# US 10,320,007 B2 · Fuel cell having oxygen selective membrane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,007 B2 - Document ID: US10320007B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/221,408 - Filed: 2016-07-27 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-27 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff; Jeffrey Michael Klein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320007B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0239: Organic resins; Organic polymers - B01D 63/08: Flat membrane modules - B01D 69/10: Supported membranes; Membrane supports - B01D 69/106: {Membranes in the pores of a support, e.g. polymerized in the pores or voids} - B01D 71/36: Polytetrafluoroethylene - B01D 71/701: {Polydimethylsiloxane} - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 8/04119: with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying - H01M 8/04753: {of fuel cell reactants} - H01M 8/04761: {of fuel cell exhausts} - H01M 8/04828: Humidity; Water content - H01M 8/04843: {of fuel cell exhausts} - H01M 8/065: by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances - H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised - H01M 8/2475: Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks - H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds - H01M 8/2484: characterised by external manifolds - B01D 53/228: {characterised by specific membranes} - B01D 2258/0208: from fuel cells - B01D 2323/46: Impregnation - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A device includes a container, an oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane supported by the container, a chamber disposed in the container to hold a hydrogen generating fuel, and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell supported within the container between the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and the chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a container; an oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane supported within an outer case wall of the container, the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane including an O2-selective substance applied to a porous substrate; a chamber disposed in the container to hold a hydrogen generating fuel; and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell supported within the container between the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and the chamber; wherein the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane is disposed between the proton exchange membrane fuel cell and a plurality of ambient openings in the outer case wall to transport oxygen and restrict water vapor flow between the proton exchange membrane fuel cell and ambient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen generating fuel comprises a chemical hydride and a metal hydride. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the hydrogen generating fuel further comprises a Lewis acid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane comprises a porous film loaded with an O2-selective silicone oil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the porous film comprises polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5 wherein the porous film comprises pore structures having micrometer and sub-micrometer size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6 wherein the silicone oil comprises polydimethylsiloxane or dimethylpolysiloxane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of ambient openings in the outer case wall includes an array of oxygen limiting pinholes adjacent to the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane, the array of oxygen limiting pinholes sized to transport oxygen and further restrict water vapor supplied to a cathode side of the fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8 wherein the oxygen limiting pinholes have a size corresponding to a desired power level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8 wherein the oxygen limiting pinholes are configured to regulate oxygen provided to a cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell to control electricity generated without regulation of water vapor. ### Claim 11 A device comprising: a container having an oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and a chamber to hold a hydrogen generating fuel, the container including an outer case wall including a plurality of ambient opening, the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane supported within the outer case wall and including an O2-selective substance applied to a porous substrate, the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and plurality of ambient openings to transport oxygen and restrict water vapor flow between the container and ambient; and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell supported within the container between the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and the chamber positioned to receive oxygen transported across the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and hydrogen from the chamber; wherein the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane is disposed between the proton exchange membrane fuel cell and the plurality of ambient openings in the outer case wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the hydrogen generating fuel comprises a chemical hydride and a hydrogen rechargeable metal hydride. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane comprises a porous film loaded with an O2-selective silicone oil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13 wherein the porous comprises polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14 wherein the porous film comprises pore structures having micrometer and sub-micrometer size. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15 wherein the silicone oil comprises polydimethylsiloxane or dimethylpolysiloxane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of ambient openings in the outer case wall includes an array of oxygen limiting pinholes adjacent to the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane, the array of oxygen limiting pinholes sized to transport oxygen and further restrict water vapor supplied to a cathode of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, wherein the oxygen limiting pinholes have a size corresponding to a desired power level. ### Claim 18 A method comprising: exposing the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell to oxygen that is transported through a plurality of ambient openings in an outer case wall and of a container across an oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane disposed between the proton exchange membrane fuel cell and the plurality of ambient openings in the outer case wall, the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane including an O2-selective substance applied to a porous substrate such that water vapor transported across the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane is limited; providing hydrogen to an anode of the fuel cell from a chamber containing a chemical hydride; reacting the oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity and water vapor; and providing the generated water vapor to the chemical hydride to cause the chemical hydride to generate more hydrogen, wherein the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane, and the chamber are supported within the container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane comprises a silicone oil infused porous membrane having a selectivity greater than 4. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 and further comprising relieving excess hydrogen pressure in the chamber via a relief valve.