Fuel cell system

• US 6,911,274 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zinc8 Energy Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Metallic Power, Inc.
• Inventors: Pinto, Martin De Tezanos, Smedley, Stuart I., Colborn, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US10/066,544
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 429/17, 429/19, 429/34
• US Class Current: 429/410
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04276 Arrangements for managing the electrolyte stream, e.g. heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0668 Removal of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/083 Alkaline fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/22 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system is described which comprises a power source and a fuel storage unit. A flowable fuel is contained with the fuel storage unit. A first flow path delivers fuel from the fuel storage unit to the power source. Some or all of this fuel is deposited into the individual cell cavities within the power source. A second flow path delivers fuel that is not deposited into the cell cavities to the fuel storage unit. A third flow path delivers unused and/or partially used fuel and/or reaction products and/or spent reaction solution from the cell cavities back to an optional reaction product storage unit and/or the fuel storage unit and/or to the second flow path. The system may further comprise an optional reaction product storage unit, an optional regeneration unit, an optional second reactant storage unit, an optional controller, and an optional power converter.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a power source having one or more cell cavities;

a fuel storage unit for containing flowable fuel;

a first flow path for providing flowable fuel from the fuel storage unit to the power source;

a second flow path for providing flowable fuel, which has not been deposited into the one or more cell cavities, back to the fuel storage unit; and

a third flow path for providing unused and/or partially used fuel and/or reaction product(s) and/or spent reaction solution to a one or more of a reaction product storage unit, the fuel storage unit, and the second flow path.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a scrubber for removing carbon dioxide from a source of oxygen for an oxygen reduction reaction occurring within the cells of the power source.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a demister for removing liquid droplets from air expelled from the cell cavities of the power source.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage booster for boosting the voltage output of the fuel cell system.