Systems and methods of securing immunity to air CO;in alkaline fuel cells
First Claim
1. An alkaline fuel cell comprising:
- an air inlet operatively coupled with a multi-trap air filter assembly;
the multi-trap air filter assembly including a series of a first thermally regenerative chemical CO2 trap arranged in tandem with a second strongly-bonding CO2 chemical trap, the first and second CO2 traps being disposed downstream from the air inlet, the second CO2 trap disposed between the first CO2 trap and an inlet to the cathode of the alkaline fuel cell;
the first and second CO2 traps reduce levels of CO2 in an air stream supplied to the inlet to the cathode; and
wherein the alkaline fuel cell includes an alkaline aqueous electrolyte or an OH−
ion conducting polymeric membrane without liquid electrolyte,wherein the first CO2 trap includes, as active material, a resin with amine functional groups serving as CO2 trapping sites via a reaction of the amine with CO2 and water vapor forming bicarbonate according to a process;
R—
NH2+CO2+H20=R—
NH3+(HCO3−
) or;
CO2 trapping sites via a reaction with CO2 under dry air conditions forming carbamate according to a process;
2(R—
NH2)+CO2=(R—
NHCOO—
)(R—
NH3+)where R includes a carbonaceous polymer backbone,wherein the first CO2 trap is for thermal regeneration whereby the first CO2 trap releases absorbed CO2 in response to rejuvenation air passing through the first CO2 trap at temperatures within a range of between about 80 degrees C. and 120 degrees C., and preferably within a range of between about 100 degrees C. to about 105 degrees C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air CO2 filtration assembly or system is provided that includes CO2 filters or traps designed and configured with a limited, but high capacity, volume to maximize filtration/absorption of CO2 from an air stream supplied to an alkaline fuel cell to thereby minimize the CO2 level in the air stream fed into the fuel cell cathode. The CO2 filters or traps include at least one thermally regenerative CO2 chemical filter or trap arranged in a tandem configuration with a strongly bonding CO2 chemical filter or trap. The combination of the two types of filters or traps sequentially filter/absorb CO2 from the air stream and reduce the level of CO2 in the air stream fed into the cathode. The air CO2 filtration assembly or system may be used in conjunction with electrochemical purging of the alkaline fuel cell that enables removal of CO2 from the fuel cell by anodic decomposition of accumulated carbonate ions in the fuel cell anode and release of CO2 through the anode exhaust stream.
82 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An alkaline fuel cell comprising:
- an air inlet operatively coupled with a multi-trap air filter assembly;
the multi-trap air filter assembly including a series of a first thermally regenerative chemical CO2 trap arranged in tandem with a second strongly-bonding CO2 chemical trap, the first and second CO2 traps being disposed downstream from the air inlet, the second CO2 trap disposed between the first CO2 trap and an inlet to the cathode of the alkaline fuel cell;
the first and second CO2 traps reduce levels of CO2 in an air stream supplied to the inlet to the cathode; and
wherein the alkaline fuel cell includes an alkaline aqueous electrolyte or an OH−
ion conducting polymeric membrane without liquid electrolyte,wherein the first CO2 trap includes, as active material, a resin with amine functional groups serving as CO2 trapping sites via a reaction of the amine with CO2 and water vapor forming bicarbonate according to a process;
R—
NH2+CO2+H20=R—
NH3+(HCO3−
) or;CO2 trapping sites via a reaction with CO2 under dry air conditions forming carbamate according to a process;
2(R—
NH2)+CO2=(R—
NHCOO—
)(R—
NH3+)where R includes a carbonaceous polymer backbone, wherein the first CO2 trap is for thermal regeneration whereby the first CO2 trap releases absorbed CO2 in response to rejuvenation air passing through the first CO2 trap at temperatures within a range of between about 80 degrees C. and 120 degrees C., and preferably within a range of between about 100 degrees C. to about 105 degrees C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- an air inlet operatively coupled with a multi-trap air filter assembly;
Specification