Liquid-gas separator for direct liquid feed fuel cell

• US 7,621,982 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Sohn, Dong-kee, Kim, Hae-Kyoung, Kang, Sang-Kyun, Luo, Xiaobing
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US11/445,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 96/4, 96/6, 96/7, 96/11, 96/13, 96/14, 961/55, 95/45, 95/46, 95/50, 95/52, 952/41, 210/321.6, 210/321.64, 210/321.84, 210/436, 210/640, 210/641, 429/19, 429/34, 554/78, 554/81
• US Class Current: 96/4
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/268 by diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04164 by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0668 Removal of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide
• 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 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A liquid-gas separator for a direct liquid feed fuel cell includes a tube having an opening portion at a sidewall thereof; liquid extracting members that selectively transmit the liquid in the tube and located at both ends of the tube; a gas extracting membrane that selectively transmits the gas and covers the opening portion; an inlet that guides the liquid and the gas into the tube; chambers that surround an outer side of the liquid extracting member; and outlets that guide the liquid in the chambers to the outside by being connected to the chamber.

Claims

1. A liquid-gas separator which receives liquid and gas from a direct liquid feed fuel cell and separates the liquid and gas, the liquid-gas separator comprising:

a tube having an opening portion at a sidewall thereof;

liquid extracting members that selectively transmit the liquid in the tube to outer sides of the liquid extracting members, the liquid extracting members being located at both ends of the tube;

a gas extracting membrane that selectively transmits the gas and covers the opening portion of the tube;

an inlet that guides the liquid and the gas into the tube;

chambers that surround the outer sides of the liquid extracting members; and

outlets connected to the chambers and that guide the liquid in the chambers to the outside.

2. The liquid-gas separator of claim 1, wherein each of the liquid extracting members includes a first member having pores of 100 μ

m or less.

3. The liquid-gas separator of claim 2, wherein each of the liquid extracting members further comprises a second member having pores of a greater diameter than the first member, the second member located adjacent to the first member and opposite to the liquid in the tube with respect to the first member.

4. The liquid-gas separator of claim 3, wherein the second members line the chambers.

5. The liquid-gas separator of claim 1, wherein the gas extracting membrane is formed of polytetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE).

6. The liquid-gas separator of claim 5, wherein the gas extracting membrane is formed by pressing the PTFE with a porous reinforcing member.

7. The liquid-gas separator of claim 1, further comprising a liquid absorbing member inside the tube.

8. The liquid-gas separator of claim 7, wherein the liquid absorbing member is beads having a predetermined diameter.

9. The liquid-gas separator of claim 8, wherein the liquid absorbing member has a specific gravity of 0.95 or less.

10. A liquid-gas separator for use in a liquid feed fuel cell, the liquid-gas separator comprising:

a cylindrical tube having an opening portion and an inlet portion, the inlet portion allowing liquid and gases to enter the cylindrical tube;

a gas extracting membrane covering the opening portion of the cylindrical tube and selectively extracting the gases from inside the cylindrical tube to an outside of the cylindrical tube;

liquid extracting members disposed at ends of the cylindrical tube and selectively extracting the liquid from the cylindrical tube to chambers surrounding outer sides of the liquid extracting members,

wherein the chambers include outlets that guide the liquid inside the chambers to the outside of the chambers.

11. The liquid-gas separator of claim 10, wherein the chambers are formed of metal, plastic, or flexible vinyl.

12. The liquid-gas separator of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical tube is filled with liquid absorbing members that absorb supersaturated liquid.

13. The liquid-gas separator of claim 12, wherein the liquid absorbing members are a plurality of beads.

14. The liquid-gas separator of claim 13, wherein the beads reduce the discharging of liquid from the cylindrical tube by absorbing a vapor state of water or a liquid fuel that passes through the gas extracting membrane.

15. The liquid-gas separator of claim 13, wherein the beads float in the cylindrical tube.

16. The liquid-gas separator of claim 13, wherein the beads are formed of plastic and have a lower specific gravity than the liquid entering the cylindrical tube.

17. The liquid-gas separator of claim 13, wherein the beads have a specific gravity of 0.95 or less.

18. The liquid-gas separator of claim 12, wherein the liquid absorbing member is a plastic having a honeycomb structure.

19. The liquid-gas separator of claim 10, wherein each of the liquid extracting members includes first members having pores of 100 μ

m or less.

20. The liquid-gas separator of claim 19, wherein each of the liquid extracting members further comprises second members having pores of a greater diameter than the first members, the second members located adjacent to the first members.

21. A liquid-gas separator for use in a liquid feed fuel cell, the liquid-gas separator comprising:

a cylindrical tube having an opening portion covered by a gas extracting membrane and an inlet portion allowing liquid and gases to enter the cylindrical tube;

liquid extracting members disposed at ends of the cylindrical tube and selectively extracting the liquid from the cylindrical tube; and

chambers adjacent to the liquid extracting members receiving the extracted liquid from the cylindrical tube.

22. The liquid-gas separator of claim 21, wherein the liquid-gas separator performs separation of the liquid-gas regardless of the position of the liquid-gas separator.