Fuel cell and system for supplying electrolyte thereto
First Claim
1. A system for supplying electrolyte to fuel cells in a stack of fuel cells comprising:
- (a) means for storing electrolyte externally to said fuel cells, an individual one of said cells including a wicking medium for drawing electrolyte by capillary action;
(b) means for conducting electrolyte from said storing means to the wicking medium in each of said cells; and
(c) means for maintaining a predetermined hydrostatic pressure of electrolyte at said conducting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrolyte distribution and supply system for use with a fuel cell having means for drawing electrolyte therein is formed by a set of containers of electrolyte joined to respective fuel cells in a stack of such cells. The electrolyte is separately stored so as to provide for electrical isolation between electrolytes of the individual cells of the stack. Individual storage compartments are coupled by capillary tubes to the respective fuel cells. Hydrostatic pressure is maintained individually for each of the fuel cells by separately elevating each compartment of the storing means to a specific height above the corresponding fuel cell which is to be fed from that compartment of the storing means. The individual compartments are filled with electrolyte by allowing the compartments to overflow thereby maintaining the requisite depth of electrolyte in each of the storage compartments.
29 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for supplying electrolyte to fuel cells in a stack of fuel cells comprising:
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(a) means for storing electrolyte externally to said fuel cells, an individual one of said cells including a wicking medium for drawing electrolyte by capillary action; (b) means for conducting electrolyte from said storing means to the wicking medium in each of said cells; and (c) means for maintaining a predetermined hydrostatic pressure of electrolyte at said conducting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification