Surface replica fuel cell for micro fuel cell electrical power pack
First Claim
1. A fuel cell apparatus comprising a central membrane having an oxygen side and a fuel side, electrodes positioned on the fuel side and on the oxygen side of the membrane, each electrode further comprising a first fuel catalyst film layer deposited on the central membrane, metal film layers deposited over the catalyst film layer, and hydrophobic film layers positioned on the metal film layers, an electrolyte disposed in voids between the catalyst film layer and the central membrane, a hydrogen permeable pore-free metal membrane interposed between the electrodes, the central membrane having a first water circulating, a fuel circulating and regulating membrane positioned above the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel channel flow manifold positioned above the first water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel inlet connected to the fuel manifold for delivering fuel to a region between the fuel manifold and the first water circulating and regulating membrane, a second water circulating and regulating membrane positioned below the electrode on the oxygen side, an oxidizer gas manifold positioned below the second water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the oxygen side, and an oxidizer gas inlet connected to the oxidizer gas manifold for delivering oxidizer gas to a region between the oxidizer gas manifold and the second water circulating and regulating membrane, a first electrical contact connected to the hydrogen electrode and a second electrical contact connected to the oxygen electrode, and a sealing rim extending around and connected to outer edges of the cell.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature fuel cell system uses porous plastic membranes as substrates of fuel cells. A cost effective pore-free electrode or inter electrolyte foil that is permeable only to hydrogen as an ion. The new electrode makes direct alcohol fuel cells efficient. It blocks the poisoning alcohol diffusion through the electrolyte. Compound electrodes are formed by vacuum deposition methods and slurries. That leads to printed circuit designs of small fuel cells systems integrated with rechargeable batteries and electrical power electronics to power applications that are currently powered by batteries. By directly utilizing alcohol fuels the new fuel cells have higher energy per unit mass and higher energy per unit volume. They are more convenient for the energy user, environmentally less harmful and less expensive than conventional batteries.
398 Citations
53 Claims
- 1. A fuel cell apparatus comprising a central membrane having an oxygen side and a fuel side, electrodes positioned on the fuel side and on the oxygen side of the membrane, each electrode further comprising a first fuel catalyst film layer deposited on the central membrane, metal film layers deposited over the catalyst film layer, and hydrophobic film layers positioned on the metal film layers, an electrolyte disposed in voids between the catalyst film layer and the central membrane, a hydrogen permeable pore-free metal membrane interposed between the electrodes, the central membrane having a first water circulating, a fuel circulating and regulating membrane positioned above the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel channel flow manifold positioned above the first water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel inlet connected to the fuel manifold for delivering fuel to a region between the fuel manifold and the first water circulating and regulating membrane, a second water circulating and regulating membrane positioned below the electrode on the oxygen side, an oxidizer gas manifold positioned below the second water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the oxygen side, and an oxidizer gas inlet connected to the oxidizer gas manifold for delivering oxidizer gas to a region between the oxidizer gas manifold and the second water circulating and regulating membrane, a first electrical contact connected to the hydrogen electrode and a second electrical contact connected to the oxygen electrode, and a sealing rim extending around and connected to outer edges of the cell.
Specification