Fuel cell stack for hydrogen fuel power generator

• US 8,993,135 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Eickhoff, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eggerding, Alix
• Application Number:
  US11/934,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20090117423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,707 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/19
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8605 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9041 Metals or alloys H01M4/92 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0206 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0297 Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other H01M8/0271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/242 comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2455 with liquid, solid or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2457 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A flexible fuel cell stack is also described that includes an anode electrode layer, an adhesive and anode gas diffusion layer coupled to the anode electrode layer, an ion exchange membrane coupled on a first side to the gas diffusion layer opposite the anode electrode layer, an adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer coupled to a second side of the ion exchange membrane, and a cathode electrode layer coupled to the adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer opposite the ion exchange membrane. The fuel cell stack may be incorporated into a power generator that includes a hydrogen producing fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack comprising:

an anode electrode layer comprising an anode electrode portion and an anode electrode frame;

an anode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive anode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, said double sided adhesive layer adhered on one side to the anode electrode frame such that a portion of the anode electrode is in contact with the anode gas diffusion layer;

an ion exchange membrane layer having an ion exchange membrane in an opening therein, said ion exchange membrane aligned with the non-adhesive anode gas diffusion layer in the opening in the anode double sided adhesive layer, said ion exchange membrane layer adhered on a first side to the side of the anode double sided adhesive layer opposite the anode electrode layer;

a cathode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive cathode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, said cathode gas diffusion layer aligned with the ion exchange membrane, said double sided adhesive layer adhered on one side to a second side of the ion exchange membrane; and

a cathode electrode layer comprising a cathode electrode portion and a cathode electrode frame adhered to the cathode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive cathode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, on the side opposite the ion exchange membrane, such that a portion of the cathode electrode is in contact with the cathode gas diffusion layer;

wherein each of the layers are adhered together as parallel adjacent planes rolled to form a gas tight cylindrical flexible fuel cell stack adhered around a rigid cylindrical support.

2. The fuel cell stack of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the stack is approximately 1mm or less.

3. The fuel cell stack of claim 1 wherein the stack is comprised of two series connected fuel cells.

4. The fuel cell stack of claim 1 wherein the anode electrode layer and the cathode electrode layer have multiple through holes.

5. The fuel cell stack of claim 1 wherein the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are comprised of gold formed on a titanium or aluminum layer.

6. The fuel cell stack of claim 5 wherein the anode electrode layer has two anodes, each with a tab for facilitating an electrical series connection between two fuel cells in the fuel cell stack.

7. The fuel cell stack of claim 1 wherein the gas diffusion layers comprise carbon paper.

8. The fuel cell stack of claim 1 wherein the ion exchange membrane is 1 mil thick.

9. A power generator comprising:

a cylindrical container;

a hydrogen producing fuel within the container;

a sliding valve arrangement positioned around the hydrogen producing fuel;

a pressure responsive diaphragm coupled to the sliding valve arrangement;

a cylindrical fuel cell stack wrapped around the sliding valve arrangement within the container, the fuel cell comprising;

an anode electrode layer comprising an anode electrode portion and an anode electrode frame;

an anode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive anode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, said double sided adhesive layer adhered on one side to the anode electrode frame such that a portion of the anode electrode is in contact with the anode gas diffusion layer;

an ion exchange membrane layer having an ion exchange membrane in an opening therein, said ion exchange membrane alined with the non-adhesive anode gas diffusion layer in the opening in the anode double sided adhesive layer, said ion exchange membrane layer coupled on a first side to the gas diffusion layer opposite the anode electrode layer;

a cathode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive cathode gas diffusion layer therein, said cathode gas diffusion layer aligned with the ion exchange membrane, said double sided adhesive layer adhered on one side to a second side of the ion exchange membrane; and

a cathode electrode layer comprising a cathode electrode portion and a cathode electrode frame adhered to the cathode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive cathode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, on the side opposite the ion exchange membrane, such that a portion of the cathode electrode is in contact with the cathode gas diffusion layer;

wherein each of the layers are adhered together to form a gas tight cylindrical flexible fuel cell stack;

a cathode electrically coupled to the cathode electrode layer of the fuel cell stack and supported by the cylindrical container such that at least a portion of it is exposed on an outside of the container; and

an anode electrically coupled to a the anode electrode layer of the fuel cell stack and supported by the cylindrical container such that at least a portion of it is exposed on the outside of the container spaced apart from the exposed cathode.

10. The power generator of claim 9 wherein the hydrogen producing fuel comprises multiple stacked fissurized pellets encapsulated in a water vapor and hydrogen permeable, liquid water impermeable membrane.

11. A fuel cell stack comprising:

an anode electrode layer comprising a non-adhesive anode electrode portion and an anode electrode frame;

a double sided adhesive layer having an anode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, said double sided adhesive layer adhered on one side to the anode electrode frame such that a portion of the anode electrode is in contact with the anode gas diffusion layer;

an ion exchange membrane layer having an ion exchange membrane in an opening therein, said ion exchange membrane aligned with the non-adhesive anode gas diffusion layer in the opening in the anode double sided adhesive layer, said ion exchange membrane layer adhered on a first side to the side of the anode double sided adhesive layer opposite the anode electrode layer;

a double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive cathode gas diffusion layer, said cathode gas diffusion layer aligned with the ion exchange membrane, said double sided adhesive layer adhered on one side to a second side of the ion exchange membrane; and

a cathode electrode layer comprising a cathode electrode portion and a cathode electrode frame adhered to the cathode double sided adhesive layer having a non-adhesive cathode gas diffusion layer in an opening therein, on the side opposite the ion exchange membrane, such that a portion of the cathode electrode is in contact with the cathode gas diffusion layer;

wherein each of the layers are adhered together to form a gas tight flexible fuel cell stack.