Fuel cell system

• US 6,541,144 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yasumoto, Eiichi, Kusakabe, Hiroki, Sakai, Osamu, Gyoten, Hisaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US09/829,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 429/21, 429/32, 429/41
• US Class Current: 429/422
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8631 Bipolar electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/92 Metals of platinum group H01M4/94 , H01M4/9058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0637 Direct internal reforming at the anode of the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1004 characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/184 Regeneration by electrochemical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system includes a first electrolyte-electrode assembly which comprises a hydrogen ion-conductive electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode and a hydrogen-generating electrode that sandwich the electrolyte layer; a second electrolyte-electrode assembly which comprises a hydrogen ion-conductive electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode that sandwich the electrolyte layer; a fuel supplying means for supplying a liquid or gas fuel to the fuel electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly; a means for applying to the fuel electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly a potential which is positive to the hydrogen-generating electrode; and a means for supplying to the fuel electrode of the second electrolyte-electrode assembly hydrogen generated in the hydrogen-generating electrode.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system including:

a first electrolyte-electrode assembly which comprises a hydrogen ion-conductive electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode and a hydrogen-generating electrode that sandwich said electrolyte layer;

a second electrolyte-electrode assembly which comprises a hydrogen ion-conductive electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode that sandwich said electrolyte layer;

a fuel supplying means for supplying a liquid or gas fuel to the fuel electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly;

a means for applying to the fuel electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly a potential which is positive to the hydrogen-generating electrode; and

a means for supplying to the fuel electrode of the second electrolyte-electrode assembly hydrogen generated in the hydrogen-generating electrode.

2. The fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-generating electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly and the fuel electrode of the second electrolyte-electrode assembly are electrically connected.

3. The fuel cell system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hydrogen-generating electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly and the fuel electrode of the second electrolyte-electrode assembly are unified.

4. The fuel cell system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hydrogen-generating electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly and the fuel electrode of the second electrolyte-electrode assembly are combined with a water repellent, electrically conductive layer interposed therebetween.

5. The fuel cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for applying to the first electrolyte-electrode assembly a potential which is positive to the hydrogen-generating electrode is the second electrolyte-electrode assembly.

6. The fuel cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hydrogen ion-conductive electrolyte layer is a polymer electrolyte membrane and wherein said fuel is a mixed liquid comprising alcohol and water, or a mixed gas comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

7. The fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fuel electrode of the first electrolyte-electrode assembly comprising ruthenium as the catalyst.