Fuel-cell actuated mechanical device

• US 7,409,830 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yerazunis, William S., Shepherd, Roderick L., Lau, King Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang M
• Application Number:
  US11/200,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 606/49, 606/51, 606/71, 91/4.R, 91/4.A
• US Class Current: 60/649
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/24 Pumping by heat expansion of pumped fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/04 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/40 Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04104 Regulation of differential pressures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A method generates mechanical energy by storing water in a fuel-cell and a pressure equalization device. The water stored in the fuel-cell is electrolyzed into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, which displaces the water stored in the pressure equalization device. The displaced water is fed to a hydraulic device to drive the hydraulic device in a forward direction to produce mechanical energy.

Claims

1. A method for generating mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:

storing first water in a first fuel-cell and a first pressure equalization device;

storing second water in a second fuel-cell and a second pressure equalization device;

electrolyzing the first water stored in the first fuel-cell into first hydrogen gas and first oxygen gas;

displacing the first water stored in the first pressure equalization device with the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas;

feeding the displaced first water to a hydraulic device to drive the hydraulic device in a forward direction to produce mechanical energy; and

then

recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas, the recombining suctioning the first water from the first pressure equalization device into the first fuel-cell to drive the hydraulic device in a backward direction to produce additional mechanical energy and potential electric energy;

electrolyzing the second water stored in the second fuel-cell into second hydrogen gas and second oxygen gas, while recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas;

displacing the second water stored in the second pressure equalization device with the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen gas;

feeding the displaced second water to the hydraulic device to drive the hydraulic device in the backward forward direction to produce the mechanical energy; and

recombining the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen, the recombining suctioning the second water from the second pressure equalization device into the second fuel-cell to drive the hydraulic device in the forward backward direction to produce additional mechanical energy potential electric energy, while electrolyzing the first water.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the hydraulic device to a mechanical device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the pressure equalization device includes a first chamber for storing the hydrogen gas and a second chamber for storing the oxygen gas, the first and second chambers separated by a flexible, elastic, impervious diaphragm.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the fuel-cell includes a positive electrode, a positive porous conductor, a pervious membrane, a negative porous conductor, and a negative electrode, and the pervious membrane is elastic and flexible to enable pressure equalization in the fuel-cell.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the hydraulic device is a diaphragm pump connected to an input check valve and an output check valve to pump a fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the hydraulic device is a hydraulic ram.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the fuel-cell, the pressure equalization device and the hydraulic device form a closed system for storing the water.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the hydraulic device is a biomimectic pump.

9. The method of claim 1, in which electrical energy produced during the recombining is reclaimed.

10. A method for generating mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:

storing first water in a first fuel-cell and a first pressure equalization device;

storing second water in a second fuel-cell and a second pressure equalization device;

electrolyzing the first water stored in the first fuel-cell into first hydrogen gas and first oxygen gas;

displacing the first water stored in the first pressure equalization device with the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas;

feeding the displaced first water to a hydraulic device to drive the hydraulic device in a forward direction to produce mechanical energy; and

then

recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas, the recombining suctioning the first water from the first pressure equalization device into the first fuel-cell to drive the hydraulic device in a backward direction to produce additional mechanical energy and potential electric energy;

electrolyzing the second water stored in the second fuel-cell into second hydrogen gas and second oxygen gas, while recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas;

displacing the second water stored in the second pressure equalization device with the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen gas;

feeding the displaced second water to the hydraulic device to drive the hydraulic device in the backward forward direction to produce the mechanical energy; and

recombining the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen, the recombining suctioning the second water from the second pressure equalization device into the second fuel-cell to drive the hydraulic device in the forward backward direction on to produce additional mechanical energy potential electric energy, while electrolyzing the first water.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

connecting thermally the first fuel-cell and the second fuel-cell;

heating the first fuel-cell while electrolyzing the first hydrogen gas and the second hydrogen gas;

heating the second fuel-cell while electrolyzing the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen gas.

12. A system for generating mechanical energy comprising:

a first fuel-cell storing first water;

a first pressure equalization device storing the first water;

means for electrolyzing the first water stored in the first fuel-cell into first hydrogen gas and first oxygen gas to displace the first water stored in the first pressure equalization device gas;

a hydraulic device driven in a forward direction by the displaced first water to produce mechanical energy;

means for recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas, the recombining suctioning the first water from the pressure equalization device into the fuel-cell to drive, the hydraulic device in a backward direction to produce additional mechanical energy and potential electric energy;

a second fuel-cell storing second water;

a second pressure equalization device storing the second water;

means for electrolyzing the second water stored in the second fuel-cell into second hydrogen gas and second oxygen gas to displace the second water stored in the second pressure equalization device gas, while recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas, the displaced second water driving the hydraulic device in the backward; and

means for recombining the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen gas, the recombining suctioning the second water from the second equalization.

13. The system of claim 12, in which the fuel-cell, the pressure equalization device and the hydraulic device form a closed system for storing the water.

14. The system of claim 12, in which the fuel-cell further comprises:

a positive electrode;

a positive porous conductor;

a pervious membrane;

a negative porous conductor; and

and a negative electrode.

15. The system of claim 12, in which the pressure equalization device further comprises:

a hydrogen chamber and an oxygen chamber separated by a flexible, elastic, impervious diaphragm.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a mechanical device coupled to the hydraulic device.

17. The system of claim 14, in which the pervious membrane is flexible and elastic.

18. The system of claim 12, in which the means for electrolyzing and the means for recombining steps operate alternately to produce continuous mechanical energy.

19. The system of claim 12, in which the hydraulic device is a diaphragm pump connected to an input check valve and an output check valve to pump a fluid.

20. The system of claim 12, in which the hydraulic device is a hydraulic ram.

21. The system of claim 12, in which the hydraulic device is a biomimectic pump.

22. A system for generating mechanical energy, comprising:

a first fuel-cell storing first water;

a first pressure equalization device storing the first water;

means for electrolyzing the first water stored in the first fuel-cell into first hydrogen gas and first oxygen gas to displace the first water stored in the first pressure equalization device gas;

a hydraulic device driven in a forward direction by the displaced first water to produce mechanical energy;

means for recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas, the recombining suctioning the first water from the pressure equalization device into the fuel-cell to drive the hydraulic device in a backward direction to produce additional mechanical energy and potential electric energy;

a second fuel-cell storing second water;

a second pressure equalization device storing the second water;

means for electrolyzing the second water stored in the second fuel-cell into second hydrogen gas and second oxygen gas to displace the second water stored in the second pressure equalization device gas, while recombining the first hydrogen gas and the first oxygen gas, the displaced second water driving the hydraulic device in the backward; and

means for recombining the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen gas, the recombining suctioning the second water from the second equalization to drive the hydraulic device in the forward direction to produce additional mechanical energy and potential electric energy.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a heat conductor connected between the first fuel-cell and the second fuel-cell to heat the first fuel-cell while electrolyzing the first hydrogen gas and the second hydrogen gas and to heat the second fuel-cell while electrolyzing the second hydrogen gas and the second oxygen gas.