Fuel cell electrolyte supply system and apparatus

• US 4,510,211 A
• Filed: 06/17/1983
• Issued: 04/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ralph C. Struthers
• Original Assignee: Ralph C. Struthers
• Inventors: Struthers, Ralph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeFevour, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/505,305
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/18, 429/26, 429/70
• US Class Current: 429/403
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/77 with external circulating path
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04276 Arrangements for managing the electrolyte stream, e.g. heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A system and apparatus for supplying and circulating fresh electrolyte to and through the anode and ion exchange sections of a plurality of related air/metal fuel cells; preventing the flow of shunt currents through the electrolyte between the fuel cell sections; removing heat produced by fuel cell reaction from the electrolyte; removing solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction from the electrolyte; and reconstituting spent electrolyte. The system and apparatus commingles electrolyte with a hydrophobic liquid dielectric which has a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the electrolyte and conducting the commingled liquids through small diameter conductors of dielectric material to the fuel cell sections. The liquid dielectric in the electrolytes and conductors maintain a current path in the electrolyte open and prevent the flow of shunt currents. The system and apparatus operate to separate commingled liquid dielectric and electrolyte flowing from the fuel cell sections; removes heat carried from the cell sections by the liquid dielectric; recommingles the liquid dielectric and electrolyte and reintroduces into the cell sections. The system and apparatus operate to intermittently transfer portions of partially spent byproduct ladened electrolyte circulated through the anode sections of the cells to a separator in which the byproduct is removed from the spent electrolyte.

Claims

1. A fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus for a plurality of related fuel cells, each having an anode section filled with an aqueous anolyte solution and in which an anode electrode is immersed, an anolyte tank holding a supply of anolyte for the plurality of cells and a supply of hydrophobic liquid dielectric having a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the anolyte, a liquid mixing supply manifold of dielectric material with anolyte and liquid dielectric inlets and an outlet for each cell, liquid delivery means moving anolyte and liquid dielectric from the anolyte tank to the anolyte and liquid dielectric inlets of said manifold, elongate tubular conductors of dielectric material connecting each outlet with a related cell and conducting commingled anolyte and liquid dielectric from the manifold to the cells;

and liquid return means of dielectric material connected between and conducting the anolyte and liquid dielectric from the cells to the anolyte tank.

2. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 1 which further includes a heat exchanger in the liquid delivery means cooling liquid conducted through it to remove and dispose of heat absorbed by that liquid in the fuel cells.

3. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 1 which further includes separator means to separate solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction carried by the anolyte from the several fuel cells and including a separator tank, a byproduct line conducting byproduct ladened anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator tank, liquid flow control means in the byproduct line to selectively start and stop the flow of anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator tank and an overflow line from the separator tank conducting byproduct free anolyte from the separator tank for recirculation through the apparatus.

4. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 3 which further includes a heat exchanger in the liquid delivery means cooling liquid conducted through it to remove and dispose of heat absorbed by that liquid in the fuel cells.

5. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 1 which further includes a heat exchanger in the liquid conducting means between the ionolyte tank and the ion exchange sections cooling liquid conducted through it to remove and dispose of heat absorbed by the liquid in the ion exchange sections.

6. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 5 which further includes separator means to separate solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction carried by the anolyte from the anode sections and including a separator tank, a byproduct line conducting byproduct ladened anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator tank, flow control means to selectively start and stop the flow of anolyte through the byproduct line, an overflow line from the separator tank to an electrolyte supply tank, a delivery line from the supply tank to the ionolyte tank, means to selectively start and stop the flow of electrolyte through the delivery line, a transfer line from the ionolyte tank to the anolyte tank and means to selectively start and stop the flow of ionolyte through the transfer line.

8. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 5 which further includes heat exchanger means in the liquid conducting means between the anode tank and anode sections cooling liquid conducted through it to remove and dispose of heat absorbed by the liquid in the anode sections.

9. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 8 which further includes separator means to separate solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction carried by the anolyte from the anode sections and including a separator tank, a byproduct line conducting byproduct ladened anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator tank, flow control means to selectively start and stop the flow of anolyte through the byproduct line, an overflow line from the separator tank to an electrolyte supply tank, a delivery line from the supply tank to the ionolyte tank, means to selectively start and stop the flow of electrolyte through the delivery line, a transfer line from the ionolyte tank to the anolyte tank and means to selectively start and stop the flow of ionolyte through the transfer line.

10. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 8 which further includes heat exchangers in the liquid conducting means between the anode tank and anode sections and between the ionolyte tank and ion exchange sections and cooling liquid conducted through them to remove and dispose of heat absorbed by the liquids in the anode and ion exchange sections.

11. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 8 which further includes separator means to separate solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction carried by the anolyte from the anode sections and including a separator tank, a byproduct line conducting byproduct ladened anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator tank, flow control means to selectively start and stop the flow of anolyte through the byproduct line, an overflow line from the separator tank to an electrolyte supply tank, a delivery line from the supply tank to the ionolyte tank, means to selectively start and stop the flow of electrolyte through the delivery line, a transfer line from the ionolyte tank to the anolyte tank and means to selectively start and stop the flow of ionolyte through the transfer line.

12. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 8 which further includes separator means to separate solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction carried by the anolyte from the anode sections and including a separator tank, a byproduct line conducting byproduct ladened anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator tank, flow control means to selectively start and stop the flow of anolyte through the byproduct line, an overflow line from the separator tank to an electrolyte supply tank, a delivery line from the supply tank to the ionolyte tank, means to selectively start and stop the flow of electrolyte through the delivery line, a transfer line from the ionolyte tank to the anolyte tank and means to selectively start and stop the flow of ionolyte through the transfer line.

7. A fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus for a plurality of related cells, each having an anode section filled with an aqueous solution and in which an anode electrode is immersed, a cathode section, and an ion exchange section between the anode and cathode sections filled with an aqueous ionolyte solution and separated from the anode section by an ion exchange membrane;

an anolyte tank holding a supply of anolyte for the plurality of anode sections and a supply of hydrophobic liquid dielectric having a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the anolyte, an anolyte mixing manifold of dielectric material with anolyte and liquid dielectric inlets and an anolyte and liquid dielectric outlet for each anode section, liquid delivery means moving anolyte and liquid dielectric from the anolyte tank to the anolyte and liquid dielectric inlets of said anolyte mixing manifold, elongate tubular conductors of dielectric material connecting each anolyte and liquid dielectric outlet with a related anode section and conducting commingled anolyte and liquid dielectric from the anode mixing manifold to the anode sections;

anolyte return means of dielectric material connected with and conducting the anolyte and liquid dielectric from the anode sections to the anolyte tank;

an ionolyte tank holding a supply of ionolyte for the plurality of ion exchange sections and a supply of hydrophobic liquid dielectric having a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the ionolyte, an ionolyte mixing manifold of dielectric material with ionolyte and liquid dielectric inlets and an ionolyte and dielectric outlet for each ion exchange section, liquid delivery means moving ionolyte and liquid dielectric from the ionolyte tank to the ionolyte and liquid dielectric inlets of said ionolyte mixing manifold, elongate tubular conductors of dielectric material connecting each ionolyte and liquid dielectric outlet with a related ion exchange section and conducting commingled ionolyte and liquid dielectric from the ionolyte mixing manifold to the ion exchange sections; and

ionolyte and liquid dielectric return means of dielectric material connected between and conducting the ionolyte and liquid dielectric from the ion exchange sections to the ionolyte tank.

13. A fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus for a multiplicity of air/metal fuel cells, each including an anode section filled with an anolyte and having an anode electrode immersed therein, a cathode section with a cathode electrode with a surface in contact with air and an ion exchange section between the anode and cathode sections filled with an ionolyte contacting another surface of the cathode electrode and separated from the anode section by an ion exchange membrane, a supply tank holding a supply of electrolyte and a supply of hydrophobic liquid dielectric having a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the electrolyte, an anolyte tank and an ionolyte tank, delivery lines from the supply tank to the anolyte and ionolyte tanks and means to selectively start and stop the flow of electrolyte and the flow of liquid dielectric from the supply tank to each of the anolyte and ionolyte tanks to charge and maintain those tanks with supplies of anolyte and liquid dielectric and ionolyte and liquid dielectric;

anolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means between the anolyte tank and anode sections of the cells, means selectively conducting liquid dielectric and conducting measured volumes of anolyte and liquid dielectric from the anolyte tank to the anolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means and separate conductors of dielectric material conducting liquid dielectric or mixed anolyte and liquid dielectric from the anolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means to each anode section, the mixed anolyte and liquid dielectric cooperate with the dielectric conductors to prevent current flow between the anode section and between the anolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means and anode tank;

conductors of dielectric material between the anode sections and the anolyte tank conducting liquid dielectric for mixed anolyte and liquid dielectric displaced from the anode sections to the anolyte tank, mixed anolyte and liquid dielectric in the conductors between the anode sections and the anolyte tank prevent current flow between the anode sections and between the anode sections and the anolyte tank;

an ionolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means between the ionolyte tank and the ion exchange sections of the cells, means conducting measured volumes of ionolyte and liquid dielectric from the ionolyte tank to the ionolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means and separate conductors of dielectric material conducting mixed ionolyte and liquid dielectric from the ionolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means to the ion exchange sections of the cells, the mixed ionolyte and liquid dielectric cooperate with the dielectric conductors to prevent current flow between the ion exchange sections and between the ion and liquid dielectric mixing means and ionolyte tank, conductors of dielectric material between the ion exchange sections and the ionolyte tank conducting mixed ionolyte and liquid dielectric from the ion exchange sections to the ionolyte tank, mixed ionolyte and liquid dielectric in the conductors between the ion exchange sections and the ionolyte tank prevent current flow between the ion exchange sections and between the ion exchange sections and the ionolyte tank;

separator means between and connected with the anolyte tank and the supply tank to separate solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction from the anolyte, flow control means to selectively start and stop the flow of anolyte from the anolyte tank to the separator means, means conducting byproduct free anolyte from the separator means to the supply tanks; and

bypass means between and connected with the ionolyte and anolyte tanks to selectively start and stop the flow of ionolyte from the ionolyte tank to the anolyte tank.

14. The fuel cell electrolyte control system and apparatus set forth in claim 13 which further includes heat exchanger means between the anolyte tank and the anolyte and liquid dielectric mixing means to cool the liquid dielectric and dispose of heat generated in the fuel cells by fuel cell reaction and carried therefrom by the liquid dielectric.