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US 11,309,569 B1Granted
Microwatt fuel cell stack
AssigneeTriad National Security, LLC
InventorMahlon Scott Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microwatt fuel cell stack that demonstrates a wide range temperature tolerance, low reactant cross-over and leakage, low internal leakage current, and/or effective water transport is disclosed. Both H2 and O2 may be supplied directly to the fuel cell stack (i.e., dead-ended). One-piece gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) may serve as both the active electrode and manifold port. Water removal may be accomplished by permeation through the membrane to “fins” exposed by notches in the bipolar plates and gaskets.
Claims19
A fuel cell stack, comprising:
- a plurality of fuel cells comprising a plurality of layers, the plurality of fuel cells each comprising:
- a membrane,
- a first gasket on a side of the membrane, the first gasket comprising a first gas diffusion electrode (GDE) that, in operation, is provided with a hydrogen gas supply via a hydrogen manifold, and
- a second gasket on an opposite side of the membrane with respect to the first gasket, the second gasket comprising a second GDE that, in operation, is provided with an oxygen gas supply via an oxygen manifold, wherein
- a water permeability coefficient of the first gasket and the second gasket is greater than a gas permeability coefficient of the first gasket and the second gasket,
- the membrane comprises a plurality of fins, and
- the first gasket and the second gasket each comprise at least one notch such that at least one respective fin of the plurality of fins of the membrane is exposed by the at least one notch in the first gasket and the second gasket.
4 more elements
A fuel cell, comprising:
- a membrane comprising a plurality of fins,
- a first gasket on a side of the membrane, the first gasket comprising a first gas diffusion electrode (GDE) that, in operation, is provided with a hydrogen gas supply via a hydrogen manifold, and
- a second gasket on an opposite side of the membrane with respect to the first gasket, the second gasket comprising a second GDE that, in operation, is provided with an oxygen gas supply via an oxygen manifold, wherein
- the first gasket and the second gasket each comprise at least one notch such that respective membrane fins are exposed by the at least one notch in the first gasket and the second gasket, and
- a water permeability coefficient of the first gasket and the second gasket is greater than a gas permeability coefficient of the first gasket and the second gasket.
2 more elements
A microwatt fuel cell, comprising:
- a membrane comprising a plurality of fins,
- a first gasket on a side of the membrane, the first gasket comprising a first gas diffusion electrode (GDE) that, in operation, is provided with a hydrogen gas supply via a hydrogen manifold, and
- a second gasket on an opposite side of the membrane with respect to the first gasket, the second gasket comprising a second GDE that, in operation, is provided with an oxygen gas supply via an oxygen manifold, wherein
- the first GDE and the second GDE each comprise a tongue, a throat, and a head,
- the tongue and the throat connect the head of the first GDE and the second GDE to the hydrogen manifold and the oxygen manifold, respectively,
- a water permeability coefficient of the first gasket and the second gasket is greater than a gas permeability coefficient of the first gasket and the second gasket, and
- the first gasket and the second gasket each comprise at least one notch such that at least one respective fin of the plurality of fins of the membrane is exposed by the at least one notch in the first gasket and the second gasket.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.