FUEL CARTRIDGE AND DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL HAVING THE SAME AND METHOD OF PURGING DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL USING THE FUEL CARTRIDGE

• US 20090068507A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Shin, Chan-Gyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,435,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/447
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• 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

A fuel cartridge capable of supplying two fuels to an anode of a fuel cell body without using a pump, a direct methanol fuel cell having the same, and a method of purging a direct methanol fuel cell using the fuel cartridge, fuel cartridge according to one exemplary embodiment comprising a first storage unit having a first port for entrance and exit of a fluid and storing a liquid first fuel; and a second storage unit having a second port for entrance and exit of a fluid and filling a second fuel at a constant pressure, wherein the first fuel is discharged into the first port by the pressure of the second fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel cell fuel cartridge system, comprising:

a first storage unit configured for storing a liquid first fuel, comprising a first fluid inlet/outlet port; and

a second storage unit configured for storing a second fuel at a substantially constant pressure, comprising a second fluid inlet/outlet port,

wherein the second storage unit is coupled to the first storage unit and configured to pressurize the first storage unit.

2. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 1, wherein

the first storage unit comprises a first container,

the second storage unit comprises a second container, and

the fuel cartridge further comprises:

a first coupling unit fluidly connected to the first container, and

a second coupling unit fluidly connected to the second container,

wherein, the first coupling unit and second coupling unit are enageable to each other, and when engaged, open a port in at least one of the first coupling unit and second coupling unit, thereby fluidly connecting the first container to the second container.

3. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 2, further comprising a first valve disposed between a first port and the first container, wherein the first valve controls a fluid flow through the first port.

4. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 3, further comprising a second valve disposed between a second port and the second container, wherein the second valve controls a fluid flow through the second port.

5. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 4, further comprising a controller coupled to the first valve and the second valve, wherein the controller is configured for independently controlling the first valve and the second valve, thereby permitting the fuel cartridge to supply a first fuel from the first storage unit and a second fuel from the second storage unit either simultaneously or separately.

6. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 2, further comprising a temperature maintenance unit coupled to the second storage unit, configured for maintaining a temperature of the second storage unit within a predetermined temperature range.

7. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 1, wherein

the fuel cartridge system comprises a single container comprising the first storage unit and the second storage unit;

a barrier rib dividing the first storage unit from the second storage unit; and

a subpipe fluidly coupling the second storage unit to the first storage unit.

8. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 7, further comprising a subvalve coupled to the subpipe, wherein the subvalve is configured for controlling at least one of an and pressure of a second fuel flowing through the subpipe.

9. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 8, further comprising a first valve disposed between a first port and the first container, wherein the first valve controls a fluid flow through the first port.

10. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 9, further comprising a second valve disposed between a second port and the second container, wherein the second valve controls a fluid flow through the second port.

11. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 10, further comprising a controller coupled to the first valve and the second valve, wherein the controller is configured for independently controlling the first valve, the second valve, and the subvalve, thereby permitting the fuel cartridge to supply a first fuel from first storage unit and the second fuel from second storage unit either simultaneously or separately.

12. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 7, further comprising a temperature maintenance unit coupled to the second storage unit configured for maintaining a temperature of the second storage unit within a predetermined temperature range.

13. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 12, wherein the temperature maintenance unit comprises a heating apparatus configured for heating the second storage unit.

14. The fuel cartridge system according to claim 1, wherein the first fuel comprises methanol and the second fuel comprises dimethyl ether.

15. A direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:

a fuel cartridge comprising a first storage unit comprising a first fluid inlet/outlet port configured for storing a liquid first fuel; and

a second storage unit comprising a second fluid inlet/outlet port configured for storing a second fuel at a substantially constant pressure, wherein the second storage unit is coupled to the first storage unit, thereby pressurizing the first storage unit, permitting the discharge of the first fuel out of the first port; and

a fuel cell body configured for generating electric energy by electrochemically reacting an oxidizing agent supplied to a cathode with at least one of the first fuel or the second fuel supplied from the fuel cartridge to an anode.

16. The direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 15, wherein

the direct methanol fuel cell comprises a single container comprising the first storage unit and the second storage unit;

a barrier rib disposed in the single container dividing the first storage unit from the second storage unit;

a subpipe fluidly coupling the second storage unit to the first storage unit; and

a subvalve coupled to the subpipe, wherein the subvalve is configured for controlling at least one of an amount or pressure of a second fuel flowing through the subpipe.

17. The direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 15, further comprising a pipe fluidly coupling an anode inlet of the fuel cell body to the first fluid inlet/outlet port and the second fluid inlet/outlet port of the fuel cartridge.

18. The direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 15, further comprising a recycler, wherein the recycler comprises:

a first inlet coupled to an anode outlet of the fuel cell body;

a second inlet coupled to a cathode outlet of the fuel cell body;

an exhaust unit configured for exhausting carbon dioxide; and

a discharging unit fluidly coupled to the fuel cartridge, configured for discharging unreacted fuel and water into the fuel cartridge.

19. The direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 18, further comprising:

a first switching unit controlling through the second inlet;

a second switching unit controlling a flow out of the exhaust unit; and

a third switching unit controlling a flow out of the discharging unit.

20. The direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 19, further comprising a controller coupled to fuel cartridge and the first, second, and third switching units and configured to control the operation thereof.

21. A method of purging an anode of a direct methanol fuel cell during the operation of the direct methanol fuel cell, the direct methanol fuel cell comprising:

a fuel cartridge comprising a first storage unit comprising a first fluid inlet/outlet port configured for storing a liquid first fuel; and

a second storage unit comprising a second fluid inlet/outlet port configured for storing a second fuel at a substantially constant pressure, wherein the second storage unit is coupled to the first storage unit, thereby pressurizing the first storage unit, permitting the discharge of first fuel out of the first port;

a fuel cell body comprising an anode, a cathode, an anode inlet, an anode outlet, a cathode inlet, and a cathode outlet, wherein the anode inlet is fluidly coupled to the fuel cartridge; and

a recycler comprising a discharging unit fluidly coupled with the fuel cartridge, wherein the recycler is fluidly coupled to the anode outlet and cathode outlet, and configured for recycling unreacted fuel and water from the fuel cell body to the fuel cartridge,

the method comprising;

closing the first fluid inlet/outlet port of the fuel cartridge;

closing a cathode outlet of the fuel cell body; and

opening the second fluid inlet/outlet port, thereby discharging the second fuel, thereby purging the anode of the direct methanol fuel cell.

22. The method of purging the anode of a direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 21, further comprising opening the discharging unit of the recycler, thereby for recycling the unreacted fuel and water.

23. The method of purging the anode of a direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 22, further comprising closing a subpipe coupling the second storage unit to the first storage unit.

24. The method of purging the anode of a direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 21, further comprising:

purging the anode for from about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds; and

returning the direct methanol fuel cell to normal mode.

25. A method of purging a cathode of a direct methanol fuel cell during the operation of the direct methanol fuel cell, the direct methanol fuel cell comprising:

a fuel cartridge comprising a first storage unit comprising a first fluid inlet/outlet port configured for storing a liquid first fuel; and

a second storage unit comprising a second fluid inlet/outlet port configured for storing a second fuel at a substantially constant pressure, wherein the second storage unit is coupled to the first storage unit, thereby pressurizing the first storage unit, permitting the discharge of first fuel out of the first port;

a fuel cell body comprising an anode, a cathode, an anode inlet, an anode outlet, a cathode inlet, and a cathode outlet, wherein the anode inlet is fluidly coupled to the fuel cartridge; and

a recycler comprising a discharging unit fluidly coupled with the fuel cartridge, wherein the recycler is fluidly coupled to the anode outlet and cathode outlet, and configured for recycling unreacted fuel and water from the fuel cell body to the fuel cartridge,

the method comprising;

closing the first fluid inlet/outlet port of the fuel cartridge;

closing the discharging unit of the recycler;

closing the cathode outlet of the fuel cell body; and

opening the cathode outlet, thereby purging the cathode of the direct methanol fuel cell.

26. The method of purging the cathode of a direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein closing the cathode outlet comprises closing the cathode outlet for from about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds.

27. The method of purging the cathode of a direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 26, further comprising maintaining the second fluid inlet/outlet port of the fuel cartridge in a closed state.

28. The method of purging the cathode of a direct methanol fuel cell according to claim 27, further comprising returning the direct methanol fuel cell to a normal operation mode.