Fuel cell and fuel cell system for an aircraft
AssigneeAirbus Defence and Space GmbH
InventorsKristian Zimmermann, Stephan Friedl, Christian Metzner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to improve usability of hybrid or fully electric aircraft, a fuel cell having improved efficiency and increased volume/weight specific energy density is provided. The fuel cell has a self-supporting membrane structure that is formed as a triply periodic level surface, which separates a first cavity supplied with gaseous fuel from a second cavity supplied with gaseous oxidizer in a gas-sealed manner while connecting the cavities in an ion-conductive manner.
Claims18
A fuel cell for a fuel cell system, the fuel cell comprising:
- a first cavity that is open-pored and comprises one or more first gas channels;
- a second cavity that is open-pored and comprises one or more second gas channels;
- a membrane structure that is self-supporting;
- and
- a plurality of interconnector elements that are elongate and straight, one or more interconnector elements of the plurality of interconnector elements comprising:
- an interconnector body;
- and
- a conductive strip that is wound helically around the interconnector body;
- wherein the membrane structure ion-conductively connects together the first cavity and the second cavity and separates them from one another in a gas-tight manner;
- wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are mutually penetrating;
- wherein the one or more first gas channels is/are configured for receiving one or more first interconnector elements of the plurality of interconnector elements;
- wherein the one or more first gas channels is/are configured for receiving one or more second interconnector elements of the plurality of interconnector elements;
- wherein each of the one or more first interconnector elements is inserted into one of the one or more first gas channels and contacts the membrane structure;
- and
- wherein each of the one or more second interconnector elements is inserted into one of the one or more second gas channels and contacts the membrane structure.
A method of using a triply periodic level surface shape as a membrane structure of a fuel cell, the fuel cell comprising:
- a first cavity that is open-pored and comprises one or more first gas channels;
- a second cavity that is open-pored and comprises one or more second gas channels;
- a membrane structure that is self-supporting;
- a plurality of interconnector elements that are elongate and straight, one or more interconnector elements of the plurality of interconnector elements comprising:
- an interconnector body;
- and
- a conductive strip that is wound helically around the interconnector body;
- wherein the membrane structure ion-conductively connects together the first cavity and the second cavity and separates them from one another in a gas-tight manner;
- wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are mutually penetrating;
- wherein the one or more first gas channels is/are configured for receiving one or more first interconnector elements of the plurality of interconnector elements;
- wherein the one or more first gas channels is/are configured for receiving one or more second interconnector elements of the plurality of interconnector elements;
- wherein each of the one or more first interconnector elements is inserted into one of the one or more first gas channels and contacts the membrane structure;
- and
- wherein each of the one or more second interconnector elements is inserted into one of the one or more second gas channels and contacts the membrane structure;
- the method comprising:
- loading the first cavity with a fuel;
- and
- loading the second cavity with an oxidation agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.