Fuel cell-secondary cell combination

• US 4,000,003 A
• Filed: 01/02/1976
• Issued: 12/28/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Baker, Bernard S., Camp, Ralph N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, John H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Feeley, H. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/646,214
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 136/86 R, 136/86 C, 136/86 E
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0214 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/36 Accumulators not provided for in groups H01M10/05-H01M10/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system suitable for low power sensor plications is provided. The system comprises in combination, a fuel cell, a fully contained fuel and oxidant source for the fuel cell, a DC to DC power processor for boosting the voltage output from the fuel cell, and a nickel-cadmium battery in parallel with the output from the DC to DC processor to sustain peak power drains.

Claims

1. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system comprising in combination, a fuel cell, a fully contained fuel and oxidant source for said fuel cell, a DC to DC power processor for boosting the voltage output from said fuel cell, and a secondary battery in parallel with the output from the DC to DC processor to sustain peak power drains of 12 watt 60m sec. pulses.

2. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell is a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.

3. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 1 wherein the fully contained fuel source is a solid hydride selected from the group consisting of lithium hydride, sodium hydride, potassium hydride, calcium hydride, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium aluminum hydride, lithium borohydride, and sodium borohydride.

4. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 2 wherein the fully contained fuel source is a solid hydride selected from the group consisting of lithium hydride, sodium hydride, potassium hydride, calcium hydride, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium aluminum hydride, lithium borohydride, and sodium borohydride.

5. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 4 wherein the fully contained fuel source is calcium hydride.

6. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 1 wherein the fully contained oxidant source is selected from the group consisting of liquid hydrogen peroxide and the solid form of alkali metal oxygen compounds.

7. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 2 wherein the fully contained oxidant source is selected from the group consisting of liquid hydrogen peroxide and the solid form of the alkali metal oxygen compounds.

8. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 7 wherein the fully contained oxidant source is liquid hydrogen peroxide.

9. A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell is a hydrogen-oxygen fuel, wherein the fully contained fuel source is calcium hydride and the fully contained oxidant source is liquid hydrogen peroxide, and wherein the secondary battery is a nickel-cadmium battery.