuel supply section comprising:

a pipe that flows the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the cathode; and

a valve disposed in the pipe;

wherein the control section controls the supply by opening and closing the valve.

6. A fuel cell comprising:

a fuel tank that stores a liquid fuel;

a power generation section including an anode and a cathode;

a first fuel supply section that supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the anode;

a oxygen supply section that supplies oxygen to the cathode; and

a second fuel supply section that supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the cathode;

wherein the power generation section generates a power by a chemical reaction of the liquid fuel and the oxygen; and

the second fuel supply includes a pipe that flows the liquid fuel from the liquid fuel to the cathode.

7. The fuel cell according to claim 6, further comprising:

a mixing section that is provided on the pipe, and that mixes the liquid fuel supplied from the fuel tank with oxygen.